Questions tagged [adult-learning]

Questions pertaining to adult learning.

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32 votes
11 answers
2k views

Seder advice when with people who aren't interested?

This may have some things in common with beginner's seder advice, but it's different enough that I'm asking separately. For family-obligation reasons, I sometimes find myself at a seder where most of ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
27 votes
5 answers
4k views

Minimum Age to Learn Kabbalah?

How old do you have to be to learn Kabbalah? (I think its 60 ) but it seems everyone learns it anyway (Maharal, Chassidus). Is there a defense or is it just done?
Ishyehudi's user avatar
  • 902
22 votes
12 answers
13k views

Talmud Study, Where to start [closed]

I would like to start to study Talmud, BUT do not know how, where to start. My Jewish training is basically non-existent. I learned how to read the Hebrew words in the Siddur, Machzor, and Chumash - - ...
user avatar
22 votes
4 answers
2k views

Going from an nonreligious reform Jew to a religious one?

I turned sixteen a couple of weeks ago and the real world is starting to open up to me. My father is a Christian, but my mother is Jewish which makes myself and my siblings Jewish. We went to ...
user avatar
21 votes
13 answers
12k views

How to learn gemara independently

Is there an organized path that a Ba'al Teshuva can follow to learn Gemara and prepare the Daf by himself? I mean after he is able to learn with Artscroll.
rony's user avatar
  • 2,509
21 votes
5 answers
4k views

What are the essential books which every Jew should own? [closed]

What Jewish religious books should one consider when starting a Jewish Library in their home? A set of Shas (Talmud) and the Shulchan Orech (Code of Jewish Law) are the obvious ones, What else should ...
Ken's user avatar
  • 3,794
14 votes
5 answers
1k views

Learning Hebrew on my own? [closed]

I am trying to learn Hebrew on my own. I currently am not in a position to be attending Hebrew classes, and I tend not to do so well in a classroom environment. I wish to learn biblical Hebrew ...
ARKBAN's user avatar
  • 563
13 votes
2 answers
490 views

Publicly Teaching Halacha

I was looking at the Daily Halachah Yahoo group and was a little bit surprised at this statement: It is therefore forbidden for Jews to teach non-Jews Halachah Is this true? (See a related ...
Peter Olson's user avatar
  • 1,723
13 votes
2 answers
477 views

Advanced Seder Advice

I'm going to be at a seder this year with other adults who are all relatively familiar with the text and structure of the haggadah. Most have heard many of the classic divrei torah many times. I'm ...
Double AA's user avatar
  • 98.7k
13 votes
2 answers
597 views

What primacy to give to learning halacha?

Consider a person who follows all of the halachos (he is aware of) that are involved in daily living. Any free time that he has is devoted to learning Torah. This person, however, is not proficient at ...
Gavriel's user avatar
  • 9,648
12 votes
3 answers
1k views

Rabbi Avigdor Miller's Shiurim

Where can I find Rabbi Avigdor Miller's Shiurim online to download for free?
yydl's user avatar
  • 38.6k
12 votes
2 answers
381 views

Resources for "vertical learning"

New member and first question! I'm looking for resources for guidance in the possibly made-up term, vertical learning. What I mean by that is my learning often suffers from being hodge-podgey and ...
Hal's user avatar
  • 121
11 votes
5 answers
591 views

Need a Torah-based quote for "reaching new levels"

Can someone please recommend an appropriate biblical quote or passage that illustrates (or somehow relates to) the ethic "reaching new levels" (spiritual, emotional, educational)?
Daniel's user avatar
  • 111
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

I am 15 years old and do not go to a Yeshiva but would like to learn Talmud. A few rabbis near me said they could teach me. How should I start

I am 15 years old and do not go to a Yeshiva but would like to learn Talmud. There are many rabbis near me who said they would be willing to teach me. How should I start knowing that I only speak ...
Yehoshua Shalom Halevi Segal's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is it important to learn Mishnah before Talmud?

