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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Is Chumash and Judaism relevant to a non-Jew like me?
Personal story & question.
Signed up just to ask this. I'm a non-Jew (that's why I'm posting this on Shabbat) and I've been learning about Judaism for the last couple of years or so. There isn't ...
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Mekor that Learning Coincides with Each Other
Many times when I am learning from 2 separate sources, it amazes me the Hasgacha Pratis how well they coincide with each other (especially when it comes to the various Yomis), that one will mention ...
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What was the general skin color of ancient Israelis?
There are lots of claims that ancient Israelis were black/brown/white or even east-asian looking?
So which one is accurate is there any evidence from Torah or from other biblical resource?
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Short prayer after a vort or dvar torah
I've recently moved to a new area and the Shul that I now attend will often give a vort at the end of Shacharit and Maariv before allowing mourners to say another Kaddish. I've never heard it before ...
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Question about Rashi being taught by angels
Is there a Torah source (or sources) claiming Rashi was taught his Torah commentary by malachim? I remember hearing this many years ago from one of my uncles, but I haven't been able to find any ...
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How did the Shitim tree grow in the desert?
According to the Mefarshim, the source for the woods for the Mishkan was the Cedar trees that Yakov planted in his way to Egypt. According to the size of the woods needed for the Mishkan the mefarshim ...
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On what ascending did "Moses seeing God tying crowns on the letters" happen?
To elaborate on Maurice's question "what-did-moses-understand...":
"Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: When Moses ascended on High, he found the Holy One, Blessed be He, sitting and tying ...
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Introduction to Responsa Literature
I haven't spent much time studying Responsa Literature. Which works would serve as a good introduction? Which respona are essential to a good personal learning program?
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How do we reconcile between genesis and Science about livestock that created after bird [duplicate]
How do we reconcile between genesis and science , I mean those which said livestock created after bird and fish , just completely and blatantly against science , this alone could knock down ...
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"Put your hand under my thigh" clarification [duplicate]
Genesis 24:2
And Abraham said to his slave, the oldest in his house, the one who
ruled in all that was to him. Please put your hand under my thigh.
What does "under my thigh" means? Does ...
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Meaning of the Verses
Genesis 23:15-16
15 My master, hear me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of
silver; what is that between me and you? and bury your dead.
16 And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed to ...
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Judah ben Simeon Ashkenazi on reading the weekly lection
Judah ben Simeon Ashkenazi makes the following remark in his commentary on Orach Chayim:
ואיסור גדול להפסיק בקריאת שמו״ת בדיבור.
Is this an original idea or is Ashkenazi following an earlier ...
user19234
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Which takes precedence- study of Chovos Halevavos or Halacha?
In its introduction, Chovos Halevavos places great emphasis on the importance of Chovos Halevavos. It also seems to have contradictory implications as to what should be learned first; in one place the ...
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Different translation and interpretations on Genesis 1:2, which one is more close?
In Torah (mechon-mamre.org's version),the first half of the verse was translated "the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep", in the second half the word &...
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is there a list of where the letter samech occurs with a degesh in the Chumash
Is there a source that i can link to that shows all the words in the torah with a dagesh in the Samech ?
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Mediterranean Talmud
When the Gemarra was composed, there were three areas inhabited by significant Jewish populations - Bavel, Eretz Yisrael, and the other Mediterranean countries ruled by the Roman Empire as far as ...
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Group symmetry in the letters of Genesis [closed]
Forgive me if this is not the sort of question you like. I'm new here.
Several years ago I came across the work of Stan Tenen, available at meru.org, who appears to have made some impressive ...
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How do we know the Rambam is so exact?
There are many yeshiva systems and darchei halimud (most famously Brisk) who analyze the Rambam "k'chut hasa'arah" - that is to say, exacting to the point that if the Rambam uses one word, ...
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Sources needed on Torah-Study
I'm looking for the following sources, I searched for it, but unfortunately can't find them on HebrewBooks (might be my mistake though)
Igros Moshe, Orach Chayim 1:20 by R'Moshe Feinstein, in which ...
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Grain, sin, guilt, burned, and freewill offerings. What are the differences?
There are 5 types of offerings I can see in the Torah if not more, if more please point them out as I would like to know the difference between all of them. What are the differences between all these ...
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What happens to the Ram in Leviticus 16:3?
In Leviticus 16:3, Aaron is told to bring a bull for sin offering, and a ram for burnt offering. He is later told in verse 5 to bring two male goats for sin offering and from what I see yet another ...
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Who is the firstborn of God and why is he called the firstborn?
Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’” ...
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Listening to a Torah reading at night
Many Poskim rule based on Kabala that one is not to read verses of Mikra [Written Torah] at night.(בבאר היטב סימן רל"ח, ועיין בשער הציון סק"א)
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/reading-tehillim-...
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Developing ability: thinking in learning [closed]
It says in Tosafot Sotah 21a - זה תלמוד חכם:
סתם תלמיד חכם תורתו אומנתו, ועוסק בה ומהרהר כל שעה. ואינו הולך ד' אמות בלא תורה
Is there any detailed, practical guidance available about developing an ...
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Where does Taz say I should feel bad if I cannot learn because Hashem gave me a different mitzvah?
Where does Taz say I should feel bad if I cannot learn because Hashem gave me a different mitzvah that only I can do?
Meaning, that Hashem is not pleased with my Torah right now.
