> Okay it’s a mitzvah. So is putting a fence on the porch. But why are we so consumed with it? Why is learning Torah so critical?
Are you still sleeping when you daven “vetalmud Torah keneged kulam”? In truth, there is one little thing that comes before that – middos that are not a mitzva but a prerequisite for them. But I should not quoting from the kabbalists or AAQ will make fun of me.
So, in my simple terms, it should be very simple:
you come to register for Chassidus 101 class at 770 university, or to Nefesh Chachaim 101 at Lakewood U, and it says – 1 semester introductory course, with only one prerequisite:
shisha sidrei Mishna 101 with amoraim, rishonim, and achoronim.
You go back a page and try register for shisha sidrei Mishna 101, it says – a short course, 7.5 years minimum, with only one prerequisite: Pirkei Avos 101
You go back a page and try register for Pirkei Avos 101, it says – short 1 semester course, lab – 40 years, pass/fail, grading not on a curve.