Learning
Question
Dear Rabbi, 1) I totally understand the problem with just learning yevamos be'iyun all day, but wat about the rambam in hilchos talmud torah that says you should break up learning into three sections, halacha study, tanach, and gemara? It seems that we should be learning some gemara, even if we haven'y mastered halacha yet. Also, he says that this plan is for beginners. But experts should study more gemara than the others. Is this what the Rambam is saying? Should we be following this? Is this based on the gemara in kidushin that says that you should split your learning into three areas? Please clarify. Than you as always for your time. Good Shabbos!!
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiYes it's based on that Gemara, but of course it is talking about after you learned the ABC's. The Gemara in Shabbat 63 (or so) relates a statement about Rav Kahana who says he finished Shas at 18, but never knew..... The point was that first you know all the Gemaras prior to delving into the Gemaras and the reasons behind everything. The Rambam would not argue on that Gemara, and the two Gemaras are not contradictions. The Gemara assumes that you're in your twenties now and beginning your life of learning and it is saying to split the day in three. Yes, it is talking about a beginner, but not an ignoramus. On another topic, tell Rabbi Friedman that people with Payos are still OK as witnesses (provided that they don't live in Lakewood!). AA