[Avodah] Ein Kemach, Ein Torah

[Richard Wolberg]

Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said "If there is no flour, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour."  (Pirkei Avos 3:17)
There have been varied interpretations of that verse (as there are with many). I came across one recently which I feel is the best I have ever seen.
Firstly, which everyone agrees, if we don't have our basic material needs, our food, etc. we cannot study Torah. But more important: (If there is no
Torah, there is no flour) if we do not study Torah, we will not even learn what we are expected to DO with the flour.

The metaphor is profound.  May we learn and implement what we learn so that we can take that flour and watch it "flower."

rw