I think it is in ...
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Rambam and Mitzvas Talmud Torah
As opposed to other Codifiers of Halacha (e.g. Shulchan Aruch Harav see Hilchos Talmud Torah 1:1, 2:1 and the Kuntres Acharon there) the Rambam famously doesn't provide the reasons for the Mitzvahs ...
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What is my Zodiac sign? [closed]
I was born on the 25 of Tishrei 1981 at approx. 5:30 PM. According to most secular astrologers I am considered to be a Libra/Scorpio cusp sun sign (Oct. 19-25). Tishrei is considered the month of ...
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Sources on the Divine Documentary hypothesis
First, to accommodate contradicting Tannaic views, the Rabbinic tradition allows for multiple Halachic lineages stemming from Moses (see "אלו ואלו דברי א' חיים" regarding Hillel and Shamai). ...
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Did the patriarchs travel at night?
I have heard that Abraham and the other Patriarchs would have travelled during the night and encamp during the daytime.
What evidence is there for such a claim?
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Ark of the Covenant
During the journey a man named Uzza touched the Ark of the Covenant to support it and fell dead on the spot (2 Samuel 6:1-8, 1 Chronicles 13:9-10). Here are two questions: 1. Why does God kill for ...
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Ibn Ezra and R. Joseph Bonfils And different opinions on Judaism [closed]
Can I agree with them that some passages were not written by Moses and that in some parts there were updates to the type text in Gen 14:14 that is considered a sin in Judaism? I can agree with rabbis ...
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Question on Torah-study principles
It is explained (Selections from Likkutei Sichos, Shmos, Parashat Tetzaveh, p. 483) that one of the principles of Torah study is to minimize the number of differences between the positions of the ...
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Resources for Mishna Berura Yomi
I would like to join the daily study of Mishna Berura. I would love to jump right in and join them wherever they are at, rather than start from the first page on my own. I think the set schedule will ...
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Why Moses' way of teaching Israel left Yehoshuah out (Eruvin 54b)?
Following the question on the order of Moses' teaching Torah to Israel, I noticed that the procedure does mention Aharon, Aharon's sons, the elders, and the people, but not Yehoshuah as Moses's ...
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Why the rarest musical notes (Teamim) are located at the same verse in the Torah?
What is the reason that stand behind the fact that the rarest musical notes (Teamim) in the Torah are located in the same verse? What is so special in this specific verse to be chosen for those ...
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Are the "unworthy" punished by being less able to learn Torah?
Shabbat 21b says that Abaye did not accept a certain halacha the Sages related in the name of Rabbi Yirmeya. After he emigrated to Babylonia, the Sages related this same halakha in the name of Rabbi ...
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Understanding Moses' four-fold way of study (Eruvin 54b)
Following my previous question "what-were-the-pieces-of-moses'-transmission", I wondered:
where this form of study was learned from?
what were the benefits of this form of learning?
if the ...
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Choice between financial success and Torah study
Let us assume for the sake of discussion the following scenario.
There is a young, devout man[1] who has reached a point life where he earns more than enough money to sustain himself. He's by no means ...
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Punishment for not Studying the Torah
Does HaShem punish someone in this world for not studying the Torah ?
user25840
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Can the word "Torah" refer to the Tanakh in general?
Can the word Torah include other books in the Tanakh? If so, are there examples of this in Jewish literature (ancient rabbinical literature, medieval, etc)
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Genesis 9 : 5 Meaning
Genesis 9 : 5
And surely the blood of your lives I will demand. At the hand of every
animal I will demand it, and at the hand of man. I will demand the
life of man at the hand of every man's brother.
...
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May one learn commentaries of permitted texts on Tisha B'av?
Regarding texts one is permitted to learn on Tisha B'av like Eicha and Iyov, is one allowed to learn the various meforshim as well or only the texts themselves?
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Genesis Chapter 9 : 3 Meaning
Genesis 9 : 3
Every creeping thing which is alive shall be food for you. I have
given you all things, even as the green plant.
I am a Torah keeper but this verse seems to be contradicting. Can ...
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How can we explain these two pesukim?
In Tehillim 115:6 it is written:
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שָׁ֭מַיִם לַה וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ נָתַ֥ן לִבְנֵי־אָדָֽם
Translation: “The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He gave over to man.” (Source: Sefaria)
In ...
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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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Learning Alei Shur Part I or II first?
Naturally, I would think to learn part I of Alei Shur first, but having read a few (ableit brief) online summaries, it almost seems like perhaps Part II is more relevant to someone who is not ...
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Leviticus 11:26 Divided Hoof vs Cloven Footed
Leviticus 11:26
even every living thing which divides the hoof, and is not cloven
footed, and does not bring up the cud, they are unclean to you; anyone
who touches them shall be unclean.
What's the ...
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What תוֹרָ֔ה is referred to in Isaiah 2:3?
Isaiah 2:3
Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For ...
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Leviticus 11:5-6 Hoof vs. Toe
Leviticus 11:5-6
5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the
hoof, is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but
does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
...
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Rambam Hilchot Melachim 10:9 Translation
I would like to share with you two different English translations of the same passage(s) from the above Halacha:
עַכּוּ''ם שֶׁעָסַק בַּתּוֹרָה חַיָּב מִיתָה. (...) וְאִם עָסַק בַּתּוֹרָה אוֹ שָׁבַת ...
user25706