Nitzavim 

נצבים

Moses teaches concerning: “This commandment” (Deuteronomy 30:11), that: “It is not in the heavens…it is not across the sea” (30:11–12). The Sages understand “this commandment” to be a reference to the Torah itself, and they learned from Moses’ words that even if the Torah were in the heavens, i.e., distant and hard to reach, the Israelites would nevertheless be obligated to expend the effort to learn it. 

And this is what Avdimi bar Hama bar Dosa said: What is the meaning of what is written concerning the Torah: “It is not in the heavens…it is not across the sea”? “It is not in the heavens,” as were it in the heavens, you would be obligated to ascend after it, and were it “across the sea,” you would be obligated to cross the sea after it. 

Rava said: “It is not in the heavens” means that it is not to be found in one who raises himself above it, like the heavens [i.e., relates to it arrogantly], and it is not to be found in one who spreads himself over it, like the sea [i.e., relates to it superficially].  

Rabbi Yohanan said: “It is not in the heavens” – it is not to be found in the haughty.<footnote data-num="15"/> “It is not across the sea” – it is not to be found among merchants or traders.<footnote data-num="16"/>  <source>(<i>Eiruvin</i> 55a) </source>

Moses teaches concerning: “This commandment” (Deuteronomy 30:11), that: “It is not in the heavens…it is not across the sea” (30:11–12). The Sages understand “this commandment” to be a reference to the Torah itself, and they learned from Moses’ words that even if the Torah were in the heavens, i.e., 