Questions tagged [family-members]
Questions pertaining to family members
195
questions
31
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2
answers
8k
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If a woman converts to Judaism while pregnant, will her child be a Jew?
If a woman converts to Judaism while pregnant, will her child be a Jew once born?
30
votes
4
answers
16k
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Are children adopted by Jews Jewish?
I was adopted around the time I was three months old by my parents who are both Jewish. I do not know what religion my biological mother was, in fact I have very little detail about her at all. I was ...
25
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Maintaining Tzniut in Uncomfortable Social Situations
How can a teenage girl, who recently started practicing the laws of tzniut as well as feasible, balance those laws with the prohibition against embarrassing her family members, who are embarrassed to ...
24
votes
14
answers
11k
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How can I redeem a wasted youth?
I wasted my youth. I am 35 years old. I had a toxic relationship with my parents, especially my mother. My career never started, and I am still looking for a fresh start and finding it humiliating at ...
21
votes
1
answer
1k
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Is a convert obliged to honor his parents?
Is a convert obliged to honor his parents? I understand that a convert loses all halakhic relationship to his parents upon being "reborn." Therefore, does the mitzvah of kibud av va'eim still apply?
20
votes
11
answers
1k
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Yaakov Marrying Two Sisters [duplicate]
According to those that say the Avos kept the Torah beforehand (here), how was Yaakov allowed to marry two sisters?
(Yes, I'm aware that there are many answers)
20
votes
2
answers
618
views
Naming after the living. Why is it considered bad?
This is a fairly straight forward question. I am under the impression that this is bad. This is why you don't see many Moishe Abromowitz, III.
Why is this bad, and why isn't that practice carried ...
20
votes
2
answers
2k
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Mordecai: Esther's uncle?
The m'gila says clearly that Ester was "bas dodo", which seems to mean she was the daughter of Mord'chay's uncle, i.e., his first cousin. The targum renders this as "b'ras achvoy". Does that mean "his ...
19
votes
2
answers
2k
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When (if ever) are converts still related to their relatives?
It is my understanding that when a person converts to Judaism, certain halachic relationships are severed.
So I have a couple questions about this.
Which relationships are severed?
Is a convert ...
18
votes
6
answers
3k
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Prayer for Illness - Why use the mothers name?
Why when someone is sick do we say his mothers name not his father's?
17
votes
3
answers
748
views
Adoptee a Cohen or Levi?
If a Cohen or Levi adopts a non-Jew, upon their conversion are they a Cohen or Levi as well or are they a Yisroel?
17
votes
1
answer
433
views
Kibud Av v'Ach?
As I understand it there is an obligation (See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 240:22) to honor an older brother similar to that of honoring one's father. Since the obligation to honor one's father can have ...
17
votes
1
answer
874
views
Is it ok for spouses to touch in public?
Are spouses allowed to touch one another in public (when the wife is not a niddah) or is this a violation of tzniut? I am asking specifically regarding touch that is not in any way sexual or even ...
16
votes
5
answers
805
views
Rabba bar bar Chana
There is a rabbi in the Talmud referred to as רבה בר בר חנה. Why is he called that way? It says that Rabba was the grandson of Chana.
Who was Chana? Was it(?) a woman? Why wasn't he called after his ...
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Leniencies for someone keeping Kosher in a non-Kosher home
My family is not frum, but they do not eat non-kosher meat at home, although they do eat other not-certified-kosher products, including cheese. They don't mix meat and milk, but they do wash meat and ...
16
votes
1
answer
636
views
Didn’t the Ishmaelites know they were buying their second cousin?
In studying bereishis I have come up with questions about Joseph and his brothers that have long bothered me. One question is in parsha vayeshev, where we read how Joseph was sold by his brothers to ...
16
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What are the halachic boundaries between a brother and sister?
Can they touch each other? Hug? Are they allowed to expose their legs, arms, etc., in front of each other? Can they swim together? Dance together?
15
votes
2
answers
17k
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All people in world are Jews?
According to the Book of Genesis, Noah saved his family and representatives of every animal from a flood by constructing a boat. So since all of humanity should be descended from Noah, does that mean ...
14
votes
4
answers
6k
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Does a Jewish grandmother (mother's side) really get one accepted as a Jew? [duplicate]
My grandmother (mother's side) is 100% Jewish and even living in Israel. As far as I know, that makes, me a Jew, too. But it feels a little bit strange to say that I am Jewish just because my ...
14
votes
3
answers
6k
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How to keep kosher in a non-observant household
Many Baalei Teshuvah (returnees to Judaism) confront various conflicts regarding their interactions with non-observant family and friends. A big one, which has not been discussed here (AFAIK), is ...
14
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What is the halachic status of adult conjoined twins?
It is rare but possible for conjoined twins to remain alive and healthy into adulthood, such as is the case with Abby and Brittany Hensel. They have distinct sets of heads, hearts, and lungs. They ...
14
votes
2
answers
878
views
Halacha of Yichud with half sibling
May siblings of the opposite sex that share only one parent be secluded (yichud) with one another? Does it matter which parent they share?
14
votes
3
answers
486
views
Accepting parents' minhagim
Since the Conservative movement tends to take most of its minhagim from the German tradition due to its German roots, most Conservative Jews in America tend to practice the German customs (such as ...
