learning properly

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

The first thing one must learn is the laws pertaining to his/her daily life. These laws include the Laws of Midot (proper character traits). Additionally, one must understand the basics of their religious beliefs, the why they are doing what they're doing. The amount necessary, is not more than a ten minute clarification. This is the basics. Without this, how can one keep the laws if he/she does not even know them. Of course, it is pertinent to choose a qualified Rabbi to ask all your questions to, and to follow his rulings, for better or for worse. Then a man, who is required to study Torah, should begin his studying by learning and knowing Tana"ch, in it's original Hebrew text; not the King James version, nor any other translation. He can and should try to include at some point the Unkelos translation in Aramaic, once he is capable of understanding it properly. After knowing Tana"ch, the man should learn through Sha"s, Talmud Bavli, at a reasonable pace. Understand it as best as you can without slowing down much. You can't understand many things because you didn't learn through Sha"s, but you can't learn through Sha"s, if you don't understand. So do the best you can, and the second and third time around, you'll know it much better. No need for Rashi's except where it is needed to help you understand. Everything you learn should be reviewed again the next day, and preferably again at the end of the week. It helps to be studying two different Mesechtot simultaniously, so when one gets too complicated, or you are tired, you can just switch to the other. There is no need and it is probably not advisable to learn them in order. Just keep a track of what you did and did not learn and randomly choose the Mesechta that you're in the mood of. It is also helpful to study in a similarly quick way the Shulchan Aruch, by just reading the Shulchan Aruch and the Ram"a, and only looking at the sides when trying to understand something. Once you have a serious working knowledge of Sha"s, then you can and should learn in depth. This means to start with Mesechtot that are about relevant laws, to study the Gemara, Rashi, Tosafot, Ra"sh, Ra"n, Tur, Beit Yosef, Shulchan Aruch, Ram"a, and the relevant Rishonim & Acharonim to the Sugya (topic). This should not be done without proper supervision or direction. Better not to learn at all than to learn incorrectly. Once a person has a full working knowledge of all the above, has studied in depth all the relevant Laws, and has elevated his character to that expected of a Talmid Chacham (qualified Rabbi), then and only then may he begin studying "Kabalah." He cannot even understand it until then. That is the whole deal..... AA