Joodse traditie als permanent leren

24:10). He also said, "Also my wisdom stood unto me" (Eccles. 2:9). This is explained by our wise men thus, "The wisdom that I learnt in wrath, (Play upon the word aph , meaning 'also' and 'wrath'.) -this has remained with me". The sages said, "There is a solemn covenant that anyone who toils at his studies in the Synagogue, where it was customary to study privately, will not quickly forget". He who toils privately in learning, will become wise as it is said, "With the lowly (literally, the reserved) is wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). If one recites aloud while studying, what he learns will remain with him. But he who reads silently soon forgets. ((3. 9-12))

((Methods of Study)) While it is a duty to study by day and by night, most of one's knowledge is acquired at night. Accordingly, when one aspires to win the crown of the Torah, he should be especially heedful of all his nights and not waste a single one of them in sleep, eating, drinking, idle talk and so fort, but devote all of them to study of the Torah and words of wisdom. The sages said, "That sound of the Torah has worth which is heard by night, as it is said, 'Arise, cry out in the night' (Lam. 2:19): and whoever occupies himself with the study of the Torah at night - a mark of spiritual grace distinguishes him by day, as it is said, 'By day the Lord will command His lovingkindness, and in the night His song shall be with me, even a prayer unto the God of my life' (Ps. 42:9). A house wherein the words of the Torah are not heard at night will be consumed by fire, as it is said, 'All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him' (Job 20:26). 'Because he hath despised the word of the Lord' (Num. 15 :3l) - this refers to one who has utterly neglected (the study of) the words of the Torah. " And, so too, one who is able to occupy himself with the Torah and does not do so, or who had read Scripture and learnt Mishnah and gave them up for worldly inanities, and abandoned and completely renounced this study, is included in the condemnation, "Because he hath despised the Word of the Lord. " The sages said, "Whoever neglects the Torah because of wealth, will, at last be forced to neglect it owing to poverty. And whoever fulfills the Torah in poverty, will ultimately fulfill it amidst wealth" (Ethics of the Fathers 4:11, with order of sentences reversed). And this is explicitly set forth in the Torah, as it is said, "Because thou didst