Maybe you grew up with a little Hebrew school, maybe none at all. Maybe you’ve wanted to “really learn Torah” for years and never knew where to begin. This guide is for you. It covers what the Torah is, why learning it matters, and seven practical steps to start, even if you only have five minutes a day.
What is the Torah?
In its narrowest sense, the Torah is the Five Books of Moses, also called the Chumash:
- Bereshit (Genesis): Creation, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, and the journey to Egypt
- Shemot (Exodus): slavery and freedom, the giving of the Torah at Sinai, and the Mishkan
- Vayikra (Leviticus): holiness, offerings and living a sacred life
- Bamidbar (Numbers): forty years in the desert
- Devarim (Deuteronomy): Moshe’s farewell speeches
Together with the Prophets (Nevi’im) and the Writings (Ketuvim), these books form the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. In a broader sense, “Torah” means all of Jewish teaching. That includes the Torah Shebichtav (Written Torah) and the Torah Sheba’al Peh (Oral Torah), which was later recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud.
Why learn Torah?
Learning Torah, Talmud Torah, is one of the central mitzvot of Jewish life. The Shema itself says, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The Mishnah lists many great mitzvot and then concludes, “and the study of Torah is equal to them all” (Pe’ah 1:1).
Beyond obligation, Torah is a conversation thousands of years long about how to live: how to treat people, how to rest, how to start over after mistakes, how to find meaning. Learning it connects you to that conversation and to every Jew who has ever opened the same words.
How to learn Torah: 7 practical steps
1. Set a fixed time, even a short one
“Make your Torah study a fixed practice.”Shammai, Pirkei Avot 1:15
Consistency beats intensity. Five minutes every day will take you further than two hours once a month. Attach your learning to something you already do, like morning coffee, your commute or right before bed. Hillel warns, “Do not say, ‘When I have free time I will study,’ for perhaps you will never have free time” (Avot 2:4).
2. Choose a starting point
There are two great options. You can start at the very beginning, with Parashat Bereshit, and go in order. Or you can follow the weekly parsha and learn the same portion being read in synagogues around the world this Shabbat. Our parsha guides give you a summary, key words and big ideas for each portion.
3. Read in small pieces
The Torah is dense. Every word matters, and the Sages built whole teachings on single letters. Read a few verses at a time, slowly. Read them twice. Ask what happens, who says what, and what feels surprising. Small pieces you understand are worth more than whole chapters you skim.
4. Learn a few key Hebrew words
You don’t need to be fluent. Recognizing a handful of words in each section, like bereshit (in the beginning), brit (covenant), chesed (kindness) or hineni (here I am), adds layers of meaning that translations can’t fully capture. Many words share roots, so each one you learn helps you recognize others.
5. Read with a classic commentary
For centuries, the first companion to the Torah text has been Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 11th century). His short comments explain the plain meaning, answer the questions a careful reader would ask, and bring in teachings of the Sages. Many editions of the Chumash include Rashi in English. Over time you can add others, like Ramban, Ibn Ezra and Sforno.
6. Ask questions and learn with others
Torah is traditionally studied with a chavruta, a study partner, because explaining and debating sharpens understanding. “Who is wise? One who learns from every person” (Avot 4:1). Join a class at a local synagogue, learn with a friend or family member, and bring your questions to a rabbi or teacher, especially questions about practical halacha.
7. Review and keep going
Come back to what you’ve learned, and don’t worry about how much is left. Rabbi Tarfon taught, “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” (Avot 2:16). And Ben Bag Bag reminds us why it’s worth returning to the same text again and again: “Turn it over and turn it over, for everything is in it” (Avot 5:22).
How Lavi helps you learn Torah
Lavi is a Torah learning app built around the steps above. It turns the Torah into a guided path of short, illustrated lessons that take about five minutes each:
- Read & listen: a few verses at a time in English (JPS 1917) with Hebrew, read aloud.
- Key Hebrew words: pronunciation, audio and meaning for the words that matter most.
- Big ideas: a short recap with a traditional explanation and a question to think about.
- Practice: multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching and speak-it-aloud exercises.
- Torah Chat: an AI study partner that answers questions using traditional sources like Rashi, Rambam, Pirkei Avot and the Talmud. It’s a study aid, not a posek, so it will send halachic questions to your rabbi.
- Daily habit: streaks, gentle reminders and rewards to help make Torah a fixed part of your day.
The learning path currently covers Bereshit, Noach, Lech-Lecha and Vayera, 67 lessons in all, with more on the way. The built-in reader includes the entire Tanakh in Hebrew and English.
More places to learn
- Your local synagogue or rabbi: classes, a weekly parsha shiur, and someone to answer your questions.
- A Chumash with commentary: a printed Torah with translation and Rashi is a lifelong companion.
- Sefaria: a free online library of Jewish texts in Hebrew and English.
- A chavruta: a friend, spouse, parent or child to learn with each week.
Learning Torah: frequently asked questions
Can I learn Torah on my own?
Yes. Many people start on their own with a few verses a day, a translation and a simple commentary. Over time it helps to add a teacher, a class or a chavruta (study partner), because Torah is traditionally learned together and questions are part of the learning.
Do I need to know Hebrew to learn Torah?
No. You can learn Torah in English and pick up Hebrew gradually. Learning a few key words in each portion, like Bereshit, Shabbat or chesed, adds a lot of depth, and many people find they start recognizing words faster than they expected.
Where should a beginner start learning Torah?
Two easy starting points are the very beginning (Parashat Bereshit) or this week’s Torah portion, so you’re reading the same section as Jewish communities around the world. Either way, start small, a few verses a day, and be consistent.
What is the difference between the Torah and the Tanakh?
The Torah is the Five Books of Moses: Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim. The Tanakh is the whole Hebrew Bible, made of the Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). The word “Torah” is also used more broadly for all Jewish teaching, including the Oral Torah.
How long does it take to learn the whole Torah?
If you follow the weekly portion, you’ll read the entire Torah in one year, finishing on Simchat Torah. Many people spend a lifetime going deeper each year, which is exactly the point: every time through, you notice something new.
Is there an app for learning Torah?
Yes. Lavi is a Torah learning app that teaches Torah in 5-minute, illustrated lessons with audio, key Hebrew words, quizzes, streaks and an AI study partner called Torah Chat. It also includes the full Tanakh in Hebrew and English. It’s free on iPhone and Android.
