0
votes
0answers
6 views
Nedarim and doing something 3 times
Since I can't find the earlier sources for this, I will bring Harav Musafi Shelit"a as a proof (Q&A 74259) where he says if you do something a "Hanhaga Tova - good deed" three times you need ...
3
votes
0answers
13 views
Why is There No Tachanun on Tu b'Shvat?
Or, more specifically, what is/are the reason(s) for not saying tachanun on various occasions and how does Tu b'Shvat fit in.
(I'm looking for classic reasons, not 'it's got to be somebody's birthday ...
7
votes
1answer
44 views
Interrupting in the middle of Shmona esrei
Am I allowed to interrupt in the middle of Shmona esrei in order to pick up a Siddur (or any other holy book) that has fallen to the floor? Same question, if I have to make some steps in order to pick ...
1
vote
3answers
60 views
Please clarify Mishlei 24:21 regarding mingling with dualists
Mishlei 24:21 "My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not mingle with dualists" source
(1) please define "dualist" from the perspective of Judaism. If it is "someone who believes/practices dualism" ...
7
votes
2answers
152 views
Taking a concubine (pilegesh) today
Moderator's note: As with all discussions of Jewish law on this site, any information included in this question or its answers is presented only for the purpose of understanding the relevant ideas, ...
10
votes
1answer
196 views
Meaning of “bidi-bidi-bum”
In Fiddler on the Roof, in Tevye's song "If I Were a Rich Man," there is a line "all day long I'd bidi-bidi-bum." According to Wikipedia this is a reference to prayer.
A repeated phrase ...
3
votes
1answer
38 views
Rashi's proof of the timing of Yisro's conversation with Moshe about judges
Rashi (to Ex. 18:13) cites Mechilta that "the next day," when Yisro saw Moshe judging the people and offered his advice about appointing inferior judges, was the day after Yom Kippur. Part of his ...
5
votes
1answer
30 views
Who is obligated in Pidyon HaBen?
A woman I know mentioned that she is redeeming her firstborn son. This got me thinking. A Pidyon HaBen is mandated for the first male child to "open" the mother's womb. But whose Mitzvah is it?
The ...
2
votes
2answers
59 views
How is there a Rshus Harabim according to R' Yehuda?
There is an argument how many walls does a Rshus Harabim need to have to make it a Rshus Hayachid (Deoraisa). R' Yehuda says that one needs two walls, while the Chachamim said one needs three.
The ...
8
votes
1answer
39 views
Is getting a “fake” tattoo a violation of halacha?
Inspired by Curiouser here:
Is getting a "fake" (temporary) tattoo a violation of halacha? I'll define this broadly as any tattoo that doesn't permanently show on your body. This includes transfer ...
8
votes
2answers
76 views
Gap zip up sweatshirt Kesivah on Shabbos?
Does zippering up a sweatshirt like this one, which when zippering causes the letter A to become a letter create a problem of Kesivah on Shabbos? Is an Old Navy sweatshirt where the word Old is on one ...
6
votes
2answers
39 views
Bowing during Barechu
Many Sepharadim have a custom to take a slight bow when saying Barechu both during Shacharit and Arvit. Others insist on standing. Is there any source for such a minhag in the sifrei Halacha (or ...
6
votes
2answers
57 views
Rashi on Yerushalmi
Why is there no Rashi on Yerushalmi? What can I learn instead?
Is there anything that can replace it, and why was it not written?
7
votes
2answers
41 views
Using an oven timer on Shabbas
This is my first post here.
I'm fairly familiar with cooking on Shabbat, but I have a few specific questions.
I know there are issues with using the warming setting on an oven to keep food warm. ...
3
votes
1answer
22 views
To say the 13 midos in “tachanun” weekday mincha, should the Sha"tz wear a tallis?
I asked the question "The Gemoro in Rosh Hashono 17b says that HKB”H put on a talis like a shaliach tzibbur and taught Moshe the 13 middos and said whenever Israel sins they should perform before Me ...
9
votes
1answer
89 views
Why does a Meat Thermometer not nead Tevilla?
In this answer, We were told that "according to the Star-K Tevila Guidelines, no tevila is required for a meat thermometer."
Why not?
