Q&A: Why Is It Important to Remember What You Learn?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Why Is It Important to Remember What You Learn?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If my goal in studying Torah is to cleave to the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, and to fulfill the commandment of Torah study, and not in order to issue halakhic rulings for myself (unfortunately, I don’t have the time or freedom to dive deeply enough into the passages to the level of halakhic ruling), is there importance to review and making an effort to remember what I learn?
Thank you,
Nathan
Answer
Absolutely yes. There is a commandment to study Torah and to know Torah. What does that have to do with issuing halakhic rulings? On the contrary, in order to issue halakhic rulings there is no need to remember. You can use books and summaries. For serious learning and analysis, knowledge is required.