SAY NOT: WHEN I SHALL HAVE LEISURE I SHALL STUDY;' PERHAPS THOU WILT
NOT HAVE LEISURE.-
Avoth, Chapter 2
Involve your whole being in the learning process.
Beruriah once discovered a student who was learning in an undertone.
Rebuking him she exclaimed: 'Is it not written: Ordered in all things, and
sure: If it is 'ordered' in your two hundred and forty-eight limbs it will
be 'sure', otherwise it will not be sure?'-
Eiruvin 54a
One taught: R. Eliezer had a disciple who learned in a low voice. After
three years he forgot his learning.-
Eiruvin 54a
Resh Lakish said: If you see a student to whom his studies are as hard
as iron, it is because he has failed to systematize his studies, as it is
said, And one do not whet the edge. What is his remedy? Let him attend the
school even more regularly, as it is said, Then must he put to more strength;
but wisdom is profitable to direct. [The latter words indicate] how much
more profitable would his efforts be if he had originally systematized his
studies. Thus for example, Resh Lakish made it his practice to repeat in
systematic order his studies forty times corresponding to the forty days
during which the Torah was given, and only then would he come before R.
Johanan. R. Adda b. Abbahu made it his practice to repeat in systematic
order his studies twenty-four times corresponding to the [twenty-four books
which embody] the Torah, the Prophets and the Hagiographa, and only then
would he come before Raba.-
Ta'anith 8a
Don't cram; learn a little each day.
Raba expounded in the name of R. Sehora who had it from R. Huna: What
is the purport of the text: Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished,
but he that gathereth little by little shall increase? If a man studies
much at a time his learning decreases, and if he does not do so but 'gathereth
little by little' he 'shall increase'.-
Eiruvin 54a
Raba said: If you see a student who finds his studies as hard as iron,
it is because his teacher does not encourage him, as it is said, 'and one
do not whet the edge'. What is his remedy? Let him seek many companions
[to intercede for him with his teacher], as it is said. 'Then must he put
to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.' [The latter words
indicate,] how much more successful he would have been had his efforts originally
found favour with his teacher.-
Ta'anith 8a
R. Hama b. Hanina said: What is the meaning of the verse, Iron sharpneth
iron?-This is to teach you that just as in the case of one [iron] iron sharpeneth
the other so also do two scholars sharpen each others mind by halachah (discussion
of the law).-
Ta'anith 7a
Rabbah b. Hanah said: Why are the words of the Torah likened to fire,
as it is said, Is not my word like as fire? saith the Lord? This is to teach
you that just as fire does not ignite of itself so too the words of the
Torah do not endure with him who studies alone.-
Ta'anith 7a
R. Jose b. Hanina said: What is the meaning of the verse, A sword is
upon the lonely, and they shall become fools? This means, destruction comes
upon the enemies of such scholars who confine themselves to private study;
and what is even more they become stultified, as it is said, And they shall
become fools.-
Ta'anith 7a
R. Jeremiah said in R. Eleazer's name: When two scholars sharpen each
other in halachah (the law), the Holy One, blessed be He, gives them success.-
Shabbat 63a
The more you know, the more you want to know.
As with the fig tree the more one searches it the more figs one finds
in it so it is with the words of the Torah; the more one studies them the
more relish he finds in them.-
Eiruvin 54b
R. Eleazar also said: Whenever there is in a man knowledge, it is as
if the Sanctuary had been built in his days; for knowledge is set between
two names (For a God of knowledge is the Lord.), and the Sanctuary is set
between two names (Thou hast made, O Lord, the sanctuary, O Lord.).-
Berachoth 33a
Every student who is silent when his teacher is angry with him the first
time will become worthy to distinguish between clean blood and unclean.-
Berachoth 63b
(R. Johanan said) "You are sneering at the words of the Sages!"
He (R. Johanan ) set his eyes on him and the student turned into a heap
of bones.-
Baba Bathra 75a
Strive to learn even when conditions are not
ideal.
