True love for Torah

In the love for Torah there is no difference between the love one should have for Chumash Bereshis, Shemos, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim, than for Nevi’im and Kesuvim. The same applies to Mishnayos, Gemara of Bavli or Yerushalmi, Medrash, and Zohar.

Our sages comment on the verse, “Lest she walk the even path of life” (Mishlei 5:6): “Do not sit and weigh up the Mitzvos of the Torah. They were all given from one shepherd and said by one G–d” (Devarim Rabba, 6:2). Thus, all words and explanations of the Torah are the same for all Jews from the perspective of the feeling of his Neshama.

The difference that can and does indeed exist is in intellect, in the understanding of Torah and the explanations of the individual Mitzvos. One person understands more, and another, less. However, this is only true of the comprehension of Torah and Mitzvos. However, in terms of the feeling of the Neshama, all Jews—those who comprehend and those who do not—are equal.

Likkutei Dibburim, Vol. 3, p. 1019.

People who like learning Torah often have certain areas of Torah that they prefer to study over others, in accordance with their intellectual preferences. Indeed, our sages say: “One should always learn in the place (i.e., the area of Torah study) that his heart desires" (Avoda Zara 19a). However, this can lead the person to study for the sake of satisfying his intellectual needs, rather than lishmoh, for the sake of performing a Mitzvah of Hashem.

One way of discerning whether one loves Torah because one feels that it is the word of Hashem, or because one finds certain parts of it personally appealing, is to ask oneself how one feels towards the areas of Torah that one does not take to so easily. Does one still feel a sense of awe and reverence and a deep yearning to study them and thereby unite with Hashem? Or does one sort of casually dismiss them, saying: “That’s an interesting topic, but it’s not for me.”