Torah Talks

The Rambam calls Yom Tov Sheni a minhag bilvad—just a custom. Yet elsewhere he calls it a takana. How can it be both? And how could a post-Talmudic custom suddenly become binding Rabbinic law?

How Should You Really Be Learning Torah? In this Torah Talk, we break down a practical path for serious growth—covering the forgotten Talmudic principle that can change how you learn, the right order for mastering Halacha, why language skills matter more than you think, and when (or if) you should touch Kabbalah. If you’ve ever wondered how to build real clarity in Torah, this is for you.

Is Electricity on Shabbat Really a Melacha? No flame. No wick. No construction. Just a flow of energy. So why was it ever forbidden?

When Moshiach comes, all agree the world will be filled with peace. The Rambam says nature won’t change — just the end of oppression and the return of Torah law. Others, like Ramban and Ramchal, describe a miraculous age, with healing and transformation of nature itself. Read further to explore our full breakdown of Moshiach, Resurrection, and Olam HaBa.

At the Seder we say it would have been enough if God brought us to Mount Sinai — even if He didn’t give us the Torah. But how could that be enough? Isn’t the Torah the whole point? And honestly, if He hadn’t given us the Torah, we wouldn’t have to work so hard — no endless laws to follow, no constant struggle. So why do we treat the Torah as the greatest gift?

Most people read Mesilat Yesharim as if it’s a list of pious behaviors—but it’s not. It’s a spiritual system. A sequence. If you jump to fasting or midnight prayers without first mastering basic honesty or kavana in tefillah, you’re not being holy—you’re just skipping steps. Prishut and Chassidut aren’t for beginners, and when done out of order, they become meaningless. This Torah Talk breaks down how to read the Ramchal the way he intended: as a personalized map for real growth, one step at a time.

The Torah bans “כתבת קעקע” — but Chazal explain that this prohibition applied specifically to tattoos made for idol worship. The Rambam states that tattoos were a way for pagans to brand themselves as slaves to a deity. Today, tattoos are not used that way. Could it be that most modern tattoos are halachically permitted?

Is it really forbidden to ride a train, bus, plane, or boat on Shabbat? What about techum boundaries? Jewish ownership? And what if it just “feels wrong”? A halachic deep dive that challenges assumptions — with sources, not slogans.

How Do We Learn Gemara for Halacha? Many yeshiva students struggle to connect Gemara learning with real-life halacha. This guide presents a clear, practical framework—based on the approach used by earlier poskim and serious yeshivot—showing how to go from sugya to psak. It emphasizes clarity over quantity, independent thinking over passive reading, and teaches how to develop into a true halachic thinker, step by step.

Women and Torah Learning Women have always had a place in Torah — from Devorah the Prophetess, through whom our mesorah continued, to today’s sincere learners. When Torah is studied with yirat Shamayim and honesty, it uplifts anyone, man or woman. In every generation, sincere Torah learning has never been limited by gender — only by heart.

Every morning, Jewish men say a series of blessings thanking God for their spiritual identity. One of them—“Shelo Asani Isha” (“Who has not made me a woman”)—has sparked confusion and controversy. Is it really a put-down? Or is there something deeper that most people miss?

Many people believe it’s forbidden to eat kosher food in a non-kosher restaurant because of maarit ayin—the idea that it looks like a violation of Halacha. But the truth is, Halacha doesn’t support that assumption. Here’s why.

This Torah Talk explores the halachic basis for *Netilat Yadayim* before bread, debunks modern obsessions, and brings clarity to a mitzvah that’s often misunderstood. This cuts through the confusion and helps you keep the law without losing your peace of mind.

Everyone quotes “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh” as if it gives them a license to stick their nose in your life. The real concept is about caring and responsibility — not control, gossip, or collective punishment. It’s time to set the record straight.