Q&A: Books, Gentlemen, Bach
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Books, Gentlemen, Bach
Question
Hello Rabbi,
A. From your books, and also from what you’ve said, it seems you read a lot. If you could, please write something about the subject of knowledge, thinking, depth, and so on through reading books—a few points:
1. Which books contributed the most to your understanding and depth?
2. The path to acquiring intellect—Internet, courses, etc.—in relation to books.
3. The relationship between studying in yeshiva / university, Talmudic topics, degrees, etc., and reading books—how do you see it in relation to yourself and to others?
B. Can you say what the special intellectual depth is in Bach’s music?
Answer
I don’t have general answers. Each person has his own path.
- I don’t know. There are various philosophy books, and also scientific studies.
- The question of whether to read or take a course is a personal one. There are fields in which it’s hard to learn on your own without a teacher.
- In my opinion, there is no substitute for yeshiva, except for a very few individuals.
- I don’t understand anything about that.
Regarding the last question—see the glosses of the Bach.