The Kosher Bookworm: The Brisker method: a quality approach to Torah study

The Kosher Bookworm

By Alan Jay Gerber

Issue of September 22, 14 Tishrei 5771

When my longtime friend, Danny Levine, brought “Understanding Reb Chaim,” by Rabbi Yonoson Hughs, to my attention, just about the only thing that I knew about the Brisker method of learning —the school of Torah study founded by Rav Chaim Soloveitchik — was the biographical data of the numerous luminaries of this distinguished school of learning.

Yet, upon reading this book I understood, for the first time, the Brisker method.

This book, privately published and distributed by the nation’s oldest family-owned Jewish bookstore, J. Levine, gives the novice reader a full and comprehensive view of the Brisker method that is both user-friendly, but detailed enough to whet one’s intellectual appetite to utilize the Brisker method.

According to Rabbi Hughs, this book was written as a guide for people to learn by. Its contents represent Rabbi Hughs’ personal interpretation of Reb Chaim’s teachings. He cautions that any references made to halachah are included here just for general purposes only, and that the book should not be relied upon for practical rulings of Jewish law.

The basic structure of this work is 10 halachic topics with the following pattern. First, there is an introduction where the fundamental principles of each topic are briefly discussed. This is followed by an excerpt from the Rambam, where each topic is based upon two halachos cited from the Mishneh Torah, both in Hebrew and English. This is then given Reb Chaim’s analysis split into small sections. Every section is prompted by sharp and incisive questions and these questions are replied to in great detail, demonstrating the Brisker method in its full capacity. The summary at the conclusion of each section involves a further explanation of Reb Chaim’s argument. This helps to enhance the reader’s understanding of the overall perspective of each essay.

I must state clearly that this book is not for casual reading. The Brisker method involves sharp observation and analysis; a good background in the basics of Jewish law and its methodology is required. Any reader of this book will surely come out a much better informed person from the experience.

Rabbi Hughs is quite firm when he states that this commentary must be read in tandem with the text and that skipping any of the notes, or reading them out of sequence, will reduce one’s basic appreciation of Reb Chaim’s work. The book details some of the most interesting and challenging topics of our faith.

The topics dealt with in this work include discussions of when a person must sacrifice his life rather than transgress halacha and why a fetus may be aborted to save a mother’s life. Most timely for now, one section involves the construction of the sukkah.

The only thing that could have made this good book better would be a detailed historical study of the Brisker method.

One such study, a series of highly intellectually informed essays, can be found in The Orthodox Forum’s work titled, “Lomdus: The Conceptual Approach to Jewish Learning,” [Ktav, Yeshiva University Press, 2005] edited by Rabbi Yosef Blau.

This work includes a stellar study by Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Mordechai Willig, titled, ”The Brisker Derekh and Pesak Halakhah.” The book also includes an exceptional analysis by Yeshivat Har Etzion’s scholar Rabbi Moshe Lichtenstein, titled, “What Hath Brisk Wrought: The Brisker Derekh Revisited.” Each of these essays, as well as others in this volume, will be of much help for the serious student intent on assimilating this method of learning.

With the beginning of the annual reading of Sefer Bereishis just upon the horizon, a Brisker take on this first book of the Chumash can be experienced with Feldheim’s publication of an English translation of Rabbi Shimon Yosef Meller’s “The Torah of Brisk.” This excellent and comprehensive compendium should keep you occupied in the Brisker mode for the next three months, at least. With the coming of standard time and long Friday nights, this work will surely come to very good, productive use.

For further information concerning Rabbi Hughs’ work, please contact Danny Levine at levinejuda@aol.com.

Until next time, from The Kosher Bookworm have a Chag Same’ach and a gutten k’vital.