The daily renewed voice of Torah

איתא באבות בכל יום ויום בת קול יוצאת מהר חורב אוי לבריות מעלבונה של תורה שמי שאינו עוסק בתורה נקרא נזוף כו' אשה יפה וסרת טעם.

It is taught in Avos: Each and every day a bas kol (Heavenly voice) goes forth from Har Chorev, saying, "Woe to the creatures for the insult to the Torah!" — for one who does not engage in Torah is called "rebuked" (nazuf)… "a beautiful woman who lacks good taste" (Mishlei 11:22).

The Sefas Emes opens with the mishnah in Avos describing a daily Heavenly voice lamenting the neglect of Torah. One who fails to occupy himself with Torah is "rebuked" and likened to a beautiful woman without sense.

ואין לך בן חורין אלא העוסק בתורה כו'.

"And there is no free man except one who engages in Torah."

The same mishnah teaches that true freedom belongs only to one who immerses himself in Torah study.

זהו הבת קול הוא מכח קול התורה שכתיב קול גדול ולא יסף ולא פסיק שבכל יום ויום יש התגלות מזה הקול.

This bas kol comes from the power of the "voice of the Torah," of which it is written, "a great voice that did not cease" — meaning it does not stop, and each and every day there is a revelation of this voice.

The daily Heavenly voice is an outflow of the original "great voice" at Sinai, which the verse says "did not cease." That voice never stopped; it continues to reveal itself anew every single day.

וע"ז כתיב אשר אנכי מצוך היום.

And concerning this it is written, "which I command you today."

The Torah's command is described as "today," teaching that the giving of the Torah is a present, ongoing reality rather than a one-time past event.

אנכי דעשרת הדיברות.

The "Anochi" of the Aseres HaDibros (the Ten Commandments).

This "I" refers back to the "Anochi" — "I am Hashem your God" — that opened the Ten Commandments at Sinai.

שהי' מוכן באלה הדיברות קול מיוחד לכל יום ויום.

For there was prepared within these Dibros a unique voice for each and every day.

Embedded within the Ten Commandments was a distinct revelation destined for every individual day — a fresh "voice" of Torah waiting to be uncovered.

וכמו שמעשה בראשית מתחדש בכל יום.

And just as the work of creation is renewed each day.

Like the daily renewal of creation, in which Hashem continually re-creates the world, the Torah too is renewed every day.

ומכח הטבע נמצא ג"כ הסתר בכל יום שע"ז אמרו יצרו של אדם מתגבר עליו בכל יום ולכן יש ג"כ גאולה וחירות בכל יום ויום וע"י העסק בתורה נעשה בן חורין כמ"ש אנכי כו' אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים.

And from the power of nature there is also concealment each day — concerning which Chazal said, "a person's yetzer hara overpowers him every day" — and therefore there is also geulah and freedom each and every day; and through engaging in Torah one becomes a free man, as it is written, "Anochi… who took you out of the land of Mitzrayim."

Because nature conceals Hashem anew each day, the yetzer hara also renews its assault daily. Correspondingly, redemption and freedom are available daily as well. Engaging in Torah makes a person free, for the very "Anochi" that gives the Torah is the One who took us out of Mitzrayim — Torah is the ongoing instrument of liberation.

ואז זוכה לקבל קול תורה המתחדש בכל יום.

And then one merits to receive the voice of the Torah that is renewed each day.

Through this daily engagement and liberation, a person becomes fit to receive the freshly renewed "voice" of Torah each day.

ולכן מי שאינו עוסק נקרא נזוף הואיל והתורה מוכנת בכל יום לגלות טעמים חדשים תמיד כמ"ש דדיה ירווך בכל עת.

Therefore one who does not engage [in Torah] is called "rebuked," since the Torah is ready each day to reveal new "tastes" (insights) continually, as it is written, "Let her breasts satisfy you at all times" (Mishlei 5:19).

Since the Torah stands ready every day to disclose fresh meaning and "tastes," one who ignores it is "rebuked" — he spurns a gift constantly being offered. The verse "her breasts satisfy you at all times" expresses the Torah's endless, ever-renewing nourishment.

ומזה בא בת קול הנ"ל:

And from this comes the aforementioned bas kol.

It is from this never-ceasing, daily-renewed voice of Torah that the Heavenly bas kol lamenting its neglect goes forth.

Summary: The daily bas kol that mourns the neglect of Torah flows from the "great voice" of Sinai, which never ceased and reveals itself anew each day. Just as creation and the yetzer hara renew themselves daily, so does the Torah — offering fresh insights and a new geulah every day. One who engages in Torah becomes truly free, receiving its renewed voice; one who neglects it is "rebuked," for he spurns a gift constantly being offered.