THE 12 ROOT WAYS OF LEARNING A SUGYA
QUESTION 1) In the Rav’s series of practical guidance in the ways of learning Torah, the Rav mentions how there are different ways of analyzing a sugya of Gemara which are rooted in the 12 tribes. Can the Rav explain briefly what these 12 different ways are and how each path is rooted in one of the 12 tribes?
ANSWER 1) The following is a brief explanation, and it is only one side to this matter.
The approach in Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Reuven” is when one can see the possible outcomes. Reuven’s name is from the word reu, to see, a hint to the teaching of the Sages “Who is wise? He who sees the outcome.”
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Shimon” is when one can develop a sevara (comprehensible logic). As the Gemara says, “You don’t hear me, you don’t comprehend like me.” Shimon’s name is from the word shemiah, to “hear”, and in the aforementioned statement of the Sages, “hearing”, a hint to Shimon, is linked with developing sevara (comprehensible logic).
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Levi” is: Formulating a logic that is aligned and connected with a corresponding view of his. The word “Levi” means to connect together.
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Yehudah” is: When one comprehends the very essence of a matter. The word Yehudah contains the four-letter name of havayah, which is a name of Hashem that is more connected with the very essence of Hashem.
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Yissocher” is: When one uses the power of binah (detailed logic), which can be used to figure out matters of astronomy, as the Gemara says regarding Yissocher, that Yissocher’s blessing is that he “understands the knowledge about the times [the knowledge of astronomy]”.
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Zevulun” is: Connecting distant sugyos of Gemara together. This is because Zevulun’s blessing is that he brings his sustenance from afar, which also refers to bringing Torah knowledge from afar [i.e. sugyos of Gemara that are seemingly very far from each other] and connecting it to the current sugya.
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Gad” is: Extending abstract, theoretical ideas into the materialization of the ideas. [This is because Gad’s name is from the words Ba Gad, Ba Mazal, and mazal means to flow and extend]. An example of this was the way of learning of Rav Shimon Shkop.
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Asher” is: Having a clear, organized picture of the sugya, leaving no room for one to make mistakes in. This is the meaning of Asher’s blessing that his produce brings “delicacies for the king.”
The approach of Torah learning rooted in the tribe of “Dan” is: Gathering together all the views on the sugya. This is the meaning of how Dan “gathers together all the camps”. Another point: Since the tribe of Dan camped at the edge, next to the...
