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Laws of Learning Torah: Difference between revisions

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==Halacha and Mussar==
==Halacha and Mussar==
# It's very important to learn Mussar daily because the greater one is, the greater one's Yetzer hara is. <ref> [[Sukkah]] 52a </ref> Torah was created as an antidote to the Yetzer Hara. <ref>Kedushin 30b </ref> Even if learning Mussar takes away from learning other portions of Torah like Gemara, it's important to study Mussar. <ref> Birkei Yosef 1:9 and Chaye Adam ([[Yom Kippur]] Klal 432) write that one should study Mussar daily even at the expense of torah study time. Mishna Brurah 1:12 (and Shaar Tzion 1:26), Halacha Brurah (1:11 and 55:4), and Halichot Olam (8 pg 336) quote this as halacha. </ref>
# It's very important to learn Mussar daily because the greater one is, the greater one's Yetzer hara is. <ref> [[Sukkah]] 52a </ref> Torah was created as an antidote to the Yetzer Hara. <ref>Kedushin 30b </ref> Even if learning Mussar takes away from learning other portions of Torah like Gemara, it's important to study Mussar. <ref> Birkei Yosef 1:9 and Chaye Adam ([[Yom Kippur]] Klal 432) write that one should study Mussar daily even at the expense of torah study time. Mishna Brurah 1:12 (and Shaar Tzion 1:26), Halacha Brurah (1:11 and 55:4), and Halichot Olam (8 pg 336) quote this as halacha. </ref>
# Someone who only has 2 or 3 hours to learn daily should learn Halacha from Shulchan Aruch and commentaries or from contemporary Poskim so that one will be knowledgeable in practical laws and not come to do a sin without knowing. This is more preferable than learning Daf Yomi, or Gemara and Rishonim from which one can’t derive practical halacha. <Ref> Derisha Y”D 246:6, Shach Y”D 246:5 write that someone who only has a little time should learn from the poskim as it says in Nidda 73a someone who learns Halachot every day is a Ben Olam Haba. Shulchan Aruch HaRav (Tamud Torah 2:9), Yarot Devash, Derech HaChaim, Sh”t Teshuva MeAhava (Introduction to 2nd volume), Sh”t Yachave Daat 6:52, Kaf HaChaim Palagi 29:9, Mishna Brurah 155:3, and Halacha Brurah 155:4 concur. </ref>
# Someone who only has 2 or 3 hours to learn daily should learn Halacha from Shulchan Aruch and commentaries or from contemporary Poskim so that one will be knowledgeable in practical laws and not come to do a sin without knowing. This is more preferable than learning Daf Yomi, or Gemara and Rishonim from which one can’t derive practical halacha. <Ref> Derisha Y”D 246:6, Shach Y”D 246:5 write that someone who only has a little time should learn from the poskim as it says in Nidda 73a someone who learns Halachot every day is a Ben Olam Haba. Shulchan Aruch HaRav (Tamud Torah 2:9), Yarot Devash, Derech HaChaim, Sh”t [[Teshuva]] MeAhava (Introduction to 2nd volume), Sh”t Yachave Daat 6:52, Kaf HaChaim Palagi 29:9, Mishna Brurah 155:3, and Halacha Brurah 155:4 concur. </ref>


==Learning Kabbalah==
==Learning Kabbalah==
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# Women, slaves, and children are exempt from [[learning Torah]]. <ref> Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:1 </ref>
# Women, slaves, and children are exempt from [[learning Torah]]. <ref> Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:1 </ref>
==Who is obligated to teach Torah?==
==Who is obligated to teach Torah?==
# All who are obligated to learn Torah are also obligated to teach Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:1 </ref>  
# All who are obligated to learn Torah are also obligated to teach Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:1 </ref>  
# Specifically, a father is obligated to teach his son Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:1 </ref>  
# Specifically, a father is obligated to teach his son Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:1 </ref> The obligation begins when the son begins to talk, he should be taught "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe.." as well as the first pasuk of Kriat Shema.  <ref> Bayit HaYehudi vol. 3 pg. 136 </ref>
# A man is even obligated to teach his grandson Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:2 </ref>
# A father is required to provide a Torah education for his son even if it will require him paying for a private teacher or private school. <ref> Bayit Yehudi vol. 3 pg. 136  </ref>  
# A man is even obligated to teach his grandson Torah. <ref> Mishneh Torah Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:2 </ref>


