http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Why was it necessary for Moses to even say that Torah is not ''an empty thing?'' Furthermore, he continues, ''for it is your life.'' It is conceivable that one would say about an item, ''It is not worthless. It does have some value.'' But it is too drastic a contrast to say, ''It is not worthless, it is your very life.''

Moses was speaking prophetically to our generation, as he stated so clearly, ''Harm will befall you at the end of days, if you do what is wrong in the eyes of G-d'' (Deuteronomy 31:29).

The Jerusalem Talmud makes a sharp comment: ''If you think the Torah is empty, it is the fault of your perception'' (Pe'ah 1:1).

We are the beneficiaries of unprecedented scientific advances. Who would have dreamt that a human being would walk on the moon, that computers would be invented that can make thousands if not millions of complicated calculations in seconds, or that doctors would replace diseased kidneys, livers and even hearts. Even these epochal achievements pale before the possibilities that lie in the future: eliminating all disease by genetic engineering.

The undeniable accomplishments of science may cause parents to give their children an education that will provide them access to the world of science. However, parents may be so enthralled by the marvels of science that they may lose sight of the fact that science can provide only for the ''how'' of life, but not for the ''why'' of life. Even breaking the DNA code does not give a person an ultimate purpose for life.

The Midrash says, ''You may believe that there is knowledge in the secular world, but do not believe that there is Torah in the secular world'' (Eichah Rabbah 2:17).

Is it not paradoxical that in this age of scientific miracles, when we have the possibility of living in comfort as never before, that the drug epidemic is ravaging our youth, and that rampant violence and immorality threatens the very survival of mankind?

Some parents would never tolerate that their children be given a scanty secular education, but are perfectly willing to allow their children to be ignorant of Torah. How foolish to allow the ''how'' of life to totally obscure the importance of the ''why'' of life, of giving life meaning and value.

Yes, Moses was speaking to our generation, to which he had to say, ''Be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life.''