Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah ("commandment") of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... Tanakh ‎ (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak, is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... Note: This is based on an entry from the 1906 public domain Jewish Encyclopedia The responsa literature, known in Hebrew as Sheelot U-teshuvot (questions and answers), is the body of written decisions and rulings given by rabbis to questions addressed to them. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצווה, IPA: , commandment; plural, mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah, command) is a word used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ...

This practice is present to an extent in all religious branches of Judaism and is considered of paramount importance. Torah study evolved over the generations, as lifestyles changed and new texts were written.

Origins

Torah study is counted amongst the 613 mitzvot ("[Biblical] commandments"), finding its source in the verse (Deuteronomy 6:7): "And you shall teach it to your children," upon which the Talmud comments that "Study is necessary in order to teach." The importance of study is attested to in another Talmudic discussion about which is preferred: study or action. The answer there, a seeming compromise, is "study that leads to action." Main article: Mitzvah 613 mitzvot or 613 Commandments (Hebrew: תריג מצוות transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric value of 613) are a list of commandments from God in the Torah. ... Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible. ...

Although the word "Torah" refers specifically to the Five Books of Moses, in Judaism the word also refers to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), the Talmud and other religious works, even including the study of Kabbalah, Hasidism, Mussar and much more. Humash or Chumash (Hebrew: חומש) is one name given to the Pentateuch in Judaism. ... Tanakh ‎ (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak, is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum This article discusses usage of the term Hebrew Bible. For the article on the Hebrew Bible itself, see Tanakh. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... This article is about traditional Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). ... It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... Mussar movement refers to an Jewish ethics educational and cultural movement (a Jewish Moralist Movement) that developed in 19th century Orthodox Eastern Europe, particularly among the Lithuanian Jews. ...

Traditional view of Torah study

In rabbinic literature, the highest ideal of all Jews was Torah study. Jewish society taught an eagerness for study and a thirst for knowledge that expanded beyond the text of the Torah to all Jewish literature and related theology. According to many historians, this carried over into the general characteristics of Jewish society, both religious and non-religious, down to the present. Some examples of traditional teachings: Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ...

• The study of Torah is considered to outweigh a number of mitzvot, such as visiting the sick, honouring one's parents, and bringing peace between people (Shabbat 127a). This paragraph was incorporated in the daily prayer service.
• A number of Talmudic rabbis consider Torah study as being greater than the rescue of human life, than the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, and than the honor of father and mother (Megilah 16b).
• As the child must satisfy its hunger day by day, so must the grown man busy himself with the Torah each hour (Yerushalmi Berakhot ch. 9).
• Torah study is of more value than the offering of daily sacrifice (Eruvin 63b).
• A single day devoted to the Torah outweighs 1,000 sacrifices (Tractate Shabbat 30a; comp. Tractate Menachot 100a).
• The fable of the Fish and the Fox, in which the latter seeks to entice the former to dry land, declares Israel can live only in the Law as fish can live only in the ocean.
• Whoever learns Torah at night is granted grace during the day and whoever neglects it will be fed burning coals in the World to Come. (Avodah Zarah 3b).
• God weeps over one who might have occupied himself with Torah study but neglected to do so (Tractate Hagigah 5b).
• The study must be unselfish: one should study the Torah with self-denial, even at the sacrifice of one's life; and in the very hour before death one should devote himself to this duty (Tractate Shabbat 83b).
• All, even lepers and the ritually unclean, are required to study the Law (Tractate Berakhot 22a).
• It is the duty of everyone to read the entire weekly portion twice (the law of shnayim mikra ve-echad targum, Tractate Berakhot 8a).
• According to R. Meir, a Gentile who studies the Torah (for the purpose of finding out about the Noachide Laws) is as great as the high priest (Tractate Avodah Zarah 3a).
• According to R. Yehudah, God Himself studies the Torah for the first three hours of every day. (Tractate Avodah Zarah 3b).

The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash) was the primary resting place of the Gods presence (shechina) in the physical world according to classical Judaism. ... Korban (קרבן) (plural: Korbanot קרבנות) is a Jewish practice of sacrificing an animal or of making an offering at the Temple. ... Avodah Zarah (meaning idolatry - lit. ... The word Gentile from the Latin gentilis, can either be a translation of the Hebrew Goy/גוי or of the Hebrew word Nochri/נכרי. In the most common modern use it refers to the former being derived from the Latin term gens (meaning clan or a group of families) and it is... The Noahide laws are the mitzvot (commandments) that Judaism teaches that all of humankind is morally bound to follow. ... It has been suggested that Aaronites be merged into this article or section. ...

Forms of traditional Jewish Torah study

The Talmud (Tractate Kiddushin 30a) comments: "The words of Torah shall be sharp in your mouth so that if someone asks you something, you shall not fumble and then tell it to him, rather you shall tell it to him immediately." In yeshivas ("Talmudical schools"), rabbinical schools and kollels ("[post-graduate] Talmudical schools") the primary ways of studying Torah include study of: Yeshiva or yeshivah (IPA: ) (Hebrew: ישיבה pl. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... A kollel (Hebrew: כולל; a gathering/collection [of scholars] is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for post-graduate Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) to study Judaisms...

