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Laws of Learning Torah: Difference between revisions
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==Women Learning Torah== | ==Women Learning Torah== | ||
#Women are exempt from learning Torah.<ref>Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:1)</ref> Nonetheless, women may learn torah and will be rewarded for their actions. However, women are obligated to learn the laws of the mitzvot that apply to them.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 246:6 | #Women are exempt from learning Torah.<ref>Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:1). [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=21979&st=&pgnum=117 Rav Chaim Palagi (Torah Vchaim n. 208)] explains kabbalistically why women are exempt from this mitzvah.</ref> Nonetheless, women may learn torah and will be rewarded for their actions. However, women are obligated to learn the laws of the mitzvot that apply to them.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 246:6 | ||
*'''Exemption''': The Gemara Kiddushin 29b derives from the pasuk that women are exempt form learning Torah. Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:1) and Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 246:6 codify this. | *'''Exemption''': The Gemara Kiddushin 29b derives from the pasuk that women are exempt form learning Torah. Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:1) and Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 246:6 codify this. | ||
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==Non-Jews Learning Torah== | ==Non-Jews Learning Torah== | ||
#In general, it is forbidden for non-Jews to learn Torah <ref name=":0">Sanhedrin 59a. Along the same lines, Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffman (Melamed Leho'il Y.D. 2:77, cited by Rabbi Shlomo Brody in A Guide to the Complex pg. 181), allows Jews to teach non-Jews any narrative portions of the Torah, as those portions will inspire those non-Jews to believe in the grandeur of God and appreciate the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'' more.</ref> and for Jews to teach non-Jews Torah<ref>Chagiga 13a. Tosefot ''ibid'' s.v. "Ein" asks why there is a need to forbid teaching non-Jews if the gemara in Sanhedrin 59a already forbid non-Jews from learning Torah. Tosefot explains that the prohibition of teaching a non-Jew Torah is meant to apply even in cases where the non-Jew has other sources of learning Torah aside from you.</ref> | #In general, it is forbidden for non-Jews to learn Torah<ref name=":0">Sanhedrin 59a. Along the same lines, Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffman (Melamed Leho'il Y.D. 2:77, cited by Rabbi Shlomo Brody in A Guide to the Complex pg. 181), allows Jews to teach non-Jews any narrative portions of the Torah, as those portions will inspire those non-Jews to believe in the grandeur of God and appreciate the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'' more.</ref> and for Jews to teach non-Jews Torah,<ref>Chagiga 13a. Tosefot ''ibid'' s.v. "Ein" asks why there is a need to forbid teaching non-Jews if the gemara in Sanhedrin 59a already forbid non-Jews from learning Torah. Tosefot explains that the prohibition of teaching a non-Jew Torah is meant to apply even in cases where the non-Jew has other sources of learning Torah aside from you.</ref> but the ''poskim'' established several exceptions, as follows: | ||
##Some ''poskim'' maintain that this prohibition applies only to non-Jews who deny the divinity of the Torah.<ref>Shu"t HaRambam 147, cited in A Guide to the Complex, pg. 181</ref> | ##Some ''poskim'' maintain that this prohibition applies only to non-Jews who deny the divinity of the Torah.<ref>Shu"t HaRambam 147, cited in A Guide to the Complex, pg. 181</ref> | ||
##Since non-Jews are commanded in the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'', some ''poskim'' hold that it is appropriate to teach them the sections of the Torah that pertain to those Mitzvot.<ref name=":0" /> | ##Since non-Jews are commanded in the ''sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach'', some ''poskim'' hold that it is appropriate to teach them the sections of the Torah that pertain to those Mitzvot.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
##Some ''poskim'' allow teaching any sections of Tanach to non-Jews but prohibit teaching non-Jews the Oral Law.<ref>Netziv (Meishiv Davar 2:77), Maharatz Chayot (Sota 35b s.v. “li-Divarecha”). Meiri Sanhedrin 59a s.v. "Ben Noach" (also footnote 3 in ed. Kedem Yerushalayim) implies that he distinguishes between Tanach and Talmud because he says, "if [the non-Jew] learned Torah not with the goal of fulfilling the Mitzvot; rather, he wants to delve into the knowledge of our Torah and ''Talmudeinu'', then [such a person] is fitting to be punished." [https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-talmud-torah-non-jews Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky] explains that this idea might be rooted in the fundamental principle that the Jewish people’s covenant with God is rooted in the Oral Torah, not Scripture.</ref> | ##Some ''poskim'' allow teaching any sections of Tanach to non-Jews but prohibit teaching non-Jews the Oral Law.<ref>Netziv (Meishiv Davar 2:77), Maharatz Chayot (Sota 35b s.v. “li-Divarecha”). Meiri Sanhedrin 59a s.v. "Ben Noach" (also footnote 3 in ed. Kedem Yerushalayim) implies that he distinguishes between Tanach and Talmud because he says, "if [the non-Jew] learned Torah not with the goal of fulfilling the Mitzvot; rather, he wants to delve into the knowledge of our Torah and ''Talmudeinu'', then [such a person] is fitting to be punished." [https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-08-talmud-torah-non-jews Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky] explains that this idea might be rooted in the fundamental principle that the Jewish people’s covenant with God is rooted in the Oral Torah, not Scripture.</ref> | ||
##If the non-Jew wants to learn Torah in-depth in order to learn about Judaism and the Torah due to intellectual interest, then some ''poskim'' permit teaching Torah to non-Jews.<ref>Seridei Esh 2:26</ref> | ##If the non-Jew wants to learn Torah in-depth in order to learn about Judaism and the Torah due to intellectual interest, then some ''poskim'' permit teaching Torah to non-Jews.<ref>Seridei Esh 2:26</ref> | ||
#According to many opinions it is permitted to teach non-Jews Torah in a superficial way just to explain them Torah without the reasons or the depths of the Torah. Additionally, it is permitted to give a ruling for a non-Jew to act in a certain fashion without explaining the reason.<ref>Mishnat Hager p. 321 quotes the Beer Sheva (Beer Mayim Chayim n. 14) who permits teaching torah to non-Jews if you don't explain the reasons or the intricate logic of Torah. Tiferet Yisrael (Zevachim 14:4) explains that | #According to many opinions it is permitted to teach non-Jews Torah in a superficial way just to explain them Torah without the reasons or the depths of the Torah. Additionally, it is permitted to give a ruling for a non-Jew to act in a certain fashion without explaining the reason.<ref>Mishnat Hager p. 321 quotes the Beer Sheva (Beer Mayim Chayim n. 14) who permits teaching torah to non-Jews if you don't explain the reasons or the intricate logic of Torah. Tiferet Yisrael (Zevachim 14:4) explains that it is permitted to rule for a non-Jew without explaining its reason. See Hakdamat Hanetsiv to Emek Sheyla 3:8.</ref> | ||
#It is permitted to answer a non-Jew a question of Torah if not answering them in Torah will cause a chilul Hashem.<ref>Toratacha Lyisrael 6:8 quotes a few poskim including Kovetz Teshuvot 3:142 hold that you can answer a non-Jew who asks a question about the torah if you don't answer them it'll come a chilul Hashem or they're malign the Torah. Toratacha Lyisrael 6:5 writes that some permit teaching Torah to a non-Jew orally as long as they aren't learning it from a sefer. However, he writes that the poskim do not hold like that distinction and it is forbidden.</ref> | |||
==Teaching Torah== | ==Teaching Torah== | ||
