Q&A: On studying the hermeneutical principles by which the Torah is interpreted…
On studying the hermeneutical principles by which the Torah is interpreted…
Question
Hello Rabbi, I’m interested in studying Talmudic logic, and especially the hermeneutical principles by which the Torah is interpreted. Beyond the Rabbi’s own books, could the Rabbi direct me to some basic books that deal with the rules of Talmudic logic in the area of these interpretive principles? (I’ve heard of Sefer HaKeritut, Sha’arei Tzedek by Gersonides, and a few others, but I need help building a study plan—what should come before what, and so on.)
Answer
The order of study does not have to be chronological. In my opinion, it is not important who came before whom. You should find a book that speaks to you and is clear to you, and study it. There are books by Rabbi Hirschensohn, Rabbi Ostrovsky, and Adolf Schwartz. You can go to a university library and find quite a few books in the catalog (search for those, and then look at what is around them on the shelf).