Sunday, 31 July 2016

torah study - What should a Jew learn regularly?


I am wondering what systems of structured Jewish learnings exist or alternatively how to build one. In a broader way what are existing/recognized Jewish learning curriculums or answers to “what should a Jew know/learn regularly”?


We know some partial answers



  • “shnei mikra v’echad targum” - weekly review of the parsha of the week with its commentary (Onkelos / Rashi) - I know some try to learn every year another commentary on a revolving basis (e.g., Ramban, Baal Haturim)

  • daf yomi

  • Hitat (Chabad’s Humash, Tehilim, Tanya) - discussed here on MY

  • Chabad’s (and others?) daily learning of Mishne Torah (1 chapter a day / 3 chapters a day)


But am I asking in a broader way. What should a Jew know and regularly learn? The answer is probably a combination of




  • Humash: weekly review of parasha and commentary (what about midrash?)

  • Tanakh: yearly review of rest of Tanakh

  • Oral Law: daf yomi + review all mishna every 1/2/3 years?

  • Halakha: regular review of Mishna Brura (e.g., Dirshu's Daf Yomi b'Halacha, see also here)

  • Mussar: e.g., review on a revolving cycle of Mesilat Yesharim, Chovot Halelavot, etc.


What existing systems are you aware of? What are thoughts on this?


PS. I read (in his wife's biography) that R Chaim Kanievski has his own seder limud, completing every year Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi, Nach, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Mishnah Berurah, Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanchumah, Sifra, Sifri and Tosefta. But I am looking for something for us normal humans...



Answer




In the most general sense, one is required to know the entire Torah, meaning both written and oral, revealed and hidden, each individual according to their unique capacity. It is an occupation which lasts over the entire course of ones physical life and beyond.


A very good English explanation of what one should learn regularly can be found at the following link. The main principles are there.


http://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Laws_of_Learning_Torah


It is important to note that in terms of actual practice, one should distinguish between someone who has been raised from the beginning according to the these requirements and someone who comes to learning later in life. The general rule for someone who starts later is to divide their study into thirds. This is discussed in detail by the Alter Rebbe in Hilchot Talmud Torah from Shulchan Aruch HaRav.


Particularly for someone who comes to learning later in life, they should pursue those areas where their personal interests are strongest. It doesn't mean to ignore other areas of Torah, but to develop the habit of learning regularly. This means ideally to set aside specific time, however long, each day, once in the morning and once at night when one will be occupied in Torah study. The emphasis is not on volume. It is on regularity.


If reading in Hebrew is preferred, this link is to Hilchot Talmud Torah from the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. The actual text runs from page 67 through 88 of the online document. An introduction precedes it and voluminous explanatory notes follow it.


http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16009&st=&pgnum=67&hilite=


And these remaining links provide the continuation and completion of those explanatory notes to text.


http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16073&st=&pgnum=1


http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16061&st=&pgnum=1



http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16070&pgnum=1


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