From the Star-K's article on Tevillat Kelim:
Utensils ...
5
votes
1answer
50 views
Rashi's apparent internal confusion over יתרו/רְעוּאֵל
Per Bamidbar 10:29 (see below), חֹבָב בֶּן רְעוּאֵל was the father-in-law of מֹשֶׁה. There, רש"י asks why רְעוּאֵל is referred to in Shemoth 2:18 as the "father" of בנות יתרו, and he answers that ...
6
votes
1answer
36 views
Why do Sifrei Emes use different taamim?
I know that the Sifrei Emes (Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov) use a different system of taamim. Why is this?
What is it about these books that makes it that they cannot — or should not — use the ...
7
votes
2answers
70 views
Why don't we name children Yitro?
Yitro appears to be an overall positive character in the Torah. At least as much as Noah or Saul, yet I do not know of contemporary (or even ancient) Jews named Yitro. Why is that?
8
votes
1answer
84 views
How does a blind person make havdalah if he has to benefit from the light?
Per this answer, the one making havdalah must benefit from the light. How does a blind person make havdalah, assuming there is not another Jew present to do it for him? Does he omit the blessing ...
5
votes
2answers
83 views
How seriously do we take the finger-inspection in Havdala?
After saying the blessing over fire during Havdala, we do something (customs vary) involving looking at our fingers by the light of the Havdala candle. I'm wondering how seriously we take this part of ...
6
votes
1answer
53 views
The size/shape of biblical Israel
Based on this Tosafot in Bava Metzia 28a (D"H Chamisha Asar Yom), E. Israel is a square (400 sq. Parsah), and the distance between Jerusalem and the Jordan river is 1/39th the distance between ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Looking at a picture of the face of a Rasha
The Zohar (and Megillah 28a thanks DoubleAA) says that it is Assur to gaze at the face of a Rasha. Would this also apply to looking at an image or painting of a Rasha?
7
votes
3answers
94 views
Touching a woman and the first Pesukim in Melachim
Shulhan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 21 and 22 records the Halacha against men and women touching each other (especially Derech Hiba; whether it is Deorayta or Derabanan is a Mahloket Rishonim between ...
8
votes
1answer
71 views
Lechem Mishlesh?
(Based on Tosfot Pesachim 116a and Aruch haShulchan 274:5 I assume that the man did not fall on Yom Tov and double fell on Erev Yom Tov, and that this is why we have lechem mishne on Yom Tov.)
When ...
6
votes
1answer
63 views
Meat מן with milk מן
My kid asked:
If the man could be whatever food one wanted, could one eat milk-man after meat-man?
(And the same can be asked, but stronger, about cooking or eating the two types together.) I ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Aramaic sections of davening in Hebrew
From the answers I received to this question, the reason we still say some sections of davening (prayer) in Aramaic seems to be that it is historically a Jewish language, and using it unifies all ...
11
votes
1answer
68 views
Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
This answer to a question about melacha before havdalah notes that in that situation one should say "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" first. Does that apply to lighting the havdalah candle? I ...
7
votes
1answer
50 views
Is there a source for not buying things for a baby before it is born?
Is there any source for the custom to not buy things for a baby before it is born? I have heard that the reason is due to averting ayin hara, but I would like to know if there is any recorded source ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
If someone had a family tradition that he came from an Edomite, would he be allowed to marry a Jew?
An Edomite cannot marry a Jew for three generations.
Nowadays (since the time of Sancheiriv, who mixed all nations together), this law no longer applies as we no longer know who is an Edomite. ...
2
votes
2answers
40 views
What happened to the rest of the Jews who lived in Yehuda?
When Sancheiriv conquered the kingdom of Israel and exiled them, did he also conquer the rest of the kingdom of Yehuda or did he try going to Yerushalaim first (and never made it to the rest of Yehuda ...
6
votes
1answer
36 views
Why did none of the later kings of Israel destroy Amalek?
There is a commandment to obliterate Amalek.
Shaul Hamelech was commanded to obliterate Amalek and failed.
Dovid continued in the process, but obviously didn't destroy them completely.
None of the ...
5
votes
2answers
40 views
How did Dovid Hamelech kill Amaleikim?
Similar to this question.
