The death tag has no wiki summary.
14
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3answers
191 views
Must EMTs and others rend Kriyah each time they see a patient die?
I was looking at Yoreh De'ah 40:5 (יו"ד סימן ש"מ ס"ק ה) and Moed Katan 25b (כה עמוד ב), which require Kriyah (garment-rending) for all who are there at the time of death. It would seem to me that an ...
13
votes
3answers
227 views
Did courts ever execute?
The laws of capital crimes elucidated in Sanhedrin and elsewhere make conviction very unlikely. Makkot 1:10 famously tells us that a court that executes once in seven years is bloodthirsty, R. ...
13
votes
1answer
210 views
What's the leading medical explanation for the “woman whose husbands keep dying” (“katlanit”) phenomenon?
The Gemara says that if a woman gets married, then her husband dies; then marries another guy and is widowed from him; then once more; we then assume something about her is causing her husbands to die ...
12
votes
2answers
189 views
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? Why or why not?
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? What about someone who may have been an oved avoda zarah? Someone who is definitely such?
I'm asking because I've seen such discussion ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Can you be buried in a Jewish Cemetery if you have a tattoo?
Can you be buried in a Jewish Cemetery if you have a tattoo?
I.e., is it just urban legend that you can't?
11
votes
3answers
454 views
Why do we say “You should live till 120”?
Prior to the Mabul people lived for hundreds of years. After the Mabul lifespans shortened although we see that the Avos lived in the 180 year range. In the Pasuk in Tehilim we say Yemei Shenoseinu ...
11
votes
3answers
346 views
Is it better to kill 1 person or let 5 die?
I was recently reading about the Trolley Problem
A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are five people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, ...
10
votes
1answer
151 views
Why should the patriarchs have lived to 180?
Rashi to B'reshis 25:30 says that Avraham should have lived to the age of 180 had his life not been cut short.
Yitzchak lived to 180.
The Daas Z'kenim to B'reshis 47:8 quotes a midrash as saying ...
10
votes
1answer
96 views
When did Ben Azzai die?
Rabbi Shimeon ben Azzai is listed as having died twice, once as part of the 4 who enter "pardes" (chagigah 14b) and again as one of the 10 martyrs. Which of these traditions is correct, or is there a ...
10
votes
2answers
167 views
May a Jewish cemetery refuse a body?
Based on a recent news item wherein cemeteries have been refusing to inter the body of one of the (alleged) Boston bombersfound here I was curious if a Jewish cemetery's operators were allowed to ...
9
votes
1answer
184 views
2.4 million killed according to Rashi in B'shalach. Why does no one talk about it?
In the begining of Parshat B'shalach, Rashi says that one p'shat for "Vachamushim" means one fifth, because during Makas Choshech, 4 out of 5 were killed out, and it happened during the time it was ...
9
votes
1answer
95 views
What does a tahara accomplish for a dead person?
What does a tahara, the process of washing and dressing a dead person, accomplish spiritually for the meis?
9
votes
1answer
129 views
Kaddish by proxy
If a more distant family member passes, and none of the mourners (spouse, parents, siblings, children) regularly attend prayer services (minyan) - should another unrelated person say kaddish for the ...
9
votes
1answer
189 views
Is it a sin to escape the death penalty?
If someone is sentenced to death by a Jewish court and is being held prisoner until the sentence can be carried out, if he escapes, is that a sin for him?
8
votes
2answers
135 views
Does one make a blessing if preparing to die al kiddush Hashem?
If one is reasonably sure that he is about to die al kiddush Hashem does he make a blessing before fulfilling this mitzvah? What would the nusach (text) of this blessing be?
Note: I realize that even ...
8
votes
2answers
270 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
131 views
Davening for someone to end a painful life
Are you allowed to daven for a person to die because he is in a lot of pain?
8
votes
4answers
183 views
Can the living negatively affect the dead?
As far as I know, living people can positively affect the dead. This is the reason we say Kaddish and learn Mishnayos for the souls of the deceased. (Feel free to comment with more examples of this.) ...
8
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3answers
97 views
What to do before death
If a doctor tells a person that he is certain to die shortly (e.g., within one hour), what should that person do during his remaining minutes?
8
votes
3answers
184 views
Why was there a distinction made for women captives?
In Numbers 31, God tells the Israelites to wipe out the Midianites (and incidentally, Balaam) by killing every male. But they spared certain women (v17-18):
Now therefore kill every male among the ...
8
votes
2answers
124 views
Why does the Torah not record the passing of Leah?
The Torah records the passing of all the patriarchs and matriarchs:
Sarah - Bereishis 23:1-2
Avraham - Bereishis 25:8-9
Rochel - Bereishis 35:19
Yitzchak - Bereishis 35:29
Then Rivkah is not ...
8
votes
1answer
113 views
Why is giluey arayos one of the big 3?
I get why murder and idol worship are things you have to give your life up for. But why is giluy arayos - sexual sin so fundamental as to require a person to give up one's life? I'm looking for a ...
7
votes
2answers
270 views
What are the characteristics of Sheol?
The Wikipedia article on Sheol is very unclear as to what it is and combined with the Christian understanding: quoting the New Testament in several places.
Who goes to Sheol once they die (Jews ...
7
votes
4answers
215 views
7
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2answers
133 views
When did Leah die?
Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31) but we are not told exactly when. Please cite a source as to exactly when Leah died.
7
votes
1answer
132 views
Kohen Gadol Yibum
Is it ever possible for a Kohen Gadol to perform the Mitzvah of Yibum. After all, every case of Yibum involves a widow which the Kohen Gadol is not allowed to marry?
