Question: I have noticed that when I study material at the lesson, even if it is very logical and clear, it gets muddled in my mind. I cannot hear the whole sequence of sentences the same way as when I read or listen on my own.

For example, when I listen to the same lesson during the day, I have a sensation that everything is clear and makes sense. Why do I get this chaos during the lesson and what should I do with it?

Answer: During the lesson there are many inner processes going on, all kinds of searches, even interferences, because you are included in the lesson together with other people. Your inner network becomes too overloaded. It is quite possible.

Of course when you are sitting separately, and if it is in the afternoon rather than in the morning, after you have become stabilized somehow, then you can better absorb the lesson. In general there are different times. It depends on the person.

Question: Usually when people study together they either read or listen. But how is it possible to read and hear at the same time? Is it possible only when you are explaining?

Answer: I do not know. This is a matter of a habit. When I came to Rabash I too used to be very surprised: people were sitting together, reading aloud like school kids, everyone followed the text in his book, and some of them were moving their lips.

It is a commonly acceptable method where they take any source, read it together, and then begin to use their minds. This is the way people studied Torah at all times since it has been written.

However, we study in a slightly different way: we study in a semi-university, lecture-like approach where we read and I explain. In addition, these explanations could be long, with questions and answers, and with discussions.

In the past people studied Torah predominantly in pairs. It did not involve so many people as we have now, where 300 people sit in front of me.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Interference in Studies” 7/13/10

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