Six strategies for successful learning Torah Avodah Zarah 19

Today’s daf Avodah Zarah 19 presents six strategies for successful learning.

1.    Pick something that you’re interested in studying. “But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2). Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: A person can learn Torah only from a place in the Torah that his heart desires, as it is stated: But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord, i.e., his delight is in the part of the Torah that he wishes to study.” (Sefaria.org translation)

2.    Gain basic fluency first and then analyze deeply. “And Rava says in reference to this verse: A person must always study Torah and gain a broad knowledge of it, and only then may he analyze and delve into it. As it is stated: “His delight is in the Torah of the Lord,” meaning that he studies the Torah on a basic level, and only afterward does the verse state: “And in his Torah he meditates,” i.e., he analyzes it.” (Sefaria.org translation)

3.    Constantly review what you’ve learned. “And Rava says with regard to Torah study: A person should always study [ligeris] and review even though he may afterward forget, and even though he does not understand what it is saying. As it is stated with regard to the study of Torah: “My soul breaks [garesa] for the longing that it has for Your ordinances at all times” (Psalms 119:20). It is written: “Breaks,” and it is not written: Grinds, demonstrating that the soul is satisfied with breaking apart material, on a basic level, even if it does not have the opportunity to grind and analyze it in greater depth.” (Sefaria.org translation)

4.    Small steps make great learning possible. “The Gemara cites other statements relating to Torah study. Rava says that Rav Seḥora says that Rav Huna says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Wealth gotten through vanity [mehevel] shall be diminished; but he that gathers little by little shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11)? If a person turns his Torah into many bundles [ḥavilot], by studying large amounts in a short period of time without reviewing, his Torah will diminish. But if he gathers his knowledge little by little, by studying slowly and reviewing, his knowledge shall increase. Rava said: The Sages know this, but nevertheless they transgress it, i.e., they fail to heed this advice. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: I did this, as I studied little by little and regularly reviewed what I had learned, and my learning has in fact endured.” (Sefaria.org translation)

a.     Interestingly enough, kaizen is the Japanese technique of achieving great and lasting success through small and study steps. Our brain resists large changes out of fear. Small steps circumvent this fear to allow change to happen. This strategy includes:

                                                   i.     asking small questions to spill fear and inspire creativity

                                                 ii.     thinking small thoughts to develop new skills and habits-without moving a muscle

                                               iii.     taking small actions that guarantee success

                                               iv.     solving small problems, even when you’re faced with an overwhelming crisis

                                                  v.     bestowing smaller words to yourself or others to produce the best results

                                               vi.     recognize the small but crucial moments that everyone else ignores (One Small Step. The Kaizen Way by Dr. Robert Maurer, PhD, page 18-19) 

5.    Learn different approaches to deepen your understanding. “The Gemara returns to its interpretation of the first verses of Psalms. “And he shall be like a tree planted [shatul] by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3). The students of the school of Rabbi Yannai say: The verse states that a Torah scholar is comparable to a tree that has been uprooted from its original location and replanted [shatul] somewhere else. It does not say that he is comparable to a tree that is planted [natu’a] and remains in one place. This is teaching that anyone who learns Torah from one teacher alone never sees a sign of blessing, as it is necessary to acquire knowledge from many teachers.” (Sefaria.org translation)

6.    Created a daily study schedule. “The Gemara continues discussing the verse cited above: “By streams [palgei] of water” (Psalms 1:3). Rabbi Tanḥum bar Ḥanilai says: Since the root peh, lamed, gimmel can also refer to dividing, the verse is interpreted as follows: A person should always divide his years into thirds, as follows: One third for Bible, one third for Mishna and one third for Talmud. The Gemara asks: How can one divide his life this way? Does a person know the length of his life, that he can calculate how much a third will be? The Gemara answers: When we said that a one should divide his time into thirds, the intention was with regard to his days, i.e., he should devote one third of each day to Bible, Mishna, and Talmud, respectively.” (Sefaria.org translation)

                                                   i.     Rashi and Tosefot ד"ה יְשַׁלֵּשׁ אָדָם שְׁנוֹתָיו disagree what this study schedule should look like. Rashi suggests that one create a weekly schedule, 2 days studying Torah, 2 days studying Mishna, and 2 days studying Gemara. On the other hand, Tosefot suggests that we should have a daily schedule.

 

                                                 ii.     Rambam writes that a beginner should study 3 hours of Torah, 3 hours of Mishna, and 3 hours of Gemara each day. Once the person has generally mastered the material, he should devote the entire day to the study of Gemara. (Sefer Mad’a, Hilkhot Talmud Torah, chapter 1 halakha 11)

                                               iii.     Back in the Tosefot, Rebbeinu Tam writes that they only study the Gemara because it already includes Torah and Mishna.

                                                iv.     Every year I study a different source to enhance my learning. One year I studied the Humash Khok LeYisrael (חוק לישראל). This 5 volume series divides the weekly Torah portion into seven unequal parts. Besides the daily Torah portion, each day also contains a selection from Haftorah, taken from the books of the Prophets, a selection from the Writings, a chapter of Mishna, a short sugiyah from the Gemara, a selection from the Zohar, a selection from the Musar liturgy, and a daily halakha. By using this book as a guide, one studies a little bit from each of our classic texts. Unfortunately, I think Humash is only available in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.