Joodse traditie als permanent leren

209.

consist only of names should be read also in the Targum. 285,2. It ié allowable to substitute the commentary of Rashi (The acrostic name of Rabbi Solomon, son of Isaac, of Troyes, 1040-1105 C.E. , the author of the most popular commentary on the Bible and on the Talmud) for the reading of the Targum; but the pious will read both the Targum and Rashi's commentary. (The mystics prefer the Targum; others prefer to study Rashi's commentary.)

One who is unable to read Rashi's commentary should read a paraphrase of the weekly Pentateuchal portion in the vernacular, such as the Tseenah Ureenah (À Judaeo-German paraphrase, dating from approximately 1600 C.E. This paraphrase was especially popular among women) so that he gets to understand the content Of the portion*

285,6. Professional teachers of children who during the wéék have studied with the children the weekly Hebrew portion from the Penta^ teuch do not have to read it over twice more and one in the Targum. 307, 17. On Sabbaths and festivals it is forbidden to study anything but Torah, though some allow Serious reading, such as of medical works, or the use of astronomical instruments. '

De in de voorbeelden 1 en 2 opgesomde regels zijn een uitgebreide uitwerking van de gedachte dat het eigen leren door middel van een verzameling regels gepland moét worden. Er zijn ook veel eenvoudiger uitwerkingen van deze gedachte, zoals voorbeeld 3 laat zien,

VOORBEELD 3 : De regels van Profiat Duran (14e eeuw).

Ik citeer uit Israel Abrahams: Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1896), in 1969 bij Atheneum, New York herdrukt* Het citaat staat op pp. 355-356 van de herdruk. Profiat Duran woonde in Spanje. '1. Work in conjunction with a fellow-student.

2. Use works which are brief or systematic.

3. Attend to what you read, and understand as you go.

4. Use mnemonics as an aid to memory.

5. Keep to one book at a time.

6. Use only books which are beautifully written, on good paper, and well and handsomely bound. Read in a pretty well-furnished room, let your eye rest on beautiful objects so that you may love