Q&A: Accumulating Knowledge and Education
Accumulating Knowledge and Education
Question
Hello Rabbi,
As a broadly knowledgeable person, I wanted to ask how, in your opinion, a young man who wants to acquire broad and comprehensive knowledge in secular wisdom and inner wisdom should go about it. What is the order of study? What do you start with? At what pace? In what way? Thank you very much.
Answer
I don’t think there is a general algorithm. Each person has his own areas of interest and talents, and also his own inclinations. Start reading and learning in the place your heart desires, and let things develop according to what comes your way. It’s not really so important which path you take, but you do need to persevere and study seriously. I would suggest that you begin דווקא with popular literature and accessible overviews in any field that interests you, and from there start going deeper into more professional literature. In the sciences and mathematics, of course, more structured study is required, and here, if you want a systematic education, it’s best to follow the order of a university syllabus.
Good luck.
Discussion on Answer
I’ll give you the same answer (that there is no universal scheme). The question is what interests you and what your inclinations are. If you already have knowledge, then why do you need guidance?
Thank you for the whole answer.
And what about Torah study? What’s the order there, where should one start, etc.?
I should note that I do have Torah knowledge; I just want to broaden my scope in a significant way.