BK Designs & Photography Ateres Star Issue 5 | Page 5

The Ateres Yaakov Star

February 2015

Why We Learn Gemara
By: Daniel Braverman-9th Grade
In any Yeshiva high school,
most of the morning is spent learning and analyzing the Gemara. Unfortunately, there are some teenagers who view Gemara as just another academic subject. However,
that is a huge mistake. Gemara
provides the foundation for Judaism and is far more than just a topic: it is a blueprint for life. The holy
Gemara was passed down from
Rebbe to Talmid to gain a better
understanding of certain halachos,
hashkafos and principles that form
our Jewish lifestyle. But even
deeper than that, Hashem made
learning a mitzvah in and of itself.
Learning a math equation is strictly
for one’s own knowledge, learning
Gemara provides spiritual growth
and reward in Olam Haba.
One of the questions some
teens ask is “Why do we learn Gemara and how does it apply to