==Learning aloud==
==Learning aloud==
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==Learning with a Chevruta==
==Learning with a Chevruta==
# Even though it is preferable and advantageous to learn with a Chevruta (partner) or in a Chabura (group) nonetheless, one who learns by oneself, fulfills the Mitzvah Deoritta of Talmud Torah. <ref> Tanna Dvei Eliyaho 23 writes that Hashem finds favor in the Jewish people because they learn in groups (Chabura’s). Pirkei Avot 3:2-3 says that an individual who learns gets reward for learning, two who learn together have their Torah written in Hashem’s Sefer Zichronot and the Shechina is present, while ten who learn together have the Shechina precede the group in wait for their learning. [[Brachot]] 63b says that one really acquires his Torah that he learns in a Chabura. From the above it just seems that there are good levels of learning and then higher forms, yet from Tanit 7a which says that Talmidei Chachamim who learn by themselves are cursed, become foolish, and sin, it seems that learning as an individual is problematic. Nonetheless, because nowadays we learn from a Sefer it’s permissible (Halichot Olam 8 pg 390) and Yavetz (Introduction) writes that it doesn’t apply to learning in Israel where the air makes one wise. Even though, Maharal (Derech Chaim (Avot 3:3)) writes that learning by oneself even if one says it out loud isn’t considered Osek in Divrei Torah, Halichot Olam rejects using this for halachic implications because one makes [[Brachot HaTorah]] for Torah one learns by oneself and also Mishna Brurah (Beiur Halacha beginning of 155) writes that the mitzvah of Talmud Torah also applies to learning individually. </ref>  
# Even though it is preferable and advantageous to learn with a Chevruta (partner) or in a Chabura (group) nonetheless, one who learns by oneself, fulfills the Mitzvah Deoritta of Talmud Torah. <ref> Tanna Dvei Eliyaho 23 writes that Hashem finds favor in the Jewish people because they learn in groups (Chabura’s). Pirkei Avot 3:2-3 says that an individual who learns gets reward for learning, two who learn together have their Torah written in Hashem’s Sefer Zichronot and the Shechina is present, while ten who learn together have the Shechina precede the group in wait for their learning. [[Brachot]] 63b says that one really acquires his Torah that he learns in a Chabura. From the above it just seems that there are good levels of learning and then higher forms, yet from Tanit 7a which says that Talmidei Chachamim who learn by themselves are cursed, become foolish, and sin, it seems that learning as an individual is problematic. Nonetheless, because nowadays we learn from a Sefer it’s permissible (Halichot Olam 8 pg 390) and Yavetz (Introduction) writes that it doesn’t apply to learning in [[Israel]] where the air makes one wise. Even though, Maharal (Derech Chaim (Avot 3:3)) writes that learning by oneself even if one says it out loud isn’t considered Osek in Divrei Torah, Halichot Olam rejects using this for halachic implications because one makes [[Brachot HaTorah]] for Torah one learns by oneself and also Mishna Brurah (Beiur Halacha beginning of 155) writes that the mitzvah of Talmud Torah also applies to learning individually. </ref>  
==Interrupting Torah Learning==
==Interrupting Torah Learning==
# One should not interrupt Torah learning to answer Baruch Hu Ubaruch Shemo. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, Volume 1, Page 111 </ref>  
# One should not interrupt Torah learning to answer Baruch Hu Ubaruch Shemo. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, Volume 1, Page 111 </ref>