Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-fourth of the 48 is emunas chachamim; yesterday we translated this one way, but today we offer the sincerity of sages.
This is the approach taken by Rabbeinu Bechayye. In order to succeed in Torah study, one must be the same inside and out, as humble and pious and diligent inside as he appears externally. One must not only look like a scholar, one must be a scholar.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
48 Ways: #24a - Trust in our Sages
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-fourth of the 48 is emunas chachamim, which may refer to trust in our sages.
I expect to apply a different definition tomorrow, but this explanation means that one who would succeed in Torah study must have a basic trust in our sages to lead us honestly. If we are worried that our sages might be mis-leading us, we will read their texts with one eye on the door, so to speak, without the ability to immerse ourselves in them.
Of course, one might counter that a healthy skepticism can help provide an objective read and alert the student to potential errors - but this mishnah is not approaching Torah with that perspective. The goal of this mishnah is for the student to accomplish mastery, and this mishnah contends that true mastery requires that one buy into the system wholeheartedly.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-fourth of the 48 is emunas chachamim, which may refer to trust in our sages.
I expect to apply a different definition tomorrow, but this explanation means that one who would succeed in Torah study must have a basic trust in our sages to lead us honestly. If we are worried that our sages might be mis-leading us, we will read their texts with one eye on the door, so to speak, without the ability to immerse ourselves in them.
Of course, one might counter that a healthy skepticism can help provide an objective read and alert the student to potential errors - but this mishnah is not approaching Torah with that perspective. The goal of this mishnah is for the student to accomplish mastery, and this mishnah contends that true mastery requires that one buy into the system wholeheartedly.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, April 28, 2013
48 Ways: #23 - A Good Heart
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-third of the 48 is lev tov, a good heart.
Elsewhere, such as early in Pirkei Avot, lev tov is understood to refer to an instinctive, inherent generosity. This is important in one's studies because its opposite, selfishness, leads a person to close his mind to trading ideas and perspectives with others. Generosity opens a person to share his learning with others, and through that sharing one's knowledge and wisdom grows.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-third of the 48 is lev tov, a good heart.
Elsewhere, such as early in Pirkei Avot, lev tov is understood to refer to an instinctive, inherent generosity. This is important in one's studies because its opposite, selfishness, leads a person to close his mind to trading ideas and perspectives with others. Generosity opens a person to share his learning with others, and through that sharing one's knowledge and wisdom grows.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, April 27, 2013
48 Ways: #22 - A long temper
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-second of the 48 is erech apayim - having a long temper.
There are many evident advantages to patience, personally and in society and in one's learning. Regarding this last category, on a very practical level, one who has a fiery temper is more apt to be distracted from his studies by personal issues and will have a harder time finding good mentoring and chavruta relationships.
Rabbeinu Bechayye notes an additional problem, though: We are taught that anger causes a person to forget his learning; see Rashi to Bamidbar 31:21, for example, stating that Moshe's moments of rage caused him to forget that which he knew. This may be explained naturally; in the learning stage our anger and stress deny us the focus needed to develop memories, and in the recall stage these same phenomena turn our mind away from tracking down those connections, and can also cause us to lose patience with the whole process of learning.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-second of the 48 is erech apayim - having a long temper.
There are many evident advantages to patience, personally and in society and in one's learning. Regarding this last category, on a very practical level, one who has a fiery temper is more apt to be distracted from his studies by personal issues and will have a harder time finding good mentoring and chavruta relationships.
Rabbeinu Bechayye notes an additional problem, though: We are taught that anger causes a person to forget his learning; see Rashi to Bamidbar 31:21, for example, stating that Moshe's moments of rage caused him to forget that which he knew. This may be explained naturally; in the learning stage our anger and stress deny us the focus needed to develop memories, and in the recall stage these same phenomena turn our mind away from tracking down those connections, and can also cause us to lose patience with the whole process of learning.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, April 25, 2013
48 Ways: #21 - Minimizing frivolity
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-first of the 48 is miut s'chok, reducing frivolity - the pursuit of fun without inherent value.
The Talmud tends to characterize s'chok as frivolity, as opposed to simchah, which is a state of happiness; see Shabbat 30b about G-d being manifest upon a person who is engaged in joy of a mitzvah, but not in s'chok, and Rabbi Akiva's criticism of s'chok v'kalut rosh, frivolity and light-headedness, in Pirkei Avot 3:13.
There is much more to say on Judaism and fun, but we are taught here that one who spends his time on frivolity will not succeed in Torah scholarship.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twenty-first of the 48 is miut s'chok, reducing frivolity - the pursuit of fun without inherent value.