I have recently started learning Talmud / Gemara recently, and though I am enjoying the experience greatly, something tells me that it would be helpful if I actually went about learning Mishnayot ...
Leyzer's user avatar
  • 487
10 votes
6 answers
1k views

Learning Medieval Arabic

Anyone know of a good book to learn Arabic in order to unlock the Moreh Nevuchim and other seforim?
Matthew Miller's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
169 views

Torah studies at Synagogue [closed]

How do we make studying Torah by adults a central part of our synagogue?
user avatar
9 votes
7 answers
499 views

Resources for learning about the foundations of Judaism

I recently met an intelligent Soviet immigrant interested in learning more about Judaism. He would like to start with understanding the basics. Such as: How do we understand G-d? What are the ...
YDK's user avatar
  • 28.2k
9 votes
4 answers
3k views

Resources for those beginning to keep Shabbos

What are some useful and accessible resources for those who are just beginning to keep the Sabbath? General primers, overviews of the Law, sources of advice on making things easier, and guides to ...
SAH's user avatar
  • 19.7k
9 votes
4 answers
3k views

Kashrut in the Talmud

I've been speaking with someone about Judaism - what, how, why, etc. We came to the issue of kashrut, and she had a hard time understanding how we got these random laws from the Torah. I explained ...
Hartzl's user avatar
  • 375
8 votes
3 answers
4k views

Bat mitzvah - I'm female aged 50. Never been taught or had a bat mitzvah

Are any immersion courses available for someone that never had a bat mitzvah...and at age 50 is this feasible?
Chetsiba's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
134 views

Sheilos U'Tshuvos on Gemara

I'm preparing classes on the beginning of Bava Metziah and I would like to present the information through the lens of the Rabbonim that used the Gemara to answer Sheilos. Does anyone know of a Sefer ...
Yehuda F's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

How does one become a Mohel?

I want to be a Mohel. I learned the Tur - Shulchan Aruch (YD 260-266). Now what? What should be my next step? P.S. I live in Brooklyn.
hazoriz's user avatar
  • 7,506
8 votes
6 answers
1k views

What purpose does a siyum have?

From time to time I find myself listening to someone making a siyum, I am thinking of structuring my learning to pursue finishing enough to make a siyum. But before I commit myself I want to know if ...
Jordan's user avatar
  • 843
8 votes
1 answer
292 views

History of chattan & kallah classes

A common practice in some segments of today's Jewish world is for brides and grooms to attend "Chattan/kallah classes" where the attendees receive instruction and advice on relationship dynamics and ...
Oliver's user avatar
  • 12k
8 votes
2 answers
599 views

Is there a Coursera for learning Halacha and Gemara?

I am a Baal Tshuva and I never had a proper Jewish education. I have come a long way but I am still unable to learn independently (directly from early text). I've been considering some online courses ...
rudolfovic's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

What are your suggestions for learning Yiddish?

I would like to learn Yiddish in order to further my understanding of Chassidus and other Torah topics that are presented in Yiddish. What are your suggestions for sources to use that would focus on ...
Dude's user avatar
  • 4,362
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

Help identifying yeshivot for baalei teshuva (men)

Someone reached out to me recently to ask about what options are available as far as BT yeshivot in Israel these days. He has a few years of Conservative synagogue Hebrew school that basically gave ...
YRaz's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
2 answers
519 views

Taharas mishpacha class for men

Many women take kallah classes before getting married in order to be familiar and comfortable with the laws of taharas mishpacha. I have heard that there are similar classes for men, and it makes ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 24.9k
7 votes
3 answers
586 views

Resources for learning Hebrew from scratch?

I was raised as a Jewish identifying secular child, and it's only in my adolescence/adulthood I've really become at all observant. One of the problems is, of course, I've never had a Hebrew class! I'...
Rowan Cota's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
700 views

What are the pros and cons of learning online?

My work schedule and growing family (stressed wife) hasn't yet provided an opportunity to go learn in a yeshiva or adult learning at night. Getting more serious about learning two years ago, I was ...
Re'eh's user avatar
  • 1,507
7 votes
2 answers
465 views

Help with Tosfot "v'HaAmar R. Yochanan" on Brachot 5b

The Gmara on Brachot 5b quotes R. Yochanon: R. Yochanan says: Leprosy and children are not chastisements of love. The Gmara later questions this statement: But is children not a ...
David Perlman's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
226 views

Where can I find the booklet "Structure of Debate"?

I was in a different shul this past Shabbos when I saw a very interesting booklet of more than 200 pages called "Structure of Debate" by Jonathan Bailey. It's a primer to learning gemara. I tried ...
Tzvi's user avatar
  • 5,695
7 votes
2 answers
177 views

Shiurim on Approaches of Meforshim

Does anyone know of any good shiurim that I could find online that go through the approaches of the various meforshim on Torah?
Matthew Miller's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
187 views

Audio shiurim/podcasts for beginners or geirim?

