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1. "And Hashem spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 'This is the ordinance of the Torah which Hashem has commanded'" (Bemidbar 19:1-2). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion saying: "and this is the Torah which Moses set before the children of Yisrael" (Devarim 4:44). Come and behold: the words of the Torah are holy, lofty, and sweet, as it is written: "more to be desired are they than gold, and much fine gold: sweeter also than honey..." (Tehilim 19:11). It is as if whoever studies the Torah stands every day at Mount Sinai and receives the Torah. This is what it says: "this day you are become a people" (Devarim 27:9). And the friends have already set the explanation.
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AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON SAYING, THIS (ZOth) IS THE STATUTE OF THE LAW WHICH THE LORD HATH COMMANDED, SAYING. R. Jose said: ‘This passage commences simply, “This is the statute of the law”, but in another passage we find, “Now this (ve-ZOth) is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel” (Deut. 4, 44). Why this difference? As we have learnt, because the addition of the vau (now) indicates the complete union of all, of the Community of Israel with the Holy One, blessed be He; and such is the essence of the Torah.
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But where this vau is absent, there we have only the “statute of the Law” and not the Law itself.’