“Rabbi Hanina Bar Papa said, ‘Anyone who turns his ear from hearing Torah, his prayer becomes loathsome, as was said, ‘He who turns his ear from hearing Torah, his prayer, too, is abomination’’” (Midrash Rabbah, Haazinu).
We should ask, 1) What is the meaning of “turning his ear”? Why did he not simply say that he did not listen to the Torah, since the word “turning” implies that all we need is to listen, and we do not need to learn Torah, for by listening alone, we do our duty. 2) Why would his prayer become abomination? Can the whole world be learning Torah, and one who is not among the learners of Torah, his prayer will be abomination? 3) It is known that there is the issue of necessity and luxury. A prayer is regarded as necessity, and Torah is regarded as luxury. Therefore, the Torah is called “a gift,” since a gift pertains only to luxuries. Accordingly, we should understand why if he turns his ear from hearing luxuries, the necessity becomes abomination, too.
We should interpret that it is known that the purpose of creation is to do good to His creations. To be able to receive the Creator’s gift abundantly and for the gift to be complete, without any feeling of unpleasantness, He has given us the work of choice and that our aim will be for the sake of the Creator. Otherwise, a person is placed under the governance of the Tzimtzum [restriction], meaning he does not feel that there is pleasure in the work of the Creator.
All this was so that by this, man will come to a state where he can receive all the King’s gifts and there will not be the quality of “bread of shame” in it, but only the completeness of the purpose.
It follows that the whole matter of work and prayer is that he can receive the luxuries that the Creator has for man. This is called Torah, which is a gift, regarded as luxuries. Hence, one who turns his ear, it means that he does not prepare himself to hear the Torah, since the Torah is a gift he should receive from the King.
This is the meaning of “We will do and we will hear.” “We will do” alone is not enough, for “We will hear” is also required. That is, through “We will do,” he will be rewarded with the quality of “We will hear,” for the purpose of creation was on the quality of “We will hear.” Hence, one who turns his ear from hearing Torah, his purpose is not needed; this is why it is loathsome, since anything that is unneeded becomes loathsome.