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Laws of Learning Torah: Difference between revisions
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==Tanach, Mishna, and Talmud== | ==Tanach, Mishna, and Talmud== | ||
#One should apportion one's time to study torah everyday into three, one portion for Tanach and some say it's commentaries, one portion for Mishna and Gemara, and one portion to analyze the primary ways the Torah is learnt so that one will know that which is forbidden and that which is permitted. After one grows in Torah one should review Tanach, Mishna, and Gemara, but focus on analyzing Torah. Some say that by learning Talmud Bavli one fulfills learning each area of Torah because the Bavli includes everything, nonetheless, certainly one must still know Tanach and Mishna. Some say that one should devote more time to Mishna than to Tanach and more time to Gemara than to Mishna each one according to its difficulty. <ref>See next footnote</ref> | #One should apportion one's time to study torah everyday into three, one portion for Tanach and some say it's commentaries, one portion for Mishna and Gemara, and one portion to analyze the primary ways the Torah is learnt so that one will know that which is forbidden and that which is permitted. After one grows in Torah one should review Tanach, Mishna, and Gemara, but focus on analyzing Torah. Some say that by learning Talmud Bavli one fulfills learning each area of Torah because the Bavli includes everything, nonetheless, certainly one must still know Tanach and Mishna. Some say that one should devote more time to Mishna than to Tanach and more time to Gemara than to Mishna each one according to its difficulty. <ref>See next footnote</ref>Rav Yisrael Salanter holds that nowadays, after the sealing of the Talmud, being that we can not learn Tanach the way Chazal did, we must define the terms "Mikra", "Mishna" and "Gemara" differently. "Mikra" today means to learn Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi. "Mishna" today means to learn Tosfot and the Seforim of the Great Poskim- Rishonim and Achronim. "Gemara" today means proper Iyun in all that you learn and to be able to pasken Halachah from your learning.<ref>Ohr Yisrael 18</ref> | ||
#Many authorities emphasize that it's absolutely crucial to learn Halacha so that one knows what one must do as well as mussar which subjugates the Yetzer Hara. Some say that these are included in the above three categories. <ref>*In Gemara Kiddushin 30a, Rav Safra interprets the word “ושננתם” as ושלשתם which means that one should split one’s time in three in study Torah, one third to study Mikrah, one third to study Mishna, and one third to study Talmud. The Gemara says that since one doesn’t know how long one will live, one should split up one’s days in three ways. Rashi s.v. LeYomi explains that one should split up the days of the week into these three parts. However, Tosfot s.v. Lo argues that it means that one should split up every single day into these three sections. Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:12) and S”A 246:4 agree with Tosfot. | #Many authorities emphasize that it's absolutely crucial to learn Halacha so that one knows what one must do as well as mussar which subjugates the Yetzer Hara. Some say that these are included in the above three categories. <ref>*In Gemara Kiddushin 30a, Rav Safra interprets the word “ושננתם” as ושלשתם which means that one should split one’s time in three in study Torah, one third to study Mikrah, one third to study Mishna, and one third to study Talmud. The Gemara says that since one doesn’t know how long one will live, one should split up one’s days in three ways. Rashi s.v. LeYomi explains that one should split up the days of the week into these three parts. However, Tosfot s.v. Lo argues that it means that one should split up every single day into these three sections. Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:12) and S”A 246:4 agree with Tosfot. | ||
*Tosfot also quotes the Rabbenu Tam who says that we rely on only learning Talmud Bavli which itself is a combination of Mikrah, Mishna, and Gemara. | *Tosfot also quotes the Rabbenu Tam who says that we rely on only learning Talmud Bavli which itself is a combination of Mikrah, Mishna, and Gemara. | ||
