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8
votes
1answer
90 views
When should one hide her mezuzot?
In light of recent events wherein vandals began burning mezuzot found on the doorways outside of people's houses, I am wondering if there is ever a reason to remove mezuzot to prevent their ...
5
votes
1answer
231 views
What is the appropriate response of someone outside Israel during a war?
During a war or large scale military operation what are some of the best things for a person living in chutz l'arertz to do? Is saying tehillim and doing extra chesed enough? Should a person run to ...
1
vote
0answers
192 views
May a Jew own/operate a blog open to comments?
In light of recent events I would like to know if a Jew may own and operate a blog or website which is open to comments if it is found that comments can often contain lashon hara, rechilus or motzei ...
6
votes
0answers
101 views
Mandatory evacuation on Shabbat: what can and can't you do?
A major storm hit New England starting this past Friday. While people knew this was coming and precautions were already in place, apparently (according to a news article I read tonight) some areas ...
5
votes
1answer
417 views
Is metzitzah b'peh required when an adult is circumcised or in the case of hatafas dam bris?
As we've discussed in a general question regarding the requirements for metzitzah b'peh (MBP), the direct-oral-contact technique to draw blood from the penis of an 8-day old infant at his bris milah ...
1
vote
1answer
209 views
NFL and Rosh Hashanah. Ravens and Orioles scheduling debacle
As of now the National Football League is trying to bully the Baltimore Orioles (a baseball team) into moving their long scheduled Sept. 5th game so the NFL Baltimore Ravens can play their opening day ...
4
votes
2answers
184 views
Is it permitted for a Jew to accept an invitation by the Pope to attend mass
The chief rabbi of Rome received a special invitation from Pope Francis to attend a special mass on March 19.VINNews article. Normally, a Jew is not even allowed to visit a church, much less a ...
5
votes
1answer
142 views
Do Jews have an obligation to support the effort to free Jonathan Pollard?
I am not entirely clear on all of the particulars of the mitzvah of pidyon shivuyim - redeeming Jewish captives. Nor am I positive that someone jailed by a democratic goverment for breaking secular ...
0
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0answers
30 views
brit-milah for dead infant [duplicate]
Recent tragedy in NY, young haredi couple killed in auto accident.
Wife pregnant with baby boy.
Doctors delivered the baby but, tragically, he also didn't survive.
Before burial, a brit milah was ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Have poskim written about partnership minyanim?
Are there any contemporary responsa regarding partnership minyanim, such as Shira Hadasha and Darkei Noam?
Various rabbis have written against it (e.g., R. Student, R. Rothstein, R. Firmer) and it ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Naming an orphan
In light of the recent story in the news of a baby born an orphan. :(
Who names him (and performs the bris)? I assume the grandparents, but is there any tradition of which side has priority?
(I am ...
5
votes
0answers
48 views
How does deep snow affect carrying on Shabbos?
Thinking about the snow in Boston and the discussion at Shabbos 5a, if there was more than 10 tefakim (handbredths) of snow on the ground, would a reshus hayachad (private domain) extend from the soil ...
6
votes
0answers
127 views
The stolen maple syrup and kashrus
Does anyone know if there is going to be a kashrus problem with maple syrup next year?
A rather large amount of maple syrup was stolen last year. The thieves did not keep it in the original casks, ...
6
votes
1answer
206 views
star of david and the cross
I am a Christian and our church has a group of women that make prayer shawls for those who are sick or hurting or who are just plain in need of some comfort. We collect these shawls all month long ...
12
votes
3answers
576 views
Is Metzitzah B'peh a must?
There is a lot of talk in the news, etc., about Metzitzah B'peh that employs direct oral contact being dangerous.
First: If it is dangerous, shouldn't pikuach nefesh push it off?
Second: How ...
8
votes
3answers
226 views
Why is the Boro Park eiruv controversial?
I know I might be hitting a touchy subject, but I'm prefacing it with this so I can clarify right away: I don't want a Psak, or who holds what. That's for each person to figure out... I just want to ...
8
votes
2answers
186 views
Killing Civilians in a defensive war
In the recent Operation Pillar of Defense against Gaza, many Palestinian civillians were killed by Israeli air-strikes (the Palestines claim the number is as high as 158, while according to the IDF ...
11
votes
1answer
146 views
Rockets from Gaza while praying
I live in Beer Sheva, Israel where there are presently ongoing rockets fired at us from Gaza. We are warned of an impending rocket by a loud siren that gives us less than a minute to run to a bomb ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
A tree which falls and damages
If one has a tree in their property/yard, (or similarly a tree within a jointly owned courtyard) and it falls into a public area [due to heavy winds] and damages...
