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Divrei torah written by a heretic
What is the status of divrei Torah written by someone who does not believe in the oral Torah? Does it retain any sanctity? Should it be burt or buried?
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Exercises to prevent eyes tiring
It often happens to me that after learning the whole day and reading lots of text especially with small letters I feel my eyes very tired. Who knows good set of exercises that don't takes lot of time, ...
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159 views
Are there unnecessary words in torah?
I've been taught, often enough that I thought it was universal, that there are no unnecessary words in torah (chumash) — every word is there to teach us something. I've seen plenty of discussions in ...
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1answer
48 views
Tutorials for learning more about Jewish practice
I wish to learn more about the steps for "Hazara betshova" (Getting stronger) preferably in Hebrew.
I have no knowledge of the Jewish practice at all so a place which assumes no past knowledge will be ...
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1answer
59 views
Hebrew of the Mishneh Torah
In what type of Hebrew did Rambam write the Mishneh Torah?
I just started to learn Biblical Hebrew and when I have learned basics I will start to read Pentateuch in Hebrew with some help The next ...
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1answer
62 views
Where Does the Talmud Teach Not to Learn Halacha From Observation of Teachers?
Back when I was learning Daf Yomi, I ran into an interesting lesson I'm finding difficult to find again. It was a teaching that one should learn halacha from your rebbe's teachings and not through ...
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91 views
Is it Halachically wrong to avoid the rabbi's sermon?
At some point in our history, the rabbi's Derashah, or sermon, went from being taboo to so integral to the service that some Shuls have ushers to keep the doors closed at that time, so that no one may ...
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55 views
Source for mid winter vacation
I have heard that there is a Sefer published 300-400 years ago which indicates that the (Melamdim) Torah teachers would be off on Chamisha Asar B'Shevat in order to rejuvenate. Anyone know where this ...
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84 views
Learning b'iyun vs. b'qius
When I was in yeshiva, I heard a story that I wouldn't mind having verified. Apparantly, two individuals once argued over whether b'iyun (בעיון; "in-depth", commentary-focused) learning or b'qius ...
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96 views
using this website on tisha b'av?
It is known that one's not allowed to learn on tisha b'av; what is the halachic status of using this site on tisha b'av?
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Kevias Ittim Vs. the General Mitzva of Talmud Torah
The basic mitzva of learning Torah can be fulfilled minimally with Kerias Shema. This comes from a Gemara in Menachos (99b) which goes through several conflicting interpretations of the verse in ...
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336 views
Does anyone know any information about Mifal Hashas?
Does anyone here have any information about Mifal Hashas or Dirshu?
What is the learning material?
When and where are tests?
How much do they give?
What kinds of tests are they (multiple choice, ...
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References for learning Aggada
I often run into aggadic passages in the Talmud, and would like to get a list of references beyond the standard 4 (Ein Yaakov, Maharsha, Benayahu/Ben Yehoyada and the Chiddushei Aggados of the ...
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120 views
birchas hatorah if one isn't going to learn
Does one have a chiyuv to say birchas hatorah if he isn't going to learn anyway that day?
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1answer
93 views
6 chapters of Avos in 7 weeks
Some study pirke Avos weekly through the summer, from Pesach to Rosh Hashana. Others do so only for the six Shabasos between Pesach and Shavuos, one chapter a week. I've heard the latter custom ...
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157 views
The Layman's Masechta (Mishnayoth) for a Siyum
What is a good Masechta of Mishnayoth for someone to learn if they just want to get a basic understanding and complete a Masechta in a relatively short time?
Examples where this would be practical ...
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1answer
83 views
Who says the Tefillah of ר' נחוניה בן הקנה?
The Mishnah at the top of Ber. 28b says that ר' נחוניה בן הקנה used to say a short prayer before learning that he not cause harm in his learning, and afterwards to give thanks for the opportunity to ...
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Difference between Yegiah and Hipus
The Gemara in Megila 6b says that if someone tells you that they understood a piece of Torah and they didn't work hard for it you shouldn't believe them.
The Ramha"l says in the Hakdama to his magnum ...
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93 views
Did Melchizedek create a yeshiva?
Did Melchizedek have a yeshiva which he used to teach Torah to people, including Avraham?
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144 views
Derech Ha-Limud in Chumash
I for a long time have had the question what is the proper way to learn Chumash in order to get to a good understanding al pi pshat.
Many times I hear people saying over vertlach on the Parsha and ...
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Daf Yomi Scheduling for Shabbos, Yom Tov, and Sundays
With the twelfth Siyum HaShas behind us, I was wondering what is the best way for a person to maintain their Daf Yomi schedule on Shabbos, Yom Tov, and Sundays. Is it best to learn at a different time ...
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95 views
Saying Rishonim or Achronim were “wrong”
Pepole are very careful (and rightfully so) to say when they don't understand the words of the Achronim or Rishonim to not say they are/were "wrong". But rather to say "I don't understand what he ...
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101 views
Learning near a dead body
May a person learn torah near a dead body? Does it matter if the corpse is Jewish or not? Please cite sources.
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Daf Yomi and a half-Daf
What is typically done in the Daf Yomi Shi'ur when a Masechta ends with a half-Daf? Is the same thing typically done when it ends with a half-'Amud?
I'm looking for all of the following information:
...
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Answering someone's questions
It says in Kedushin Daf 30:
תנו רבנן ושננתם שיהו דברי תורה מחודדים בפיך שאם ישאל לך אדם דבר אל
תגמגם ותאמר לו אלא אמור לו מיד שנאמר אמור אמור לחכמה אחותי את וגו
Chazal are telling us that one ...
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Proof from Mishneh that Hilchos Chol HaMoed is M'd'rabbanan
If one looks into the Tur and Beis Yosef at the beginning of Hilchos Chol HaMoed in Simana 630 you will find a big maklokes rishonim if malacha on Chol HaMoed is an issur d'oraisa, d'rabbanan, or ...
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Sharpening Shechita Knife on Chol HaMoaed
May one that is learning Hilchos Shechita sharpen the knife that he uses for shechitah on chol hamoed for the purpose of practicing how to sharpen it and make sure it's kosher for shechitah (and not ...
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5answers
646 views
List of Number of Mishnayos by chapter / masechta
I'm looking for a list that enumerates the number of Mishnayos in each perek, as well as totals by masechta. Does anyone here know of such a list (or have the ability to quickly produce one)?
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Why don't merchants have torah, according to R. Yochanan?
The g'mara on Eiruvin 55a, expounding "it is not in heaven...nor across the sea" (D'varim 30:12-13), says (Soncinco translation):
Raba expounded, It is not in heaven, it is not to be found with ...
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2answers
126 views
Did the Jews in the Midbar know the entire Torah?
The G'mara in Y'vamos (ד) and B'rachos (כא) records a dispute over whether laws can be deduced from the fact of two p'sukim appearing adjacent to one another in the Torah.
The Mahara"tz Chayos ...
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Upper limits of “kovea itim”
It is known from the gemara (Shabbos 31a and cited in maamar Toras HaBayis ch. 1, among other places) that when a person dies, he is asked if he had set times for learning. I know that these times can ...
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1answer
114 views
Chovos Halevavos vs. Mesilas Yesharim
The three basic texts that R' Yisroel Salanter wanted people to learn were Chovos HaLevavos, Mesilas Yesharim and Cheshbon HaNefesh.
(source: ...
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1answer
88 views
Studying Torah sitting on the floor?
Are you allowed to sit on the floor and study Torah such as Gamara etc? I've heard different opinions. Sources please
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1answer
67 views
Pirkei Avos on Shabbos Tisha B'Av
When Tisha B'Av comes out on a Shabbos, do we say Pirkei Avos in the cycle on that Shabbos?
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What are the main source texts for the chavruta and teacher-student models in Jewish learning?
I'm working on an outline for a short presentation on how new online tools, especially this site, interact with the traditional Jewish learning models of chavruta and teacher-student. What are the ...
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1answer
74 views
What is the reason that you are not allowed to learn Torah shebictav at night?
I saw in some books (Rav Belsky, Arizal) that you are not allowed to learn torah Shebictav at night without mefarshim. Why is that?
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Recommendation for Purim divrei Torah (not “Purim torah”)
I've been reading through the Malbim Esther and have found it fascinating reading, and I was wondering whether there are any other notable seforim with divrei Torah about Purim. I am going through the ...
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Birchas Hatorah and Sefardic women
In an earlier question I mentioned that women make Birchas Hatorah. Is the same true for Sefardic women and why?
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1answer
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Learning Torah without understanding
The Magen Avraham in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 50 Sif-Katan 2 writes that learning (Torah) is only called "learning" if one understands what they learn (see there for the context in which he ...
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2answers
73 views
Source for starting one limmud after finishing another
What is the source for starting a new limmud (learning) immediately after finishing the previous one? For example After finishing one mesechta I have seen people immediately start the next one, even ...
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1answer
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How does the content of the JPS English translation of Miqra'ot Gedolot differ from that of the Hebrew version?
Because I am not yet fluent in Hebrew I am excited to learn that JPS is publishing an English translation of Miqra'ot Gedolot. (So far they've done Sh'mot, Vayikra, and Bamidbar.) As noted in one of ...
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1answer
82 views
Torah learning any time of the day
Can I wake up at any time of night/early morning, say birchat haTorah, and begin to learn?
Is there any time of night/early morning I cannot do this?
Is there ever a time in which learning Torah ...
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1answer
82 views
Why is semicha specifically to ordain a Rabbi to give psak?
Was the original process of semicha merely intended to provide reliable decisors of halacha only?
Nowadays can a Rav get semicha in Tanach or Talmud (for example)? Since, perhaps, these days the ...
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What is the importance of Chiddush?
I have long taken for granted that it is important to be m'chadesh chiddush (compose new and novel torah insights). However, I realize I have no source for that notion. Is there any source which ...
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Why does 'sharpening' depend on effort, and memorization on divine assistance?
The Bavli, M'gila 6 amud 2:
ואמר ר׳ יצחק אם יאמר לך אדם יגעתי ולא מצאתי אל תאמן לא יגעתי ומצאתי אל תאמן יגעתי ומצאתי תאמן הני מילי בדברי תורה אבל במשא ומתן סייעתא הוא מן שמיא ולדברי תורה לא אמרן ...
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Bringing merit to the public
Have seen contradictory information regarding the reward for someone who brings merit to the public.
On one hand, I've heard Rabbis say that one who causes another to learn torah also gets the reward ...
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Saying Divrei Torah by a Seudah — also for Women?
There is a mitzvah of saying Divrei Torah at a Seudah (meal). The rule says that any table that didn't have Divrei Torah said on it is as if someone ate from "Zivchei Masim" ("sacrifices to the ...
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66 views
Birchas hatorah from the Torah?
I've heard many times that saying birchas hatorah is most likely from the torah (as apposed to mi-dirabanan). How could we not know? If it's from the torah, then it's from the torah!
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Where can I find indexes to the classic Torah works?
I want indexes (indices) to the classic Torah works, so that I can quickly find the pages that hold the information I need. Where can I find such indexes?
