Talmud Torah

Value: Talmud Torah

Talmud means “learning”. Torah means both “the five books of Moses” and “instruction”. Together talmud Torah stands for any kind of Jewish learning. In the Mishnah we are given a list of important mitzvot. Then it tells us “Talmud Torah is equal to them all.” The suggestion is that it leads to them all. We are told in the V’Ahavta that we should be constantly learning Torah, “when we lie down and when we rise up.” This means that talmud Torah should be a way of life. Rabbi David Moshe was a Hasidic rabbi who said that once, during the dedication of a new Sefer Torah, he had to hold up a large, heavy scroll for a long time. One of his students offered to help, but he said, “Once you’ve picked it up, it is no longer heavy.” This is a metaphor for Torah study. It teaches that once you get into Torah studying, it becomes easy. While some Jewish schools are called Talmud Torah, Torah study is a lifelong learning process that goes beyond school. Learning Torah for one’s whole life is a Jewish thing to do. Torah study is supposed to change us. It brings us closer to God, closer to our true selves and closer to one another. Talmud Torah is like being at Mt. Sinai and receiving the Torah from God.

Talmud Torah Text: Bava Metzia 85a

In 132 c.e. Bar Kokhba led a revolution against Rome. He earned three years of freedom for the Jewish people. Then Rome struck back. Jewish life in Israel was all but destroyed by this Roman act of revenge. This story takes place right after that destruction.

Rabbi Hiyya and Rabbi Hisda were debating.

Rabbi Hiyya said, “If the Torah was forgotten, I know so much Torah that I could argue it back into existence.”

Rabbi Hisda said, “When the Torah was forgotten, I planted and grew flax. I made a net out of the flax. I used the net to catch deer. I slaughtered the deer and fed the meat to orphans and used the skin to write a Torah. I taught Torah to groups of five and

Mishnah (Oral Torah) to groups of six. I told them, ‘Teach what you’ve learned to each other.’ I made Jewish life normal again.” That is how the Torah was brought back to the

Jewish People when it seemed that there were not enough Jews to keep it going. Bava Metzia 85a

1. What does Rabbi Hiyya say that Torah study is about? 2. What does Rabbi Hisda say that Torah study is about?

3. What do you think Torah study is about?