Question: What is a man’s basic obligation of Talmud Torah?
Short Answer: The basic obligation is to be “kovei’a itim” (to designate time) to learn Torah every morning and evening. Ideally, one should learn every free second.
Explanation:
I. The Source
The Mishnah (M’nachos 99b) lists the opinion of Rabbi Yosi, that the Lechem HaPanim did not need to be on the Shulchan every second of every day; it was sufficient if the old bread was removed in the morning and the new bread was put on the Shulchan later in the day. Based on this, the Gemara explains that the pasuk of “Lo yamush...v’hagisa bo yomam va’lailah” (Yehoshua 1:8) also may be satisfied by learning one perek in the morning and one perek at night. The Gemara then cites Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai who holds that it may be satisfied by simply reciting K’rias Sh’ma in the morning and at night
The Gemara continues by citing the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael, who holds that one never has time to learn “chochmah Y’vanis” because there is never a time that is not “night” or “day” in which he must be studying Torah. The simple understanding is that there is a machlokes between Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Rabbi Yishmael whether the obligation of “Lo Yamush” is satisfied by a minimal morning/night learning (Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) or whether it is a full-time activity/obligation (Rabbi Yishmael).
The Gemara (B’rachos 35b), however, appears to contradict this holding. The Gemara cites Rabbi Yishmael as holding that “Lo Yamush” is trumped by “v’asafta d’ganecha,” that a person must spend time working. This contradicts his opinion in M’nachos: that learning Torah should be a full-time activity. Further, the Gemara cites Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai as holding that, in an ideal world (where the B’nei Yisrael are fulfilling Hashem’s will), a person should not worry about making a living and should instead learn Torah all day. This contradicts his opinion in M’nachos that learning Torah may be satisfied by a minimal morning/night learning.
II. The Answer
The sefer P’sakim U’T’shuvos (Yoreh Dei’ah 246:3) cites numerous Acharonim who answer the above contradictions, including Shulchan Aruch HaRav. Rabbi Yishmael holds that ideally Torah should be learned all day, but we are not mal’achim and must still function in a normal manner and earn a livelihood. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai holds that one may suffice with simply reciting K’rias Sh’ma in the morning and evening, but he will never acquire the “keser shel Torah,” which can only be achieved by many hours of study.
III. The Halachah
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Dei’ah 246:1) holds that you must designate time to learn Torah during the day and during the night. The Rama adds that if it is sh’as ha’d’chak, one may be yotzei with K’rias Sh’ma.
The Vilna Gaon (Sh’nos Eliyahu, Pei’ah 1:1) clarifies how this obligation to learn fits with the Mishnah in Pei’ah that Torah learning has no “shiur.” Ideally, one should learn all day and all night, but one should also not neglect to take care of mitzvos and other necessities. [However, see Biur HaGra, who cites the opinion of the Ran (N’darim) who disagrees with this ruling].
Similarly, the Mishnah B’rurah (Orach Chayim 155:4) holds that the obligation to learn Torah exists every second, but a person is permitted to break to take care of his needs.
The P’sakim U’T’shuvos (Yoreh Dei’ah ibid) supports this opinion from the lashon of the Shulchan Aruch, which first lists a general obligation to learn, and only afterwards lists the minimum amount. This implies that there is a general obligation to learn all the time, only to be limited if a person needs to take care of his important daily obligations.
IV. The Rishon L’Tziyon
The Rishon L’Tziyon (Yoreh Dei’ah ibid) suggests an interesting idea. The entire discussion in the Gemara is limited to a person who has already completed his knowledge of the Torah basics. Such a person may suffice with learning only K’rias Sh’ma. Until that point, however, a man must know everything he must do, such as mitzvos like kashrus and bentching.
V. Final Word
The Chofetz Chaim (Shem Olam 2:5) shares a beautiful idea: that the entire point of Y’tzias Mitzrayim was to give us the Torah, as this is the point of our existence.
Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Esq. is the Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, and he is a Partner at McGrail & Bensinger LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. Questions? Comments? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
