85. What to Study

Talmud Torah 1:11

A person is obligated to divide his study time into thirds. One-third should be devoted to studying the Written Torah, one-third to studying the Oral Law, and one-third to understanding how concepts are derived from their roots in the Torah, inferring and comparing concepts, and delving into the principles of exegesis, until one understands how prohibited and permitted decisions are derived. This process is what we call Gemara.

Talmud Torah 1:12

Regarding dividing one’s Torah study into thirds, a craftsman might spend three hours per day at his work, and nine hours studying Torah. Of those nine hours, three should be spent studying the Written Torah, three studying the Oral Law, and three utilizing his intellect to understand how one concept is derived from another.

Words of tradition transmitted to us by the Prophets are considered part of the Written Torah; the explanation of these words is part of the Oral Law. The things referred to as Pardes are considered part of Gemara. (See Yesodei HaTorah chapter 4, in particular Halacha 4:13.)

This division into thirds applies when one first begins to study Torah. When a person becomes more knowledgeable, he does not need to spend as much time on the Written Torah and the Oral Law. At that point, he should study these things only at specific times so that he not forget these aspects of the Torah. Once a person is proficient in Torah study, he should focus on Gemara alone, according to his ability.