Last summer Keter Torah of Lakewood held its annual drive in Shaare Ezra synagogue. Instead of delivering a speech, the head of the Yeshivah asked an 8 year old student to recite an entire section of Beresheit with Taamim (vowels). Flawlessly, the student was able to recite a random paragraph by heart. By 8^th grade, the average student will be able to recite the entire Torah with Taamim (vowels) by heart. After services concluded, I asked the boy to recite a particular paragraph for me, he repeated it perfectly (I needed a book to see if he was correct).Walking home from synagogue, I thought about the miracle of the human brain. I compared the brain to a computer. The miracle of the human brain can store infinite amounts of information, without the requirement of backing up data to its hard drive. Today technology enables machines to replace human memory. A few years back, most people knew their contemporaries phone numbers; today it has been replaced with warehousing numbers in our cell phones. If someone misplaces his cell phone without backing up his data, he will lose all his contact information. If technology today challenges us to remember telephone numbers, how will we remember the teachings of Torah? Training our children from young to retain the teachings of the Torah is a most effective way to exercise the brain towards "pearls of wisdom".

 "Train a child according to his way; even when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Mishley 22:6).

            "Blessed art thou, gracious giver of Knowledge" (4^th blessing of the Amidah)

During the fourth blessing of the Amidah, we openly admit to the Almighty, that He graciously gives us wisdom, understanding and knowledge. At birth, G-d graciously gave man the basic ingredient of human intellect. Our superiority over the animal kingdom is only by virtue of our G-d given intellect. "Pearls of wisdom" results after one properly utilizes his basic intelligence to study. King Solomon, the wisest of all men wrote the book of Mishley to educate us on the importance of acquiring wisdom. With "pearls of wisdom", one is able to fear G-d and come to the realization that G-d is omnipotent.

"Mind over Matter"

The brain is the seat of intellect, and the heart is the seat of emotion. Throughout our lifetime, our brain is in constant battle against the heart. The heart uses emotion to compromise the intellect of the brain. A tragic example of this was Esav. He was decapitated in front of the holy Cave of Machpelah and his head rolled inside next to the body of his brother Yaacov. The rest of his body was buried elsewhere. This teaches us that intellectually Esav was Yaacovs equal. Unfortunately, the convictions of his heart were weak. Since his head and his body didn't have anything in common, they were separated and buried separately. (Quotes from Artscroll)

"Instill in our hearts to understand and educate, to listen, teach safeguard, perform and fulfill all of the words of your Torah teachings with love" (Ahavat Olam).

Proper social environment, learning and educational systems are building blocks towards "pearls of wisdom". Improper environments can expose our children to corruption.

The corrupt brain can compare to a computer that has been infected with a virus. The best possible antidote is to learn G-d's commandments. It's imperative upon us to plant seeds of understanding into ourselves through introspection and study of Torah.                         

"The sum of all matter, Fear G-d and Keep His Commandments for that is man's duty" (Kohelet 12: final sentence).