Q&A: Talmud lessons
Talmud lessons
Question
Rav Abraham,
Let me briefly introduce myself. I am a 23-year-old French religious Jew. I am a student at Mines ParisTech (the French MIT).
I want to thank you for all your work. It changed many things for me, for the better.
Last year I took a gap-year to go to yeshiva. It brought me a lot but I was disappointed by the lack of understanding of my questions by the rabbis… With you, it was about the first time the problems I encounter (both in the Talmud and in Judaism in general) were treated with precision and intelligence. Among many things I deeply appreciated the series Studies in Talmudic Logic. It would have been amazing to have you as my teacher in Talmud…
I have two questions.
1) Since I am back to my studies, (unfortunately) I can’t spend too much time learning Talmud. Do you know of any lessons—audio or written, in English or in Hebrew—(in addition to your own lessons on your website) that approach the Talmud and explain it the way you do? (or in general, any lesson you would recommend)
2) My little brother (21 years old) wants to go to yeshiva for a year. He is independent in Talmud study (he reads and understands Talmud-Rashi fairly easily) and in Hebrew. Do you know any yeshiva that would teach in the same way you do?
Again, thank you for everything you do!!
Best,
PS: you can answer in Hebrew 🙂
Answer
Hello Y.,
I’m very happy to hear that my words are helpful.
Unfortunately, I don’t know of written or oral lessons, because I don’t really get the chance to listen to or read them.
I suggest you try searching online until you come across something that seems suitable to you.
I don’t know how to characterize my method, which is overall similar to the standard yeshiva style of learning (aside from comments about logic and philosophy after the learning and in its wake). I think lessons in the yeshiva style would be excellent. The additions and expansions are something each person does according to his own taste. That isn’t really something one learns.
As for your brother, the same applies. In my opinion, any yeshiva with a good level where they learn seriously. He just should know that in most places he won’t get intellectual answers to some of his difficulties. With rare exceptions, yeshiva is for learning, not for clarifying difficulties in thought and faith / belief.
If he wants to go to yeshiva—in order to learn—that in itself will already help him. And when he’s in yeshiva and learns and grows stronger, then his questions will be more developed. And then he can always ask at “Arachim,” at “Hidabroot,” at “Shofar,” and I’m sure he’ll get an answer to every question, even the hardest one… But I’m not sure he’ll be satisfied, because I’m not satisfied either. Not with the answers, but with the way Judaism currently flows and is conducted in an outdated way and not according to an updated Sanhedrin, which is very important to me.