4
votes
0answers
11 views
Where Rashi uses a Russian word in Nach?
I heard that Rashi uses a Russian word where he deals with the building of the Beis Hamikdash by King Shlomo. I also heard that he uses a Polish word.
Does anyone know where it is?
1
vote
0answers
9 views
Seeking Shulhan Aruch Hamidot
If anyone has information on how I can purchase the Sefer "Shulhan Aruch HaMidot" it would be greatly appreciated.
2
votes
2answers
18 views
Bishul Akum: now what?
What is the kashrus status of a pot if the food cooked in it was Kosher, but cooked by Non Jew? Is the pot kosher or not?
2
votes
0answers
13 views
What's up with this pasuk in mishpatim?
The Chumash in Shemot 23:14 begins describing the three regalim: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, in that order. In Pasuk 17, the Chumash begins again with Pesach and Shavuot. Instead of listing sukkot again, ...
3
votes
3answers
35 views
why don't Jews meditate?
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan has 3 (in my opinion excellent) books on the history, importance, and benefit of Jewish meditation. Yet I am unaware of a single orthodox Jewish institution that engages in or even ...
2
votes
0answers
12 views
Learning near a dead body
May a person learn torah near a dead body? Does it matter if the corpse is Jewish or not? Please cite sources.
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Missing Vov: what Vov?
The Posuk in Terumah says (Exodus 25:22):
וְנוֹעַדְתִּי לְךָ שָׁם וְדִבַּרְתִּי אִתְּךָ מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרֻבִים אֲשֶׁר עַל אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻת אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּה אוֹתְךָ אֶל ...
2
votes
3answers
39 views
Semicha and Gneivas Daas
If today's semicha is only an "echo" of the true semicha which ceased with the loss of the sanhedrin then
Why do we still give it?
Why isn't it gneivas daas (the assumption is that people who have ...
4
votes
1answer
24 views
Midlife Name Crisis
If someone lives their entire life under the assumption that their name is X, and suddenly finds out that their name is Y, are there serious halachic ramifications that can result?
More specifically, ...
3
votes
0answers
27 views
Why does a hamentash have three sides and filling?
All Hamentashen that I've seen have three sides and all Hamentashen have filling.
Why is that?
2
votes
3answers
49 views
Why does a Hamentash have three sides?
All Hamentashen that I've seen have three sides and all Hamentashen have filling.
Why is that?
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Tehilim for an illness
What are the Chapters of Tehilim (Psalms) said for an ill person and what is the source in seforim and the reason for these particular chapters being chosen?
4
votes
6answers
65 views
Eating Hamentashen on Purim
I've been wondering: how much hamentashen must one consume on purim? Is this independent of type or amount of filling? If so, what kinds of hamentashen qualify? Thanks for your help!
This question ...
6
votes
0answers
26 views
What was the attitude of Rabbonim regarding Purim Torah?
Purim Torah seems to be a two sided concept. On one hand, many people do it for many years (for example, Maseches Purim was published in 1871).
On the other hand, it seems to be a Bizayon HaTorah ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Is there a Jewish source for celebrating a birthday? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Birthdays in Judaism
Are there any Jewish sources that support and/or oppose the notion of celebrating a birthday?
2
votes
2answers
38 views
Status of feet while making a bracha or davening
In todays day and age where we no longer have homes with dirt floors:
do you still need to cover your feet when making a bracha or davening?
If so are socks enough?
does it depend on the custom of ...
6
votes
0answers
37 views
“A life for a life”: execution or reparations
The Torah states (Ex. 21:23) that if two people are fighting and accidentally kill an innocent bystander (such as a woman), "you shall give a life for a life."
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 79a-b) records a ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
What's the significance of the dot in “bqr” in Danial vs the omission of the same in Genesis
In researching the phrase "evening and morning" I noticed a very small difference in the Hebrew text between Genesis 1 (e.g. 1:4) and Daniel 8:14, where the latter has a tiny dot in the first letter ...