7
votes
2answers
178 views
History of Capital Punishment
When is the most recent documented occurrence in Jewish history of a beit din carrying out the death penalty? Or if historical documentation is lacking, when is the most recent time in Jewish history ...
7
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2answers
122 views
Cryonics in Judaism
I was recently reading an article about cryogenics, there are around 200 bodies frozen in cryogenics labs around the world, and in the article they said that in the near future they may be able to ...
7
votes
2answers
161 views
Can our deceased relatives observe us?
People often say (e.g. at s'machot and other such events) things like "Grandpa Chaim would have loved to be here today, but we know he is smiling down on us from shamayim"
Is this really a ...
7
votes
2answers
226 views
Naming your child using a dead relative's initial
Is there a Jewish tradition of naming your child using the first letter of the name of a recently deceased relative?
7
votes
1answer
140 views
Halakhic problem with indirectly effecting posthumous Mormon baptism?
Would there be any halakhic problem with using LDS resources to do family history research, if you knew it would result in deceased Jews being named in posthumous baptism rituals? Or is this ...
7
votes
1answer
199 views
May a non-Jew have an abortion?
Are non-Jews permitted to have abortions? (Consider the gemara in Sanhedrin 57b where "a baraita brings in the name of Rabbi Yishmael that a Ben Noach gets capital punishment if he intentionally ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
217 views
Do “most leading Orthodox rabbis” really hold that brain-stem death is death?
According to a recent NYTimes piece on the new organ donation law in Israel,
Most leading Orthodox rabbis -- as well as Israeli law -- agree that a person dies when his brain-stem stops ...
6
votes
1answer
63 views
Do cremated remains contaminate with tumas mes?
If a body is cremated, do the ashes transmit tumah as do other human remains, or does cremation render the body no longer tamei?
6
votes
2answers
158 views
What is the kiss of death?
Chazal tell us (need help with the source) that at least 3 people died "b'neshika" with a 'kiss' from God, Moshe, Aron and Miriam. (Rashi on Bamidbar 20:1, 33:38; Devarim 34:5)
What is exactly does ...
6
votes
1answer
299 views
What are the halachot of suicide?
It used to be that a person who committed suicide was buried in a separate part of the cemetery and the relatives did not sit shiva (see Shulchan Aruch YD 345). We no longer do these things and we ...
6
votes
1answer
119 views
Food utensil on loan from now-dead non-Jew
Do non-Jews have laws of inheritance in halacha? If so, what are they?
Okay... that's not my real question, though I think it's a good part of my real question; in the interests of avoiding the ...
6
votes
2answers
261 views
Help with Tosfot “v'HaAmar R. Yochanan” on Brachot 5b
The Gmara on Brachot 5b quotes R. Yochanon:
R. Yochanan says: Leprosy and children are not chastisements of
love.
The Gmara later questions this statement:
But is children not a
...
6
votes
1answer
107 views
How was Rabbi Yochanan allowed to walk with his son's bone?
It says in Brachos 5B that R' Yochanan used to show people his tenth son's bone (all of his children passed away, and he used to carry a bone of his tenth child).
How was he allowed to not bury this ...
6
votes
1answer
286 views
How to Tear Kriyah
What is the proper procedure for tearing Kriyah (e.g. for Aveilus* or visiting the Kosel)?
* May we never have to do so
6
votes
2answers
130 views
In Modeh Ani we thank Hashem for our neshama's return. Where do neshamas go?
In Modeh Ani we thank Hashem for returning our Neshomos when we arise. Where do they go during our sleep? Do they go to the same place as the neshomos of the deceased?
6
votes
1answer
143 views
Mamzer Question on Kiddushin 72b
The gemarah in Yevamos (78b) says "mamzer eino chai" (A mamzer [who is not known, look later in the daf] doesn't live [for more that 12 months] so not to proliferate mamzeirim).
However, the Gemarah ...
6
votes
0answers
69 views
What is the significance of the skull of Araunah the Yevusi?
Araunah the Yevusi sells the land upon which the beis hamikdash will eventually be built to Dovid HaMelech (II Shemuel 24:18). Subsequently his skull is found underneath the mizbeach at least twice ...
5
votes
3answers
157 views
Cities of Refuge when Moshiach comes?
Why do we need Cities of Refuge when Moshiach comes if at that time there will be no more death?
5
votes
3answers
171 views
Have not gone to parents grave in seven years
A friend recently mentioned that she has not gone to her parents grave in over ten years due to its distance and when she wanted to go she was told by a Rabbi that if she has not been there for over ...
5
votes
2answers
134 views
Double portion for firstborn
I need to designate beneficiaries for a life insurance plan. I've designated my wife as the primary beneficiary and my children as contingent beneficiaries. My son is a firstborn and he has two ...
5
votes
1answer
76 views
Whence is the idea that the deceased is a meilitz yosher?
At funerals I have often heard it said that the deceased should be a meilitz yosher (one who relates rectitude). Where does this idea come from?
5
votes
1answer
132 views
Travel on same plane as body to Israel?
After a recent death here in South Africa it arose in conversation that there is a problem for mourners to fly on the same plane as the body to its burial in Israel. Aside from Kehuna issues (which ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
Reciting Boruch Dayan HaEmes on Shabbos
If someone's parent dies, one must recite Boruch Dayan HaEmes. What happens if this occurs on Shabbos? Is the customary Boruch Dayan HaEmes recited or not?
