I recently read an article written primarily for an audience of people who learn full time. The question was whether they should join Daf Yomi for the next cycle.
The author's opinion was - DEFINITELY!! His argument was that everyone has to know Shas and Daf Yomi is the way to do it. Otherwise - when are you ever going to get to Temurah?? People who learn Daf Yomi know Shas.
That is based on the assumption that learning a page a day for 45 minutes means you know Shas. I have my reservations [I hope the restaurant is good]...
My opinion is more nuanced. As I discussed here, there are two aspects to Talmud Torah: 1] KNOWING Torah [ידיעת התורה]. This is derived from ושננתם לבניך - Divrei Torah must be "sharp" in your mouth. 2] Being involved in learning Torah whether you retain it or not. This is derived from והגית בו יומם ולילה.
So should you learn Daf Yomi? It depends: If you will KNOW [that means fully comprehending] more Torah when following the course of learning Daf Yomi than you will otherwise - then yes.
If you will spend more time learning because of Daf Yomi - then yes.
But if one will learn more deeply when not learning Daf Yomi and he will spend more time learning if he has different sdarim [maybe because he finds learning bi-iyun more stimulating] - then he should think long and hard if it is worth his while to learn the Daf. He can talk it over with a spiritual advisor....
For those about to finish - MAZELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TOOOOVVVVV!!!!!!!
Yirbu Kemoschem Bi-yisrael!!!.