• The weekly Torah portion with its Meforshim ("Rabbinic commentators")
• Talmud
• Ethical works

Other less universally studied texts include the Nevi'im and Ketuvim, other rabbinic literature (such as midrash) and works of religious Jewish philosophy. In Jewish services, a Parsha or Parshah or Parashah, פרשה, meaning Portion in Hebrew, is the weekly Torah reading text selection. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... Neviim [נביאים] or Prophets is the second of the three major sections in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). ... Ketuvim is the third and final section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). ... Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ... Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. ...

Most Orthodox Jews study the text of the Torah on four levels as described in the Zohar: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• Peshat, the surface meaning of the text;
• Remez, allusions or allegories in the text
• Derash, a rabbinic or midrashic way of reading new lessons into the text
• Sod, the hidden mystical Kabbalistic reading of the Torah.

The initial letters of the words Peshat, Remez, Derash, Sod, forming together the Hebrew word PaRDeS (also meaning "orchard"), became the designation for the four-way method of studying Torah, in which the mystical sense given in the Kabbalah was the highest point. One can find examples of its use in The Humash: The Stone Edition (Mesorah Publications), used in many Orthodox synagogues. Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ... This article is about traditional Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). ... Hebrew redirects here. ... This article is about traditional Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). ... Humash or Chumash (Hebrew: חומש) is one name given to the Pentateuch in Judaism. ... ArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish, more specifically a Haredi, perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ... A synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת ; beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: שול, shul; Ladino אסנוגה esnoga) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ...

In some traditional circles, most notably the Orthodox and Haredi, Torah study has become a way of life. In some communities, men forego other occupations and study Torah full-time. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

Haredi Israelis often choose to devote many years to Torah study, often studying at a Kollel. National Religious Israelis often choose to devote time after high school to Torah study, either during their army service at a Hesder yeshiva, or before their service at a Mechina. A kollel (Hebrew: כולל; a gathering/collection [of scholars] is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for post-graduate Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) to study Judaisms... Hesder (in Hebrew: arrangement; or Yeshivat Hesder ישיבת הסדר) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces. ... A Mechina is a type of Israeli educational institution aimed at preparing post-high school youth for their army or national service. ...

Torah study by other Jewish denominations

Like Orthodox Jews, other Jewish denominations may use any or all of the traditional areas and modes of Torah study. They study the weekly Torah portion, the Talmud, ethical works, and more. They may study simply the peshat of the text, or they may also study, to a limited extent, the remez, derash and sod, which is found in Etz Hayyim: A Torah Commentary (Rabbinical Assembly), used in many Conservative congregations. It is common in Torah study among Jews involved in Jewish Renewal. Some level of PaRDeS study can even be found in forms of Judaism that otherwise are strictly rationalist, such as Reconstructionist Judaism. However, non-Orthodox Jews generally spend less time in detailed study of the classical Torah commentators, and spend more time studying modern Torah commentaries that draw on and include the classical commentators, but which are written from more modern perspectives. Furthermore, works of rabbinic literature (such as the Talmud) typically receive less attention than the Tanakh. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Many Jewish denominations exist within the religion of Judaism; the Jewish community is divided into a number of religious denominations as well as branches or movements. ... In Jewish services, a Parsha or Parshah or Parashah, פרשה, meaning Portion in Hebrew, is the weekly Torah reading text selection. ... The term Jewish Renewal refers to a set of practices within Judaism that attempt to reinvigorate Judaism with mystical, Hasidic, musical and meditative practices. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern Jewish movement marked by views and practices including: Personal autonomy should generally override traditional Jewish law and custom, yet also take into account communal consensus Modern culture is accepted The view that Judaism is an evolving religious civilization Traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... Tanakh ‎ (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak, is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ...

Before the Enlightenment, virtually all Jews believed that the Tanakh was written by the prophets who heard it from God, and that it directly reflected God's intentions in human language. They also believed that as both divine intentions and human language are complex, the Torah required interpretation. After the Enlightenment, many Jews began to participate in wider European society, where they learned critical methods of textual study, the modern historical method, hermeneutics, and fields relevant to Bible study such as near-Eastern archaeology and linguistics. Many Jews found the findings of these disciplines compelling and considered them relevant to Torah study. According to this view, the Bible was written by different people who may have been "divinely inspired", but who lived at different times and in different societies; and these factors should be taken into account when studying their works. Consequently, one way to add more to Torah study would be to learn more about the intentions of these people, and the circumstances in which they lived. This type of study depends on evidence external to the text, especially archeological evidence and comparative literature. See the entries on Biblical Higher criticism and the Documentary hypothesis. The Age of Enlightenment (from the German word Aufklärung, meaning Enlightenment) refers to either the eighteenth century in European and American philosophy, or the longer period including the seventeenth century and the Age of Reason. ... Neviim [נביאים] or Prophets is the second of the three major sections in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). ... At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form יהוה (YHVH), the name of God. ... Hermeneutics may be described as the development and study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts. ... Archaeology, archeology, or archology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Linguistics is the scientific study of language. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with The Historical-Critical Method. ... A relational diagram describing the various versions postulated by the biblical documentary hypothesis. ...

