How Can the Merit of Torah Study Possibly Assist the Dead Who Had No Part In It?!
The question is obvious (here is an overview).
I didn’t delve into the topic sufficiently, but I just saw in Rabbi Yehuda Petaya’s “Ruchot Mesaprot” (toward the end) that it doesn’t. Instead, one prays for the deceased, like David Hamelech prayed to save Avshalom from Gehenom. (And the Torah learning presumably gives merit to the one praying so his prayers are answered.)
On Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner’s Supposed Altruism
In the introduction to Nefesh Hachaim, writes his son:
“והיה רגיל להוכיח אותי, על שראה שאינני משתתף בצערא דאחרינא. וכה היה אלי דברו תמיד, שזה כל האדם לא לעצמו נברא, רק להועיל לאחריני, ככל אשר ימצא בכוחו לעשות”.[וכן בקונטרס ‘עץ החיים’ סי’ עו].
But this can not be taken literally. Else, what are the “Others” created for (per Rambam’s letter regarding giving away all one’s money to charity)?
One could just as easily say the “opposite”, namely, ברוך שברא כל אלו לשמשני.
The point, flourishes aside, is this is the way to look at matters, so as to feel for others and assist them.
Rabbi Hirsch: No Difference Between Public and Private Crimes
ארור אפם כי עז…
Rabbi Hirsch (49:7):
Malbim on the Chiastic Structure of Scripture
Simply search for the expression of “דלתות הכתוב” in the Malbim’s commentaries.