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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First steps for someone considering conversion
I am 25 years old and I am truly interested in converting. I too also only believe in G-d. I live my life to certain rules that others I see aren't strong enough to live by. I want to know what I ...
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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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Am I liable to be stoned for my devotion to Hashem and the Jewish people?
I have spent over 2 years to this day praying for the Jewish people from the Koren Siddur and Machzorim. I have with my Rebbe's help tried to follow Jewish customs and laws, to my best ability. ...
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Non-Jews learning or being taught Torah
I read on Mi Yodeya, and elsewhere on the Internet, that the Gemara (Chagigah 13a) says that Jews can't teach Torah to gentiles, and that according to Tosefot (Chagigah 13a sv. ein) this is because ...
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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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Sh'kalim, Kinim, Midos in daf yomi
Why are Sh'kalim (Y'rushalmi) and Kinim and Midos (mishnayos) learned as part of the standard daf yomi cycle for Talmud Bavli?
And if the answer relies on some fact of publication, then (a) why ...
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Does listening to Torah content count as the mitzvah of Talmud Torah?
Do I get the miztvah of learning Torah, by listening to your answers of these peoples questions?
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Why do Yeshivos learn Talmud Bavli so extensively?
Most Yeshivos (from 5th Grade-End of High school) Learn Talmud Bavli.
My question is: Why? What is the point of learning Talmud Bavli so extensively?
I know that it is Hashem's Word, but there are ...
user5224
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Is the material permitted to learn on Tisha B'av available online?
From Aish.com:
Other prohibitions include...Learning Torah, since this is a joyful activity. It is permitted to learn texts relevant to Tisha B'Av and mourning -- e.g. the Book of Lamentations, ...
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Saying words of prayer or Torah while an immodest photo or drawing is in your field of vision?
The halachah is clear (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75) that one may not recite Shema, or any other words of Torah or prayer, while in the presence of parts of the human body that should be covered.
...
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Does "reputation scoring" make "the Torah a crown to magnify yourself with"?
Is "reputation scoring" against the spirit of Pirkei Ovos 4 (5) "Rabbi Tzaddok would say: Do not make the Torah a crown to magnify yourself with, ...."
- 47.2k
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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?
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What level of understanding is required in "learning" for purposes of making a siyum?
When learning as part of a coordinated group siyum, what level of understanding of the material is expected/required? How do you know if you've done enough to fulfill the mitzvah? Is it about effort ...
- 56.4k
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Do you have to know kol ha Torah kula?
Is there a requirement for a Jewish man to know the whole Torah (including every gemara, tosafot, Midrasch…) or is it OK to know the Halacha that is relevant to you and then to use the rest of ...
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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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Why learn Gemara?
Why do we learn Gemara? We can't learn any Halacha from Gemara, as brought in Yalkut Yosef Halachot Talmud Torah. So why do we learn Gemara at all-it's more useful to learn Halacha!
- 1,117
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Making a Siyum on major sections of learning but not a codified unit
If someone completes a major section of Talmud Torah that is not a formal unit (eg., Basar BeḤalav), may/should one make a Siyum?
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Why is Talmud Bavli studied more than Yerushalmi?
I'm far from an expert on either Bavli or Yerushalmi. But, I'm curious as to why yeshivot (and, to an extent, even individual adults learning by themselves, chevruta or via shiurim) study Bavli far ...
- 70k
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Can one recite prayers or learn torah while facing a bathroom whose door is open?
Do you have to close the bathroom door that you are in the vicinity of before being able to recite blessings or learn torah?
Does it suffice to simply turn your back towards the bathroom door?
For ...
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What are the parameters of the prohibition against a non-Jew learning Torah?
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 58a) declared that a non-Jew is liable to death for learning Torah (at least the parts not relevant to him practically). If you read the passuk תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה literally, “...
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What can one learn on Tisha B'Av?
What are you allowed to learn on Tisha B'Av in general particularity which Gemaras?
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Is it permitted to learn in kollel without earning a living?
Based on this post which states in part:
Ramoh in Yoreh Deah, 246:21
“A person should hire himself out for alien work rather than requiring assistance from others”; “The man who is self-sufficient is ...
user2110
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What's the most efficient method for learning biblical Hebrew?
