The Aliya in Torah   by the Chazon Ish zt’l

The Chazon Ish, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (1878-1953), one of the greatest Torah luminaries of recent times, lived in Israel from 1933 until his passing. His views, actions, halachic rulings and writings continue to have a major influence on the fabric of Torah life everywhere. from “Maase Ish part 4”: see the end for the original hebrew   “The sweetness of torah, how great is the pleasure of torah. And it is impossible to understand this or to reach it only after diligent study of 3 or 4 hours, continuously without interruption. Without this, it is impossible even to imagine what it is.And all the more so, after 5 hours how much loftiness there is. How is it possible for one who has the possibility of attaining this to interrupt, breaking his continuity thereby losing this great pleasure. It’s like taking a cooking pot off the stove to let it cool down and afterwards to return it.After 6 hours of learning, he forgets the whole world and all his matters and clings to spiritual things.After 7 hours, he feels close to HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One Blessed be He). He becomes completely detached from the pleasures of this world and becomes full of joy.After 8 hours, even no thoughts of desire and physicality enter his heart and he completely longs for his G-d.After 9 hours, he is completely holy, higher and higher.After 10 hours, “the eye cannot see”. There are no pictures, and no words to explain his state and feelings.”The Chazon Ish’s Original Words in Hebrew Chazon Ish Igros vol.1 num.3 To learn for one hour and then to stop for one hour – it is the kiyum of the tohu, the efes, and the heeder (fulfillment of chaos, nothingness, and hiding [of G-d]). It is like sowing seeds and throwing on them water to sweep them away! Ikar (the primary) learning (of torah) is constant and without interruption. With constant study is the secret of kedusha – but the one who studies in pieces is like one who gathers air. It is fitting to devise strategies on how to acquire diligence in learning and to pray for this always.”One cannot feel the sweetness of torah without having first distanced oneself from the taavas (desires for physical pleasures and comfort)” see Vilna Gaon on Mishlei 27:7 Also, the pleasure in talmud study is proportional to the clarity and depth of understanding one attains in the sugya (subject matter). (see Derech Hashem by the Ramchal sec.Torah)