All Questions
0
votes
0answers
3 views
Borer on Shabbos — Spilling food from a spoon with 2 foods on it
Is the following case a problem of "borer" (separating) on Shabbos?
We know there are could "borer" even when dealing with 2 edible foods, one food that a person does want to eat and the other that ...
2
votes
4answers
49 views
food containers - why is hechser needed?
I want to buy a vacuum sealer for food. The vacuum bags do not have a hechsher. Normally, I buy ziplock bags that are OU. To keep this general, I am hoping someone can elaborate on the reason and ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Can I cut my toenails consecutively? [duplicate]
Should I be careful about this issue or there is no rule regarding this?
0
votes
1answer
39 views
What date was Kibrot Hattaavah?
Are there any sources that give the date for the incident in Kibroth Hattaavah recorded in B'Midbar Chapter 11? I am trying to figure out if it happened on a particular mo'ed or any significant date.
3
votes
0answers
31 views
Eliphaz and Bildad Zophar
Iyov 42:9:
וַיֵּלְכוּ אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי וּבִלְדַּד הַשּׁוּחִי צֹפַר הַנַּעֲמָתִי וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיהֶם ה׳
In the JPS translation:
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
Was Rambam affected by Islam?
Was Rambam's philosophy affected in any way by Islamic culture or religion? If so, could that influence have influenced his interpretation of halacha?
This question is inspired by an ongoing ...
5
votes
1answer
50 views
Does an unnecessary brocho pesucha on Hallel necessitate a brocho siyuma?
We had an interesting question arise in our Shul this past Yom Yerushalayim. Our shul has a minhag of saying Hallel without a brocho in Shacharis. At one of the minyanim, the chazzan said a brocho at ...
8
votes
1answer
52 views
Should there be a mezuzah on a room that has baby diapers?
If there is a general purpose room (like a bedroom) wherein a child's soiled diapers are often disposed of, does that room take on the status of tashmish she'aino shel kavod - a room who's use is not ...
3
votes
0answers
52 views
Holocaust Responsa of Rav Ephraim Oshry
Due to the poor health of Lithuania's last Chief Rabbi, Rav Avraham Shapiro, and due to his death in 1943, many of the residents of Kovno Ghetto addressed their questions to Rav Shapiro's student, Rav ...
2
votes
0answers
56 views
Talking in shul
Most pasken according to the Shulchan Arukh that mundane talk in shul during tefilot is forbidden.
With some exceptions: Is mundane speech allowed in shul?.
Is there anywhere a halachic point of view ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Why would somebody become a nazir?
B'midbar chapter 6 explains the laws of one who vows to become a nazir, but I've long been puzzled by why one would do this. (Our most famous nazir was commanded in this; Shimshon didn't make that ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Is it permissable to use an umbrella on Shabbat?
Is it permissable to use an umbrella on Shabbat, assuming you're inside an Eruv, so there's no issue of carrying?
If it is not permissible, then why is it prohibited?
Follow-up question: What about ...
4
votes
1answer
64 views
Does torah study refine one's character?
I have met some torah scholars who appear to be learning quite a bit, yet their character traits appear to be in the lacking.
Is torah study supposed to refine one's character? If so, how can we ...
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
why was technology withheld for so long from man
Why did God withhold the discovery of modern technology from man until recently?
what is the reason for this and why does this reason not apply in our era?
(according to the shaar bitachon ch.3 God ...
3
votes
3answers
53 views
How to say mizonos first on an ice cream cone
Normally when faced with eating two foods where one takes a "mizonos" blessing for grain products, and another takes an all-encompassing "shehakol" blessing, we try to eat the mizonos food first. How ...
2
votes
0answers
23 views
Why do we get “so did they do” for the commandment of expelling tamei people in Parashat Naso?
Parashat Naso, in Numbers 5:1-3, presents a commandment to "send from the camp" anyone who is tamei due to either tzara'at or a zav-type discharage. After that, we have Verse 4, affirming that the ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Why did God take 7 days to create the world?
Generally we assume that God is omnipotent, and could have created the world in a single day\act, so He must have had a reason to organize creation into 7 days. Why?
In other words:
Why didn't God ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Who were the Rambam's students?
Someone recently asked me whether the Rambam had any students. In addition to the Rambam's son and the student for whom he wrote the Moreh Nevuchim, I could think of only one other student. (רבינו ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Do we embarrass someone in cheirem?
Let's suppose that someone in a community has been put in cheirem, for whatever reason. This would generally ban him from the community shul. Should this person show up in the community shul, however, ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
How do we know that homosexual relations is a sin?
I recently heard that the Ibn Ezra brings down a minority opinion that the pasukim talking about "laying with a man as you would a woman" are actually talking about androgynous people. The Ibn Ezra ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Gemarah on Baal Teshuva
In Sefer Chasidim, the author compares Baal Teshuva's to Tzadikim. I have heard that there is a Gemarah that does the same and was wondering if someone could cite that Gemarah.
-2
votes
1answer
75 views
What allowed Jews to change the way they pronounced words?
The way we pronounce words has changed over many years and we now have many different customs. Many of the changes derive from Jews moving to different geographic locations and adopting similar ...
2
votes
0answers
21 views
Sofek in Bircas HaTorah — why not say all of the brachas?
The M"B brings in the beginning of Siman 47 from the Shagas Aryeh (Siman 24-25) that if one is in sofek (doubt) if they said Bircas HaTorah then they should go back and say the bracha however only the ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
Not making a wedding on the first 3 days of a month
I've heard there is a custom (practiced in various kehillas, I heard Belz is one of them) to not make a wedding on the first 3 days of a month (meaning alef, beis, or gimmel of a particular month.) ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Employment questions I have [closed]
I have three questions.
1) Can a religious Orthodox Jewish employer, refuse to employ a Non Observant Jew on Shabbos or other Jewish holidays, if the Non Observant Jew volunteers to work on this, ...
6
votes
1answer
50 views
An interpretation of Shimon's “silence” in Pirkei Avot
In Chapter 1 of Pirkei Avot it's written:
"17. Shimon his son said: All my days have I grown up among the wise and I have not found anything better for a man than silence. Studying Torah is not ...
-4
votes
1answer
120 views
Does halacha permit a Jew to practice Islam simultaneously? [closed]
It is explained here that a Jew cannot lose his 'Jewishness', It seems from this answer that Jewishness is a genealogical status and little to do with religion. So is it possible for a Jew to practice ...
4
votes
2answers
45 views
Why do Israelis keep one day of Yom Tov?
From what I understand, we outside of Eretz Yisrael we keep two days of Yom Tov as a continuation of the minhag that evolved from the time of the Bais Hamikdash when we would not necessarily know when ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
According to Reform Judaism, should rabbis be allowed to have non-Jewish spouses?
According to Reform doctrine, is it 1. permissible for rabbis to marry non-Jewish spouses, and 2. advisable for them to do so, considering that rabbis are generally seen as role-models of proper ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
Mashiach arriving upon the observance of Shabbat
does anyone have a source for the suggestion that If all Israel respected the Sabbath if only one single day, the Messiah would come immediately, for it is written: “Today if you were to listen to his ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
The reason Aaron's two sons died
Why did Aaron's two elder sons die? I've heard that there are many reasons offered, and would appreciate knowing as many as possible.
2
votes
1answer
87 views
All but every 6th letter begins the name of a misechte
For each letter in the aleph beis, there is at least one misechte in shas whose name starts with it — besides for every 6th letter (vuv, lamed and tzadi).
Did anyone ever hear any explanation ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
chassan/kallah signing the kesubah or tenaaim
I have seen bridegrooms and brides sign their names on their kesuba or tenaaim (prenup) before the chuppah (wedding ceremony). It seems maybe to be a chassidish custom, though I'm not sure.
Is there ...
2
votes
0answers
44 views
Why is elevation not factored into zmanim in places like New York?
As you might already know, zmanim (for Shabbos, etc.) are determined by a number of factors, one being the elevation of the particular locale. But for some reason, if you check the charts and ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Does one mourn during the days following Shavuot?
We say the four verses starting "Yehi Shem" (instead of Tachanun) after Shavuot because of the bringing of the Korbanot. Does this have any impact on mourning after Shavuot?
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Why is semicha specifically to ordain a Rabbi to give psak?
Was the original process of semicha merely intended to provide reliable decisors of halacha only?
Nowadays can a Rav get semicha in Tanach or Talmud (for example)? Since, perhaps, these days the ...
2
votes
0answers
17 views
Not speaking between Shemoneh Esrei and Hallel
On a day when Hallel is recited (for example Rosh Chodesh) I've heard that one should not (lichatchila) speak between Shemoneh Esrei and Hallel. Rather, as soon as the chazzon finishes chazaras ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Wearing Tefillin over toupe
If someone wears a toupe which is only removed twice a month, is there any way to still get the mitzvah of wearing tefillin? Removing the toupe every morning to put in the tefillin would be an extreme ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
What is the Purpose of Punishments in the Afterlife?
What is the purpose of punishments in the afterlife (Gehinom, kaf hakela, gilgulim, etc.)? Are all of them for cleaning up the person from the consequences of his bad deeds and therefore for his ...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Krias HaTorah (or Megillah) before Davening
If a minyan won't be able to read from the Torah at the time we normally read from the Torah (i.e. after Shemoneh Esrei, on any day where we read from the Torah) may they read from the Torah before ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Significance of man relative to God
God is totally infinite in space/time and beyond, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-everything.
Compared to God, man, the universe, and everything in it - everything is completely insignificant.
If so, ...
2
votes
3answers
115 views
Is Psalm 110 considered messianic
How do Jews interpret Psalm 110? (Christians see it as a messianic reference.) I am specifically interested in verse 1 - "The Lord saith unto my lord." Jesus quotes this in Matthew 22:44, and ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Halachic extension of the Giving of the Torah and marriage analogy
The sages frequently liken the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai to a chuppah (wedding ceremony), where Hashem is symbolized by the chosson (groom) and the Knesses Yisroel is symbolized by the kallah ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Ten Commandments - which one is the greatest? [closed]
Shavuot is coming. As an activity in the local Chabad House during the night of study each person will have to argue why the commandment they have chosen from the two tablets is the most important. I ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Where is the source of the prohibition of listening to Kol Isha? [duplicate]
It is well known that listening to a women sing is forbidden. Where is the source to the Prohibition?
3
votes
2answers
191 views
How can I know a rav has daas Torah
I have been privileged to know rabbis of great wisdom and knowledge who could address my issues with unique and helpful insights through the prism of Torah. I always understood them to have "daas ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
What are the parameters of 'minhag yisrael'?
I went to a non-Jewish self-catering apartment and I was discussing with my friend whether we can use the utensils or not. Of course, if they are clean and used for cold there are no problems. We ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
Why do some Jewish groups wear a uniform?
My impression of male Chareidi Jews is that they only ever wear a white shirt with a black suit shoes and hat, no tie. I also get the impression that particular other (possibly Chassidic) groups have ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Is it possible for God to have rejected us, even in theory?
The very last pasuk in Eicha says "כִּי אִם-מָאֹס מְאַסְתָּנוּ, קָצַפְתָּ עָלֵינוּ עַד-מְאֹד.". The translation from the Atrscroll reads something like "For even if you had rejected us, you have been ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
Finding Kosher Fruit Flavored Snacks
Anyone know of a kosher fruit flavored snack, similar to these? According to oukosher.org there exists a "Scooby-Doo! Fruit Flavored Snacks 10 Count Carton" that is OU Parve, but I cannot find it ...
