זאת חקת התורה אשר צוה ה‘ לאמר… (חקת יט:ב)

A yeshiva student once sought a blessing from Reb Yissocher Dov of Belz zt’’l, known as The Frierdiga Rav. The Frierdiga Rav inquired, “Do you study Torah, and what are you currently learning?” The student mentioned the tractate he was studying. Curious, the Frierdiga Rav asked if he reviews (chazers) what he learns.

The student confidently replied that he didn’t find reviewing necessary because of his excellent memory. Instead, he focuses on learning more and more pages of Gemara.

In response, the Frierdiga Rav gently admonished him, saying, “My dear child, someone who learns Torah but neglects to review what he learns is in a worse state spiritually than someone who doesn’t learn Torah. The Yetzer Hara appreciates when one doesn’t review their studies, as reviewing is paramount in Limud HaTorah – Torah study! That’s why on Simchas Torah, we repeat the final parsha of ‘Vezos Habracha’ several times, emphasizing that the essence of Torah study is ‘חזרה’ – revisiting and studying it again and again.”