I have been trying to figure out a good argument for learning Torah. And I don't want to go the way of the Nefesh HaChaim to do so.
That is I am starting out with a conclusion and trying to figure out a good argument to bring to that conclusion. X therefore Y. Y is "It is good to learn Torah." Solve for X.
The arguments against keeping or learning Torah seem infinite and some seem convincing.
One argument against learning is when people see what happens when people overdo it. It is like eating too much. You can see what happens to people when they eat too much. But no one uses that as an argument not to eat.
One argument against it is to notice that Reform Jews support the State of Israel and clearly have the benefit of mankind as the major goal. Yet they do not learn very much Torah. Just a drop.
I could try to point out that this good will of reform Jews while a great thing in itself can go over a line into over-tolerance.
What I can say as an argument for Torah is my own parents home which was an island of wholesomeness and decency and holiness and our home was based on Torah even though we were Reform Jews--in name at least. I am sure my parents held from Torah much more strongly than the Reform Movement.
There is an aspect of numinous of Torah that I think is the best aspect of it. It connects one to the Divine.
For that reason I suggest having two sessions ever day in Torah. One in the Oral Law and the other in Poskim [i.e. people that sifted through the Talmud to come up with one law on each subject instead of an argument on each subject.] That is to go through the oral law from start to finish Talmud Bavli Yerushalmi, Tosphta Sifra, Sifri, Mechilta, Torat Kohanim. And the Poskim: Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch with the commentaries.
That is I am starting out with a conclusion and trying to figure out a good argument to bring to that conclusion. X therefore Y. Y is "It is good to learn Torah." Solve for X.
The arguments against keeping or learning Torah seem infinite and some seem convincing.
One argument against learning is when people see what happens when people overdo it. It is like eating too much. You can see what happens to people when they eat too much. But no one uses that as an argument not to eat.
One argument against it is to notice that Reform Jews support the State of Israel and clearly have the benefit of mankind as the major goal. Yet they do not learn very much Torah. Just a drop.
I could try to point out that this good will of reform Jews while a great thing in itself can go over a line into over-tolerance.
What I can say as an argument for Torah is my own parents home which was an island of wholesomeness and decency and holiness and our home was based on Torah even though we were Reform Jews--in name at least. I am sure my parents held from Torah much more strongly than the Reform Movement.
There is an aspect of numinous of Torah that I think is the best aspect of it. It connects one to the Divine.
For that reason I suggest having two sessions ever day in Torah. One in the Oral Law and the other in Poskim [i.e. people that sifted through the Talmud to come up with one law on each subject instead of an argument on each subject.] That is to go through the oral law from start to finish Talmud Bavli Yerushalmi, Tosphta Sifra, Sifri, Mechilta, Torat Kohanim. And the Poskim: Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch with the commentaries.
