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Question
Dear Rabbi, Can you please let me know what subjects can be studied. [Halacha, Tehilim, Zohar, etc] a) After sunset till Chatzot b) After Chatzot till Dawn I have heard that Chumash can not be read at night. But, there are local classes at night where they talk about life lessons in parashah. Does the restriction solely apply to reading over the text itself and that the shiur would be fine? Can you please explain? Thank you so much for your time.
Answer
ב"ה Shalom לזכות השבויים וחיילי צה"ל הי"ו Basically, there is no restriction to learn any part of the Torah day or night. However, there is a virtue learning the Tanach= "Torah shebichtav" during the day because the Midrash (פרקי דרבי אליעזר מ"ו, מדרש תנחומא כי תישא ל"ו ) says that Moshe Rabbeinu would learn the Written Torah during the day and Mishna at night. (שער הציון סי' רל"ח ס"ק א) However, according to the Kabbalistic writings of the Ari z"l , people are warned not learn the written torah from Tzet Hacochavim-from the time the stars come out until "Allot Ha Shachar" dawn.(באר היטב סי' רל"ח ס"ק ב) Nevertheless, many Gedolim said that the restriction of the Ari z"l, is only when the Psukim are said on there own for the sake learning. But, if someone says the Psukim for mercy or prayer, it is permitted. Therefore, one may Tehillim at night for prayer.( ציץ אליעזר ח"ב סי' ז, פסקי תשובות סי' רלח, 26 ) In addition some say that the restriction only applies when learning without commentaries, but one may learn with the written Torah with commentaries even according to the Kabbalists. (עזרת כהן סוף סי' לד , בשם יסוד ושורש העבודה, פסקי תשובות סי' רלח 29) Rav Kook zt"l, reprimands those who chose not to learn Torah at all at night, because of this restriction, but nonetheless recommends when learning the written torah at night, one should do so with commentaries. (עזרת כהן סוף סי' לד) All the best שמג Besorot tovot
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