Our Parashah teaches us that that the menorah should burn “before Hashem continually” (24:4). Rashi explains that it doesn’t mean that it should be burning 24/7; rather it must burn every night. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe learns from here the true definition of a masmid, a diligent student. Not specifically one who never stops learning but one who is very consistent. (Alei Shur, vol 2 p. 322) Rashi (Mishlei 17:24) says it is the attitude of a fool to say, “the Torah is so vast, there’s no point even trying to learn it”. In contrast a wise person says, “I will learn a bit today and a bit tomorrow”; before he realizes, he will have studied a lot of Torah.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Benkus, a Torah scholar of note, use to carry a small pocket Gemarah with him. Where ever he had a few minutes spare, he would open it and learn, even if it was just for a minute or two.
Over time, those moments accumulated. Eventually, Rabbi Benkus completed the entire Talmud—not through his regular learning shecule but through these small pockets of time throughout his day!
Although he had many siyumin on Shas this siyum had special significance.
