The New Torah Lishmah

The contemporary focus on Limud Torah is so sweeping that it seems to exclude all other facets of Avodas Hashem and even Avodas Hashem itself. The new definition of Torah Lishmah seems to be study for no purpose other than study. Historically it meant study without impure motives but always study with the intent of serving God. The approach today is to study for no purpose at all for if we are not studying to serve God then we are doing nothing. It is not unfair to call it narcissistic. We seem really to study for ourselves. As the gentile world has pushed God out of nearly every facet of life (even funerals), we are finding a way to do the same. The Satan has found his way into the very core of Jewish life.