Is the owner of the tree liable in ...
9
votes
1answer
198 views
El Al Airfare error and Halachah
What are the Halachic implications of yesterday's El Al airfare snafu? In brief, El Al's air tickets were being sold online very cheap for a while; the price was later corrected, and El Al claimed the ...
14
votes
1answer
260 views
The new TSA airport scanners and tznius
Is it OK as per Halacha to go through the new TSA scanners where they see you as if you are naked?
2
votes
0answers
73 views
Frozen clothes during the Nine Days
Recently, some have advocated freezing clothing, particularly blue jeans, instead of washing them to conserve water.
Assuming this works to some extent, can it be done during the Nine Days? Can I ...
1
vote
1answer
289 views
Does Jewish law forbid Internet usage?
The Ichud HaKehillos LeTohar HaMachane anti-Internet rally is coming up in a few weeks, on May 20, 2012. What do contemporary halakhic authorities say about the permissibility or prohibition of using ...
9
votes
2answers
154 views
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Venus is transiting today for the last time until 2117 (or 5878, if you prefer). Is there a specific bracha that should be made upon witnessing this spectacular event?
3
votes
2answers
171 views
Yom Tov Sheni - Seeking All Relevant Sources
There is an article on Wikipedia about Passover that gives a very non-traditional (if not anti-traditional) explanation - rather, a series of explanations - for the origin of Y"T Sheni Shel Galuyoth. ...
8
votes
2answers
232 views
Lottery on Shabbos
Is one allowed to buy a lottery ticket if the lottery will be held on shabbos? Is it a problem of possibly making money on shabbos even though his chances are slim?
3
votes
3answers
599 views
Homosexuality is “worse than murder”?
A sign at a recent rally protesting New York's 2011 Marriage Equality Act reads
Judaism considers male homosexuality a worse sin than murder
I imagine that this is a minority opinion, but does ...
5
votes
2answers
93 views
Information about the office of the Chief Rabbi of England
Who determines the Chief Rabbi of England?
Is he picked by a general vote of all Shul attendees in Great Brittan?
Is he picked by a committee picked by boards of different Shuls?
What are his ...
8
votes
1answer
200 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
Handling Conflict between Jewish and Civil Law
This question is an offshoot from the one titled "Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture"
Taking under the knowledge that the previous question was well answered with an observation:
It's ...
7
votes
1answer
205 views
How should an employer respond to a government policy requiring abortion coverage?
There is a recent controversy in the United States regarding whether the Federal government can compel employers, including religious employers, to pay for contraception. Although this may not be ...
7
votes
1answer
82 views
Whom does one save first?
As a follow up to the controversy regarding the Costa Concordia
If a ship is in danger of sinking, is the captain allowed to save himself first, or must he be the last man off the ship?
Do the men ...
6
votes
1answer
95 views
Can one bring a Korban nowadays?
Assuming we don't have a problem with the Dome of the rock.
Has anyone discussed sacrifices nowadays regarding:
Can (and should) one bring sacrifices nowadays as we don't know the exact location ...
17
votes
1answer
262 views
Setting aside Shabbat to answer the President's call
In an old MSNBC news story about Jack Lew, a Shabbat-observant Jew who was just appointed to be the new White House Chief of Staff, there's a story about his getting a call from President Clinton when ...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
How to practice when 2 customs collide
This question is inspired by recent news of events in Beit Shemesh.
What happens halachically when 2 customs collide and each custom affects the other side? In the case of modesty, for example, ...
61
votes
3answers
2k views
Implications of Samoa skipping a Friday
This week, the island of Samoa is switching time zones, causing it to skip from Thursday directly to Saturday. Out of simple curiosity, what implications might this have on any Jews on the island? ...
13
votes
1answer
215 views
According to Halacha, may we endanger many Jewish lives in order to definitely save one Jew?
For example, what does Halacha say about the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange?
"Save" means "free from captivity," although in many cases it's the same thing as saving his\her life (e.g. if we didn't ...
6
votes
4answers
157 views
Commemorating Death
What are some sources about when it is appropriate - if ever - to celebrate the death of an enemy?
My question is inspired by last night's news of the death of Osama Bin Laden, naturally, as well as ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
What's in the new bit of Jerusalem Talmud?
I just read a news story about a newly discovered sentence-long fragment of the Jerusalem Talmud that apparently resolves a previously unintelligible section of Tractate Bikkurim.
Does anyone know ...
