Are Torah MP3's Considered Learning Torah

260. Is Listening to Recordings of Torah Classes Considered Learning Torah?

In order to fulfill the mitzvah of learning Torah one is required to utter the words. Otherwise he does not fulfill the mitzvah of ve'limadtem osam, which is to verbalize the words of Torah. Indeed, when emphasizing the importance of studying Torah at all times, the expression used in the Torah is, “Lo yamush sefer ha’Torah hazeh mipichah,” the words of Torah should not cease from your mouth. However, when one is intent on understanding a concept in learning or a halachah in depth they need not enunciate the words, as one can’t concentrate when speaking. If a person is attending a shiur, Torah lecture, and they are listening to the magid shiur, lecturer, it is considered as if they are speaking themselves, as per the rule of shomei’a ke’oneh, if a person listens it is as though he is speaking, thereby fulfilling the mitzvah of ve'limadtem osam.

However, the mitzvah of Talmud Torah cannot be fulfilled by listening to an audio or video recording of a Torah class, or by reading silently from a sefer, albeit they are very praiseworthy activities and achieve the fulfillment of the mitzvah of vhagisa bo, studying Torah at all times, an independent mitzvah of ve'limadtem osam, the mitzvah to verbalize the words of Torah These activities also help increase one’s Torah knowledge, an important mitzvah in itself of yedi'as haTorah. One should also be cognizant of the importance Torah ascribes to amal Torah, laboring in Torah, which is not achieved by simply listening to a recording of a shiur.

https://halacha2go.com?number=260

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.