12
votes
Purpose of Learning Gemara
tl;dr R' Aharon Lichtenstein has an essay outlining four elements that make gemara learning unique and important:
Explanation of the principles and parameters of the laws
Exposure to the ...
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10
votes
Accepted
Properties of honey and the Chafetz Chaim
It is in the Hakdama Rishona to his Likutei Halachos on Zevachim right in the beginning of the first paragraph
מה שכתוב ״ומתוקים מדבש״, כי ידוע שיש בטבע כח המתיקות גדול...
עד שאם יפול בה איזה דבר לחם ...
- 10.6k
7
votes
Accepted
How to learn Tosefta
As a preface, I have never made a full study of Tosafta on its own. The way I have learned it was to simply look up every single ברייתא that the Gemara quotes. This methodology leads one to have an ...
- 3,262
6
votes
Where does the phrase "Shamaitsa Aliba D’Hilchasa" come from?
The phrase crops up a few times in Shas, including Yoma 26a:
אמר רבא לא משכחת צורבא מרבנן דמורי אלא דאתי משבט לוי או משבט יששכר לוי דכתיב יורו משפטיך ליעקב יששכר, דכתיב (ובני) יששכר יודעי בינה לעתים ...
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6
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What’s the source of not asking a question to a person that might not know the answer, so that they won't get embarrassed
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חִיָּיא לְרַב: בַּר פַּחֲתֵי! לָא אָמֵינָא לָךְ, כִּי קָאֵי רַבִּי בְּהָא מַסֶּכְתָּא לָא תְּשַׁיְּילֵיהּ בְּמַסֶּכְתָּא אַחֲרִיתִי, דִּילְמָא לָאו אַדַּעְתֵּיהּ. דְּאִי לָאו ...
- 965
6
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What’s the source of not asking a question to a person that might not know the answer, so that they won't get embarrassed
See the Shulchan Arach Choshen Mishpat 228 which discusses onas devorim
228:4 says
אם נשאלה שאלה על דבר חכמה לא יאמר למי שאינו
יודע אותה חכמה מה תשיב בדבר זה וכן כל כיוצא בדברים אלו
If a question was ...
- 4,698
6
votes
Advice is best taken in open fields
This idea is found in Gemara Brachos, and is learned from Yaakov: "“And Yaakov sent and he called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock." The reason for this, as explained by Rashi, is ...
- 3,210
6
votes
What are God's requirements please that allow us to eat an animal
0) Who are the laws for?
Judaism understands that the below laws apply only to members of the Jewish nation. Non-Jews are not bound by any of the laws, except that they must at ensure the animal is ...
- 593
6
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Halachicly sound ways to bookmark on Shabbat
As I wrote here, folding the corner of a page is permitted and a good way if you don't mind "damaging the page" a bit. Still your question goes beyond, and you note the issue of marking a ...
- 47.8k
5
votes
Is there a Zohar Yomi?
Yes.
There is a series of seforim called Chok L'Yisrael which creates a daily learning program including - tanach, mishnah, halacha and kabbalah. The Kabbalah section is from the Zohar.
For example ...
- 30.1k
5
votes
How frum were the people in the Torah?
The Gemara Yoma 28B says that Avraham kept the entire Torah even rabbinical laws:
אָמַר (רַב), וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב אָשֵׁי: קִיֵּים אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֲפִילּוּ עֵירוּבֵי תַבְשִׁילִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״...
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5
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How to learn Tosefta
I find learning the Tosefta in conjunction with the Mishnah to be an extremely rewarding experience. The Tosefta often preserves the "raw materials" from which the Mishnah was edited (and ...
5
votes
Accepted
Being MeChadesh Torah saves lives
The verse in Shoftim 5:8 states:
יִבְחַר֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים אָ֖ז לָחֶ֣ם שְׁעָרִ֑ים מָגֵ֤ן אִם־יֵֽרָאֶה֙ וָרֹ֔מַח בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל
When they chose new gods, war came to their ...
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4
votes
Accepted
Purpose of Learning Gemara
Hi and thanks for the question. Definitionally, I don't think I can use any of your examples because Torah learning is different. There is a concept called learning Torah "lishma", which ...
