Day 13: מִּקְרָא, מִּשְׁנָה / Study of Torah and Mishnah
What I find most daunting and most exciting about a life of learning is the endless amount of information
and text that I could consume. Where do I even begin when approaching the endless bookshelves of
wisdom that only grow wider with each passing day?
Pirkei Avot proposes one model. "[Judah ben Tema] would say, 'At five years old [teach your child] Torah,
at 10 [teach them] Mishnah...'" (Pirkei Avot 5:21). A Jewish child is a blank slate of knowledge, so he
builds his model around their development. However, no matter how old we are, we can learn from the
structure he creates.
In learning, there are no shortcuts. Reading the Sparknotes or the most recent edition does not reveal
the truth of the matter. We need to have the patience and the humility to master the foundations
before working our way into the building, and then adding our own contributions to ever-expanding
edifice of wisdom.
Reflection:
Think of the topic you are most passionate about. What were the first ideas, teachers, and experiences,
that brought you into that world?
How have you carried that foundation with you, and when did you know you could build upon it?
Lived practice:
In our world, we want short cuts and expediency. Today, when you think and when you act, think about
which early lessons and skills you continue to engage in your learning and in your everyday life.
