Discover what others are learning
Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
The Mitzvah of Visiting the Sick
Sources establish visiting the sick as a biblical positive commandment incumbent on all people, derived from Torah verses and expounded by the Sages. The sources outline essential parameters of the mitzvah, including speaking with the patient, praying for their recovery, attending to both physical and spiritual needs, and the principle that the mitzvah has no fixed measure or limit provided it does not burden the patient.
בִּקּוּר חוֹלִים מִצְוָה עַל הַכּל
Women and Rabbinic Leadership
These sources address whether women may serve as judges and community leaders in Jewish law. They cite biblical sources and examine the case of Deborah the prophetess to clarify the halakhic status of women in formal positions of rabbinic and judicial authority.
אֵין מַעֲמִידִין אִשָּׁה בְּמַלְכוּת
Plagiarism and Intellectual Theft in Jewish Law
Jewish legal and ethical sources address plagiarism and the improper appropriation of others' intellectual work. The sources examine theft prohibitions, the obligation to attribute ideas properly, and the fundamental value of truth and integrity in Torah scholarship.
אֵינוֹ שָׂמֵחַ בְּהוֹרָאָה וְלֹא מֵגִיס לִבּוֹ
Tosafot Yom Tov on Kiddushin's Close
Tosafot Yom Tov's commentary on the concluding passages of Kiddushin, which address tannaitic teachings on trades, occupations, and moral conduct. The sources explore the balance between Torah study and livelihood, appropriate professions for different groups, and the ethical lessons that frame the tractate's ending.
מַנִּיחַ אֲנִי כׇּל אוּמָּנוּת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם וְאֵינִי מְלַמֵּד אֶת בְּנִי אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה
The Prohibition of Shaving the Beard
Jewish sources address the biblical and rabbinic prohibitions against shaving or destroying the beard, analyzing which methods of cutting are forbidden, the structure of the beard's corners, and the practical applications of these laws.
ולא תשחית את פאת זקנך
Midrashic Interpretations Beyond Standard Collections
Sources examine midrashic teachings cited by the Talmudic sages that appear in various rabbinic works, including traditions preserved in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer and interpretations found in the Gemara itself. These passages illustrate how Chazal drew upon and transmitted homiletic teachings that may not be systematically compiled in the major midrash anthologies.
דָּבָר זֶה מָסוֹרֶת בְּיָדֵינוּ מֵאַנְשֵׁי כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה
Women Participating in Siyumim
Sources address the halakhic status of women in relation to time-bound mitzvot and Torah study, and the halakhic parameters of siyum meals. The sources provide frameworks for understanding women's obligations and role in celebrating completion of Torah study.
גְּדוֹלָה הַבְטָחָה שֶׁהִבְטִיחָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְנָשִׁים
Honoring Sacred Books: Kavod Sefarim
Sources establish the obligation to treat Torah scrolls and other sacred texts with reverence, prohibiting disrespectful placement and handling. The halakhic sources trace this practice from Talmudic teachings through codified law.
אין נוהגין בהן דרך בזיון
Plagiarism and Intellectual Theft in Halakha
Sources explore the halakhic prohibition against stealing another person's intellectual property, credit, or labor. The sources frame plagiarism as a form of theft and misappropriation, drawing on biblical prohibitions against theft and landmark-moving, as well as rabbinic discussions of wrongful taking and the obligation to speak with truthfulness.
וְאָסוּר לִגְנֹב דַּעַת הַבְּרִיּוֹת
The 42 Journeys of Israel in the Wilderness
Sources examine the 42 (or 43) stages of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Land of Israel, exploring both the historical enumeration in Numbers 33 and the spiritual significance of each encampment. Hasidic, rabbinic, and classical commentaries interpret the journeys as expressions of divine care, spiritual elevation, and the structured progression from slavery to holiness.
אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם
The Forty-Two Journeys as Spiritual Stages
Sources exploring the spiritual and mystical significance of the 42 wilderness journeys recorded in Parshat Masei, interpreting them as stages of inner refinement, soul development, and divine providence. Includes classical Midrashic, Rishonim, and Hasidic perspectives on the pedagogical and symbolic meaning of each encampment and movement.
המסעות שנכתבו בתורה מוצאיהם כו' שיש מקומות שאין להם קיום רק ע"י שמתרחק האדם מהם
Spiritual and Physical Warfare in Jewish Tradition
These sources explore the dual nature of Jewish warfare—the physical combat conducted through natural means and the spiritual battle waged through prayer, Torah study, and the conquest of the yetzer hara. They examine how both dimensions work in concert, from the battle against Amalek to the war against Midian, and extend the principle to the internal spiritual struggles of individuals.
זה כלל גדול במלחמה שמתנהגת בפעולת הטבע מכ״מ צריך תפלה