What are some of the most inspirational quotes from the Torah?
It is hard to explain what parts of Torah inspire. To me, every word inspires. I think of it as a letter from God. When we pray we talk to God; yet when we study Torah, He speaks to us! Imagine a long lost parent who writes you a letter about their life — every word is a treasure. The Torah is where God communicates to us about the nature of the world, and how to live successfully in it. Every word has significance and meaning.
One line that I am particularly fond of is found in Deuteronomy 30:11-14. God tells the people not to see the lifestyle and study of the Torah as something in the distance, but rather it close in all of our mouths and hearts to perform. The Bible says:
“Surely, this teaching that I enjoin upon you this day is not too difficult for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, ‘Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and tell it to us, so we may do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and tell it to us, so we may do it?” No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.”
When I feel that the expectations on me are beyond my ability, I am inspired by those words because I feel that, although I can not control factors outside of me, I can always control what is in my heart, as well as the words I say.