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2
votes
1answer
83 views
Selichos start: Ashkinazim vs. Sefardim
Why do Sefardim start saying Sleichos earlier than Ashkinazim?
4
votes
1answer
46 views
Why do the Ashkenazim say Selichos for a minimum of 4 days before Rosh HaShana?
The Ashkenazim start saying Selichos a minimum of 4 days before Rosh HaShana? What is the reason of a minimum of 4 days?
5
votes
4answers
344 views
Cheshvan or MarCheshvan?
The month of Cheshvan is called by many MarCheshvan. Are both correct or which one is more correct?
2
votes
1answer
145 views
Why “hayom yom rishon”, not “echad”?
Rabbi Menachem Greenblatt (St. Louis, Missouri) mentioned at s'uda sh'lishis (Shabas parashas "Ki Setze" 5772) that the correct name for Sunday is echad b(a?)shabas, as is written in k'suvos and ...
3
votes
0answers
36 views
Why is 1 Elul / 1 Tishrei the New Year for livestock?
The first Mishna in Rosh Hashanah says that 1 Elul is the new year for livestock, i.e. I can only tithe one year's "crop" of livestock at a time, so 1 Elul delineates the herds. (Update: we follow the ...
1
vote
4answers
300 views
Why do we count years from the date of Creation?
Why do we count years from the date of Creation? I intend two sub-questions here, of which the second is far more interesting, so please answer it:
Whence did this tradition originate?
Why do we ...
16
votes
8answers
332 views
Birthdays in Judaism
Is there any significance in Judaism attached to the day someone was born (aside for the 13th year)? Is there anything wrong with celebrating one's birthday? And is it more correct to celebrate the ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
Aharon's and Miriam's Yahrtzeit
The Book of Numbers spans almost the entire 40 year period in the desert, documenting numerous events that occurred to the Jews as they wandered. I count only 5 dates mentioned in the text (listed in ...
5
votes
1answer
109 views
why 3 of punishment, 7 of consolation, 2 of repentance
As is well known (e.g. from Tosafos to M'gila 31:2 or from Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 428:8), we have three haftaros of punishment, followed by seven of consolation and then two of return ...
10
votes
3answers
201 views
9 Days of Chanukah?
All Yomim Tovim we celebrate in Chutz Laretz an extra day because of A safek, why do we not do the same for Chanukah?
3
votes
2answers
88 views
Haftarah for yahrtzeit
If one's yahrtzeit falls on a day when there is a haftarah, there is a discussion about whether it's a bigger merit for the deceased to recite the haftarah on that day or before the day of the ...
12
votes
1answer
860 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
173 views
20 Sivan and the inappropriateness of new days of commemoration
The kina (elegy) "Mi yiten roshi mayim" recited on 9 Av was composed in commemoration of the events of the First Crusade as it passed through the Rhineland. It includes the following lines (freely ...
6
votes
4answers
349 views
Eclipse of the moon, bad sign for the Jews
Tonight, December 20, 2010, there will be a full lunar eclipse visible from North America and many other areas. I recall there is a Gemara that says that a lunar eclipse is a bad omen for the Jews as ...
0
votes
2answers
129 views
5
votes
0answers
87 views
Late sunset times and Jewish observance
This question is distinct from other questions which ask how and when to begin Shabbat, etc. when there is no sunset. I am asking about places in which sunset occurs very late during certain times of ...
6
votes
1answer
200 views
Is the Yovel every 49 or 50 years?
When is Yovel? Is it in the 49th year of the shmita cycle, or the 50th? And if it is in the 50th, when is the next shmita, in the 56th or 57th year? What is the practice in modern day Israel?
5
votes
1answer
151 views
A cryptic Seder HaDoros regarding to the year of Jesus' birth
Regarding the year of Jesus' birth, it says in Seder HaDoros (Year 3724) that the year 3724 and the year (3)532 are really the same. What in the world does he mean?
Its in the first column first ...
18
votes
3answers
453 views
The Fanatic Badge
Here on Mi Yodeya, one can earn the "Fanatic" badge for visiting the site for 100 consecutive days.
Is it halachically possible to earn the fanatic badge in the Diaspora?
7
votes
4answers
264 views
“Veadar” as the name of the extra month in leap years?
In older books and other publications that describe the Jewish calendar, it's quite common to see the extra leap month referred to as "Veadar." (One example is here.)
But I have yet to hear that ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
If a Beis Din Makes a Mistake When Calculating Kiddush HaChodesh, Does it Count?
On one hand, the Rambam says (in 2:10)
Once the court sanctifies the new month, it remains sanctified regardless of whether they erred unwittingly, they were led astray [by false witnesses], or ...
5
votes
1answer
95 views
Some years have a siman, what does it mean?
I saw on a calendar that each year has a siman, for example 5772 has the siman 517.
Here are the simanim for the next few years:
5773: 203
5774: 1523
5775: 517
5776: 1217
Does anyone know ...
8
votes
3answers
224 views
Is one allowed to make Kneidlach when the last day of Pesach is Shabbos?
According to those who eat Gebrotz only on the last day of Pesach, is one allowed to make Mazta balls when the last day of Pesach is Shabbos?
On a normal year, one can cook and eat Gebrotz on the ...
4
votes
3answers
447 views
Two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel
Why do we continue to keep two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel? The reason for two days was revelant during the temple era as we needed two witnesses to see the new moon. But today, with no Temple ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Last night *might* have been the first night of the omer. Right? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sefira Counting in Diaspora
How do we count sefira with absolute certainty, as we do, and yet, in diaspora, we have a second seder and a second dat of yom tov? Wouldn't ...
2
votes
2answers
116 views
How to calculate 60 days from tekufat tishri for any given year?