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a podcast (or shiurim by a particular speaker) that would be relatively easily available (i.e. on iTunes, YUTorah or something similar) that would be helpful for ...
msten's user avatar
  • 103
7 votes
1 answer
603 views

Keeping in mind the meaning of every word of prayer, vs. being mindful of general concepts

If I were to sit down with my prayer book, I could translate it. I know what the words mean, and I know what they are saying conceptually. However, when I'm praying, if I try to translate in my head ...
yoel's user avatar
  • 7,221
7 votes
1 answer
129 views

How would one locate a specific book in a Bet Midrash? [closed]

I am modifying this "latent" question that I asked about 2 years ago. For those who have access, you can view the original version. I'm leaving the basic topic, the same, though. I'm comfortable ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

What should a Jew learn regularly?

I am wondering what systems of structured Jewish learnings exist or alternatively how to build one. In a broader way what are existing/recognized Jewish learning curriculums or answers to “what should ...
mbloch's user avatar
  • 51.6k
6 votes
8 answers
963 views

What are some good practical halacha audio shiurim I can find online?

Does anyone know of good shiurim and preferably ongoing series of good audio shiurim on halacha that are available online? I'm preferably looking for something: Practice-level. Relevant to everyday ...
Eliyahu's user avatar
  • 2,035
6 votes
4 answers
530 views

Talmudic Terminology

There are a number of English language works which to one degree or another discuss Talmudic terminology, i.e. the wider implication of certain phrases commonly used in the Gemara. Can anybody suggest ...
Yirmeyahu's user avatar
  • 13.4k
6 votes
4 answers
252 views

Need help getting back into learning torah after 10 years

I went to Yeshiva all my life until I finished High school and after that I fell out of learning torah, whether its chumash or gemara etc... It's been 10 years since I last opened a gemara, or chumash ...
Mordechai's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
177 views

"I'm just not a 'learning guy'"

I'd like to know if the Torah speaks to the idea that of person simply not being a "learning guy". I don't mean that he doesn't want to learn anything at all (a Jew must koveyah ittim) or that he is ...
Gavriel's user avatar
  • 9,648
6 votes
1 answer
873 views

What are Chattan or Kallah classes? [duplicate]

I guess I'm becoming more "outdated" regarding the current "frum fad". A shadchan as well as a few young boys and girls told me that at some point between engagement and marriage they must attend a ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
6 votes
0 answers
216 views

Good resource for learning vowel pronunciation

In trying to improve my leyning, I'm trying to get the finer points of vowel pronunciation down. What is a good resource to learn, e.g., the difference between a patach and chataf-patach or a ...
Charles Koppelman's user avatar
5 votes
6 answers
4k views

Where can I find a chart of the Mishna Yomit (daily Mishna learning)?

Where can I find a chart of the Mishna Yomit (daily Mishna learning) - either online or offline?
Lea Cohen's user avatar
  • 974
5 votes
3 answers
581 views

How should a neophyte learn to play the shofar?

What steps should a person take to develop initial competence in sounding the shofar? Are there online or other training materials available? Any tips specifically for a neophyte?
user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
311 views

List of “essential prayers”?

If someone is learning how to pray and wants to start with the essentials - to not be overwhelmed by too much at once - or if someone is limited in time available to pray, what are the core (most ...
Sarah's user avatar
  • 121
5 votes
3 answers
234 views

How can one find a Gemarah Havruta in NYC?

For someone that has some basic gemarah skills with experience in learning the gemarah together with Rashi and Tosefot, what's a good resource for finding a daily havruta to study with in Brooklyn, NY....
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.1k
5 votes
2 answers
261 views

Gemara, Rashi and Tosfos Shiurim to Download

Hi I’m a buchor in yeshiva and I want to download shiurim that go in depth including Gemara, Rashi and Tosfos. Does anyone know any shiur I can listen to? Is there anyone that gives daf yomi with ...
Buchor's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
5 answers
4k views

Looking for a solid Online Semicha

I would love to get a semicha online. ( I have a job and family) I am looking at it as a mile-stone (a degree I am proud of), not as a source of parnasa . Any program you know which is trustworthy? I ...
Rahamim's user avatar
  • 39