Q&A: The Order of Study and the Method
The Order of Study and the Method
Question
Hello and blessings,
"He would say:
At five years old, for Scripture;
at ten, for Mishnah;
at thirteen, for the commandments;
at fifteen, for Talmud."
To what extent are this order of study and method binding? Suppose one were to find (and in my opinion this has long since been found) a more efficient order of study—can one simply cast aside the above order? And in addition, why did the Sages not mention secular studies?
Best regards, Benjamin
Answer
Not at all. These are recommendations, and certainly nowadays the situation is very different (there are information repositories, the form of study is different, the quantity of works and commentaries is different). So, for example, in my opinion nowadays one should first understand and only afterward memorize.
They did not mention secular studies because they were dealing with the way Torah should be studied.
Discussion on Answer
Anonymous, perhaps you meant: first understand (?)
Indeed, indeed.
* Perhaps you meant: nowadays one should first understand and only afterward memorize (?)