How did Dovid Hamelech kill the Amaleikim when they were almost completely obliterated (their only survivor was a baby fathered by Agag on his last day) by Shaul Hamelech ...
3
votes
1answer
37 views
Muktzeh found in drawer
If I am looking for something in a drawer on Shabbat and then find something muktzeh in that drawer, can I close the drawer?
6
votes
3answers
92 views
What Bracha did they make on the Mahn?
Did the Jews make a Bracha on eating the Mahn? Which Bracha did they make?
8
votes
1answer
71 views
Where did the Egyptians get the wealth they brought to the sea?
In Shemot 15:22, Rashi says:
Moses led Israel away: lit., made Israel journey. He led them away against their will, for the Egyptians had adorned their steeds with ornaments of gold, silver, and ...
4
votes
3answers
47 views
Why strong wind when splitting the sea?
The verses describing the splitting of the Yam Suf (Reed Sea) say a strong wind blew overnight before the sea split. To me, this implies a gradual process of moving a great deal of water.
On the ...
5
votes
2answers
32 views
Should the shaliach tzibbur wear a talis to say the 13 middos ?
The Gemoro in Rosh Hashono 17b says that HKB”H put on a talis like a shaliach tzibbur and taught Moshe the 13 middos and said whenever Israel sins they should perform before Me according to this ...
4
votes
1answer
34 views
Should the shaliach tzibbur check the tzitzis of a tallis given to him to daven?
Some shuls require the shaliach tzibbur to wear a tallis for mincha which is normally given to him from shul property. Is he required to check the tzitzis before wearing it?
Do we say that it would be ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Is our practice often at variance with the psak of the Mishnah Berura as in the brocho on the Talis Godol? [closed]
Mishnah Berura, OC 8 (4) [10] says that the brocho on the Talis Godol is “lehisataif b*e*tzitis” and not as I see in the all my siddurim “lehisataif b*a*tzitis”. Are there many cases where what we do ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Is there a set of “base”(factor?) midrashic numbers and what are they?
I've always wanted to do an analyses of the Torah based on the numbers given and their midrashic meanings. Specifically, I'm looking for "base" numbers: that is, which are meaningful inherently, not ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
Moving nails better than burning them?
It says in the Gemara that one who buries his nails is a Tzaddik (he did what he should, to avoid a pregnant woman from stepping on them) while someone who burns his nails is a chossid (Tosfos ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
Sherlock Holmes-ian deduction in the Talmud
I remember learning a story in the Talmud (I think) and am trying to find the source. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but this is what I remember.
There was a Talmudic Rabbi who was sold into ...
8
votes
4answers
176 views
Is belief in a G-d a commandment?
I am studying to convert to Judaism and one of the questions I was asked was about the Ten Commandments. I remember reading at that time that there was debate about the division of the statements ...
3
votes
3answers
70 views
Are there analogs to “Abba” & “Ima” for in-laws?
I know that “אבא” and “אמא” are originally Aramaic translations of the Hebrew “אבי” and “אמי” which have become adapted to Hebrew, especially in the accusative case. Are there similar forms in ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
How much room is there for personal influence given the existence of “free will” and “God's will” and “God's plan”?
Today's interesting question delves deeper into the concept of free will. I understand that Judaism views free will as the freedom to choose between life and death (i.e. choose life and live), but ...
4
votes
1answer
29 views
Papaya - Ha'Etz or Ha'Adama?
I have heard that there is a dispute as to which Bracha you should make on papaya, Ha'Etz or Ha'Adama? Why? (sources)
4
votes
1answer
64 views
Shabbos Shira - putting out bread for the birds
Is there a problem with putting out bread for birds on Shabbos (in a case where there is no carrying issues)?
1
vote
2answers
47 views
Echad Vetish'im Umatayim - mi yodeya?
Who knows two hundred ninety-one?
?אחד ותשעים ומאתים - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 291.
I'll bet you ...
6
votes
2answers
65 views
Drinking on Purim OTHER THAN at the required “Festive Meal” (Seudas Mitzvah)
A source from this question quotes the Rema that one should be "joyous" on the night of Purim as well as the day. That citation doesn't explicity address getting intoxicated.
This site quotes many ...
