Behold that the following is the case: To every place where there is a discussion of Torah, a person should run like a deer to listen and to learn, for there is no discussion of Torah without something new being found (a Chiddush). Come and see to which extent one must work hard and run to try to understand the words of the Torah as it says in the verse “It is not in the heavens and not on the other side of the sea” and Chazal say that if the Torah would be in the heavens or on the other side of the sea we would nevertheless have been obligated to go after it. All the more so is this true now that it is on the dry land in one’s own city that one should not withhold oneself from running towards it, and even in the case that he will learn nothing new, he still retains the reward for walking there and for listening and for answering “Amen, yehei shemeih Rabbah!”.
When he goes to the Beis Hamidrash (study hall) his ears should be focused completely on the lesson with tremendous cherishment and when he hears something new he should fix it in his mind and it should be a “memory between his eyes” to keep, to do and to fulfil, as this is the fruit of the listening. The early commentators have already explained that which King David said in Tehillim “Go sons! Listen to me! I will teach you the fear of Hashem!” and he did not say “Come sons!” as he was trying to convey a lesson that although it is obvious that when you come to the Beis Hamidrash you will listen to me, but the main question is whether after you leave here the words will remain engraved in your heart and you will listen to me to keep and to do.
