הלכה אויף דברים 11:22

It is a mandatory commandment to cleave to the wise and their disciples, in order to learn of their deeds, even as it is said on the subject: "And to Him shalt thou cleave" (Deut. 10.20). Is it possible to cleave to the Shekinah? But even thus the wise men commented upon in interpreting this commandment, saying: "Cleave to the wise men and their disciples" (Ketubot, 111b). Man shall, therefore, find the necessary means to take to wife the daughter of a disciple of the wise, and to give his daughter in marriage to a disciple of the wise; to eat and drink with the disciples of the wise, to do business for and with the disciples of the wise, and to associate with them in every form of companionship, even as it is said, "And to cleave to him" (Deut. 11.22). Even so have the wise men commanded, saying: "Sit amidst the dust of their feet, and drink their words with thirst" (Pirke Abot. 1.4.).²Pesahim, 49; Baba Batra, 126a; See Shabbat, 63a. G.

To cling to Torah sages: That we were commanded to associate [with] and cling to Torah sages, so that we learn its glorious commandments from them, and they teach us the true opinions — which are received through them — about it. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 10:20), “to Him shall you cling.” And the command is repeated in another place, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 11:22), “and to cling to Him.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Ketuvot 111b), “And is it possible for a person to cling to the Divine Presence — and behold it is written (Deuteronomy 4:24), ‘For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire’? Rather, one who clings to the Torah scholars and their students is as if he clings to Him, blessed be He.” And from this, our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, learned that anyone who marries the daughter of a Torah scholar, or marries his daughter to a Torah scholar or who gives benefit from his property to a Torah scholar is as if he clings to the Divine presence. And they also expounded in Sifrei Devarim 49, “‘And to cling to Him’ — study the words of aggadah (the homiletical teachings), as through this, you will recognize the One Who spoke and the world came into being.”

The commandment to walk in — and make oneself similar through — the ways of God, may He be blessed: That we were commanded to perform all our actions in the way of straightness and goodness with all our strength and to incline all our affairs that are between ourselves and others towards the way of kindness and mercy; as we have known from our holy Torah that this is the way of God, and this is God’s desire for His creatures so that they merit God’s goodness — as He desires kindness. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 28:9), “and you shall walk in His ways.” And this commandment was further repeated in another place, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 10:12, 11:22), “to walk in all His ways.”