Questions tagged [torah-study]
Questions about the mitzvah to study Torah, and the nature of Torah study. This tag is not intended to be a general tag about Torah. Almost every question on the site is about Torah in some sense. If your question is about a passage in the Bible, try one of the book tags.
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Torah-teaching of Rav Edelstein zt"l: enjoy your learning
I've heard a shiur from Rabbi Daniel Glatstein on the teachings of Rav Gershon Edelstein zt"l in which Rav Edelstein zt"l describes what the obligations of a teacher of Torah should have in ...
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Switching topics - Bittul Torah?
Someone said today that they saw once in one of the seforim of the Chafetz Chaim that he wrote that if someone is learning Torah (a specific topic) and the veers unnecessarily to another topic of ...
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When did we REALLY accept the Torah?
It is a known Gemara that the Jewish people "re-accepted" the Torah during the times of Esther.
Question 1. Why did the Jews of that time specifically merit to be the ones to re-accept the ...
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Are there any sources for types of learning to memorize?
I am interesting in working on memorizing something - anything that I can have with me in my head that I can review at random times throughout the day. In terms of the “what” to memorize, I am curious ...
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What does the Torah mean when it restricts homosexual relations? [duplicate]
A relative of mine, who happens to be gay, asked me if Oral sex is sanctioned under the scope of the restrictions on homosexual relations. If I remember correctly, the Torah forbids, for males, the ...
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What is being emphasized in the Chassidic thought for the day called HaYom Yom in connection with the festival of Shavuot?
In HaYom Yom for the first day of Shavuot it says:
The Baal Shem Tov passed away on Wednesday, the first day of Shavuot, 5520 (1760) and is interred in Mezibuz. The Alter Rebbe Commented (on ...
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"Torah scholars decrease" - what does the Gemara teaches us?
There is a principle that the redemption only comes after a series of severe troubles (see: אוצרות הרב יצחק אברבנאל, p. 124)
יש לדעת כי הגאולה הרוממה באה רק אחרי רצף של צרות קשות
One of these ...
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Resources to improve my Hebrew to learn Halachic works?
My Hebrew is solid - I am able to get around Israel. When I learn works of Halacha (Aruch HaShulchan, Mishna Berura, Kitzur) I am not able to follow due to not knowing words and acronyms. What is a ...
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Manna From Heaven One who took more had nothing extra and one who took less wasn't laking
"One who took more had nothing extra and one who took less wasn't laking" (Shemot 16:18)
What does it mean? One who took more was satisfied with more meaning he ate everything and was ...
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Tsnius for Women : Talmud Torah for Men
I have heard the idea that the concept of tsnius, or modesty, for women is equivalent to the command of Torah study for men. Once, I overheard this in a conversation between two men, one of whom I ...
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Why can women be lashed if Deuteronomy 25:3 speaks in masculine terms ("then thy brother should be dishonoured before thine eyes")?
According to Deuteronomy 25:3:
ג אַרְבָּעִים יַכֶּנּוּ, לֹא יֹסִיף: פֶּן-יֹסִיף לְהַכֹּתוֹ עַל-אֵלֶּה מַכָּה רַבָּה, וְנִקְלָה אָחִיךָ לְעֵינֶיךָ.
Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if ...
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What does עמלות בתורה actually mean?
Poroshas beĥukosai begins with the words אם בחוקותי תלכו which rashi, somewhat famously explains, based on toras kohanim that this means 'if we will be עמלים בתורה'.
This is a commonly quoted rashi in ...
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Are you allowed to recite a verse from Tanach by heart while reviewing Mishnayos?
According to those who hold that it is forbidden to recite a verse from Tanach by heart even for yourself, would it be permitted if he is quoting it from a Mishnah while reviewing it by heart?
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Who should we study with?
A standard teaching is having me a little confused:
עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב -- Make for yourself a teacher. [Avot 1:6]
At first blush, it means: Find yourself a learned rabbi, as great as possible, to teach ...