I'm trying to pin down an algorithm for calculating when to start saying ותן טל ומטר in diaspora. (In Israel it begins 7 Cheshvan.) I've gotten that we need to know how many centuries passed since ...
4
votes
2answers
66 views
Mattanos Levyonim via Jerusalem organazations
Am I yotzeh if I (a non-Jerusalemite) give it to an organization in Jerusalem who gives it out on their Purim since a mitzvas Hayom on my purim?
2
votes
0answers
74 views
What is the date ending the 700 years mentioned in these midrashim?
Based on this answer I was able to have some extra fun reading over Shabbat.
First, I would like to say, that I was amazed as to how much of the material I was allready familiar with, mostly from ...
6
votes
2answers
102 views
Walled cities for Purim other than Jerusalem
The holiday of Purim is unique in that some locations celebrate it on different days. The rule is: if the city was walled at the time of Joshua's conquest of the Land of Israel then they celebrate on ...
4
votes
2answers
188 views
Halachically skipping Purim
There have long been 'legends' of various liberal figures in Judaism, including Yeshayahu Leibovitz (brother of Nechama Leibovitz) that would 'skip' Purim. On the 14th of Adar they would be sure to be ...
2
votes
3answers
240 views
The 70 weeks in Daniel 9
How does one understand the 70 week prophecy in Daniel 9? When does the decree to rebuild Jerusalem take place, and how do you interpret the "seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks" from that ...
11
votes
1answer
118 views
First-Temple-Era names of the Hebrew months?
The Chumash refers to the months simply as "the first", "the second", and so on. Today we know them by their Babylonian names (Nisan, Iyar ...) Occasionally the Prophets from the First-Temple Era use ...
1
vote
5answers
80 views
Books on the significance of the months in the Jewish calendar
I am looking for books/sefarim (Hebrew or English) that discuss the different months of the Jewish year, and their overall significance in relation to:
Zodiac Signs
Tribes
Chagim
Animals
...
3
votes
5answers
200 views
When Adar Begins we increase our Joy-משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה
משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה- When Adar Begins we increase our Joy (I know it is not in Shulchan Aruch or the Rambam) What is the practical application of it?
4
votes
1answer
223 views
Mashiv HaRuach - V'Sain (veten) Tal Umatar
Why do we start saying Mashiv HaRuach on Shemini Atzeres yet we do not say V'Sain Tal Umatar until Dec 4 / Dec 5 (In Chutz L'Aretz)? Why should they not be on the same day when they are similar ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
Why be happy Shushan Purim?
Rama (695:2) quotes from the Maharil (though I don't see it there):
וחייב במשתה ושמחה קצת בב׳ ימים י״ד וט״ו
and one must have a drinking party and joy, a little, on two days: the fourteenth and ...
11
votes
1answer
368 views
Praying for rain in the Diaspora
Why on this year (and on other years that precede civil leap years) do we start praying for rain in the Diaspora (by inserting the phrase 'Vetein tal umatar") at maariv of December 5 and not maariv of ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
Splitting Sefira Mourning Practices According to Rav Moshe Feinstein
People hold of the restrictions of the seven-week omer period (shaving and listening to music, for example) at various times: some hold approximately the first five weeks; others, approximately the ...
9
votes
1answer
160 views
“Wedding anniversary” in Jewish thought.
Does the concept of "wedding anniversary" specifically enter Jewish thought or is it to be thought of as another of the many occasions for giving thanks to HKB"H?
7
votes
1answer
67 views
Getting a late start on being Maavir Sedra for the year
I remember hearing when I was younger that ואלה שמות - is Roshei Teivos V'Chayav A'dam L'haavir H'sedra S'htayim M'ikra V'echod T'argum.
If someone who has not been Maavir Sedra so far this year is ...
10
votes
3answers
197 views
Do more fasts fall out on monday and thursday, or does it just feel that way
On Monday and Thursday, we say a longer Tachanun. On a fast day (where the weekday prayers are still said), Selichot are said in addition to Tachanun.
It feels like there are many more fasts that ...
5
votes
3answers
99 views
1
vote
2answers
97 views
On which day in Teveis did this happen?
In Megilas Esther 2:16 it mentions that Esther was taken in Teveis to Achasverosh's palace. Does anyone know on which day of the month this happened?
3
votes
2answers
118 views
Calculating Tekufas Teves
Although often associated with the Winter Solstice, Tekufas Teves is an independent date. How is Tekufas Teves, or the other Tekufos (?) determined?
7
votes
2answers
62 views
Joseph and Chanukkah
The Parshiot about Joseph always fall right before or during Chanukkah. It their a relationship between the Joseph stories and the Chanukkah stories? It there something to be learned from the fact ...
4
votes
1answer
210 views
When and why did we start reading the Parshat Hashavua?
My question is twofold:
When did we start reading a new parsha (torah portion) every week?
Why did we start reading a new parsha (torah portion) every week?
1
vote
2answers
74 views
More info on tzerufei shemos (permutations of G-d's name) vis-a-vis months of the year?
I've seen some siddurim -- I think the Artscroll all-Hebrew Nusach Sefard -- that list one permutation of the name YKVK for each of the twelve months, and that one should have appropriate kavana when ...
5
votes
2answers
224 views
Meaning of the name Sivan
I recently met a young lady with the name of Sivan. She did not know the meaning of it, other than it is a name of a month. I was wondering if there is a meaning to this name and what it is?
12
votes
3answers
245 views
Why is Rosh Chodesh sometimes TWO days?
Why for certain months of the year do we celebrate the festival of Rosh Chodesh for two days while on other Roshei Chadashim we have one day of Rosh Chodesh?
6
votes
1answer
95 views
When is “vesain tal umotor” said in Australia?
When is "vesain tal umotor" said in the Southern Hemisphere eg Australia?
