First of, let me just start by saying that I don't like the Siyum Hashas. It just strikes me the wrong way.
One of the things I don't like is the whole mechitza business during "davening" parts. Everybody that knows halacha knows that there is no need for a mechitza by a minyan that is not kavua (set). Why is there a mechitza during an event that only occurs once every seven and a half years?
In addition, I don't think we should be telling Jews worldwide to learn a daf a day. Maybe an amud a day would be better. Or, better yet, how about a perek Chumash a day, perek Mishna a day, or what I think Jews, specifically the Catholic Jews of Israel and BP,Flatbush and Willy, need is a good dose of Shulchan Aruch yomi?
In addition, everyone makes a big deal about not giving money to sources that are assur. Well, the Agudah is a member of the United Way. The United Way has members that would be
considered assur to give money to.
Does anybody see anything strange with the way not learning Daf Yomi has become one of the cardinal sins?
Lastly, I just don't want the Agudah involved with anything to do with my life, and certainly nothing to do with my money.
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I agree that daf yomi is too much for most people, but for those who have the time I accept that it's a great way to gain a broad exposure to Shas quickly. I don't do it myself, and I suspect that many daf yomi participants bare have time to understand the words on the daf before moving to the next one, but for those who can handle it I'm not bothered.
I agree that no one should feel pressure to participate. It's one way to learn. It's not appropriate for most, though. Especially for those whose Tanach, Mishna, etc., are weak.
Regarding the mechitza: Sure it's technically unnecessary, but I expect most would agree that if it's practical, a mechitza is preferable even at a one-time minyan, especially if it's organized and planned ahead of time.
Where there is a real problem, though, is when ignoramuses herd the women out of the room so they can daven mincha. It's both unnecessary and rude. Besides, why can't they daven with the minyan too? If their presence is so offensive, the men should leave the room and daven elsewhere!
Great blog, BTW.
I have quite a few friends who learn Daf Yomi, and I admire them greatly for their commitment. I wish I could make it work, but..well I have lots of lame excuses, the biggest being getting to work on time. I think with the new Art Scroll gemorahs available, it's not so inaccessible anymore.
Imagine being able to get through shas in 7 years! As it is, it's taking me 3 years to get through Baba Kama. No one says it's for everyone (at least I don't say that). But if you can do it, what's wrong with it? We all have to have some kind of goal to shoot for, even if we don't hit it. At least aim in that direction.
I agree that it's good to have a goal. But why not make it realistic. Most (or many) of the people learning the daf do not remember a thing. Can you imagine learning a daf in under an hour and then trying to keep it in your brain? If you shorten it to an amud, within the same time period, you'll remember it better and you can still finish shas.
BTW, this thinking I'm not alone in, there are many people out there that have some sort of problem with the Daf Yomi system.
I just think for people whose only learning is the daf, there are better things to learn.
First the last item because im an idot amen ,somehow anything involving the AGUNAS izrael of america or the vaad hamoetzes of self proclaimed gedolim sickens me (but 20000 jews in one room davening marriv in the post hitler era warms my heart)second regarding the pace see thefreshview.blogspot.com titled lerning torah iz der bester zach
My beef with the siyum hashas is that Agudah tries to show that they have the full spectrum of Frum rabbonim there speaking -- e.g. Rav Harari-Raful, assorted Rebbes. But to have a YU rosh yeshiva speak (gasp!) -- not in our lifetimes!
Not having Rabbi H.Shecter shlit"a speak is really two prong 1) the obvious, he is representative of all that is evil in this world , YU
and #2 (more impotant)Anyone who has gone to yeshivisha acedemia and has heard the rabbiem in YU as well ,will tell you R'A.J. Solovietchick is no R'J.B.Soloviechick Zt"l Just as a.Sechter(of chaim b.) is no Rabbi H.Sechter not even close (see Rav M.Fienstein's ignored hazmanas by the former)
As someone who is about to go to the siyum at Madison Square Garden I think learning Daf Yomi has changed my life for the better. I am better able to learn Gemara with my 10 year old son and my wife respects the fact that I learn. With Daf Yomi on the web everyone can learn it. Try it and you will like it.
Go get a life!
It starts with a daf a day, but it doesn't have to end there. My father started doing daf yomi about nine years ago. He had been busy raising kids, working, etc, and so learned a little here and there, mostly spending hours of time helping his children with their homework. My mother convinced him to start doing daf yomi and so he went. He could really talk in learning on any topic of gemarrah with his sons and sons-in-law learning in kollel. he got so much more into learning that he felt he was wasting his "prime learning years" on work and so he retired early to learn in kollel, but of course still keeps his daily daf yomi shiur and halacha shiur. I'm not saying go learn in kollel, but i am saying that you have to do a step. Yeah, it's easy to just talk, but let's see you set up some kind of daily learning...i don't care what it is, but do it!! IN addition, you speak about retention, I admit daf yomi is not for everyone, but even if you don't retain 100% of what you learn, you still get s'char for learning, and i bet after a few years, the retention level gets better and better.
It starts with a daf a day, but it doesn't have to end there. My father started doing daf yomi about nine years ago. He had been busy raising kids, working, etc, and so learned a little here and there, mostly spending hours of time helping his children with their homework. My mother convinced him to start doing daf yomi and so he went. He could really talk in learning on any topic of gemarrah with his sons and sons-in-law learning in kollel. he got so much more into learning that he felt he was wasting his "prime learning years" on work and so he retired early to learn in kollel, but of course still keeps his daily daf yomi shiur and halacha shiur. I'm not saying go learn in kollel, but i am saying that you have to do a step. Yeah, it's easy to just talk, but let's see you set up some kind of daily learning...i don't care what it is, but do it!! IN addition, you speak about retention, I admit daf yomi is not for everyone, but even if you don't retain 100% of what you learn, you still get s'char for learning, and i bet after a few years, the retention level gets better and better.
Seven and a half years ago I had almost no torah in my life (even though I am a religious jew). I decided to learn daf yomi and haved pushed myself to keep up with it. Most of the time it was a chavrusa with me and "Rabbi Artscroll". With that chavrusa almost anyone can complete a daf a day. All it takes it will. I feel on top of the world now that I have completed the project. So I can tell you that it is worth it. As far as the Agudah is concerned, you are not learning for them but rather for yourself. So in 7 and a half years from now make your own siyum or come join me in Israel where real Yurei Shamayim are making a siyum.
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