Today, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist rabbis draw on the lessons of modern critical Bible scholarship as well as the traditional forms of Biblical exegesis. Orthodox rabbis reject most or all critical Bible scholarship considering it highly speculative or simply false. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest stream of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not include all significant viewpoints. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern Jewish movement marked by views and practices including: Personal autonomy should generally override traditional Jewish law and custom, yet also take into account communal consensus Modern culture is accepted The view that Judaism is an evolving religious civilization Traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well... For the town in Italy, see Rabbi, Italy Rabbi (Sephardic Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī; Ashkenazi Hebrew רֶבִּי rebbī or rebbə; and modern Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root-word RaV, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished (in...

Religious Jews of all denominations hold as a belief that one must constantly strive to engage in Torah study. Orthodox Jews tend to place a higher value on this requirement than Jews in other denominations, although committed Jews of all denominations engage in regular study as well.

Year in Israel

Devoting a year to Torah study in modern Israel is a common practice among American and to a lesser extent European and South African Modern Orthodox Jews, whereby young adults spend a year studying Torah in Israel. It is common both among males and females, with the boys normally going to a yeshiva and the girls to a midrasha (often called seminary or seminaria). Common Yeshivot with year-in-Israel programs include: Yeshivat Har Etzion, Yeshivat HaMivtar, Machon Meir, Aish HaTorah. Common semaries or midrashot include: Midreshet Lindenbaum, Migdal Oz, Nishmat. World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... Yeshiva or yeshivah (IPA: ) (Hebrew: ישיבה pl. ... A midrasha (Hebrew: מדרשה pl. ... Yeshivat Har Etzion Yeshivat Har Etzion, commonly known as The Gush, is a Hesder Yeshiva located in Alon Shevut, a settlement in Gush Etzion near Jerusalem, Israel. ... Yeshivat Hamivtar Orot Lev is a mens yeshivah located in Efrat, Judea, and focused on teaching Post college students. ... Machon Meir (Hebrew:מכון מאיר) is a religious Zionist outreach organization and yeshiva situated in Jerusalem. ... Aish HaTorah Center opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem Aish HaTorah (Fire of the Torah) is an Orthodox Jewish outreach organization and yeshiva, the goal of which is to persuade Jews to observe more closely the halakha. ... Midreshet Lindenbaum is a midrasha, or institution of higher Torah learning for women. ... Beit Midrash of Migdal Oz The Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women, more commonly known as Migdal Oz (after the kibbutz in which it is located) is an Orthodox Jewish institution of higher Torah study for women, located in Gush Etzion, Israel. ... Nishmat is a an Orthodox Jewish institution of higher Torah learning for women, or midrasha. ...

See also

• Judaism
• Kollel
• Mechina
• Torah
• Torah reading
• Yeshiva

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... A kollel (Hebrew: כולל; a gathering/collection [of scholars] is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for post-graduate Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) to study Judaisms... A Mechina is a type of Israeli educational institution aimed at preparing post-high school youth for their army or national service. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... Torah reading (in Hebrew: Kriat HaTorah or Reading [of] the Torah) has followed a steady pattern for the past two thousand years following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and is still practiced by Orthodox Judaism and its adherents. ... Yeshiva or yeshivah (IPA: ) (Hebrew: ישיבה pl. ...

External links and references

Laws Pertaining to Torah Study

• in the Mishneh Torah
• in Shulkhan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah
• in Shulkhan Arukh haRav
• in the Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh
• The importance of Torah Study
• in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, (site follows the Kitzur Yomi schedule; fully searchable)

Bibliography

• A Practical Guide to Torah Learning, D. Landesman, Jason Aronson 1995. ISBN 1-56821-320-4

Wikimedia Torah study projects

Text study projects at Wikisource. Please note that in many instances, these projects proceed much faster in Hebrew than in English!

• Mikraot Gedolot (Rabbinic Bible) in Hebrew (sample) and English (sample).
• Cantillation at the "Vayavinu Bamikra" Project in Hebrew (lists nearly 200 recordings!) and English.
• Mishnah in Hebrew (sample) and English (sample).
• Shulchan Aruch in Hebrew and English (Hebrew text with English translation).

Mikraot Gedolot, often called the Rabbinic Bible in English, is an edition of Tanakh (in Hebrew) that generally includes four distinct elements: The biblical text according to the mesorah in its letters, vocalization, and cantillation marks. ... Gen. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew משנה, repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ...