Shira Versus Z’miros, By Reb Pinchas Gershon Waxman

This week’s Parsha contains the mitzvah of “Kesivas Sefer Torah” – the commandment that each Yid write a Sefer Torah, where the Torah is described as “this Shira – this song” (Kli Chemda,Vayalech 5; Mishnas Rav Aaron 3:17). The Gemara (Sotah 35a) relates that Dovid Hamelech was rebuked because he called Divrei Torah, Z’miros [also defined as song]. The punishment was that Dovid forgot that the Aron Hakodesh, the holy Ark, is required to be carried [with poles] on the shoulder(s) “בכתף ישאו” – “ba’kosaf yi’sahu”; instead they transported the Aron in a wagon and as a result Uzza died.

 There are two basic questions:
 1.What was the Midah K’negeged Midah, the quid pro quo, that Dovid erred and forgot the commandment “ba’kosaf yi’sahu” – “that they carry the Aron on their shoulders” – as a consequence of him labeling Torah as Z’miros?

2.Dovid was admonished for calling the Torah Z’miros, yet the Pasuk (ibid.) and Chazal (Megilla 3a and Avoda Zara 3b) identify Torah as “Shira”. What differentiates Z’miros from Shira?

A possible explanation is that the word Z’miros is not similar or complementary to the term Shira, but is its converse. Z’miros, in the context of study, has the connotation of learning something superficially, in an easy manner, with little exertion and effort (see Sanhedrin 101a and Rabbeinu Chananel Avoda Zara 24a). When one would say something incorrect, Chazal (Shabbos 106b et al.) would refer to the misplaced statement as a “z’mirasa” – a “zemeral” [comparable to the English colloquial "for a song" which means for a petty amount].

The term “Shira” implies the opposite: hard work, toil and depth. This we see from the Gemora (Eruchin 11a), where Rabi Yochanon learns that Korban [as it is brought] requires Shira [singing by the Levy’im] from the words “לעבוד עבודת עבודה”, meaning that the avoda of Korban mandates the secondary avoda of Shira. Hence, Shira is an avoda, and one should learn Torah in the style of Shira – with all encompassing labor, toil and depth.

This, as opposed to studying Torah in the manner of “Z’miros”, where the learning is simple, superficial and without toil.  

The Gemara Eruchin (ibid.) brings an additional drasha to teach that Shira is mandated when a Korban is being sacrificed. “The Tanna” learns this from the pasuk “ba’kosaf yi’sahu” – which literally translates that the Aron (Ark) must be carried on the shoulder, but is additionally interpreted to infer that avodas Korban requires avodas Shira.   

The reason Dovid Hamelech forgot the pasuk “ba’kosaf yi’sahu” was because these exact words teach that Shira is an avoda; Dovid inappropriately called Torah Z’miros (easy and superficial learning) and not Shira – in depth study with am’ailus and toil – which is learning Torah b’derech avoda.

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