Daf Yomi Menachot 18a: On the Joy of Learning

Today’s Daf (Menachot 18a) contains a memorable phrase that has been set to a rousing and popular song: Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua’s eyes streamed with tears as he said, “Ashreichem talmidei chachamim shedivrei Torah chavivim aleichem b’yoter” - “Happy are you, Torah scholars, for whom matters of Torah are exceedingly dear.” He then recited: “O how I love Your Torah; it is my meditation all the day” (Psalms 119:97).

Notice the emphasis: The fortune of talmidei chachamim lies specifically in how dear Torah is to them - in their love for it.

The Rishonim and Acharonim debate extensively how to calibrate the obligation of Torah study. How much must one learn? The answers span a wide spectrum: some measure by hours per day, others by one’s financial capacity, still others by intellectual ability or life circumstances. These factors create vastly different obligations for different people - and they’re largely beyond our control.

In contrast, the Or Sameach (Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:1) offers a revolutionary approach: The measure of your obligation is the measure of your love for learning.

This transforms everything. You may not be able to create more hours in your day, change your financial situation, or alter your intellectual gifts. But you can cultivate love for Torah. This is the most democratic standard imaginable.

The Avnei Nezer, in his introduction to Eglei Tal, integrates this insight into the broader discussion of Torah lishmah - learning for its own sake. He resolutely dismisses the concern that deriving enjoyment from learning renders it “shelo lishmah” - not for its own sake. That very enjoyment, that love, is the essence of the mitzvah itself.

Strikingly, R. Avraham min HaHar had already anticipated this point centuries earlier in his commentary on Nedarim 36b, addressing a technical halakhic question: Unlike other mitzvot, the mitzvah of talmud Torah was given precisely so that the student should “mishtashei’a bid’var Hashem” - delight in the word of God. He quotes Psalms (19:9): “Pikudei Hashem yesharim, mesamchei lev” - “The commandments of Hashem are upright, they gladden the heart!” The pleasure isn’t incidental - it’s the point.

Ashreichem - fortunate are those who have discovered that our highest obligation is defined by something we can all cultivate: learning Torah out of love, with hearts gladdened by God’s word.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​