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There is a custom to learn torah (especially mishnayos) for a deceased person. Does all the torah study reward go to the deceased person or does some torah study reward also go to the person learning? (not asking for the reward of kindness, just for torah study)

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  • I always assumed that the deceased doesnt get the reward of Torah learning,rather they get the merit for the person learning Torah.
    – sam
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:31
  • I think the concept is that the learning is in the "merit" of the deceased. I.e., we acknowledge that the deceased taught us proper behavior so that we can learn Torah and we are the ones that receive the reward. I don't think that others receive a reward for what you do, whether the other is alive or dead. I.e., if I learn Torah, even if you are alive, how would you receive the reward if you do nothing? I think this principle applies to the deceased, as well.
    – DanF
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:46
  • perhaps connected: See the Bartenura on Avot 2:2, "And you, I consider your reward". -- hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=37946&pgnum=318 -- there he gives 3 explanations of what it means, and I think they would apply to this as well. -- Also, like @DanF said, I think the point is that if not for this person we would not be learning, so that person receives some credit as well.
    – Menachem
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:58
  • Also, see a discussion about this whole topic from a rationalist view by R' Natan Slifkin here: zootorah.com/RationalistJudaism/… -- with a parenthetical followup here: rationalistjudaism.com/2017/04/missing-you-dad.html
    – Menachem
    Apr 17, 2018 at 17:18
  • @Menachem i heard slifkin is considered a bad source from the gedolim
    – michael
    Apr 17, 2018 at 17:22

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I was told by Harav Chaim Kanievsky, that Learning Torah or doing a good deed for the merit of someone else does not take away from the merit of the person who is learning or doing the deed.

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  • you heard this directly from him? or read in his name?
    – michael
    Apr 26, 2018 at 5:12
  • @m.r. I heard it directly from him.
    – RibbisRabbiAndMore
    Apr 26, 2018 at 7:56
  • @m.r. I responded in a private email.
    – RibbisRabbiAndMore
    Apr 30, 2018 at 8:06

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