“HERE’S HOW THE TORAH WORKS, at least from a classical perspective: What’s important, really important, is not just the text — it’s your relationship to the text. Which means you get to say what Torah means, but within parameters as defined by your understanding of the Torah as a whole. People who’ve been studying it longer than you have will then either say ‘Good job!’ or ‘What were you thinking?'”
(From a conversation, this represents my understanding to date of the Jewish understanding of Torah practicum. I naturally invite those who know more than I to comment and correct as needed — with thanks.)