# Why is there a Mitzva to Learn Torah? Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997/why-is-there-a-mitzva-to-learn-torah Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997/why-is-there-a-mitzva-to-learn-torah.md Podcast: [KMTT - the Torah Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997) Published: 2026-05-20T19:32:00+00:00 Episode link: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/kmtt/RMFriedman_why_mitzva_learn_Torah.mp3 Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/kmtt/RMFriedman_why_mitzva_learn_Torah.mp3?dest-id=12657 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997/episodes/why-is-there-a-mitzva-to-learn-torah Duration seconds: 1089 ## Resource Why is there a Mitzva to Learn Torah? by Rav Mordechai Friedman This shiur tackles a fundamental philosophical question: if the Torah already obligates us to perform its 613 commandments, why is there a separate mitzva to learn Torah? You already need to know the laws to fulfill them — so why add a dedicated mitzva of Talmud Torah ? Given before the Etzion Foundation dinner in New York, May 18th, 2026. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997/episodes/why-is-there-a-mitzva-to-learn-torah/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/kmtt-the-torah-podcast-323997/why-is-there-a-mitzva-to-learn-torah.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.