(1) "If most people recommend something, it is probably good."
There can be no doubt that the Daf Yomi is the most successful educational
framework in the Jewish world. In every part of the globe, there are many people
who regularly study the appropriate page of the Talmud. It is hard to ignore the
impressive existence of those who participate in this project, especially since
in recent years the number has grown astronomically.
Such a large project must of necessity be something good. The
fact that so many people from so many different places and from so many
different social levels have for many years continued to study with dedication
shows better than anything else how useful this framework is.
One of the celebrations that marked the end of the last
learning cycle was held in Madison Square Garden, in New York. All of the
tickets were sold out half a year before the event. This is in contrast to
tickets to basketball games of the NBA, with the famous Michael Jordan, which
are usually sold out only one or two months before a game. Rabbi Aharon
Lichtenstein once remarked that in this struggle between Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who
founded the Daf Yomi, and Michael Jordan, it is the rabbi who prevailed.
2) Observing the obligation of every Jew to study the entire Torah. Rabbi Moshe
Feinstein wrote, "There is a mitzva for every single Jew to study the whole
Torah... That is, one should try every day to study a single chapter ... But
when the people began to ignore this obligation, Rabbi Meir Shapiro established
a general schedule of daily Talmud study every place in the world. This learning
fulfills the requirement of studying all of the oral Torah." [Igrot Moshe, Yoreh
Dei'ah volume 4 – 36,4].
(3) Commitment. There is no better framework to demonstrate our
commitment to learning than the Daf Yomi schedule. The clock keeps running –
even on a day when a son is getting married, or on Yom Haatzmaut, during reserve
duty, or when there is pressure at work. If you miss one page, you feel the
effect immediately, you fall behind by a full page. As opposed to other areas,
we cannot fool ourselves about this. We know exactly where we stand and how much
we have learned. This causes us to be truly dedicated to the concept of
study.
(4) Knowledge. Even for those of us who do not understand
everything, even if we remember very little, this framework of study gives us
the opportunity to learn many new things. We may not remember all the details of
the issue studied, but we will in the end have a broad view of general
approaches to halacha. In addition, even if we do not remember the concepts
involved, we will be rewarded in that the next time we happen to come across
them they will no longer be foreign to us. The Daf Yomi gives us a chance to
become familiar with the world of Torah. Even if we do not remember, we have at
least come in contact with the Torah.
(5) Study aids. Anybody who wants to study and needs supporting
material will find a huge amount of material. There are networks distributing
material all over the world, including internet lessons, summary sheets, and
many other varied aids.
(6) "All of Yisrael are colleagues." Every place on the earth
where you happen to be, it will be possible to find a Daf Yomi study group. When
you arrive in an unfamiliar city or ride a train, you will almost always be able
to find a lecture or a study group to join. People who come from different
places and backgrounds can study the same page of the Talmud together. It is not
unusual to see two friends on vacation who happen to meet in some out-of-the-way
place sitting down after the daily prayers to study the daily page.
(7) Tools for proper study. Anybody who runs a kilometer every
day will in the end know how to run fast. The fact that we study a full page of
the Talmud every day improves our learning skills in the long run.
(8) Satisfaction. Studying the Daf Yomi gives us an opportunity
to rise above the daily mundane routine. We are able to manage other more
spiritual matters, in addition to our involvement in the physical world (which
is, of course, very important). The Daf Yomi helps us to broaden our daily
routine to include a greater level of spirituality than before.
