In a recent edition of "Yated Neeman" (USA) (issue dated 3 Cheshvan 5779 - October 12) a worthwhile feature appeared containing valuable הדרכה (guidance) from gedolei Eretz Yisroel in learning and avodas Hashem, on pages 40-44. It was adapted by Avrohom Birnbaum from the Israeli Yated.
I would like to bring to your attention some pieces of very important advice in it regarding proper ways of learning Torah, from מרן Rav Gershon Edelstein shlit"a, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh, מגדולי וממנהיגי דורנו. While they may seem simple, plain, and self evident to some people, others unfortunately are ignorant or confused about them. Both groups can benefit from reviewing them.
A person should learn במקום שלבו חפץ (we discussed this here in the past), a type of limud (study) that one will enjoy. Rav Edelstein cited the sefer חוסן יהושע, by Rav Yehoshua Heller z"l, as strongly urging a person to learn in a way with which they will enjoy their learning, also citing the gemara in מסכת עבודה זרה דף יט teaching that as well.
There seem to be two separate aspects of this.
1) The subject matter, the חלק of Torah studied, should be desired by the person, and
2) The תלמיד should study in a simple way (at least at first), not making things too complicated and difficult. R. Edelstein said that over the years many yungeleit came to him, broken in spirit, not enjoying their learning, and lacking in desire to go further. He explained to them that according to their situation they needed to learn simple gemara and Rashi, without all the סברות and לומדות. When they began to do so, they became so satisfied and happy, it was like they were exposed to a new reality, and began to derive real pleasure from learning.
Some examples from gedolim -
R. Hirsh Glickson, son in law of Rav Chaim Brisker, when he was a bochur all he knew was Mishnayos. Neverthless, Rav Chaim Brisker saw that he had seichel hayashar and took him as a son in law, and he later became a Rosh Yeshiva. (Rav Dof Yaffe z"l cited words of the של"ה in his time, that now that the commentary of רע"ב on mishnayos exists, the primary limud should be משניות.)
I saw a similar thing in the Artscroll biography of great gaon Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman z"l, Rosh Yeshiva of Ramailes yeshiva - Netzach Yisroel, that he first learned through all of mishnayos, ששה סדרי משנה, before gemara (as his Rebbe held that was the proper derech, as per the Vilna Gaon, Maharal, etc.), coming to know mishnayos by heart at ten years of age, which laid the foundation for his later gadlus (p.32). He also learned a great deal of נביאים in his youth, getting to know ירמיהו and ישעיהו by heart (p.34).
In the fine Rav Avigdor Miller biography, it reports that he first learned Tanach well, and only in his teens got into gemara.
להבחל"ח, we know that מרן שר התורה, Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a, followed a similar derech, generally speaking.
As the Torah itself tells us, כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד, Torah is very close, not excessively difficult and distant.
Great point . Although it should be noted that no matter what derech one choosesit will require hard work and will be frustrating at first. Only after toiling can one reach real satisfaction .
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is true that there are מאמרי חז"ל about the difficulty of acquiring Torah, e.g. קשה לקנותם ככלי זהב ונוח לאבדם ככלי זכוכית, but the posuk says כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד, Torah is very close, and אין המקרא יוצר מידי פשוטו.
It may vary by person.
Perhaps we can make a comparison to childbirth. Even though נשים were told that it would involved צער, nevertheless, a) it can vary greatly from case to case, in some cases it can be much less than others, from what I have gathered, and 2) with various techniques, wisdom of medicine, it can be significantly reduced, alleviated at times. I recall that there is a teshuvah somewhere that someone asked a poseik if it is allowed to have that pain alleviated, after all, is it not G-d's decree? And the answer given was no, it is okay, not a problem. Similarly, with Torah learning, if people learn with חכמה, in wise ways that make it easier and less difficult, that is not a problem.