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<font size=3>At 01:07 PM 8/8/2012, R. Joel Rich wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">-- <br>
From an upcoming audioroundup:<br><br>
<a href="http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/780602/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Why_Learn_Gemara_An_Appreciation_of_Talmud_Bavli_in_Anticipation_of_the_Siyum_Hashas" eudora="autourl">
http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/780602/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Why_Learn_Gemara_An_Appreciation_of_Talmud_Bavli_in_Anticipation_of_the_Siyum_Hashas</a>
<br>
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Why Learn Gemara? An Appreciation of Talmud Bavli in
Anticipation of the Siyum Hashas <br><br>
Sounding very Litvish (my definition - anyone who says with a straight
face Nasata V'natata b'emunah is a question about your learning and not
your business ethics). R'Lebowitz explains the primary importance of
Talmud Torah [especially halacha; agadah is only a supplement] as a
description of HKB"H.<br>
Why learn Talmud Bavli and not Kitzur Shulchan Aruch? 1)
Deeper understanding of halacha/applications; 2) connects us to
baalei mesorah (links in tradition)[me - but a real Litvak would say
connects us to how later baalei mesorah understood the earlier ones since
else it's academic talmud!]; 3) promotes engagement of student with the
material; 4) connects us to HKB"H; 5) contains Tanach and Misnah and
Mussar (i.e. everything); 6) more challenging.<br><br>
</font></blockquote><br>
In the introduction to his essay Our Prophets Speak to Us Rav Dr. Yosef
Breuer, ZT"L. wrote<br><br>
<font size=3>The following essay on the role of the study of our<br>
Nevi’im appears warranted in view of the incredible<br>
neglect of this vital study area by most of our higher<br>
Yeshiva institutions. This is a phenomenon that probably<br>
has its roots in our recent history. At the time when the<br>
so-called “Haskalah,” spreading its vicious propaganda,<br>
tried to expel Talmud study from the educational program<br>
and replace it with the study of Tanach and Hebrew<br>
language, a negative attitude of the Yeshivos towards<br>
the role of Tanach study was understandable. In<br>
our time there is no reason for this attitude. The present<br>
trend towards almost exclusive occupation with the Talmud<br>
leaves the study of Tanach to the individual talmid,<br>
on whose private interest it depends whether he wishes<br>
to broaden his knowledge and understanding of Tanach<br>
beyond that which he acquired in grade school. The<br>
study of Tanach, no less than the study of Talmud,<br>
requires the mature guidance of those who are able to<br>
provide it for our mature youth.<br><br>
It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate in brief<br>
strokes the approach to the Books of our Prophets and<br>
the vital significance of this research.<br><br>
Our Prophets must be read in a spirit of sanctity, for they meet<br>
us as Divinely-inspired leaders, commissioned by God to assist us<br>
in comprehending the enigma of life.<br><br>
Clearly Rav Breuer did not think that learning gemara was a substitute
for studying Tenach. <br><br>
Furthermore, in my original post on this topic I wrote<br><br>
Mishnah Berurah (155:3): Every day, one must learn Mikra, Mishnah, Gemara
and Poskim. Ba'alei Batim who learn only three or four hours a day should
not learn only Talmud, for then they are not Yotzei. Rather, they should
learn also Poskim, everyone according to his ability. <br><br>
Clearly the Chofetz Chaim did not think that it was sufficient to learn
just Gemara. <br><br>
YL<br>
<hr>
<br>
I have posted Rav Dr. Y. Breuer's entire essay at
<a href="http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/our_prophets_speak.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/our_prophets_speak.pdf<br><br>
<br><br>
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