TB Menakhot 7 How to succeed in learning

Today’s daf TB Menakhot 7 teaches us how to succeed in our learning. The Gemara relates the story of Rabbi Avimi and his student Rav Ḥisda.

“Rabbi Avimi was learning tractate Menaḥot in the study hall of Rav Ḥisda. It doesn’t make sense that Rabbi Avimi was studying in the study hall of his student Rav Ḥisda. Rav Ḥisda should have been studying his teacher’s study hall. It’s like saying that one of my Talmud professors came to study Talmud in one of my adult education classes.

“Avimi was in fact the teacher, but tractate Menaḥot was uprooted for him, i.e., he forgot it, and Avimi came before his student Rav Ḥisda to help him recall his learning. The Gemara asks: If Rav Ḥisda was in fact Avimi’s student, let Avimi send for him and Rav Ḥisda come to Avimi. The Gemara responds: Avimi thought that this would be more helpful in this matter.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rashi ד"ה מִסְתַיְיעָא מִילְתָא explains why Rabbi Avimi felt it would be more helpful for him to go to his student rather than his student come to him. He quotes TB Megillah 6b. “Because (If one says) I have labored and I have found success, believe him.” By going the extra mile in order to learn successfully, Rabbi Avimi thought the reversal of the normal procedure would be worth it.

Putting in the extra effort and working hard to achieve your goals in any endeavor will be a guarantee of success.