Q&A: Learning Torah "for its own sake"
Learning Torah "for its own sake"
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael,
I would appreciate your reply.
I have come to the conclusion that the Torah study I do does not fulfill the commandment of Torah study for its own sake.
I study only topics / passages that I find interesting or intellectually stimulating.
I do not study tractates that do not interest me, and I skip pages that bore me.
Since I see this as important, I previously tried to set a learning schedule that also included texts that do not interest me. I find it very hard to persist in that.
Can I fulfill the obligation of Torah study "for its own sake" by reciting the Shema?
Answer
A strange question. A person studies where his heart desires, and that is not a flaw in studying for its own sake. And reciting the Shema is definitely not superior study. It is Torah neglect in terms of quality. One formally fulfills the obligation, but that kind of formalism is worse than high-quality study even if it is not for its own sake.
But you can always study Torah for hearing's sake 🙂
Rabbi, your humor is amazing!!