System for Learning Machshava
I was recently asked by a chaver a question that I have thought about on and off for a number of years - what is the best way of learning machshava. Should a person learn certain seforim, and if so, in what order? Should a person focus on topics? I would like present this question for discussion.
Since this question can be asked in different ways, let me define the parameters a little. Let's say that we are talking about a self-motivated person, in very late teens or early twenties, with some mastery of the Hebrew language, without much formal training in Jewish thought (besides basic knowledge).
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Insights & Integration
Every aspiring עבד ה' appreciates the significance of the adage “קנה לך חבר”, and the terribly painful loneliness of או חברותא או מתותא. For years, I have desired to form a chaburah of individuals whose attempt to guide their life at achieve both יראת שמים and קרבת אלוקים. As members of such a chaburah, I hoped that together we could develop profound thoughts concerning avodas Hashem, both its theoretical as well as its practical elements. We would assist each other in developing the unique ideas and approaches of each member.
Over the years and in different stages of my life, I was fortunate enough to meet such individuals. With current technology, we are attempting to form this chaburah, despite the geographical distance that may separate us. We would like to invite others with whom our ideas may resonate to join us by reading, commenting, and ultimately sharing your thoughts with us. קנה לך חבר, says the Arizal, means that your pen (קנה) should be your friend – as you write, your thoughts become clearer.
The exact parameters of this blog will be defined as we develop our ideas. All entries are guided by five principles:
a) יראת שמים
b) desire for קרבת אלוקים and becoming a better עבד ה'
c) strict adherence to Halacha, including הלכות לשון הרע
d) belief in גדלות האדם, both in oneself and all other people
e) intellectual rigor
Anyone who does not feel passionately about these five principles is asked not to comment, since any comment that does not meet the above-mentioned criteria will not be posted.
About the name of the blog. “השגה” represents the intellectual grasp of any given idea, while “הויה” represents the incorporation of that idea into the person’s weltanschauung. Our goal is to merely discuss theoretical ideas and then return to our daily lives. We want to transform the ideas of the Torah into a living Torah, a תורת חיים.
-BilvaviNer
Over the years and in different stages of my life, I was fortunate enough to meet such individuals. With current technology, we are attempting to form this chaburah, despite the geographical distance that may separate us. We would like to invite others with whom our ideas may resonate to join us by reading, commenting, and ultimately sharing your thoughts with us. קנה לך חבר, says the Arizal, means that your pen (קנה) should be your friend – as you write, your thoughts become clearer.
The exact parameters of this blog will be defined as we develop our ideas. All entries are guided by five principles:
a) יראת שמים
b) desire for קרבת אלוקים and becoming a better עבד ה'
c) strict adherence to Halacha, including הלכות לשון הרע
d) belief in גדלות האדם, both in oneself and all other people
e) intellectual rigor
Anyone who does not feel passionately about these five principles is asked not to comment, since any comment that does not meet the above-mentioned criteria will not be posted.
About the name of the blog. “השגה” represents the intellectual grasp of any given idea, while “הויה” represents the incorporation of that idea into the person’s weltanschauung. Our goal is to merely discuss theoretical ideas and then return to our daily lives. We want to transform the ideas of the Torah into a living Torah, a תורת חיים.
-BilvaviNer
ראיתי בני עליה והם מועטים
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It depends on what type of thinker the person is. If they are more of an associative thinker and can draw parallels and contrasts easily from one sefer to the next to the next etc. then I would suggest learning many seforim (b'kius) first. Then they can organize their knowledge under topics.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if someone will not draw the appropriate parallels and thus build on their understanding then learning topics might be more suggested.
I agree with Yona. Also, you can't answer this question with respect to halakhah, and halakhah has the concept of pesaq repeatedly narrowing the breadth of "right answers". For aggadita?
ReplyDeleteHere's what I would consider "the classics", assuming a Litvisher reluctance to open sifrei Qabbalah. I acknowledge that it's not quite the original question. Also, I'm focusing on machashavah in particular, not all of aggadita:
Emunos veDei'os (R' Saadia Gaon)
Moreh Nevuchim
Seifer haIkkarim
Chovos haLvavos (INCLUDING shaar haYichud)
Kuzari
Ohr Hashem (R' Chasdai Crescas)
Someone should collect the hashkafically critical Rambans (e.g. Bereishis 1:1, his objection to the Rambam on parashas Vayeira, Qedoshim Tihyu, Maamad har Sinai, etc...)
Moving on to the acharonim...
There is a need for a similar liqut from the Maharal.
Derekh haShem (Ramchal)
Tanya
Nefesh haChaim
19 Letters & Horeb
Peri Tzadiq, Tzidqas haTzadiq and Taqanas haShiv'im (R' Tzadoq)
Post-WWII gets harder, as now it really depends on whether the person is committed to a particular derekh. I would lean toward the following, but I'm sure others might consider the list skewed:
Orot (R' Kook)
Pachad Yitzchaq (R' Hutner)
Ish haHalakhah (R Soloveitchik)
-micha
Reb Micha.
ReplyDeleteNot to disagree, but to understand better what you wrote.
Is there a reason why you didn't include other works of the Rambam like his Hakdamos and Iggros?
Which parts of the Shaar Hayichud are you referring to specifically? His argument about the importance of the philosophical approach, he mentions already (albeit in shorter form) in the introduction. The last chapter is very important, since it discusses some central issues in an amazing clear way. Are there other things that you had in mind?
Is there a reason that you didn't mention Drashos Haran?
It seems that Daas Tvunos is crucial as well. Much of what happens in the more Chareidi world of hashkafa (Rav Dessler and many others) largely works off that sefer.
In terms of Rav Kook, I guess it depends in person's inclinations. Orot has a lot to do with the Klal, while such works as Orot Hatshuva, Orot Hatorah, etc, although certainly heavy on the issue of the Klal, speak more to the individual.
You didn't mention anyone from the Mussar movement. Actually, besides Chovos Halevavos, you didn't mention any sforim that deal heavily with mussar. I guess it all depends how we define "hashkafa".
I didn't mention a lot of machashavah texts. I don't think the Rambam's discussion of the 13 principles is a "classic of Jewish thought". The principles are, but really more in the vaguer form we find in the siddur. The Rambam's position is already covered in the Moreh. His letters really don't play the same role in shaping future Jewish thought -- although I would say that much of the Rambam's impact was in illustrating notions other baalei mesorah consequently took pains to avoid.
ReplyDeleteThe other introductions were an oversight. I was thinking of theology, not the philosophy of what Torah and Torah shbe'al peh in particular are.
I am not sure the Ran's derashos really qualify as a classic of machashavah. But one has to draw the line somewhere, and the Ran and his talmid R' Yosef Albo, have pretty much the same position. I find the Ikkarim's presentation organized, and therefore thought it was enough to cover that camp.
As for not mentioning Mussar... I did intend to include Michtav meiEliyahu. As for other Mussar texts, I was thinking of them when I wrote "I'm focusing on machashavah in particular, not all of aggadita". Also why Chovos haLvavos was described as "INCLUDING shaar haYichod". I toyed with writing "specifically".
-micha