Q&A: There Is No Repetition of the Term “Learning” After Repetition of the Term “Learning” Except to Narrow the Parameters of the Learning, Yet It Still Increases the Learning
There Is No Repetition of the Term “Learning” After Repetition of the Term “Learning” Except to Narrow the Parameters of the Learning, Yet It Still Increases the Learning
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Rema of Fano introduces the rule that “there is no repetition of the term ‘learning’ after repetition of the term ‘learning’ except to narrow the parameters of the learning, yet it still increases the learning.”
I did not understand this rule. It appears at the beginning of the essay “Em Kol Chai” (Part I, sec. 1), and later twice more (Part II, sec. 20 and onward, Part III, sec. 13—in hint form). This rule is supposed to explain several sayings of the Sages, but I am not managing to find an explanation of the rule that applies the sayings of the Sages consistently.
If you are familiar with this matter, or with a source that addresses or explains it, and can refer me to it—I would appreciate it.
Answer
I am not familiar with Rema of Fano’s formulation, but I discussed the general Talmudic principle in two “Middah Tovah” articles, 5765–6, on the Torah portion of Vayeshev (9 and 63), and see there as well the reference to Shapracher’s article.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BwJAdMjYRm7IRmM4RGd0dG9zWU0
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BwJAdMjYRm7IRmM4RGd0dG9zWU0