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*S”A HaRav (Hilchot Talmud Torah 2:1) explains that Mishna includes the Halacha Pesuka of the Mishnayot and Britot which explain the details of the 613 מצות and nowadays Mishna includes the Halacha Pesuka of the Shulchan Aruch and Rama. S”A HaRav adds that Talmud means understanding the reasons of the halachot in the משניות and Britot and nowadays that means the Rosh and Bet Yosef who explain the reasons of the halachot.</ref> See further in the next section regarding Halacha and Mussar. | *S”A HaRav (Hilchot Talmud Torah 2:1) explains that Mishna includes the Halacha Pesuka of the Mishnayot and Britot which explain the details of the 613 מצות and nowadays Mishna includes the Halacha Pesuka of the Shulchan Aruch and Rama. S”A HaRav adds that Talmud means understanding the reasons of the halachot in the משניות and Britot and nowadays that means the Rosh and Bet Yosef who explain the reasons of the halachot.</ref> See further in the next section regarding Halacha and Mussar. | ||
#Based on this concept, there is a practice to recite a portion from Torah, Mishna, and Gemara after Birchot HaTorah before Pesukei DeZimrah.<ref>Rav Amram Goan (cited by Tosfot Kiddushin 30a s.v. lo) established learning a piece of torah, mishna, and talmud each day before pesukei d’zimrah. Tosfot Avoda Zara 19b s.v. yeshalesh, Ritva Avoda Zara 19b s.v. vekatvu, and Hagahot Maimoniyot (Talmud Torah 1:8) cite this establishment. </ref> | #Based on this concept, there is a practice to recite a portion from Torah, Mishna, and Gemara after Birchot HaTorah before Pesukei DeZimrah.<ref>Rav Amram Goan (cited by Tosfot Kiddushin 30a s.v. lo) established learning a piece of torah, mishna, and talmud each day before pesukei d’zimrah. Tosfot Avoda Zara 19b s.v. yeshalesh, Ritva Avoda Zara 19b s.v. vekatvu, and Hagahot Maimoniyot (Talmud Torah 1:8) cite this establishment. </ref> | ||
#<span id="chokleyisrael"></span> Some have the righteous practice of learning [[Chok LeYisrael]] which is a daily learning regiment set up by the Arizal that includes pesukim from Torah, Nevuim, Ketuvim, Mishnayot, Gemara, Zohar, Halacha, and Mussar. <ref>The source for such a schedule is the Arizal (Shaar Mitzvot VaEtchanan). Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:3 writes that it's praiseworthy to learn the [[Chok LeYisrael]] daily. Further on the topic, see the Machzik Bracha 156:6, Sh”t Shalmat Chaim Zonenfeld Y”D 89, Kaf HaChaim 132:6, 155:3, and Sh”t Yabia Omer (Y”D 4:31(5), O”C 9:108(79)). </ref> | #<span id="chokleyisrael"></span><span id="chokleyisrael"></span> Some have the righteous practice of learning [[Chok LeYisrael]] which is a daily learning regiment set up by the Arizal that includes pesukim from Torah, Nevuim, Ketuvim, Mishnayot, Gemara, Zohar, Halacha, and Mussar. <ref>The source for such a schedule is the Arizal (Shaar Mitzvot VaEtchanan). Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:3 writes that it's praiseworthy to learn the [[Chok LeYisrael]] daily. Further on the topic, see the Machzik Bracha 156:6, Sh”t Shalmat Chaim Zonenfeld Y”D 89, Kaf HaChaim 132:6, 155:3, and Sh”t Yabia Omer (Y”D 4:31(5), O”C 9:108(79)). </ref> | ||
#The order for a parent or teacher to teach children Torah is discussed here:[[Halachos for Educators#Torah Curriculum to Teach Children]]. | #<span id="chokleyisrael"></span>The order for a parent or teacher to teach children Torah is discussed here:[[Halachos for Educators#Torah Curriculum to Teach Children]]. | ||
==Halacha and Mussar== | ==Halacha and Mussar== | ||
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#In general, it is forbidden for non-Jews to learn Torah <ref name=":0">Sanhedrin 59a. Along the same lines, Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffman (Melamed Leho'il Y.D. 2:77, cited by Rabbi Shlomo Brody in A Guide to the Complex pg. 181), allows Jews to teach non-Jews any narrative portions of the Torah, as those portions will inspire those non-Jews to believe in the grandeur of God and appreciate the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'' more.</ref> and for Jews to teach non-Jews Torah<ref>Chagiga 13a. Tosefot ''ibid'' s.v. "Ein" asks why there is a need to forbid teaching non-Jews if the gemara in Sanhedrin 59a already forbid non-Jews from learning Torah. Tosefot explains that the prohibition of teaching a non-Jew Torah is meant to apply even in cases where the non-Jew has other sources of learning Torah aside from you.</ref>, but the ''poskim'' established several exceptions, as follows: | #In general, it is forbidden for non-Jews to learn Torah <ref name=":0">Sanhedrin 59a. Along the same lines, Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffman (Melamed Leho'il Y.D. 2:77, cited by Rabbi Shlomo Brody in A Guide to the Complex pg. 181), allows Jews to teach non-Jews any narrative portions of the Torah, as those portions will inspire those non-Jews to believe in the grandeur of God and appreciate the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'' more.</ref> and for Jews to teach non-Jews Torah<ref>Chagiga 13a. Tosefot ''ibid'' s.v. "Ein" asks why there is a need to forbid teaching non-Jews if the gemara in Sanhedrin 59a already forbid non-Jews from learning Torah. Tosefot explains that the prohibition of teaching a non-Jew Torah is meant to apply even in cases where the non-Jew has other sources of learning Torah aside from you.</ref>, but the ''poskim'' established several exceptions, as follows: | ||
