The study of the Gemara itself
There is reliable evidence (videos, or from Rabbi Nachum Yarov, who was an important and reliable arbiter) that Rabbi Elyashiv would study “only” Gemara.
That is, he would repeat a lot of the Gemara before him, he knew the shekel and was fresh in his knowledge of the Bible, and we didn’t see him opening the books of the Acharonim much. And yet he would know them and discuss them as one who had studied them extensively. I heard the explanation of this from Rabbi Yisrael Landa (Rosh Yeshiva Heikhal Yitzhak, author of Pituchei Chotham, close to the Schreiber style), he said that when you really know the Gemara, then studying the Acharonim is much easier, more understandable, and faster. For example, you open the Responsa Reka, he brings one Gemara, okay, then a second Gemara, it’s already hard to keep up, then he brings Tosafot and another Gemara and you’ve completely lost it. Something that wouldn’t happen if you know the Gafta on the Bible.
Do you agree with this? That is, is there really an important emphasis on studying the Gafta thoroughly and knowing them almost by heart (at least in the subject we are studying now) and then studying the latter and their progress and insights, etc.
I don’t understand the question. Obviously, if you know the endings, you will more easily read the endings that deal with them. Likewise, the more skilled you are in reading, the more you will be able to reach their insights yourself. But I don’t think there is much value in knowing them by heart. The effort is not worth the little benefit it will give you. But of course, this is a personal matter.
So what type of study, in your opinion, would provide the most benefit – from the aspect of halakhic jurisprudence?
Tur and Shulchan Aruch? Rambam in A'in? Gemara and Rishonim?
Studying the first and last chapters and ending with the Poskim. Incidentally, the original question was not about the benefit to ruling on halakhic law but about the study itself. But in my opinion, there is no real difference.
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