4
votes
2answers
60 views
Commentaries not noting clear issues in the Torah
Stemming from this question about the seeming discrepancy between the number of people and the number of first-borns as counted in the beginning of Numbers:
I noticed this problem in my first reading ...
7
votes
2answers
74 views
Why didn't Achashveirosh reward Mordechai immediately?
Esther tells Achashveirosh in the name of Mordechai of a plot to assassinate him (Achashveirosh). They investigate, and stop the would-be assassins. And then... nothing? Why didn't Achashveirosh ...
4
votes
2answers
47 views
How do I remove spiritual chametz along with the physical?
I've heard the idea many times that as we approach Pesach we should be worried not only about the physical chametz in our houses but also the spiritual chametz (hubris etc) that we carry in our souls. ...
5
votes
1answer
29 views
Shelosha Vetish'im Umatayim - mi yodeya?
Who knows two hundred ninety-three?
?שלושה ותשעים ומאתים - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 293.
For the ...
10
votes
1answer
145 views
Why does the Jewish calendar HAVE to end?
It seems to be common knowledge that on or around the year 6,000 of the Jewish calendar "everything" (left intentionally vague) will come to an end and there will be a 1,000 year 'Shabbos'. I'm ...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
What scientific authenticity does the Dead Sea Scrolls provide to justify that Torah is a word of God? [closed]
The scrolls were discovered from the caves of Qumran in 1946-47. These scrolls have some variations as compared to the present Torah.
FYI:The Dead Sea Scrolls
7
votes
1answer
58 views
Are there any Synagogues or Rabbis available in Pakistan?
There was once a very thriving Jewish community available in Pakistan. There was a Synagogue in the port city of Karachi as well till 1985.
What is the current situation now? What if someone would ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Sh'hecheyanu vs. M'chayeh haMeisim
This is a follow up to the question here
The Shulchan Aruch 225:1 brings the halachah what when one sees a "friend" whom one hasn't seen in the last 30 days then the blessing "shehecheyanu" is made, ...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Washing three times in the morning
From what I understand, there are three times when one should wash their hands in the method used for negel vasser that occur every day
in the morning (negel vasser)
between going to the bathroom ...
1
vote
0answers
44 views
Stopping Intermarriage [closed]
Intermarriage is the reason that a significant number of Jews are disappearing. What can or should be said to someone who is contemplating marrying out of the Jewish faith?
3
votes
0answers
40 views
Relations among King David, the Sanhedrin, and the high priest
Do we have any historical source that discusses the relations among King David, the Sanhedrin during his reign, and the high priest during his reign? Were they on friendly terms? Was there a power ...
6
votes
0answers
46 views
Can you learn from seforim written by someone who believed in Shabbetai Tzvi?
During the times of false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, and for several decades afterwards, many well established rabbanim [1] believed him to be Moshiach. Some even maintained this belief after his ...
2
votes
1answer
30 views
Sepharadic Tachanun
How come Sepharadim do not "fall on their faces" during Tachanun as Ashkenazim do, if the prayer is called "nefilat apa'im" (literally the falling of the faces)?
The Shulchan Aruch seems to hold of ...
10
votes
3answers
54 views
Giving over 20%
I know you are supposed to give between 10 and 20% of your income to צדקה. Does this mean that you are not allowed to give over 20% if you have enough money to do so? If so, why not? (this is more of ...
3
votes
3answers
41 views
Conventions for derivation of Hebrew names
How is a Hebrew name chosen for a person whose legal name is English (or other vernacular)? Is the name chosen based on phonetic resemblance to one's English name, a resemblance in meaning, or mere ...
7
votes
2answers
57 views
Is cross-dressing permitted on Purim and if so why?
As part of dressing in costume on Purim is a person allowed to put on clothes normally worn by the opposite gender? If so, where does this heter come from in the face of the biblical prohibition ...
