Search results for: ""Tora""

Torah, Prayers, and Bad Smell
Do not say blessings or prayers or study holy subjects (limudei kodesh) if there is a bad smell.
 
Torah at Meals
Some Torah should be discussed at every meal.
Torah at the Table
Saying some Torah at each meal--anytime bread is eaten and at least two people are eating--is a custom but not a halacha. But, Torah can be said anytime!
Torah Reading: What To Do While on Bima
The oleh (person who gets the aliya) should lightly hold on to the handle of the Torah.
The oleh should read the Torah quietly along with the reader (ba'al koreh).
 
Torah Scholar Honoring Other Torah Scholars
A Torah scholar should stand up for another Torah scholar who is greater in knowledge; a greater Torah scholar should acknowledge the lesser scholar by standing up a little bit.
 
Torah Scroll (Sefer Torah): Priority for Writing
Writing a Torah scroll (sefer Torah) is a mitzva but is not a priority; there are other activities that have a higher priority for Jewish observance.
Note The commandment that each Jew write a sefer Torah is not fulfilled by paying someone else to write a few letters of the sefer Torah for you.
Note If you hire someone to write the entire sefer Torah for you, that fulfills your requirement.
Torah Scroll: Touching
Don't directly touch the parchment of a Torah scroll with your hand or other part of your body, unless there is no other way to handle the scroll.
Torah Scroll: Standing
Stand when a Torah is being moved.
Note When the ark is open, you do not need to stand if the Torah or Torahs are stationary, but the custom is to stand anyway.
Torah Study during Shiv'a
A mourner during shiv'a may not study Torah, other than:
  • Laws of mourning (aveilut), and
  • Whatever is permitted to study on Tish'a b'Av.
Note This restriction ceases if a Jewish festival occurs during shiv'a.
Studying Torah
All Jews must study Torah “lishma” (studying for the sake of understanding the Torah, just because we are commanded to do so). If you are studying in order to teach, to get honor, or any other reason, it is not lishma.
Women: Torah or Tehillim
 If a woman can either study Torah or say Tehilim (Psalms; recited as prayers), the priority is for her to study any halachot that she needs to observe before saying Tehilim or other prayers.
Note However, for the purposes of prayer, saying Tehilim is more important than “saying” (or reading) other parts of Tanach.
Minimum Torah Study for Women
For women and minimum requirements for Torah study, see Introduction to Torah Study.
Tefilin: Torah Mitzva
Have in mind that you are doing a mitzva of the Torah while putting on tefilin.
 
Yom Kippur: Torah Reading: Forbidden Relationships
On Yom Kippur, at mincha, we read in the Torah about forbidden relationships to remind ourselves that even on the holiest day of the year, we may be subject to temptations and sins.
Reading Weekly Torah Portion
Read the weekly Torah portion (parasha) twice each week and Targum (or commentary) once each week.