Welcome to Part 3 of My Jewish Learning's introduction to Jewish text study.

How to Get Started with Torah Study

There’s an abundance of opportunities to study Torah today, from the vast library of published Judaic texts in every language and aimed at every level of Jewish knowledge to a wide assortment of online classes, videos and podcasts. Here are a few ways to get started:

Find a Partner

The traditional method of Torah study is with a partner known as a havruta. In havruta learning, the pair engage in dialogue and debate to uncover the deeper meaning of a text. Though this is typically done in person, there are multiple ways to learn with a havruta online as well.

Use a Source Sheet

Many teachers of Torah create collections of various Jewish texts that pertain to a specific topic. These are known as source sheets. The website Sefaria offers hundreds of source sheets on various subjects, from the environment to Jewish food to human rights to love, which are a terrific way to start your study of a specific topic.

Study the Language

The Torah is written in Hebrew. The Talmud is in Aramaic, a similar language to Hebrew that uses the same alphabet. And most of the classic Jewish texts are written in one of these languages as well.

If you want to engage with these texts in the original language, decoding the Hebrew alphabet is essential. There are many ways to learn how. My Jewish Learning's full guide to studying Hebrew is a good place to start.

Go at Your Own Pace
There are dozens of online opportunities for Torah study, from online classes to videos to podcasts. These will let you explore Jewish texts at your own pace and on your own schedule.