Q&A: Courses
Courses
Question
Honorable Rabbi, greetings and blessings,
Recently I began studying in a major yeshiva, and I’ve been running into various difficulties in the way I learn—mainly in developing Gemara, Rashi, Tosafot, and the commentators in a critical way, and in reaching the underlying issues on my own strength (before I open later authorities, and even when I read them I feel like I’m being force-fed). I saw that the Rabbi offers two courses on the site that interested me: “Yeshiva-style learning” and “Critical Thinking.” My question is whether the Rabbi thinks these courses could help me (after all, 250 shekels is not a negligible amount), and if so, which course the Rabbi would recommend more for me.
Festivals for joy.
Answer
First of all, there’s no need to rush. You’ve only just started on the path. After you acquire skill, I believe you’ll feel better. Independent creativity will come at a later stage. Starting out with independent creativity is a mistake.
As for the courses: Critical Thinking does not deal with yeshiva-style learning and Talmud. Yeshiva-style learning does deal with that. But it is not a systematic training in analytical Talmud study, rather comments and additions. In my opinion it will not save you, though it could certainly add something.
Just study seriously, without shortcuts. Patience.