להשתעשע בדברי תורה - Rav Asher Weiss Explains an Enigmatic Term of Torah-Human Interaction

There is a beautiful, evocative expression that is used to describe the ideal interaction of a genuine Torah scholar with תורתנו הקדושה. Beautiful, yes, but explanation and explication of it could seem elusive.

I am referring to להשתעשע בדברי תורה, based on the pasuk in Tehillim (קיט:צב) of לולי תורתך שעשועי אז אבדתי בעניי. A related expression is found elsewhere in Tanach with regard to young children here, and toddlers here. 

Recently Rav Asher Weiss שליט"א, in the course of a great hesped in Eretz Yisrael for Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi זצ"ל, expounded on it, and his words are worth hearing (h/t 'כך לומדים קצויעס?' | ההספד של הגר"א וייס על רה"י • צפו (kikar.co.il).

I cannot duplicate his presentation, so I recommend you listen to/watch it yourself. 

But just to give you an idea, a taste, to whet your appetite, he references a רבינו יונה in מסכת אבות, which states that הקב"ה gave us the תורה to be משתעשע with it. He (RAW) describes that as, for example, saying a סברא forward and backward, to say it in one manner and then in another. Not saying it quickly and proceeding further, rather holding on to it, looking at it from all sides, turning it over. Elsewhere in his words he analogizes such Torah learning to people holding, scrutinizing, and enjoying a precious stone, examining it from different vantage points, its light, reflections, facets, and special qualities. Hear it from RAW here.

May we be zoche להשתעשע בדברי תורה, giving us holy strength and pleasure, in difficult times as well as easier ones, as we connect with הקב"ה through His holy gift to us, leading to גאולה וישועה, בב"א.