[Avodah] nefesh hachayim

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 03:58:13PM -0500, Akiva Miller via Avodah wrote:
> R' Joel Rich asked:
> > Fascinating,  is he saying that the only reason contemplating
> > yirah during learning is that it is intrinsic to learning because
> > it causes his torah to be remembered, not as an independent value.
> 
> I think you translated it well, and understood it correctly. To take a
> *short* break during one's learning...
>                   is not a hefsek in the learning, and does not constitute
> Bitul Torah. Rather, it is a tafel which *enhances* the ikar. Or, to use
> your translation, it *sustains* his learning!
...
> But if one treats this hisbonenus as an "independent value", then I daresay
> that the Nefesh Hachayim would hold that he has gone beyond the "me'at"
> limitation. (Note that the Nefesh Hachayim used that word *twice* in this
> snippet!) I understand "independent value" to mean that he treats it as its
> own ikar, and no longer batel to the learning.

(Long quote, because for an email list, Feb 19 was eons ago.)

I would also point out that there is nothing in NhC vol 4 that says that
hisbonenus and deveiqus aren't an independent value.

Just that the value isn't high enough ranking to interrupt learning.
It might even be high enough to delay learning if you didn't start yet.

> For more information I suggest Pirkei Avos 3:9. Admiring and praising
> Hashem's handiwork is a wonderful thing. But if one interrupted his
> learning to do it, and it is unrelated to what he was learning, then it's
> *not* so good.

(3:7 in my edition)

There are lots of acharonim who give the derash-y explanation that the
problem isn't admiring the tree, but doing so as an interruption from
their learning. If one is admiring the tree to note Nifla'os haBorei,
one wouldn't be mischayeiv benafosho.

Which would turn the interruption to the short hisbonenus RCV permitted.

(Also, I want to point out that this is one of the few times it is pretty
compelling that RCV was presenting an alternative to the Chassidish
position, which wouldn't merely permit a short hisbonenus rather than
recommending a less short one.)

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 Imagine waking up tomorrow
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   with only the things
Author: Widen Your Tent      we thanked Hashem for today!
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF