Q&A: Acquiring Torah Knowledge
Acquiring Torah Knowledge
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’m interested in acquiring advanced halakhic Torah knowledge, like the rabbis I see who quote from everywhere and know everything. As I understand it, what one needs to study is:
The complete Mishnah, the Tosefta (with Lieberman’s Tosefta Kifshutah), the complete Babylonian Talmud, the complete Jerusalem Talmud, Maimonides, a bit of Ritva, a bit of Rashba, the Tur with Beit Yosef, and the Shulchan Arukh with Taz and Mishnah Berurah.
I’d be happy if you could add to the list in your opinion, and also give me tips on how to acquire broad Torah knowledge. Thank you very much.
Answer
If you want knowledge like the rabbis, study what they studied (ask them). The decision of what to study is a function of what you want to know.
But in my personal opinion, knowledge is not as acute an issue as it once was. Analytical ability and skill are much more important. Of course, it’s impossible to give a list of books for that.
But educational / metacognitive abilities can be improved beyond measure. I know; I work in that.