7
votes
1answer
74 views
Whispering prayers
Can one whisper t'fila (prayer)? I'm thinking of obligatory t'filos like sh'mone esre and "Sh'ma".
I know one can speak t'fila quietly, even very quietly; in fact, sh'mone esre is said quietly. I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
128 views
Are Jews permitted to martyr themselves?
Are Jews permitted to martyr themselves? For example, if it is a question of converting or being killed, is the Jew permitted to sacrifice himself rather than convert?
Separately: which would be ...
5
votes
1answer
36 views
Were the eiruv rav Jewish?
Were the eiruv rav Jewish? If they were in fact Jewish why are they described by the term eiruv rav instead of just referring to them as we would any other Jew? If they were not Jewish why were they ...
7
votes
2answers
67 views
What shevet did a convert in the midbar belong to (if any)?
During the time in the midbar or when the land of Israel was apportioned by shevet, if someone converted what tribe (if any) would s/he belong to?
The purpose of this question is to deduce a ...
5
votes
2answers
51 views
Megilas Esther by day - why is it done after Kriyas HaTorah?
We read Koheles on Succos, Shir HaShirim on Pesach, and Rus on Shavuos, and we always read it prior to Kriyas HaTorah. Then why do we read Megilas Esther on Purim day after Kriyas HaTorah?
5
votes
1answer
38 views
What are the parameters of kavod ha'brios?
When I was younger I was told that in extenuating circumstances one can rip toilet paper on shabbos (preferably not on the perforations) due to kavod ha'brios. This concept is applied in other places ...
2
votes
0answers
28 views
Are robo-calls permitted?
A robo-call is an automated phone call that does not involve a human caller. The majority of these are uninvited solicitations (either for money or votes), and these are the ones I'm asking about. ...
7
votes
1answer
46 views
Why is it ok to pay the kids for the afikoman?
Most Pesach sedarim feature the afikoman hide-and-seek game; either the children steal it and ransom it back or the parents hide it and (in my experience) pay a prize to the child who finds it. At ...
4
votes
1answer
102 views
Is there any difference between Jewish G-d and Muslim G-d?
Do Jews and Muslims worship the same G-d? If so, do they understand G-d the same way? As a related point, is there any linguistic or theological connection between "Allah" and "Eloha" (or "Elohim")? ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Does God discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people?
I often wonder if God has a different attitude towards people who are not Jews. Why Jews are consisdered to be most favored nation? Does that mean that all other people are inferior to Jews? Wouldn't ...
-1
votes
0answers
30 views
Kindle Books and Lifnei Iver on Shabbas [closed]
Do you think that the reason why so few sifrei kodesh are accessible to be downloaded onto the Kindle is because the rabbis who write them want to discourage the public from owning kindles lest they ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
What kind of Mechitza is required when the women daven on the second floor?
Many times I have seen Shuls where women pray on a balcony on the second floor.
What kind of Mechitza do they need?
Is it enough if one can't see them (for example, if the angle is such that they ...
5
votes
1answer
49 views
When is a mechitza required at a meal?
According to the opinions which require Mechitzos by weddings.
Why isn't there a requirement to have Mechitzos by any other Seudas Mitzvah?
For example, why isn't there a requirement that one have a ...
6
votes
2answers
58 views
What to do with old ציצית
What do you do with old ציצית that do not fit anymore? Can you cut off the corners and throw the rest out respectfully?
6
votes
0answers
38 views
Nullifying Ancient Israelite Idols
Following up on a question raised on the Avodah list (see here & here under the subject “Destroying Idols”).
Archaeologists often dig up idols whose worshipers have abandoned them over the ...
4
votes
1answer
28 views
Yotzros for Musaf on Shabbos Shekalim
Those who have the custom to say the Yotzros for Musaf on Shabbos Shekalim finish off each stanza with the following words:
אור פניך עלינו אדון נשא, ושקל אשא בבית נכון ונשא
Hey, wait a second, ...
