The world stands on … Torah study
The Yaavetz brings our attention to the Chazal that Hashem could concede to a person’s wrongdoing in connection with the three aveiros chamuros – most serious transgressions – but He will not concede to the desecration of Torah.
The Yaavetz asks: It is known that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is more exacting in His punishment for the transgression of aveiros than He is for the abandonment of mitzvos. If so, how could it be that Hakadosh Baruch would concede to the transgression of these three difficult aveiros, for which one is commanded to let himself be killed rather than to transgress? And how could He not concede to the individual who is remiss in his performance of mitzvos?
R’ Yaakov Emden explains that, in fact, the punishment for bitul Torah, is not more severe than the punishment for the commission of the three aveiros chamuros. Rather, when a person spends his time engaged in the study of Torah, then Hashem disregards these types of activities, even those which warrant dire punishment. The reverse is also true. If a person has abandoned his Torah learning, then he is also punished retroactively for the other aveiros he has done.
