Frequently asked questions
What is a memory palace?
A memory palace is a powerful memory technique that uses spatial memory to help retain and recall large amounts of information. By mentally placing information in familiar locations—like a house, school, or store—you can later "walk" through the location in your mind and retrieve the stored details with ease. Torah Memory Palace applies this method to Gemara learning, creating structured "palaces" where each mesechta is housed in a unique setting.
How should I get started?
Familiarize yourself with the empty room first. Spend a few minutes each day reviewing its structure before learning the corresponding sugyos. Don’t rush—keep revisiting it until it becomes second nature. The Daf Pegs are especially useful for reinforcing the layout.
How do I connect the sugyos to the memory palace?
Review the summary points to understand which sugyos are the focus. Then, go back to the room and visualize the images representing these points, noting how they connect to the base in the illustration and the Daf Peg.
What is the Daf Peg, and how does it help?
The Daf Peg is a visual anchor that helps you associate each daf with its place in the room. It reinforces the connection between the sugyos and their location, making recall faster and more natural. As you progress, keep returning to the Daf Peg to strengthen these associations.
Why is remembering the empty room so important?
Your spatial memory is key to making the system work. Being thoroughly familiar with the room ensures you can easily "walk" through it and recall the sugyos. Skipping this foundational step will make the process harder in the long run.
Why only four points per daf? Can I remember more details?
You'll be surprised by how much of the daf is captured in these four key points. Once these are solid, recalling the surrounding Gemara becomes much easier. You can also expand on the system by mentally adding details to existing images or weaving them into a story to link more parts of the daf.
How much time should I spend each day?
This varies by individual, but on average, about 10 minutes should be enough to go through the summaries and images (after learning and understanding the Gemara). Initially, Chazal advise reviewing four times, which may take another 5–10 minutes spread throughout the day. Later, review sessions can fit naturally into your routine—whether in the Beis Medrash, while walking, or even before bed.
How often should I review each room?
Even though the method is highly effective, review is still necessary. Ideally, review each base daily for the first week after learning it. As you become more comfortable, you can space out reviews while ensuring the images and points remain clear in your mind.
Is there a standard order for the palaces and the simanim within them?
Yes! This is a key principle in TMP. We always go left to right and top to bottom. This applies to the entire palace blueprint, the 10 dafim within each room, and the simanim within each daf. The top two simanim are for amud alef, and the bottom two are for amud beis, both following the same left-to-right order.
Will all mesechtos be in the same palace?
No—each mesechta is placed in a unique palace that aligns with its theme, making it easy to differentiate between them. For example, Meseches Kiddushin is set in a wedding hall. Each room’s layout is distinct within its location to prevent confusion between mesechtos.
Which mesechtos is Torah Memory Palace available for?
A pilot program was launched for Mesechtos Gittin, Kiddushin, and Bava Kamma. Currently, we are releasing our flagship program, which will be produced, be”h, alongside the Oraysa program.
What is Oraysa?
Oraysa is a worldwide Gemara program with over 30,000 users. At the core of the program is a structured schedule—learning one Amud per day, five days a week. Fridays and Shabbos are dedicated to Chazara, a hallmark of the Oraysa method. Torah Memory Palace and Oraysa complement each other perfectly, reinforcing both learning and long-term retention.
Frequently asked questions
What is a memory palace?
Memory palaces have been around for thousands of years and with incredible results. It takes advantage of the brain's amazing capacity to remember, using our visual and spatial memory. The idea is to first turn the information that you are trying to remember into images. Then you mentally place those images in a location that you know very well (for example your house, supermarket, school...) along a path through that place. Then, when you want to remember something, you just mentally walk back to the location and "collect" those images
Is TMP only for certain types of minds? Do I need to be a visual learner to succeed with TMP?
It is scientifically proven (but we don't think you need science to tell you this) that images are much easier to remember than abstract concepts. The most challenging part of the memory palace method is to actually convert the abstract information into a visual form. Thankfully, the TMP creative team does that work for you. So the short answer is that this program is for ANYONE who wants to remember his learning.
Why is it so important to remember the empty room as a first step?
Memory palaces work using your powerful spatial memory. You need to be intimately familiar with the location so that you can effortlessly walk back in your mind and "collect" the sugyos. Skipping this step (and trying to learn the room simultaneously with the simanim) will be an impediment to your success. The program will be harder for you in the long run and less effective.
Doesn't the memory palace technique require an actual room that I am familiar with?
The short answer is no. The key to the technique is to be in a place that you are familiar with. It could be real or imagined, as long as you know it well. There are actually some studies that state that virtual palaces are even more effective than traditional ones!
Will it feel like I'm learning when studying and reviewing the illustrations? It looks like a childrens book.
Chazal tell us to make simanim to remember our learning. The images are just there as simanim to remind us of the various sugyos. You will be looking at a picture of a school dining room but thinking of the relevant sugyos. You'll be surprised by how immersed in the sugyos you can become as you are zipping through the images.
How much time do I need to spend each day?
This is a very individual question as everyone's brain works differently, but on average, it should take about 10 minutes to go through the summaries and their respective images (obviously after initially learning the Gemara and understanding it). Chazal tell us to learn something four times (at least initially) so that will probably take another five to ten minutes throughout the day. You will need to chazer after that first day as well but you will be amazed at how easily you will be able to recall the information if done properly. These later chazaras can be done anywhere; in the Bais Medrash, while you're walking, driving, or in bed before falling asleep. It won't feel like it's taking away time from your regular schedule.