Reply To: For PF to Vicariously Rant Endlessly About the Over-Emphasis of Iyun through PAA

Daas Yochid:

I would point out that this thread is not against Iyun per se. It is against certain forms of Iyun and extreme focus on Iyun at the expense of Bekius. That being said, the Teshuva that you quote does not specify what he means by ????? ?????. (It’s also interesting that the Rambam that he quotes doesn’t mention iyun.) Also, it is not necessarily a stirah that ????? ????? is good for people struggling with certain issues, yet the proper way to learn would not involve heavy focus(or even perhaps any focus) on this – to quote R’ Chaim Brisker in reference to learning mussar “If a person is sick we prescribe castor oil for him. However, it is certain that if a healthy person ingests castor oil he will become very sick. If that vile wretch meets you, and if you are sound in spirit and soul, if your consciousness and character are still whole and intact, then occupy yourself with the Torah, drag him to the study house. This is the most effective and tried remedy in man’s ongoing battle with his evil impulse. However, if you are spiritually sick, if a fit of madness has seized hold of you, if some psychic anomaly has put forth its diseased tendrils in your inner world, then you must use more powerful drugs, those that are designed for the very ill – the remembrance of the day of death. We in Volozhin, thank G-d, are healthy in spirit and body, are whole in our Torah; there is no need here of castor oil. If the scholars of Kelm and Kovno feel compelled to drink bitter drugs – let them drink to their hearts’ content, but let them not invite others to dine with them.” (The Rav The World of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik)

Regardless, see my next post for a quote from R’ Moshe about learning.