This, too, did Raba say: Let one by all means learn, even though he is
liable to forget, yea, even if he does not fully understand all the words
which he studies, as it is said, My soul breaketh for the longing that it
hath unto Thy ordinances at all times.-
Avodah Zarah 19a
R. Abba said in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: When two disciples form
an assembly in halachah, the Holy One, blessed be He, loves them, as it
is said, and his banner over me was love. Said Raba: Providing they know
the features of a subject; providing also that there is no greater [scholar]
in the town from whom to learn.-
Shabbat 63a
Old scholars still deserve respect.
Which thou didst break, and thou shalt put them in the ark. R. Joseph
learnt: This teaches us that both the tablets and the fragments of the tablets
were deposited in the ark. Hence [we learn that] a scholar who has forgotten
his learning through no fault of his must not be treated with disrespect.-
Menachoth 99a
SAY NOT A THING THAT CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD [AT ONCE], [TRUSTING] THAT
IN THE END IT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD. -
Avoth, Chapter 2
Those who can, teach.
R. Johanan further said: One who studies the Torah but does not teach
it is like the myrtle in the wilderness (whose fragrance is wasted).-
Rosh HaShanah 23a
We learn from our students.
R. Nahman b. Isaac said: Why are the words of the Torah likened to a tree,
as it is said, It is a tree of life to them that grasp it? This is to teach
you. just as a small tree may set on fire a bigger tree so too it is with
scholars, the younger sharpen the minds of the older.-
Ta'anith 7a
R. Hanina said: I have learnt much from my teachers, and from my colleagues
more than from my teachers, but from my disciples more than from them all.-
Ta'anith 7a
A student may idolize you a little too much.
R. Kahana once went in and hid under Rab's bed. He heard him chatting
[with his wife] and joking and doing what he required. He said to him: One
would think that Abba's mouth had never sipped the dish before! He said
to him: Kahana, are you here? Go out, because it is rude. He replied: It
is a matter of Torah, and I require to learn.-
Berachoth 62a
There are boundaries that must be respected
by both students and teachers.
It was taught: A disciple must not bathe (go to the public bath house)
with his teacher, but if his teacher needs him, it is permitted.-
Pesachim 51a
The attentive one will read [of himself]. and if one is inattentive.
put him next to a diligent one.-
Baba Bartha 21a
It was taught: R. Akiba said, 'It was not R. Ishmael who laid down this
ruling but that disciple, and the halachah is in agreement with that disciple.
'Is not this self-contradictory? You first said: 'It was not R. Ishmael
who laid down this ruling', from which it is obvious that the law is not
in agreement with his view, and then you say: 'The halachah is in agreement
with that disciple'? Rab Judah replied in the name of Samuel: R. Akiba made
that statement for the sole purpose of exercising the wits of the students.-
Eiruvin 13a
Don't embarrass your students (or anyone!)
in public.
A tanna recited before R. Nahman b. Isaac, "He who publicly shames
his neighbour is as though he shed blood." Whereupon he remarked to
him, "You say well, because I have seen such shaming, the ruddiness
departing and paleness supervening." -
Baba Metzia 58b
There are different types of students.
THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF CHARACTER AMONG THOSE WHO SIT BEFORE THE SAGES:[THEY
ARE, SEVERALLY, TYPIFIED BY] A SPONGE, A FUNNEL, A STRAINER AND A SIEVE:A
SPONGE, WHICH ABSORBS ALL; A FUNNEL, WHICH LETS IN AT ONE END AND LETS OUT
AT THE OTHER; A STRAINER, WHICH LETS OUT THE WINE AND RETAINS THE LEES;
A SIEVE, WHICH LETS OUT THE COARSE MEAL AND RETAINS THE CHOICE FLOUR.-
Avoth, Chapter 5
There's an optimum class size.
Raba further said: The number of pupils to be assigned to each teacher
is twenty-five. If there are fifty, we appoint two teachers. If there are
forty, we appoint an assistant, at the expense of the town.-
Baba Bartha 21a
R. Jeremiah said in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: When two scholars
are amiable to each other in [their discussions in] halachah (law), the
Holy One, blessed be He, gives heed to them.-
Shabbat 63a
R. Abba said in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: When two scholars pay
heed to each other in halachah (law), the Holy One, blessed be He, listens
to their voice.-
Shabbat 63a
College still isn't for everyone.
If a student does not see a sign of blessing [progress] in his studies
after five years, he never will.-
Chullin 24a