The Talmud tends to characterize s'chok as frivolity, as opposed to simchah, which is a state of happiness; see Shabbat 30b about G-d being manifest upon a person who is engaged in joy of a mitzvah, but not in s'chok, and Rabbi Akiva's criticism of s'chok v'kalut rosh, frivolity and light-headedness, in Pirkei Avot 3:13.
There is much more to say on Judaism and fun, but we are taught here that one who spends his time on frivolity will not succeed in Torah scholarship.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
48 Ways: #20 - Minimizing chatter
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twentieth of the 48 is miut sichah, reducing chatter.
This "way" is, I think, self-evident. Aside from the fact that most of us learn more by listening than by talking, the type of chatter indicated by sichah is addictive, drawing a person into pleasant conversation which may be friendly and socially constructive, but which will not add to his scholarship.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twentieth of the 48 is miut sichah, reducing chatter.
This "way" is, I think, self-evident. Aside from the fact that most of us learn more by listening than by talking, the type of chatter indicated by sichah is addictive, drawing a person into pleasant conversation which may be friendly and socially constructive, but which will not add to his scholarship.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
48 Ways: #19 - Minimizing sleep
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The nineteenth of the 48 is miut sheinah, reducing sleep.
The Rambam explicitly counsels us to pursue eight hours of sleep per night (Hilchot Deiot 4:4), so perhaps one might say that today we are all in fulfillment of this mishnah, since it's rare for us to sleep eight hours in any given night!
To me, though, the mishnah here is not talking about quantity. As Rabbeinu Bechayye explains, this mishnah is saying that one should not be אדוק בשינה, pursuing sleep as a goal and priority. It's about our attitude - is sleep a goal, or is it a means toward accumulating the energy needed to achieve a positive end? One who pursues sleep as a goal will have difficulty achieving greatness in his studies.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The nineteenth of the 48 is miut sheinah, reducing sleep.
The Rambam explicitly counsels us to pursue eight hours of sleep per night (Hilchot Deiot 4:4), so perhaps one might say that today we are all in fulfillment of this mishnah, since it's rare for us to sleep eight hours in any given night!
To me, though, the mishnah here is not talking about quantity. As Rabbeinu Bechayye explains, this mishnah is saying that one should not be אדוק בשינה, pursuing sleep as a goal and priority. It's about our attitude - is sleep a goal, or is it a means toward accumulating the energy needed to achieve a positive end? One who pursues sleep as a goal will have difficulty achieving greatness in his studies.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, April 22, 2013
48 Ways: #18 - Minimizing pleasure
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eighteenth of the 48 is miut taanug, reducing pleasure.
We are taught that we should take advantage of pleasurable opportunities and use them to thank G-d; as the Talmud Yerushalmi (Kiddushin 4:12) teaches, "Rabbi Chizkiyah said, citing Rabbi Kahan, citing Rav: A person will have to give a justification and accounting for everything his eye perceived and he did not consume. Rabbi Elazar was concerned about this, and so he would hoard his coins and use them to eat every type of food once each year." However, we must also recognize that the more time and energy one devotes to pursuing pleasure, the less time and energy one devotes to his studies.
For an ideal example of this, see the case of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, and his fall from Chagigah 14b to Shabbat 147b.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eighteenth of the 48 is miut taanug, reducing pleasure.
We are taught that we should take advantage of pleasurable opportunities and use them to thank G-d; as the Talmud Yerushalmi (Kiddushin 4:12) teaches, "Rabbi Chizkiyah said, citing Rabbi Kahan, citing Rav: A person will have to give a justification and accounting for everything his eye perceived and he did not consume. Rabbi Elazar was concerned about this, and so he would hoard his coins and use them to eat every type of food once each year." However, we must also recognize that the more time and energy one devotes to pursuing pleasure, the less time and energy one devotes to his studies.
For an ideal example of this, see the case of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, and his fall from Chagigah 14b to Shabbat 147b.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, April 21, 2013
48 Ways: #17 - Minimizing social interaction
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The seventeenth of the 48 is miut derech eretz, reducing one's social interaction.
As with our sixteenth "way", this causes us some some difficulty. We are instructed to build up society, to be part of a community, to help others, and so on. The Jew is required to look after the needs of others, and to consider the impact upon society whenever he acts. Further, one grows, as a peson, from his involvement with society.