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Properties of honey and the Chafetz Chaim
I've heard in an online shiur from Rabbi Daniel Glatstein that the Chafetz Chaim wrote an explanation on the connection between honey and the Torah. Why is the Torah compared to honey, e.g., sweetness?...
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What are Obligations of teachers to their students
What are the obligations of a teacher of the Torah to his students. Or what are the laws that a teacher, rebbe, Rav must follow.
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What is the intention of the Moshiach proofs from the Torah, brought by Rambam?
In chapter 11 of the laws of kings (and their wars) (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1188356/jewish/Melachim-uMilchamot-Chapter-11.htm) the Rambam defines the basic obligation to ...
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Will the donkey of Moshiach talk?
B"H
The question and answer here
https://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/52493/32743
Touch on the idea that the donkey that Moshe rode (his family and placed his belongings on (not him himself, the ...
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What is the meaning of "k'neged kullam"?
What is the meaning of "k'neged kullam"? The Talmud says:
"אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶן בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהַקֶּרֶן קַיֶּמֶת לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם, וּגְמִילוּת ...
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What are good books on humility by major scholars or Rabbis?
What are the best books, writings and great works by traditional scholars and Rabbis in Judaism dealing with the topic of humility? I want very traditional and age old works the likes of which you ...
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When Purim falls out on Shabbos, why are you allowed to give Mishloach Manos?
When Purim falls out on Shabbos, why are you allowed to give Mishloach Manos?
Aren't we afraid one might carry it to a friend? Like רבה says in Megilah Daf 4b :(https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.4b.21?...
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Baalei Batim and Daf Yomi versus Learning Halachah
Today, many baalei batim center their learning around gemara bavli, for example through programs like daf yomi. But the Drisha and Shach write that for those who aren't learning all day it's more ...
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What is Chazakah from 3 Times action [duplicate]
Hi I want to know what does it really mean a chazakah that gets formed after 3 actions and is it a sin of you don't do that same action the 4th time and what is the source of this law and how far does ...
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Hebrew texts (like the Torah) with IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transliteration of each term?
Is there a mapping of Hebrew terms in the Torah (or any other key Hebrew text like you'd find on Sefaria), to the IPA pronunciation? Ideally even there would be at least two transliterations, one to ...
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Can you learn portions of Avot D'Rav Nattan on Tish'a B'Av?
This M.Y. answer provides a list of permissible learning items on Tish'a B'Av. All these items are somehow related to the themes of mourning, the Temple destruction, etc.
Avot D'Rav Natan has several ...
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Source for Story about Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi Collecting Teachings from All the Tanaim
Someone recently mentioned to me a story that in the days of the Tannaim most people learned from a single teacher and learned a single derekh or set of halakhot. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi was unusual in ...
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What is One Allowed to Learn on Tisha B'Av? [duplicate]
One is not allowed to learn Torah on Tisha B'Av, as it gladdens a person (SA 554:1-2). However, certain texts, relating to mourning and the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, are permissible (Mishnah ...
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Can one study about the Beis Hamikdash on tisha bav?
I know that we cannot study any Torah which makes us happy on tisha bav- which is generally any Torah (source needed).
Based on that, is it generally accepted among (ashkenazi) poskim that studying ...
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Borrowing without permission?
Would borrowing a torah book (without permission) from a shul be considered mitzvah haba b'averah if you use it to learn from ?
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How does a recent bar mitzva "complete the weekly portion with the community"
When a person becomes bar mitva during the year, 98% of the time the community has already read 1 or even 50 weekly portions.
Does the bar mitzva need to make up those portions?
Would it matter if ...
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Reviewing studies 40 times or 101 times?
The Gemara in Pesachim 72a says, "One, who reviews a subject 40 times, is guaranteed it will be rooted in his memory as if it were placed in his pocket."
However, the Mishnah Berurah 114:41 says, "...
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What is the proof and reasoning that Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Elazar are NOT arguing in Megillah 29a
B"H
In a kuntress that the Rebbe gave out towards mid 5752 about the "house of our Rebbe in Bavel", it starts out with a chidush in Megillah 29a that Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Elazar are ...
