Pronunciation

Hi,

Just as one is supposed to be careful to pronounce the words of Shema properly, one is also supposed to pronounce all words from Tanach carefully, whether in prayer or in learning Torah. However, one who is studying, and who finds that fine attention to pronunciation damages his learning, may reduce his attention to pronunciation.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:54)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Playing recordings of Torah or prayer

Hi,

One may not play a recording of Torah or prayer in such a way that people who are in a bathroom will hear it, lest they be caused to think about Torah or prayer in an inappropriate place.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:173)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shnayim mikra

Hi,

One who studies Torah all day is not exempt from shnayim mikra, the practice of reading the weekly parshah twice in the original Hebrew and once in the Aramaic translation.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:17)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mixed seating at a class

Hi,

[This is probably a good time to remind the reader of the disclaimer atop this blog.]

Lectures should be held with a mechitzah separating men and women. However, one may invite a community to a lecture without a mechitzah, for the sake of drawing people close to Torah, if they would not come to a lecture with a mechitzah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying in a room with an idol

Hi,

May I pray in a room which contains a symbol of idolatry?

When Moshe wished to pray to G-d to end the plague of Hail, he left the city; a midrash in the Mechilta explains that Moshe did not wish to pray in Egypt, with its proliferation of idols. Beyond this midrash, we are concerned lest we appear, G-d forbid, to be praying to the idol or its symbol. Therefore, one should not pray in a space which contains symbols of idolatry.

One who has no other option, such a patient in a hospital room containing such symbols, may pray in such a space; he should endeavour to demonstrate, perhaps via his posture, that he is not praying to the idol. Note that not all religious emblems are considered "symbols of avodah zarah"; a competent halachic authority should be consulted.

The same rules pertain to Torah study in such a space.

(Rashi Shemot 12:1; Terumas haDeshen 1:6; Melamed l'Hoil 2:54; Chelkas Yaakov Orach Chaim 33; Siach Yitzchak 45; Tzitz Eliezer 12:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Substituting for Gd's Name in a pasuk

Hi,

One who reads a sentence of chumash out loud should read the entire sentence, and should read the Name of HaShem as part of it. Using a substitute for the Name of HaShem would constitute a corruption of the sentence.

However: One who is teaching children should use a substitute for the Name of HaShem, because there is often a need to interrupt the sentence for pedagogic purposes.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:56)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Siddurim printed on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not daven from siddurim that were printed on Shabbat, and one may not learn with texts that were printed on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:17)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

A siyum on a book of Tanach

Hi,

One may perform a siyyum on a book of Tanach, if the study took an extended period of time. The meal is a "seudat mitzvah [mitzvah meal]" as is any meal marking completing of a mitzvah which required a great deal of time.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:157)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah Study vs. Honor

Hi,

One who is studying Torah must still rise to show respect, as one interrupts Torah study for other mitzvot.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:11; Aruch haShulchan Yoreh Deah 244:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Studying Torah during shivah

Hi,

A mourner is not permitted to study Torah during shivah.

However, if the mourner is a schoolteacher for children, and there is no replacement, then he should learn Torah in order to teach it, for this is a fundamental public need.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 384:1; Shach Yoreh Deah 384:1)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Debating with a parent

Hi,

A child may not contradict his parents, but one may do so in the course of studying Torah with the parent - asking and answering and raising issues, as is normal in the course of study.

(Pitchei Teshuvah Yoreh Deah 240:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honoring Parents vs. Studying Torah

Hi,

One who wishes to go study Torah with a certain teacher, because he is certain that he will meet success with that teacher, is not required to listen to a parent who protests due to safety concerns.

Note, though, that the child is separately obligated to take all necessary steps to preserve his life.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 240:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Preparing to study Torah

Hi,

One is supposed to wash his hands ritually (right, left, right, left, right, left, from a cup) upon rising in the morning. One should certainly make sure to do this before learning Torah.

One who does not have water available should at least clean his hands with some other medium before studying Torah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 47:14; Mishneh Berurah 47:33)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A promise of on-going Judaism in a family

Hi,

We have been discussing Birchot haTorah, the blessings we recite before studying Torah.

The first blessing includes a paragraph asking Gd to make the Torah sweet within our mouths, and the mouths of our descendants. The text specifically includes our grandchildren, hinting at a promise that a family which has three consecutive Torah-embracing generations will never permanently lose its attachment to Torah.

(Mishneh Berurah 47:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Living the words of Torah

Hi,

We have been learning about the blessings of Birchot haTorah, the blessings recited upon Torah study.

The first blessing, as Ashkenazic communities word it, thanks Gd for instructing us "La'asok b'divrei Torah," "to involve ourselves in the words of Torah." Various commentators have explained that wording to refer to more than just studying the words of Torah, but also living those words even when we are not directly involved in their study.

(Mishneh Berurah 47:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is Writing Torah considered a form of Study?

Hi,

Yesterday we noted that thinking words of Torah does not require reciting this blessing, because thought is not considered a substantive form of study. Speaking is considered a substantive form of study. What about writing?

Writing is an action, and it has certain lasting results; further, people often recite or mouth words as they write them. Therefore, one should recite Birchot haTorah, the blessings upon Torah study, before writing a Torah thought.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 47:3; Mishneh Berurah 47:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Birchot haTorah for thinking Torah?

Hi,

We have been discussing Birchot haTorah, the blessings recited before studying Torah.

One need not recite these blessigs before thinking words of Torah; thoughts are not considered a substantive form of study.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 47:3-4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai