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I have a bunch of seforim and sugyas that I want to learn and go through. However it is hard to actually put thought to action. There are days where I don’t end up reaching my goal (loi aleinu). And then I just listen to shiurim on Torah Anytime, to make myself feel better about it. I tried the learn mussar and then you will find time approach, but it isn’t working. What advice do you have for me? I assume some of you have been in similar predicaments.
Thanks in advance!
Are you in full time learning? Are you discussing during zman or during bein hazmanim?
Are you working? Are you talking about finding time during your busy schedule?If you make your situation clearer, maybe we can help you more.
Nobody can study everything. Listening to a Shiur on Torah Anytime is just as valid as any other learning
No, there is NO replacement for an in-depth learning session. But the fact that you feel “empty” some days and want to make it up with “something” is proof that you’re very in touch with your Neshama’s calling. That’s your Neshama’s way of saying he’s hungry for “something”. So of course, when it’s not possible, anything will do, to the best of your ability. And just know that you’ll bezras HaShem, you’ll find time to do it the real way…
“I have a bunch of seforim and sugyas that I want to learn and go through. ”
It isnt possible to go through a bunch of sugyas. choose one that you have a cheishek for learn it then go to the next.
tkae as long as you feel is appropriate whther the sugya takes you an hour or a month
You are likely “biting off more than you can chew”As yekke pointed out, more detail is needed. What seforim, sugyas, time, schedule, etc. Torah Anytime, is good for when you are on the way, you basically need to set yourself up a specific time, and say as the Chafetz Chaim would says: I am ” dead” for that hour.
I totally understand where you’re coming from – if you figure out a quick easy answer please let me know!!! The obvious answer is no pain no gain. Is this case of yagati v’lo matzasi?
Listening to a Shiur on Torah Anytime is just as valid as any other learning
A shiur on TorahAnytime is not as valid as any other learning. I say this for two reasons:
A) Many modern shiurim – in particularly the style on TorahAnytime – contain plenty of content which isn’t Torah and isn’t learning. I am not discrediting the speakers; for purpose of inspiration, you need to be interesting, you need to be original, and you often need to be funny. Cute anecdotes, powerful stories and emotional flavour is certainly conducive to getting across a message, to keeping the attention of non-attentive people, and to keeping a sometimes heavy shiur light. However, if an hour “Torah shiur” is spent with thirty minutes of Torah and thirty minutes of fluff, you haven’t learnt for an hour.
Furthermore – listening to something inspiring doesn’t necessarily constitute Limud Torah – even besides for the jokes and stories, even the toichen isn’t necessarily Torah. Of course it is essential to Avoidas Hashem, but Yirah does not equal Torah. See what the Nefesh HaChaim writes in Shaar Daled about people who spend all their time on Yirah and don’t actually learn the Torah.B) There is something called ביטול תורה באיכות – qualitative bittul Torah. An hour spent investing all your intellectual capacity and energy into what you are doing is worth infinitely more than an hour spent lying on your bed, staring at your ceiling with earphones plugged in.
You could list your goals and prioritize them. Then determine how much time you have a day to learn. (Don’t over estimate it’s better to make small goals then add on later sometimes.) Then figure out what you have to go to reach your goals. For example if I learn 1 day a week , 2 mishnahs a day, 1 halachah after x time I will have reached my goal.
““I wish that was the case. I don’t feel like I am biting anything off”
thats the Yetzer Harah talking.
A story I heard from R” Resiman: a mispalel of his told him after the recent Siyum Hashas that he wasnt beginning this cycle. R’ Resiman asked him why. he replied “2 cycles ago I was inspired so I began, learnt Berachos then by the time Shabbos came around I gave up, last cycle again the same thing. what is the point with starting.” to whcih R” Resiman replied “Beautiful you have a seder were you chazer Berachos every 7 years, why is that a bad thing”The point is learn what y ucna if you cover one page mishna berurua a day thats great, one seif that is fine too. One seif in 2 days also better than nothing!
Yekke obviously is not a chassid. One of the innovations of Chassidus was the telling of inspirational stories by the Rebbe. This was looked down upon by the others
Yekke obviously is not a chassid.
Mind. Blown.
There a related article in the dafdigest DOT org issue for yesterday’s daf, Sanhedrin 79: Stories Off the Daf – “The value of consistency”.
Yekke obviously is not a chassid.
I think I can safely agree with you on that.
One of the innovations of Chassidus was the telling of inspirational stories by the Rebbe. This was looked down upon by the others
You will notice that I deliberately pointed out that I was not “looking down” on storytelling and other such methods of inspiration. Inspiration – however it comes – is an essential tool when it comes to Avoidas Hashem, specifically in our generation when מוסר has been replaced by חיזוק. It just isn’t Torah.
The Nefesh HaChaim proves from Chaza”l that “Yirah” is the אוצר – storehouse, and תורה is the goods which you fill the storehouse with. Of course, תורה cannot be מתקיים without Yirah. But just amassing Yirah doesn’t help; that’s like fortifying a storehouse which you never fill up.
Of course you must listen to shiurim which inspire you to elevate yourself. You also must learn Torah. Don’t let one overtake the other.
Set aside specific times and stick to them. Do you prefer to cover ground to learn in depth? If you enjoy covering ground, set yourself a goal – an omud a day? Half an omud a day? Work out a realistic plan for how long this will take, and dedicate that time for learning. If you enjoy learning in depth, don’t set a goal in distance, this will only disturb your goal. But dedicate that hour for learning this particular limmud, and stick to it. If you have a specific time set aside daily for one activity, it is much more likely to be accomplished.
When it comes to Halachah – especially Hilchos Shabbos – it is very easy to give up. Again, keep a specific time for Halocho, and try keep to schedule as much as you can. If you can commit to a page of Mishna Berura daily, you will cover ground. The key is to be as diligent as possible, because when it comes to Halachah, if you miss your seder once or twice, you will find you are getting nowhere and give up. It’s got to be persistent, determined and diligent.
The key is in the decision. How much importance you give the limmud will be reflected in your decision to simply learn. Keeping a seder is easier than learning when you have time. Make sure you have a structure.
I’m not sure exactly what the problem is but it might help if you take notes as you learn to keep you focused. It is also extremely useful for chazarah to be able to just review your notes in English. The idea is to have a short simple summary of everything in the way you remember it. If the problem is setting goals then decide on a minimum you want to learn a day and keep a simple log. If you do not manage consider setting lower demands. Simple idea, but most do not take advantage of it. It also helps to know how much you will have learned in a year. It is very motivating.
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