1. “One who desires to become wise should increase their sitting” (Niddah, 70b)
2. “There is no comparison between a text that is studied 100 times and a text that is studied 101 times” (Chagiga 9b).
3. ”One who studies a text, shall find good, and he who trusts in God shall be happy (Proverbs, 16:20).
4. The basic principle of all intensive study is to be extremely exacting with the language of the text.
5. 6 Rules for Being Exacting in the Text
- ייתור לשון – extra words
- כפל ענין – repetitive subjects
- חידוש – a new idea
- שינוי לשון change in language,
- שינוי דין change in law
- שינוי ענין subject matter
6. Every part of the text teaches us something completely new that could not have been understood from any previous source.
7. 4 Rules to Define the Text
- Case
- Law
- Factor
- Source
8. “If the words of Torah are empty, the emptiness come from you”.
9. דברי המתחיל -You must put your attention upon exactly which words the author is speaking or explaining.
10. 5 Reasons for a Commentary
- מתקן הלשון – Smooth out the language
- מפרש הענן – Explain the subject
- מתרץ קושיא – Answer a difficulty
- מניע הספק – Remove a doubt
- נשמר מפירוש אחר – Reject another commentary
11. גרסא – Check for an identical text.
12. Think of an opposite or alternative explanation.
13. First study the Talmud. Then study the commentary.
14. Do you agree with the commentary?
15. What is forcing the commentary?
16. Fit the commentary back into the Talmud.
17. See Rashi
18. שיטה – Define the overall understanding
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