##Some ''poskim'' maintain that this prohibition applies only to non-Jews who deny the divinity of the Torah.<ref>Shu"t HaRambam 147, cited in A Guide to the Complex, pg. 181</ref> | ##Some ''poskim'' maintain that this prohibition applies only to non-Jews who deny the divinity of the Torah.<ref>Shu"t HaRambam 147, cited in A Guide to the Complex, pg. 181</ref> | ||
##Since non-Jews are commanded in the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'', some ''poskim'' hold that it is appropriate to teach them the sections of the Torah that pertain to those Mitzvot.<ref name=":0" /> | ##Since non-Jews are commanded in the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'', some ''poskim'' hold that it is appropriate to teach them the sections of the Torah that pertain to those Mitzvot.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
##Some ''poskim'' allow teaching any sections of Tanach to non-Jews but prohibit teaching non-Jews the Oral Law.<ref>Netziv (Meishiv Davar 2:77), Maharatz Chayot (Sota 35b s.v. “li-Divarecha”). Meiri Sanhedrin 59a s.v. "Ben Noach" (also footnote 3 in ed. Kedem Yerushalayim) implies that he distinguishes between Tanach and Talmud because he says, "if [the non-Jew] learned Torah not with the goal of fulfilling the Mitzvot; rather, he wants to delve into the knowledge of our Torah and ''Talmudeinu'', then [such a person] is fitting to be punished." [https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-talmud-torah-non-jews Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky] explains that this idea might be rooted in the fundamental principle that the Jewish people’s covenant with God is rooted in the Oral Torah, not Scripture.</ref> | ##Some ''poskim'' allow teaching any sections of Tanach to non-Jews but prohibit teaching non-Jews the Oral Law.<ref>Netziv (Meishiv Davar 2:77), Maharatz Chayot (Sota 35b s.v. “li-Divarecha”). Meiri Sanhedrin 59a s.v. "Ben Noach" (also footnote 3 in ed. Kedem Yerushalayim) implies that he distinguishes between Tanach and Talmud because he says, "if [the non-Jew] learned Torah not with the goal of fulfilling the Mitzvot; rather, he wants to delve into the knowledge of our Torah and ''Talmudeinu'', then [such a person] is fitting to be punished." [https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-talmud-torah-non-jews Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky] explains that this idea might be rooted in the fundamental principle that the Jewish people’s covenant with God is rooted in the Oral Torah, not Scripture.</ref> | ||
##If the non-Jew wants to learn Torah in-depth in order to learn about Judaism and the Torah due to intellectual interest, then some ''poskim'' permit teaching Torah to non-Jews.<ref>Seridei Esh 2:26</ref> | ##If the non-Jew wants to learn Torah in-depth in order to learn about Judaism and the Torah due to intellectual interest, then some ''poskim'' permit teaching Torah to non-Jews.<ref>Seridei Esh 2:26</ref> | ||
# According to many opinions it is permitted to teach non-Jews Torah in a superficial way just to explain them Torah without the reasons or the depths of the Torah. Additionally, it is permitted to give a ruling for a non-Jew to act in a certain fashion without explaining the reason.< | #According to many opinions it is permitted to teach non-Jews Torah in a superficial way just to explain them Torah without the reasons or the depths of the Torah. Additionally, it is permitted to give a ruling for a non-Jew to act in a certain fashion without explaining the reason.<ref>Mishnat Hager p. 321 quotes the Beer Sheva (Beer Mayim Chayim n. 14) who permits teaching torah to non-Jews if you don't explain the reasons or the intricate logic of Torah. Tiferet Yisrael (Zevachim 14:4) explains that ti is permitted to rule for a non-Jew without explaining its reason.</ref> | ||
==Teaching Torah== | ==Teaching Torah== | ||