Nonetheless, there is a downside to community involvement; the more one emphasizes involvement with others, the less energy one devotes to study. Pirkei Avot would not advise us to contradict the expectations of halachah, but one who would succeed in scholarship should place limits upon his other endeavors.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The seventeenth of the 48 is miut derech eretz, reducing one's social interaction.
As with our sixteenth "way", this causes us some some difficulty. We are instructed to build up society, to be part of a community, to help others, and so on. The Jew is required to look after the needs of others, and to consider the impact upon society whenever he acts. Further, one grows, as a peson, from his involvement with society.
Nonetheless, there is a downside to community involvement; the more one emphasizes involvement with others, the less energy one devotes to study. Pirkei Avot would not advise us to contradict the expectations of halachah, but one who would succeed in scholarship should place limits upon his other endeavors.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, April 20, 2013
48 Ways: #16 - Minimizing commerce
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The sixteenth of the 48 is miut sechorah - minimizing commerce.
We are instructed to pursue a livelihood; some even explain a biblical verse, "You shall work for six days and perform all of your work," as a command requiring such work. However, there is neither enough time nor enough energy to specialize in ever pursuit, and one who wishes to achieve substantial success in Torah study will need to reduce his time spent in commerce.
Rambam's insistence upon the importance of earning a livelihood is well-known, but his advice [Mishneh Torah Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:12] was to spend three hours each day in a craft, and nine hours in Torah study (as well as eight hours in sleep! - Hilchot Deiot 4:4). Of course, times have changed, living standards have changed and the investment needed to earn a living has changed... but the demanding nature of excellence in Torah study remains.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The sixteenth of the 48 is miut sechorah - minimizing commerce.
We are instructed to pursue a livelihood; some even explain a biblical verse, "You shall work for six days and perform all of your work," as a command requiring such work. However, there is neither enough time nor enough energy to specialize in ever pursuit, and one who wishes to achieve substantial success in Torah study will need to reduce his time spent in commerce.
Rambam's insistence upon the importance of earning a livelihood is well-known, but his advice [Mishneh Torah Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:12] was to spend three hours each day in a craft, and nine hours in Torah study (as well as eight hours in sleep! - Hilchot Deiot 4:4). Of course, times have changed, living standards have changed and the investment needed to earn a living has changed... but the demanding nature of excellence in Torah study remains.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, April 18, 2013
48 Ways: #15 - Mishnah
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fifteenth of the 48 is mishnah.
It is possible that this refers to the canonized text that we know as Mishnah. However, it is also possible that this refers to general halachah, which is what the Talmud usually means when it refers to mishnah. Either way, the point is that excellence in Torah study requires a mastery of core rabbinic teachings. Analytical skills are important, and mastery of biblical text is important, but one must also master the building-block teachings of the Sages in order to know Torah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fifteenth of the 48 is mishnah.
It is possible that this refers to the canonized text that we know as Mishnah. However, it is also possible that this refers to general halachah, which is what the Talmud usually means when it refers to mishnah. Either way, the point is that excellence in Torah study requires a mastery of core rabbinic teachings. Analytical skills are important, and mastery of biblical text is important, but one must also master the building-block teachings of the Sages in order to know Torah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
48 Ways: #14b - Textual analysis
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourteenth of the 48 is mikra, which refers to Tanach, a.k.a. Scripture.
Yesterday we presented one way to look at this point. From the perspective of Rabbeinu Bechayye, though, this is about more than study of text; this is meant to encourage the student to examine the ways in which lessons are learned from the Torah's text. Over and above familiarity with the text, one must comprehend the ways in which we derive lessons from its words.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourteenth of the 48 is mikra, which refers to Tanach, a.k.a. Scripture.
Yesterday we presented one way to look at this point. From the perspective of Rabbeinu Bechayye, though, this is about more than study of text; this is meant to encourage the student to examine the ways in which lessons are learned from the Torah's text. Over and above familiarity with the text, one must comprehend the ways in which we derive lessons from its words.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
48 Ways: #14a - Scripture
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourteenth of the 48 is mikra, which refers to Tanach, a.k.a. Scripture.
The most basic building block of Torah is the pasuk [verse], and all of the lessons of midrash and mishnah and gemara are drawn from there. Therefore, the student who would succeed in studying Torah must devote time, on a regular basis, to the study of the text from which all of this springs, and not focus entirely on the lessons deduced from that text.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourteenth of the 48 is mikra, which refers to Tanach, a.k.a. Scripture.
