Studying during Shiva when there is no enjoyment in learning

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Question

During Shiva, when one does not find pleasure in learning and does not feel joy in studying, is it permissible to study topics that are generally prohibited during Shiva?

Answer

It is forbidden.

Source

In the Talmud, Tractate Ta'anit, page 30a, it is stated: "The Rabbis taught: All commandments observed during mourning are observed on Tisha B'Av: it is forbidden to eat and drink, to anoint oneself, to wear sandals, and to have marital relations, and it is forbidden to read the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, to study Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, laws, and legends. However, one may read in places where one does not usually read and study in places where one does not usually study, and read Lamentations, Job, and the bad things in Jeremiah. And the children of the school are idle, because it is said: 'The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.' Rabbi Yehuda says: one does not even read in places where one does not usually read, and does not study in places where one does not usually study, but one may read Job, Lamentations, and the bad things in Jeremiah, and the children of the school are idle, because it is said: 'The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.' And the law follows Rabbi Yehuda's words that one does not read in places where one does not usually read. The Taz in Orach Chaim, Siman 554, writes: "One must give a true reason why Rabbi Yehuda forbids, for he has distress, and it seems his reason is because at the end of the study, after he exerts himself and understands the meaning, he will have joy, and we follow the end of the matter." And it seems to say that even though now he has no taste in learning and it does not make him happy, we still follow the end of the matter, and if he toils and studies Torah, surely there will be a time when he will enjoy it. Moreover, in the Jerusalem Talmud, it implies that the main decree is for those who are not passionate about Torah, but for those who are passionate about Torah, it is permitted, and the Beit Yosef in Siman 384 writes that we do not rule like this to permit, but surely the main decree is for those who are not passionate about Torah. And although it can be said that the decree is for those who are not passionate but are happy in learning, usually after joy comes passion. And so writes the Birkei Yosef in Orach Chaim, Siman 554, Law 1, who writes regarding Tisha B'Av that the children of the school are idle: "There is someone who wrote that nowadays, when most children have increased distress when they study, and when they are idle, it is a delight for them, it is permitted to teach children bad things. And his words do not seem correct." And see in Aruch HaShulchan, Siman 554, Paragraph 3, who writes, in explanation of this, that although the children are not happy when they go to study, still, as Rambam writes in Chapter 2, Law 20, regarding divorces, that they compel him until he says 'I want,' because every soul of Israel truly wants to fulfill the will of its Creator, even if the body does not want. And he writes there, that although the children are not happy when they study Torah, still their soul and spirit surely rejoice, and therefore it is forbidden.

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