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How is בריא connected to ברא?
IIRC, the word ברא applies exclusively to God's process of creation throughout the scriptures (see ברא on Sefaria).
The word בריא is used to denote health (actually fat in cattle, like "...
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Our inner flame of Torah and the Rama
The posuk in parashas Tzav writes:
and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning in it.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe in Likkutei Sichos (Vol. 1, p. 217; parashas Tzav) explains that the Torah we study ...
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Where is a free online copy of the Torah with the "correct" number of letters in it?
First off, my intention is to create a pretty decent replica of the Hebrew text close to the formatting of the Sefer Torah or a Tikkun, for personal documentation purposes. My question though is 2-...
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Beginner on Rav Soloveitchik
I am looking to delve into the teachings of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993). Any recommendations on a good starting point?
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How many hours a day should we dedicate to spending time with our children vs. learning?
As far as I can tell from experience, common wisdom, common sense and perhaps my Torah learning, it seems quality time spent talking, playing and generally interacting with one's parents is like ...
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Can you learn from seforim written by someone who believed Shabbetai Tzvi was the Messiah?
During the times of false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, and for several decades afterwards, many well established rabbanim [1] believed him to be Moshiach. Some even maintained this belief after his ...
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The relationship between Rabbi Akiva and his wife
The Talmud tells us about the relationship between Rabbi Akiva and his wife:
The daughter of Ben Kalba Savua told [Akiva]: If I betroth myself to you, will you go ... learn Torah? He said: Yes... He ...
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Learning advice from the Chazon Ish
The Chazon Ish, in his sefer Kovetz Igros Chazon Ish (paragraph 3), mentions a certain advice concerning Torah study.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l mentions this teaching in his Orchos Yosher (p. 172; ...
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What's the difference between a Minhag and a takkanah [duplicate]
What is the difference between a Minhag and Takkanah?
I know for example Rav Gershoms takkanah that a man is not allowed to divorce a woman against her own will is a Takkanah what's the difference ...
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Does G-d desire relationship?
From where was it derived that G-d wants to have companionship/relationship with man? On what basis has it been concluded that the Almighty seeks to have a personal relationship with man?
Someone (non-...
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What is the minimum amount of Torah knowledge to not be considered an am Haaretz?
Rebbi Yehudah held bad things come into the world on account of amei haaretz. What is the minimum amount of Torah one would have to know to not be considered an am haaretz? Who would this apply to if ...
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What was the Lubavitcher Rebbe's position on women's gemara study?
It is my understanding that women's gemara study is rabbinically prohibited. However, I keep hearing that the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l had an interesting, perhaps liberal position regarding women's ...
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Evidence for the divine inspiration of the Torah
What evidence is there that the Torah was divinely inspired? Historical evidence, prophecies, etc, for example.
Further reading on this topic would be appreciated.
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What is the underlying purpose of Tzadakah?
Is the purpose of Tzadakah to simply feed and house the poor, if so why did Hillel give the rich man a horse and run before him?
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How can all explanations of the Torah be True when they contradict each other (eilu v'eilu)?
I've read multiple questions/answers that discuss Eilu V'eilu. However, the seem to always come back to the discussion of how it applies to Halacha. My question is stemming from somewhere else.
If ...
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I am looking for a pasuk that has to do with doors or entranceways [closed]
I am a photographer and am in the midst of a project where I took many different, beautiful, unique doors from the old city of Yerushalayim and Tzfas. I plan to make a collage of all the doors, and ...
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Meaning of the word בר in Proverbs 31:2
I'm a ben Noach. I was studying the use of the word בר in the Mishlei Shlomoh and I noticed that many important translations translate Proverbs 31:2 as follows:
"What, my son? and what, son of ...
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How does Judaism regard homeschooling?
The title quite says it. I'm specifically more interested in unschooling....
It is said in Ktubot, 50a, that:
אמר רב יצחק באושא התקינו שיהא אדם מתגלגל עם בנו עד שתים עשרה שנה מכאן
ואילך יורד עמו ...
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