The most basic building block of Torah is the pasuk [verse], and all of the lessons of midrash and mishnah and gemara are drawn from there. Therefore, the student who would succeed in studying Torah must devote time, on a regular basis, to the study of the text from which all of this springs, and not focus entirely on the lessons deduced from that text.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, April 15, 2013
48 Ways: #13b - A Settled Mind
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The thirteenth of the 48 is yishuv. Yesterday, we translated yishuv as 'resolution', but it may also be translated as 'a settled mind'. This is one of the views presented in Rashi on Pirkei Avot.
Within this explanation, one who would succeed in Torah must pursue his studies with a settled mind, without concern for external pursuits. One whose mind is distracted with thoughts of material gain or acquiring honour, for example, will not be able to devote the pure focus which will bring scholastic success.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The thirteenth of the 48 is yishuv. Yesterday, we translated yishuv as 'resolution', but it may also be translated as 'a settled mind'. This is one of the views presented in Rashi on Pirkei Avot.
Within this explanation, one who would succeed in Torah must pursue his studies with a settled mind, without concern for external pursuits. One whose mind is distracted with thoughts of material gain or acquiring honour, for example, will not be able to devote the pure focus which will bring scholastic success.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, April 14, 2013
48 Ways: #13a - Resolution
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The thirteenth of the 48 is yishuv, resolution.
When learning Torah, we frequently come across sources which appear to contradict each other. One might be tempted to write off these sources as irreconcilable or to dismiss the problem as a function of our personal ignorance, but we will learn far more from an honest attempt to get to to the heart of each source and comprehend their shared language.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The thirteenth of the 48 is yishuv, resolution.
When learning Torah, we frequently come across sources which appear to contradict each other. One might be tempted to write off these sources as irreconcilable or to dismiss the problem as a function of our personal ignorance, but we will learn far more from an honest attempt to get to to the heart of each source and comprehend their shared language.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, April 13, 2013
48 Ways: #12 - Heated debate
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twelfth of the 48 is pilpul hatalmidim, heated debate.
Rabbeinu Bechayye contends that the term pilpul comes from the noun pilpel, pepper. The heat of students' drive to question and challenge generates new insights, as it pushes our intellects further. We will succeed in our studies when they are driven by this great internal heat.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The twelfth of the 48 is pilpul hatalmidim, heated debate.
Rabbeinu Bechayye contends that the term pilpul comes from the noun pilpel, pepper. The heat of students' drive to question and challenge generates new insights, as it pushes our intellects further. We will succeed in our studies when they are driven by this great internal heat.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, April 11, 2013
48 Ways: #11 - Analysis with colleagues
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eleventh of the 48 is dikduk chaveirim, analysis with colleagues.
Personal study has many pitfalls, including the lack of an outsider's perspective to raise new questions and point out logical flaws. Having colleagues with whom to approach the Torah's text enables us to deepen our study and improve upon it.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eleventh of the 48 is dikduk chaveirim, analysis with colleagues.
Personal study has many pitfalls, including the lack of an outsider's perspective to raise new questions and point out logical flaws. Having colleagues with whom to approach the Torah's text enables us to deepen our study and improve upon it.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
48 Ways: #10 - Serving Sages
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The tenth of the 48 is shimush talmidei chachamim, service of Torah scholars. [Please note that there are several extant variations of the list, and your numbering may vary.]
"Service of Torah scholars" implies a life in which one is regularly in the presence of sages, and in which one looks after their needs. Both of these are important; the former affords the opportunity to learn from a great example, and the latter helps us to develop a mindset of devotion to promotion of Torah, whether our own or that of others. So it is that the Talmud (Berachot 7a) says, "Service of Torah is even greater than its study."
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The tenth of the 48 is shimush talmidei chachamim, service of Torah scholars. [Please note that there are several extant variations of the list, and your numbering may vary.]
"Service of Torah scholars" implies a life in which one is regularly in the presence of sages, and in which one looks after their needs. Both of these are important; the former affords the opportunity to learn from a great example, and the latter helps us to develop a mindset of devotion to promotion of Torah, whether our own or that of others. So it is that the Talmud (Berachot 7a) says, "Service of Torah is even greater than its study."
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
48 Ways: #9 - Joy
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The ninth of the 48 is simchah, joy.
Pirkei Avot 6:4 teaches that one must be prepared to endure material hardship and privation for the sake of his studies, and we have already seen in this list of 48 "ways" that success in Torah study requires reverence. Nonetheless, the student who will succeed is one who feels happy in those studies, believing that he is pursuing a worthwhile goal and enjoying the steps he takes toward that end.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The ninth of the 48 is simchah, joy.
