The Gemara expounds upon the words אדם כי ימות באהל: that Divrei Torah is retained only by one who kills himself over it. We need to make ourselves as if we are dead, meaning that we are not distracted with worldly matters when learning Torah.
The story is told of a storeowner who almost died. After having luckily survived, he decided to dedicate his morning hours to learning where he would be inaccessible while his wife would take care of the store. His wife complained that he was unreachable. He replied that had he died he surely would be unreachable. So for the morning hours it is as if he died in order that he would be able to learn without distraction.
Based on what we said, we can interpret the phrase פסיקתן זו היא עשייתן: the severing is their making as cutting ourselves off from everything is how we attain Torah.
The Kotzker Rebbe noted that the opening word to each mesachta is printed in a box. He remarked that it serves as a reminder that for a person to prosper in learning, he must enter a metaphorical “box,” being entirely immersed and engrossed in the words of Torah.
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years and received semichah from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written thousands of Torah articles on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of nine books including the recently released “Exhilarating Torah Insights on Recreation and Vacation.” His writings, many of which have been translated into Yiddish, Hebrew, German and French, inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. His shiurim can be found on various websites including Kol Halashon’s. Rabbi Alt lives with his wife and family in Kiryat Yearim (where the Aron was for 20 years [Shmuel 1, 7:1,2]) where he studies, lectures, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
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The Ramchal (Derech Hashem 4:2:2) writes that the power of Torah is solely a product of the fact that Hashem has attached His exalted influence to it so that through speaking and thinking about it that lofty influence may be drawn onto the person.
A while back when Daf Yomi wasn’t as popular as it is today, R' Moshe Meir Weiss had 250 people attend his nightly Daf Yomi shiur. R' Shimon Schwab once asked R' Weiss, “How does someone who gives such a Daf Yomi shiur like yours where the people are wowed learn Torah Lishma?” R' Schwab told him that in such a case Torah Lishma is not possible. However, you are teaching 250 tired people who are pushing themselves. Those people are learning Torah Lishma and you are the cause of that. That is your merit of Torah Lishma.
See Chofetz Chaim, Chukas, 19:14
Succa 11a. The simple meaning is referring to tzitzis: sever their tips and they are kosher.
