Following is an updated version of a Torah Blog that originally appeared in 2014. While we have been privileged to enjoy periods of relative calm, the prospect of violent outbursts in Israel is ever-present. One of the things that Jews worldwide do in support of our brethren undergoing harrowing and dangerous times in our homeland is intensifying the study of Torah. To facilitate this endeavor, OU Torah is providing some recommendations for relevant Torah-study programs. (Of course, any Torah study may be undertaken in the merit of eretz Yisrael; these are just some relevant suggestions.)
* Lessons from Eretz Yisrael – Brief topics from the Talmud of Israel by Michael Linetsky;
* Rabbi Weil on Tefillah – In-depth analysis of daily, Shabbos and holiday prayers by Rabbi Steven Weil;
* Nach Yomi on Tehillim – The Book of Psalms elucidated chapter by chapter, by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb and others;
* Torat Imecha Nach Yomi on Tehillim – Insights on Tehillim presented by acclaimed women lecturers, courtesy of the OU Women’s Initiative;
* Talmud Yerushalmi – Tractate Brachos from the Jerusalem Talmud, taught by Rabbi Yosef Grossman ztz”l;
* Mishna Yomit on Pirkei Avos – Insights into this seminal work of Jewish ethics, also by Rabbi Grossman ztz”l;
* Sefer HaMitzvos – The 613 commandments as explained by Maimonides, taught by Rabbi Shalom Rosner;
* HaShoneh Halachos – two Jewish laws a day, a merit for life eternal, by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz.
Additionally, you may wish to read what Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, AKA the Jewish Ethicist, has to say about war.
OU Torah also offers daily learning programs on such diverse topics as Daf Yomi, Nach, halacha, mishna and more. One may wish to commit to a daily learning program for a specific period of time as a merit for those in Israel who can use extra protection in this time of crisis.
All this and more can be found on OU Torah online or by using the OU Torah app for iOS and Android. May we increase our Torah, mitzvos, tefillah and tzedaka in the merit of eretz Yisrael and may our brothers and sisters there be swiftly redeemed from this danger.