Learning Torah with Passion
The Toldos Yaakov Yosef zt'l (Tzafnas Paneach, end of Bishalach) writes, "I heard that there is no Gehinnom. Rather, they bring a rasha into Gan Eden, and that becomes his Gehinnom. He hears people davening with joy and dancing as they learn with hasmadah, and as he isn't accustomed to all this. It is a very painful experience for him. This is the explanation of the Gemara (Nedarim 8.), 'Hakadosh Baruch Hu is going to take the sun from its sheath. The sun will heal the tzaddikim and punish the resha'im.' This means that the same source that brings joy to tzaddikim will punish the resha'im. This is also the meaning of the Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 9), גהינם זה מאד טוב והנה, 'When the Torah writes (Bereishis 1:31), מאוד טוב it refers to Gehinnom.'" It is מאד טוב because it is also Gan Eden! It is a very good place! But it is also Gehinnom for those who aren't accustomed to serving Hashem.
This phenomenon is evident in our world as well. Torah and tefillah can be Gan Eden for one person and Gehinnom for another.
Reb Avraham min Hahar (from the rishonim) writes, "The primary part of the mitzvah of studying Torah is that the person should enjoy the wisdom. As it states (Tehillim 19), פקודי לב משמחי ישרים 'ה, 'Torah brings happiness to the heart.' About studying Torah, it is not possible to say, נתנו ליהנות לאו מצות, that mitzvos weren't given for pleasure, because a primary aspect of the mitzvah of learning Torah is the pleasure that one derives from his studies.
"Therefore, if someone made a neder, a vow, saying 'Ploni may not derive pleasure from my possessions, it is forbidden for Ploni to read from his sefer because he will certainly derive pleasure from the sefer."
But what should a person do if he doesn't enjoy studying Torah? What should he do if studying Torah is like Gehinnom for him? The same question applies to tefillah. Those who love tefillah can daven for hours...
