In the Beis Medrash or At Home?
by R. Ephraim Glatt, Esq.
Question: Is it halachically preferable to learn in a Beis Medrash instead of one’s house?
Short Answer: Yes, one should ideally learn in a Beis Medrash.
Explanation:
I. The Source
The Yerushalmi (B’rachos 5:1) states that there is a covenant from Hashem that anyone who learns seriously in a Beis Hakenesses will not quickly forget his learning. The Yerushalmi continues that there is a covenant from Hashem that anyone who learns seriously in secret will not quickly forget his learning.
The sefer Sedei Tzofim on the Yerushalmi (ibid) notes that these two statements appear to be contradictory. Are you supposed to learn in a Beis Hakenesses or in secret? He suggests that you are really supposed to learn in a Beis Hakenesses. But, if you happen to be learning in your home, you should learn in a secluded place in your home. Similarly, you should not learn “in the street” or other public areas.
II. Beis Medrash vs. Beis Hakenesses
The Rambam (Hil. Talmud Torah 3:12) codifies this Gemara, but instead of “Beis Hakenesses,” the Rambam says “Beis HaMedrash.” Shulchan Aruch (Y”D 246:22), however, codifies the Gemara exactly like the Yerushalmi, with the term “Beis Hakenesses.”
Both the Shach (24) and Taz (8) explain that Shulchan Aruch is lav davka, and that certainly a person should preferably learn in a Beis Hamedrash (which has a higher level of kedushah).
The sefer Avodas Hamelech (on this Rambam) queries why these poskim do not note that the Rambam expressly lists Beis HaMedrash? He answers that some acharonim actually had the girsa of Beis Hakenesses in the Rambam. Regardless, it is clear that a person should preferably learn in a Beis Hamedrash instead of his house.
III. The Importance of the Beis Medrash
What is so special about learning in a Beis Medrash?
The Sedei Tzofim (ibid) suggests that learning in a Beis Medrash forces the learner to learn out loud, which is a zechus for remembering your learning.
The Shem Olan (cited in sefer Ki Heim Chayeinu – Alei Siach, Y”D 246:22) suggests that you learn in a Beis Medrash so you are not distracted by the children and other happenings in your house.
The sefer Nachlas Sadeh (Bo, p.358) explains that learning in a Beis Medrash causes humility (i.e. you realize you are not the smartest) and thus, in this merit, leads to better memory.
The Chasei Hashem (Megillah, Ein Yaakov, p. 118) explains that the shechina resides in a Beis Medrash, so your learning will be enhanced by the shechina. In other words, you will be able to “tap into” the siyata d’shmaya that comes with yegiya (toil) in learning.
The Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe (Shefa Chaim, Vol. 24, p.7) implies that the entire benefit of learning in a Beis Medrash is because it is learning in a group, such as with a chevrusa or as part of a chabura/shiur. He writes that if everyone learns in their own private corner of the Beis Medrash by himself, there is no benefit to learning in a Beis Medrash. Accordingly, a chaburah in a private home is just as powerful as learning in a Beis Medrash.
IV. The Amazing Be’er Moshe
The Be’er Moshe (3:178) suggests a novel interpretation of the Shulchan Aruch, against the explanation of the Shach and Taz. The Shulchan Aruch specifically wrote Beis Hakenesses, and not Beis HaMedrash, to teach that a person should learn in a Beis Hakenesses because there are LESS people there. He will be able to learn there “b’tzina,” like the next words of the Shulchan Aruch which extols this virtue. The Be’er Moshe himself acknowledges that this is a novel interpretation of the Shulchan Aruch.
V. The Father of the Shlah
The father of the Shlah (cited in Gam Ani Odecha, Rav Duri, Vol. 3, p.50) held that this Yerushalmi means that a shul should always have seforim available so that people may learn during the time that the chazzan is kvetching kedushah or kaddish. [Note, many poskim disagree with this halachah]
VI. Other Applications
There are some interesting questions asked about learning in a Beis Medrash. First, the Orchosecha Lamdeini (7:37) discusses whether it is permitted to bring a computer (with internet access) into a Beis Medrash in order to write torah notes. While not citing our particular Gemara, he permits it based on the importance of learning in a Beis Medrash. Second, the Avnei Yashfe (Gam Ani Odecha, 24) queries whether there is a special inyan to be one of the first ten people in the Beis Medrash. He answers that no such idea exists, as this concept is limited to being one of the first in shul.
