Q&A: Purpose
Purpose
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I would be glad to know what the Rabbi thinks about studying Torah in depth, or studying toward practical Jewish law, as a life ideal. If a person has serious abilities in certain areas, is he supposed to develop them—as a sign from Heaven, or simply as an ability to improve his own existence and that of those around him? Is he supposed to specialize in them? Should Torah always be “chasing” him—should he immerse himself in it? The answer may be a bit weighty—maybe you wrote about this somewhere else?
In the words of the Sages, it seems that learning in order to do is the ideal, and therefore one does not stop except for a commandment that can be done by others. It feels a bit strange to me that people would learn all day without doing much in practice. I also think that in the modern era, when there are so many books of Jewish law and so on, you can just use them and that’s that. Is there really value in knowing precisely, in every case, how I act and why? Will that contribute so much?
Answer
You are mistaken, like many others, in how you define “studying Jewish law.” People commonly think this means learning the Mishnah Berurah or the Shulchan Arukh with its commentaries. That is, of course, complete nonsense. Practical halakhic study is the kind of in-depth learning customary in yeshivas, except that you carry it through to a conclusion—which is usually not done in yeshivas for lack of time. So the question does not arise in the first place. One should study Talmud with commentators and halakhic decisors until reaching a conclusion. That is in-depth study, and that is halakhic study, and that is the study one should engage in. As for exactly how to study in depth, there are of course different approaches; each stream flows in its own way.
As a rule, I absolutely believe that a person should learn where his heart desires. He should develop in the areas in which he is good and toward which he is inclined, without talk of signs from Heaven and the like. All those are metaphorical expressions, not metaphysical ones as they may sound. The intention is what I just said.
By the way, I don’t recall that the interruption for performing a commandment is speaking specifically about halakhic study.
Discussion on Answer
You wrote that this is about studying Jewish law. In the original source it is about Torah study, not specifically Jewish law.
And what about the second part…?
(“As a rule, I absolutely believe that a person should learn where his heart desires. He should develop in the areas in which he is good and toward which he is inclined, without talk of signs from Heaven and the like. All those are metaphorical expressions, not metaphysical ones as they may sound. The intention is what I just said.”)
Which second part? The discussion here was not whether to engage in Torah or in other things. The discussion was what to study within the framework of Torah study.
If you are asking about other fields, there is definitely value in engaging in them as well. In the words of the Sages you can find all kinds of statements, and it doesn’t really matter to me what is written there. What has value and what does not—that I determine, and not the Sages; they determine the boundaries of Jewish law. If they say that studying other things is a prohibition—neglect of Torah study, “do not stray after”—that can be discussed. But there is no clear proof for that. And the fact is that many great figures engaged in it.
I’m facing a few decisions and would be glad if you could point me to places where you’ve already written about this.
Thanks in any case.
(I mean other fields.)
I haven’t written about it. If you want to talk, you’re welcome to.
I didn’t understand the last sentence.
And doesn’t the Sages’ literature imply differently from what you wrote in the second part of your reply? Doesn’t it imply that one should engage exclusively in Torah?