Pirkei Avot 6:4 teaches that one must be prepared to endure material hardship and privation for the sake of his studies, and we have already seen in this list of 48 "ways" that success in Torah study requires reverence. Nonetheless, the student who will succeed is one who feels happy in those studies, believing that he is pursuing a worthwhile goal and enjoying the steps he takes toward that end.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, April 8, 2013
48 Ways: #8 - Humility
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eighth of the 48 is anavah, humility.
Humility is necessary in order to function a good student; one who views himself as knowing more than others will be less open to new perspectives. Also, as noted by Rabbeinu Bechayye, one who lacks humility will have difficulty acknowledging his errors and changing his mind.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The eighth of the 48 is anavah, humility.
Humility is necessary in order to function a good student; one who views himself as knowing more than others will be less open to new perspectives. Also, as noted by Rabbeinu Bechayye, one who lacks humility will have difficulty acknowledging his errors and changing his mind.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, April 7, 2013
48 Ways: #7 - Fear
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The seventh of the 48 is yirah, fear.
"Fear" is a strong word, of course, but it fits here. One who would succeed in Torah must feel that getting its lessons right, understanding the true intent of the Torah, is of primary importance. A student who is not bothered by the possibility of misunderstanding the Torah, who conjures up explanations and ideas without making sure they are consistent with the Torah's teachings, cannot lay claim to expertise in Torah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The seventh of the 48 is yirah, fear.
"Fear" is a strong word, of course, but it fits here. One who would succeed in Torah must feel that getting its lessons right, understanding the true intent of the Torah, is of primary importance. A student who is not bothered by the possibility of misunderstanding the Torah, who conjures up explanations and ideas without making sure they are consistent with the Torah's teachings, cannot lay claim to expertise in Torah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, April 6, 2013
48 Ways: #6 - Reverence
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The sixth of the 48 is eimah, reverence.
Shemot 24:16 says that Moshe Rabbeinu remained in a cloud for six days before he could meet Gd atop Mount Sinai. At the start of Avot d'Rabbi Natan, Rabbi Matya ben Charash says that this was meant to intimidate Moshe; receiving the Torah required the awareness that he was encountering something larger than himself. This is true for us as well, when we wish to learn – one who approaches Torah with reverence will be able to learn far more.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The sixth of the 48 is eimah, reverence.
Shemot 24:16 says that Moshe Rabbeinu remained in a cloud for six days before he could meet Gd atop Mount Sinai. At the start of Avot d'Rabbi Natan, Rabbi Matya ben Charash says that this was meant to intimidate Moshe; receiving the Torah required the awareness that he was encountering something larger than himself. This is true for us as well, when we wish to learn – one who approaches Torah with reverence will be able to learn far more.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, April 4, 2013
48 Ways: #5 - Insight
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fifth of the 48 is sichlut halev, insight of the heart.
We have already said that successful Torah study depends upon being able to understand what the teacher intends, but it also depends on the insight of one's own mind, being able to look at a concept or question in a unique light, and thereby gaining a deeper comprehension.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fifth of the 48 is sichlut halev, insight of the heart.
We have already said that successful Torah study depends upon being able to understand what the teacher intends, but it also depends on the insight of one's own mind, being able to look at a concept or question in a unique light, and thereby gaining a deeper comprehension.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
48 Ways: #4 - Understand the Unspoken
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourth of the 48 is binat halev, "comprehension of the heart".
Rabbeinu Bechayye contends that this refers to the ability to understand the unspoken. In an ideal scenario, lessons would be spelled out clearly in the spoken word, but communication of certain ideas is beyond our power of speech. For these, we are expected to understand in our heart that which we will not hear with our ears.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The fourth of the 48 is binat halev, "comprehension of the heart".
Rabbeinu Bechayye contends that this refers to the ability to understand the unspoken. In an ideal scenario, lessons would be spelled out clearly in the spoken word, but communication of certain ideas is beyond our power of speech. For these, we are expected to understand in our heart that which we will not hear with our ears.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
48 Ways: #3 - Speak clearly
Hi,
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The third of the 48 is arichat sefatayim, "arrangement of the lips", or speaking.
Rabbeinu Bechayye explains that this is not about the student, but the teacher. One must find a teacher who is not only learned and wise, but also able to formualte and express ideas clearly, so that students will understand.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Pirkei Avot 6:5 teaches that Torah is acquired in 48 ways, which it lists for us. The third of the 48 is arichat sefatayim, "arrangement of the lips", or speaking.
Rabbeinu Bechayye explains that this is not about the student, but the teacher. One must find a teacher who is not only learned and wise, but also able to formualte and express ideas clearly, so that students will understand.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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