I have gone through some basic schooling at a modern yeshiva. For 10 years I haven't touched a Chumash, but would like to get back into it. I have started reading the Artscroll Chumash--reading the ...
- 13k
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3
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Studying Halachah daily required?
Read somewhere that one must be sure that in addition to any daily study of Tanach, Mishnah and Gemara, to study books of Halachah.
Does anyone know where the source for this can be found?
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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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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 - - ...
MoNoodles
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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 ...
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Learning Torah from a confirmed sinner?
A learned friend of mine is of the opinion that it is forbidden to learn from a Rabbi (or anyone else) who is known to have sinned. He used the example of a particular Rabbi caught in a scandal so ...
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Are there sources that any minute not learned Torah is a sin?
I was recently referred to the Even HaEzel on the Rambam in the 3rd chapter of Hilchos Melachim. Reb Isser Zalman Meltzer (the author) writes there that there is no sin of Bittul Torah for a regular ...
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What are some good resources for deciphering a Tosfos comment that I can't figure out?
What are some good resources for deciphering a Tosfos comment that I can't figure out?
Here is what I am looking for in a resource:
When Tosfos brings another gemoro this resource should provide an ...
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Sefarim to learn in Elul
Which sefarim are traditionally learned in Elul*, because they have a special significance to the mood and message of the month?
*Or even without a tradition, which sefarim are good to learn during ...
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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 ...
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Learning non-jewish topics as a creative process during Shabbat
Is 'learning' non-Jewish topics a prohibited creative process on Shabbat? If so, on what grounds is learning Tanakh exempted? I read that the study non-Jewish subjects is banned or frowned upon, and I ...
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"Chabad" Gemara learning?
Is there a specifically "Chabad" way of learning Gemara? Is there a Chabad commentary on the Gemara?
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Why are some words in Tanach read differently than they are written?
From here:
The MT [Masoretic Text] includes the kere and ketiv system, in which marginal notes indicate that certain words are to be read differently than they are spelled in the text, or that ...
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What was the attitude of Rabbonim regarding Purim Torah?
Purim Torah seems to be a two sided concept. On one hand, many people do it for many years (for example, Maseches Purim was published in 1871).
On the other hand, it seems to be a Bizayon HaTorah (...
- 40.3k
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Is Listening to a Torah Tape considered Talmud Torah? [duplicate]
It says in the Baal HaTanya's Hilchos Talmud Torah that one fulfills his obligation to learn Torah only if he says the words. Moreover, a Chavrusa fulfills his obligation only because Shomeya Keoneh.
...
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Proper Way of Learning Jewish Mysticism
I have been very much interested in learning the core teachings of mysticism since I was a young boy. I didn't know that it was called Jewish mysticism but nonetheless I was attracted to its beliefs ...
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Why isn't Tanach regularly studied in many Yeshivot?
There is a Tosafot in Sanhedrin 24a
that says that by learning Gemara one does not fulfill what the Gemara (Kidushin 30a, Avoda Zara 19a) says: one should split his learning into three --- Mikra, ...
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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 burned or buried?
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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 (Tanach) at night without commentaries. Why is that?
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Saying Rishonim or Achronim were "wrong"
People 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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Source for making a celebration (siyum) upon completing some learning?
What is the source for the common practice of making a celebration (siyum) upon completing a tractate of Talmud or another significant amount of learning?
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Opinions on Bittul Torah
What are the halachik definitions of bittul torah?
I.e. some say that studying secular sciences qualifies as bittul torah while others say that it doesn't. How are they defining the halachik ...
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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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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 ...
user17565
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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.
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Meaning of ודו"ק
It is fairly common to find the abbreviation ודו"ק at the end of a complex explanation of a Torah thought (Maharsha, for example, famously does this very often). Roughly, it means: "I didn't explain ...
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Any primary sources that all Jewish males should l'chatchila stay in learning forever?
Does anyone know of any specific sources in Chazal or Rishonim (or even earlier achronim) that indicate that l'chatchila all Jewish males should learn full time forever? I know that this is the ...
sb