Unlike all other types of
literature, the QUALITY of Torah learning is not predicated upon the QUANTITY
of knowledge one has acquired. Surprisingly, the QUALITY of Torah study is
determined by something that has absolutely nothing to do with intellectualism,
namely; derech eretz (descent and appropriate behaviour).
The Kotzker says: “The
statement ’Derech eretz precedes (kadmah la) Torah’ implies that
just like a prologue to a book (which in Hebrew is called a hakdamah),
informs a reader as to the contents of the book, so too does derech eretz
inform the observer as to the quality of Torah learning the individual has achieved.”
[1]
In essence then, Torah
study has nothing to do with just Torah study.
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