Q&A: Beginning to Study Talmud in Depth
Beginning to Study Talmud in Depth
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I grew up in a secular home, so I didn’t study in yeshiva and the like.
A few years ago I began to believe and to live a religious lifestyle — I “became religious” — in part בעקבות reading your books.
At the same time, I studied Torah mostly on my own and through various classes, and over the last two years I’ve been learning mainly independently from online lectures. I’ve reached a point where my “knowledge” is pretty good, both in Jewish law and in some parts of the Talmud (I’ve finished a few tractates, some of them through online Daf Yomi classes, and I’ve learned almost all of Peninei Halakha). However, I’ve never really had the chance to study in depth, and I don’t really know how to begin. At this stage I chose not to study in yeshiva because of “life constraints” — making a living and raising children. I hope I’ll be able to get there at some point, but for now I’m interested in continuing to learn independently, only I’d like to go deeper.
I’d be happy to know whether you could advise me how to begin (online classes, books you recommend, but ones that are relatively simple, a “systematic” method of study, etc.).
Thank you very much
Answer
I think that almost everyone needs to join some kind of framework in order to progress in in-depth study. By “framework” I mean a fixed class with regular study sessions and study partners for preparation and review. You can do that either in a yeshiva or in some kind of online framework (which I don’t know personally, but it’s worth looking for). I assume that nowadays it’s possible to find something like that. There are certainly in-depth Talmud classes online, but it’s much preferable for this to be a fixed framework of the sort I described. There are kollels for working men on Fridays or in the evenings and afternoons, and maybe it’s worth looking in that direction too (but not ones that offer occasional guest lectures on assorted topics, rather places where people learn in depth consistently and continuously).
Maybe one of the readers here knows of such frameworks, in the real world or online.
More power to you, and much success.
Discussion on Answer
I forgot to mention the name of Rabbi Achikam’s book: Pilpula DeOraita.
I also remembered the book “Iyun BeLomdut” by some American author. I forgot his name.
I think it’s Yitzchak Adler.
Thank you very much
https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=61664&st=&pgnum=1&hilite=
Here is a link to “Pilpula DeOraita.” In my opinion, it ought to be the guidebook for high-school students arriving at first-year yeshiva. Simply wonderful!
With God’s help, 1 Elul 5782
Guidance in analytical study of foundational Talmudic topics can also be found by the learner in Rabbi Eyal Reznikovitch’s series of books from the hesder yeshiva in Yeruham, called “Learning Booklets.”
While browsing Google I found three volumes in the series:
A. “Learning Booklets: Decisions and Clarifications”
B. “Learning Booklets: The Principle of the Commandments”
C. “Learning Booklets: Kingship and Government”
With blessings, Menashe Barkai Buch-Trager
There is the book series “Torat Imekha,” at least some of which are also available on the author’s site:
Rabbi Achikam Keshet, the author of “Kovetz Yesodot,” has a book that serves as an introduction to in-depth study, intended to provide a certain introduction to that kind of learning. It’s also available online.