Q&A: [email protected]
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Question
Hello Rabbi,
In the Rabbi’s opinion, is there any value in studying Talmud, in terms of the very engagement and learning itself, even if one does not review it and remember it afterward—such as learning the “Daf Yomi,” which has just now begun?
Does one fulfill the commandment of Torah study through such learning, even though it does not fulfill “and you shall teach them diligently”—that the words of Torah should be sharp in your mouth?
But perhaps, in light of what the Rabbi wrote in his book “Walking Among the Standing,” that the very engagement with the Talmud is what has brought us this far, there is importance in the very act of engaging in it?
Answer
Apparently there is some value in it, but to the best of my assessment it is Torah neglect in terms of quality. Still, it is of course better than not studying at all. Moreover, if there are people for whom this will help them accumulate knowledge and then go deeper in analytical learning—then of course they should do it. As for myself, I see Daf Yomi mainly as a kind of Jewish community center that preserves a social-religious framework and a connection to Torah. I do not say this dismissively, since that too has value. And indeed, that is roughly what is written in your last sentence.
Discussion on Answer
I’m not dismissing that. I’m only arguing that these are side considerations, not part of the essence of Torah study.
I didn’t quite understand his answer. The Rabbi writes that it is certainly better than not learning at all, and that it has value. But what is the value of this kind of study? And is it connected to the commandment of Torah study?
Is the “community center” value a value in its own right?
What’s unclear? It is Torah study of low quality. The community-center value lies in the fact that it creates a connection to the service of God, to Torah, and to religious society.
And about such a “community center,” it was said: “Moses rejoiced in the community center of his portion, for You called him a faithful servant” 🙂
By the way, speaking of the community-center atmosphere: I was at a completion ceremony for Shas where one of the rabbis praised a Jew who preferred to attend the evening class even though he always falls asleep there, rather than the morning class where he would have a better chance of staying awake—”so that the children will see that Dad goes to learn Daf Yomi!”
The motif of the holy sleeping Jew came back in another speech or two as well (: