[Avodah] Are We Trying to Grow?

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 01:14:31PM +0300, Saul Mashbaum via Avodah wrote:
> The 'drasha' may indeed be an exhortation to improve -- to be more
> punctilious in observing the mitzvot, to be more diligent in learning
> Torah. The discussion so far of the topic here has, for the most part,
> centered on skepticism regarding tt the efficacy of such drashot.
> 
> However, I believe in most cases, the 'drasha' presents an insight into
> Biblical verses or maamarei chazal...

But if they are yedi'os without an actual halakhah lemaaseh, is it "growth"?

I realize that may be more a question of English usage than mamashus, but
it's important to agree what we are talking about.

If we think there is sufficient learning in our communities, but
not enough of the sort that directly causes "growth" in the senses of
improving middos and/or one's relationship to the Borei, then we aren't
looking to promote more "insight[s] into Biblical verses or maamarei
chazal" as ends in themselves. And in fact, many such divrei Torah
wouldn't be part of the answer to the problem of "are we trying to grow?"

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 Life is a stage and we are the actors,
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   but only some of us have the script.
Author: Widen Your Tent                  - Rav Menachem Nissel
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF