The Yeshiva Blog
Why is learning Gemara the primary focus of Yeshiva learning?
There is no question about it, the vast majority of time spent studying in Yeshiva is spent learning Talmud, that is, Gemara. Why is this so? Here with a beautiful explanation, is Rabbi Saul Berkus.
Rabbi Saul Berkus - Why is Gemara the primary focus of Yeshiva learning?
Yeshivas primarily focus on learning Gemara because that's what Hashem told us to do. The Rama poskens in hilchos Talmud Torah that Gemara is the way to fulfill our mitzvah Talmud Torah because the Gemara contains within it all the different elements. It has the Oral Torah, it has the Tanach, and it also has the Written Torah. And so, we learn Gemara for the same reason we do everything else in our lives, because that's what Hashem told us to do.
Additionally, there are benefits to limmud Gemara that are absolutely critical. And even if it was I'm making a choice of what to learn and should I be learning Chumash or Mussar or Nach or Machashava there are reasons to choose Gemara. For sure. Without any question. Because if you think about our lives, there's one thing that holds true for every interaction that we have. Anything you're ever going to think about, anyone you're ever going to interact with is that you're going to be needing to use your brain. You're going to have to understand what's happening. You're going to have to be listening to what someone else is saying, you're going to have to be able to understand what is being said and what is not being said. You're going to have to be able to draw sometimes very subtle lines between what this person meant and what this person meant. And then you'll have to be able to draw implications and say, well, if this is saying this, that means, oh, in this other situation, it will be different. Over and over again in every interaction, whether it's with a friend, with children, with wives, with each other, you're reading something, anything, anywhere. All those things demand a certain set of mental skills to be able to get at the truth of what is taking place.
And the Gemara, besides just the essential mitzvah of limmud Gemara, and besides, all the more spiritual things that are happening when we learn, practically, it is a training ground for how to think. And as a person immerses himself in it and compels himself every day like an exercise machine every day to push further and to get it clearer, and to ask himself questions that are not so natural for him to ask. And to take the rules that he's learned of how to analyze things and utilize them and practice them again and again. What you'll find is that brain that you have built, that capacity for understanding and getting at the truth that you have built through learning Gemara, it doesn't go away when you leave the shiur, it doesn't go away when you leave the Beis HaMedrash. Everyone you're talking to, everything you're interacting with, you have the same thought processes that are happening, and your mind is dividing it in the same ways and saying, oh, we said this and not this. And what you find is that you hear people better and you understand people better and you understand things that you're reading better, and you understand the events that are going on in your life. You understand them better and deeper and clearer than you would otherwise.
Limmud Gemara is the tool that Hashem gave us to accomplish this, and you'll find that, yes, there are many other areas of Torah to learn. But what is that learning going to look like? How deep will that learning be? How much are you going to get out of the Chumash? How much are you going to get out of the mussar or the philosophy? It depends almost entirely on how well you have built the machine that's going to try to understand those things, and so your learning Gemara is going to influence all of that.
So, if you're asking what the core of my effort should be? There's no question to me that it needs to be Gemara.
Testimonials and Endorsements
"Having had the privilege to be present at some of Rabbi Tagger's compelling shiurim—both on sugyos in Shas as well as in inyanei Hashkafa—I can attest firsthand to his unique ability to thoroughly engage his talmidim of all levels, provoking them to think honestly and be true to the nuance of the text, while at the same time encouraging creative solutions that can withstand rigorous critique. The process draws each talmid into the ever-expanding, magnificent worldof Hashem's Torah, and the conclusions penetrate the heart, excite the mind, and engender a pervasive love of Torah."
Rabbi Elysha Sandler
Mashgiach Ruchani, Yeshiva Sh'or Yoshuv
From his Haskama on the Rosh Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah's Mussar Sefer
"I know Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah and Hagaon Rav Nissim Tagger. He is doing amazing work and producing wonderful Bnei Torah."
Rav Asher Weiss
World Renowned Dayan and Posek
"I have had the privilege of getting to know Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah and its great Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Nissim, along with many of the Yungelite and Bochurim. Bircas HaTorah is an outstanding Makom Torah, with talmidim who are serious, focused, engaged, and energized. I have spoken there for the talmidim and met many of them, and I see in the atmosphere—and in each of them—tremendous she'ifus for aliyah in Torah and ruchniyus, and a desire to serve Klal Yisrael. This reflects both the Rosh Yeshiva and the talmidim themselves, who create an atmosphere of real ruchniyus growth with a seriousness of purpose."
Rabbi Aharon Kotler
President Emeritus, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood
"Valley Torah High School and Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah have had a deep relationship for many years. I personally have experienced the unique Torah atmosphere that permeates this yeshiva. The love, concern, and commitment to every talmid that they manifest—even after they leave the yeshiva—is nothing short of remarkable. For a young man mature enough to appreciate what Bircas HaTorah has to offer, there is no yeshiva like it!"
Rabbi Avrohom Stulberger
Menahel, Valley Torah, Los Angeles
"The student who enters the Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah is not the same as the one who leaves. He is transformed into a disciple of another world—a world he never knew existed, a world he never dreamed of reaching.... Anyone who listens to the Shiurim of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Tagger Shlita cannot remain in the same place— he is automatically lifted up. After a period of serious study, he will hardly recognize himself!"
Rav Avraham Ziskind, Rosh Yeshivas Keser Torah
Former Rosh Mesivta Yeshivas Beis Shmuel and Yeshivas Netiv Hadaas (Kaplans)
"Our South African Kehillah has benefited greatly from the graduates of Bircas HaTorah, who, I have found, emerge from years of learning at Bircas with a deep appreciation for the value of achrayus—responsibility—for Klal Yisrael. Their impact when returning home has always been, and continues to be, a source of chizuk for our kehillah."
Rabbi Warren Goldstein
Chief Rabbi of South Africa
"Many of our talmidim from Yeshiva Maharsha SA have learned under the guidance of the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Nissim Tager shlita. I can only praise and endorse the Yeshiva, not only in terms of the level of learning but for the care, nurturing and love of the talmid which instills an ahavas haTorah in them. This stands with them forever."
Rabbi Menachem Raff
Rav of Kehillas Maharsha, South Africa
"I have had the privilege of visiting the Yeshiva on a number of occasions and have witnessed the warm, family atmosphere where the Rebbeim invest in their Talmidim. Bircas HaTorah excels in the personal attention they provide for each boy and they build them and nurture them to become real Bnei Torah with a love of learning. The Rosh Yeshiva opens their minds and challenges them in learning and on their outlook in life, which develops Talmidim that are thinking and growing in their Avodas Hashem."
Rabbi Ilan Halberstadt
Rav of Beir Knesset Machzike Hadath, Golders Green
"Rabbi Tagger brought his Sefer of Shiurim on Meseches Shabbos for me to see....he was bestowed with abundant talent to be able to delve deeply into the Rishonim and draw up pearls, with good understanding and straight sevara.. Since I recognize him, as he is my neighbour, and his fear of heaven precedes his wisdom, I bless him that the merit of his fathers and that of his own merit, should allow him to continue..."
Rav Sholom Cohen zt"l
Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef, Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, Sephardic Gadol Hador
In his Haskama to the Rosh Yeshiva's Sefer on Meseches Shabbos
"I know very well the great toil and intensive effort that the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Tagger Shlita, invested in the study of Torah to reach this level... I want to publicly acknowledge that the Rosh Yeshiva makes his nights like days to raise up students to greatness in Torah and Yirah, until they are genuine Talmidei Chachamim... I am deeply impressed by this unbelievable investment that the Rosh Yeshiva puts in his students..."
Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani
Rav of Kehillot Ameley HaTorah, Rosh Kollel and Av Beis Din Keter Torah
From his Haskama on the Rosh Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah's Mussar Sefer