During a rare and fascinating discussion with members of Kollel Pnei Menachem, Rav Shaul Alter addressed a sensitive question touching on the relationship between a chossid and his rebbe, and whether learning differently from one’s rebbe reflects a lack of devotion or submission.

One of the avreichim asked whether a chossid who chooses a different style of learning than his rebbe is lacking in dedication to the rebbe or in his level of chassidus, particularly when he understands Torah differently from the approach taught by his rebbe.

Rav Shaul responded with unusual openness.

“Which rebbe today is directing people in methods of learning? Sanz? Boyan?” he asked. He explained that every person has his own personality, strengths, and connection to different styles of Torah study. According to Rav Shaul, a person must be honest with himself and find “his own understanding” within the vast sea of Torah.

The rosh yeshiva then illustrated the value of deep learning over speed by sharing a story about Rav Dovid Beharan. Rav Dovid’s chavrusa once noted that the Chofetz Chaim had written in one of his seforim — possibly Toras Habayis — a calculation estimating how many words of Torah a person can learn in one minute.

According to the calculation cited in the name of the Chofetz Chaim, a person can learn roughly 200 words per minute, and every word of Torah creates an angel.

The chavrusa questioned Rav Dovid about the fact that they had spent two full weeks learning a single Tosafos. Based on the Chofetz Chaim’s calculation, he argued, they had lost the opportunity to create a tremendous number of angels by not learning at a faster pace.

Rav Dovid replied with what Rav Shaul described as the essence of in-depth Torah study: “Yes, but from this Tosafos that we sat on for two weeks — a big angel comes out, not small angels.”

{Matzav.com}