- 7,152
4
votes
Accepted
What is the minimum amount of Torah knowledge to not be considered an am Haaretz?
The Gemara in Sotah 22a says one who learnt Chumash without Mishna is a Boor (lower than an am haaretz). One who didn't even learn Chumash is worse. The Mishnah Brurah 199 Bais says a "complete&...
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4
votes
Accepted
Mishanh Torah Sabath 11:14 writing rule with respect to left hand and elbow [Question]
The Torah prohibited labor done in a normal way. Violating that, someone would have to bring a sacrifice. (Thus, "liable.") If someone did it in an abnormal way, they are thus "exempt&...
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4
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Where do memories come from?
I would point you to a Rabbeinu Yona, not so well known, that does give you something to work with (though he does not get so specific with the terminology as you have).
כי טבע הגוף משכח וכי יעשה ...
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4
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Is there a Coursera for learning Halacha and Gemara?
I've been there so I know exactly how you feel. I can share some learnings from experience and a number of resources that helped me a lot to become much more independent.
First, since halacha and ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
What is the underlying purpose of Tzadakah?
The Torah says we must give a needy person "whatever he is lacking" [דֵּ֚י מַחְסֹר֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֶחְסַ֖ר לֽוֹ -- Dei machsoro, asher yechsar lo]. [Deuteronomy 15:7-8]
This has been understood ...
- 20.7k
3
votes
I am looking for a pasuk that has to do with doors or entranceways
There are many verses involving doors and entranceways. Some examples were provided in the comments above. Here is another example that might fit what you are looking for:
The eight and ninth chapters ...
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3
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Is there a way to figure out which mefarshim to look at for parsha?
R' Akiva Weisinger started his Misfit Torah podcast with a series called "Who the heck is this guy?" (the first 11 episodes, published in 2018-2020) in which he describes the styles of the ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
Is there a way to figure out which mefarshim to look at for parsha?
Rav Ahron Lopiansky compiled such a sefer, יסודי התורה
The description says as follows:
A collection of the theological fundamental essays culled from the Rishonim, organized by Parsha.
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3
votes
Purpose of Learning Gemara
1) Inculcating Toil
Gemara study does not just represent a new concentrated degree of learning, the intricacies contained within its pages, usher the onset of heightened עמילות – toil.
The Chofetz ...
- 30.1k
3
votes
Purpose of Learning Gemara
First I'll explain what the Torah is, and then I'll explain why we learn it, and the fundamental difference between the Torah and all other wisdoms.
The Torah is divided into to parts - Torah ...
- 533
3
votes
Learning out loud vs. learning quietly
In addition to what @Shmuel has written.
When a person learns out loud it allows for both the acquisition and retention of Torah. The Gemara in Eiruvin 54a relates that Bruriah (the wife of Rabbi Meir)...
- 30.1k
3
votes
Is eating olives daily OK?
This point was recently discussed in Rav Chaim Bleier shlita's Chukei Chaim series, no. 299
Firstly, by way of introduction, some further information on the potential problem:
The Gemara (הוריות י''ג ...
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3
votes
Why learn Gemara?
1) Inculcating Toil
Gemara study does not just represent a new concentrated degree of learning, the intricacies contained within its pages, usher the onset of heightened עמילות – toil.
The Chofetz ...
- 30.1k
3
votes
How is בריא connected to ברא?
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch on Genesis 41:2 defines the word בריא as:
Gesund, feist, dick.
Healthy, plump, fat.
He continues to say that:
Alles dies heißt בריא von ברא, äußerlich machen, also בריא: ...
- 1,135
3
votes
Who must not study Torah?
The simplest and most straightforward answer to your question is someone who is currently in the toilet or similar location.
See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 4:4 and 5:2, Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 85:2 and ...
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3
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Accepted
Online edition of Kuntres Tiferes Dovid
As far as your first two points see here
The blurb there writes:
קונטרס תפארת דוד : בעניני דרכי לימוד התורה ותלמודה לרבים / מביא ממאמריו ומדרכיו של רבי חיים דוד הכהן לייבאוויטש
עם הרחבת הדיבור ...
- 30.1k
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