The Importance of Studying Halacha

Rabbi Ari Enkin
  • From the day that the Holy Temple was destroyed, the Holy One blessed be He has nothing in His world except the dalet amot of halacha.[1]
  • “God loves the gates of Zion more than all the tents of Jacob”[2] – this teaches us that God loves the places that excel in halacha more than all other places of prayer and study.[3]
  • One should always conclude with words of halacha when taking leave of a friend.[4]
  • When two scholars make an effort to sharpen each other’s minds by debating halacha, the Holy One blessed be He helps them to reach the correct halachic conclusions.[5]
  • When two scholars listen to each other’s views in halacha, the Holy One blessed be He listens to their voices.[6]
  • Who is deemed a scholar who may be appointed as a communal leader? Someone who can be asked any halacha and reply.[7]
  • “The word of God”[8] – this refers to halacha.[9]
  • The essence of Mishna study is to learn halacha.[10]
  • The academy of Eliyahu taught: Whoever studies halacha every day is assured a place in the World to Come.[11]
  • “And God is with him”[12] – this means that the halacha is as he says.[13]
  • “You shall build your house”[14] – these are the halachot.[15]
  • Be sure to learn halacha more than anything else, particularly the entire Shulchan Aruch. Everyone is obligated to study halacha every day of his life without exception.[16]
  • Whoever fails to teach someone halacha is as if he robs him of his heritage.[17]
  • Whoever learns from someone even a single halacha must treat that person with respect.[18]
  • Every person who merits to learn one halacha inherits an entire world.[19]
  • “You shall study all of His statutes”[20] – these are the halachot.[21]
  • Who is truly a scholar? One who learns halacha.[22]
  • The study of Shulchan Aruch banishes thoughts of idolatry.[23]
  • Those who are able to study for only three or four hours a day…should study halachic rulings.[24]
  • A person’s main study should be in halacha in order that he know how to conduct himself.[25]
  • The smart man says: I will learn two halachot today, and two halachot tomorrow, until I finish them all.[26]
  • The one who learns halacha and then reviews it is far superior to the one who learns halacha but then neglects to review it.[27]
  • It is far better to study in pairs rather than alone, for if one of them forgets a halacha, the other will be there to remind him.[28]
  • We must ensure that women know halacha.[29]
  • Be sure to review halacha with those who are not as knowledgeable as yourself.[30]
  • The study of Shulchan Aruch along with the rulings of modern-day authorities is a daily obligation just like prayer and Tefillin.[31]
  • One’s main focus in study must be in those areas that lead to practice.[32]
  • The wise man knows that he should sacrifice himself to learn halacha in depth…it is the most beloved service before God and even greater than prayer.[33]
  • It is an obligation to be proficient in the Orach Chaim section of the Shulchan Aruch.[34]
  • One should endeavor to complete one’s studies for rabbinical ordination prior to marriage.[35]
  • One who desires to appreciate the greatness of the Creator, let him study aggada, for through it you will get to know Him and cling to His ways.[36]
  • One who has mastered aggada but not halacha has not even tasted the flavor of wisdom…. One who has mastered halacha but does not know the teachings of aggada has no taste of the fear of God.[37]

[1] Berachot 8a.

[2] Tehillim 87:2.

[3] Berachot 8a.

[4] Berachot 31a.

[5] Shabbat 63a.

[6] Shabbat 63a.

[7] Shabbat 114a.

[8] Amos 8:12.

[9] Shabbat 138b.

[10] Kiddushin 49a.

[11] Megilla 28b.

[12] Shmuel I 18:14.

[13] Sanhedrin 93b.

[14] Devarim 22:9.

[15] Tosefta Sota 8.

[16] Sichot Haran 29.

[17] Sanhedrin 91b

[18] Avot 6:3.

[19] Tikunei Zohar.

[20] Shemot 13:10.

[21] Mechilta Beshalach.

[22] Talmud Yerushalmi, Mo'ed Katan 3:5.

[23] Sefer Hamidot 3.

[24] Y.D. 246:4; Shach, Mishna Berura 155:3.

[25] Mishna Berura 155:9.

[26] Vayikra Rabba 19:2.

[27] Kohelet Rabba 4:9.

[28] Kohelet Rabba 4:14.

[29] Sefer Chassidim 313.

[30] Sefer Chassidim 946.

[31] Pele Yoetz, s.v. “Dinim.”

[32] Introduction to the Mishna Berura.

[33] Chazon Ish, Emuna U’bitachon 3:19.

[34] Yesod Hashoresh V’ha'avoda 6:5.

[35] Sha'arei Halacha U’minhag (Chabad) 4:33.

[36] Sifrei, Eikev 49.

[37] Avot D’rabbi Natan 29.