14
votes
1
answer
617
views
if a convert later finds out she was Jewish anyway through her mother's mother, does she need a new ketubah?
If a convert (orthodox) later finds out she was Jewish anyway through her mother, does she need a new ketubah since the one she has says bas Avraham and giyorta? Would the answer be different if the ...
13
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to explain to friends/family that one will not attend an intermarriage
Suppose a friend or family member becomes engaged to a non-Jew. For the sake of this question, also assume that a trusted rabbi has been consulted and he has ruled (after considering any relevant ...
13
votes
1
answer
348
views
Are there any specific minhagim to celebrate Purim as a family?
וְהַיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֠לֶּה נִזְכָּרִ֨ים וְנַֽעֲשִׂ֝ים בְּכָל־דּ֣וֹר וָד֗וֹר מִשְׁפָּחָה֙ וּמִשְׁפָּחָ֔ה מְדִינָ֥ה וּמְדִינָ֭ה וְעִיר וָעִיר וִימֵ֞י הַפּוּרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה לֹ֤א יַֽעַבְרוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ ...
13
votes
1
answer
312
views
Does a child own what he's implicitly given by his parents?
I assume that when a parent owns an object and a child uses it, it remains the property of the parent's absent any intent/declaration on the parent's part to grant it to the child (and absent an act ...
12
votes
6
answers
8k
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Are two biological brothers allowed to marry two biological sisters?
Are two biological brothers allowed to marry two biological sisters? Are there any halachically issues involved with such a marriage? I do recall hearing something about it but not sure what it was.
12
votes
1
answer
3k
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Drinking cold kosher beverages in a non-Jewish relative's house
Let's say you're staying at a non-Jewish relative's house. He bought you kosher food because he knows you keep kosher. He buys you a drink such as milk. You see him pour the drink for himself into his ...
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why is Haman called an Agagite and not an Amalekite?
In Megillas Esther 3:1 Haman is called the Agagite which I always assumed meant he was a descendant of Agag the king of the Amalekite in 1 Shmuel 15:8. His lineage is confirmed in Megillah 13a as ...
12
votes
1
answer
405
views
How to call up a ger who converted with his father?
In general a Ger is called up as [name] Ben Avraham. However, what if the Ger converted as a child together with his parents? I would think it is the same but I recently saw someone who is in that ...
12
votes
2
answers
630
views
Yichud at night, if both of the woman's parents are home
Is it permissible for a man to be at a woman's home at night if both of her parents are at home, but sleeping? What if they are awake?
11
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Nudity at home?
I have read that Hashem hates public nudity, but what is the Jewish position on nudity at home in front of other family members?
Obviously, the short answer is bad, don't do it. Modesty is a ...
11
votes
1
answer
107k
views
How many children did King Solomon have?
King Solomon [1 Kings 11 (4)] “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines;”
How many children did he have? Three. The question is referred to at http://wiki.answers.com/Q/...
11
votes
1
answer
199
views
Why were מִישָׁאֵל and אֶלְצָפָן chosen to remove Nadav and Avihu?
There were many other people who could have been chosen to remove the dead bodies of Nadav and Avihu from the Mishkan (Vayikra 10:4). Why were מִישָׁאֵל and אֶלְצָפָן chosen for this task as opposed ...
11
votes
3
answers
796
views
In regards to Torah and Rabbinical writings, how does "honor your father and mother" work when you've been raised in an abusive household?
This is a question I have always had a hard time getting an answer for and I was hoping somebody would be able to explain it.
Honoring your parents is one of the most basic mitzvah in all of Judaism....
11
votes
1
answer
327
views
Naming after someone with added names
If someone R'L is sick at some point in their life and a name such as Refael is added should that name be included as well if one is naming their child after that person?
Additional Question: ...
11
votes
1
answer
826
views
BT emailing non-observant family on Friday afternoon
A given person is Shabbat-observant; his/her immediate and extended family is not.
May this individual write an email to his/her family (who live in Israel) when it is before Shabbat (where s/he ...
10
votes
1
answer
490
views
Who was the mother of Avraham's daughter?
According to one opinion in the Gemarah (Bava Basra 16b, also 141a), when it says Avraham was blessed with everything (Bereishit 24:1) it means that he had a daughter. Who was her mother?
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can a mother undress in front of her daughter?
Can a married woman with children undress in front of her daughter to try on clothes assuming she would be in undergarments?
10
votes
1
answer
908
views
Who should walk the Chosson and Kallah to the Chupa?
At the Chuppah in some weddings I've been to, the father and father-in-law escort the Chosson and the mother and mother-in-law escort the Kallah. In others, the mother and fathers each escort their ...
10
votes
1
answer
334
views
How much contact did Avraham and Yitzchak have after the akeidah?
The akeidah was a traumatic event for both Avraham and Yitzchak. Immediately after they appear to go their separate ways. After Sarah's death Avraham arranges a marriage for his son, which could ...
10
votes
1
answer
310
views
Father being Matir Neder for himself: does it affect the family?
If a father is Matir Neder on a minhag (gebroktz, let's say) for himself for a valid reason, does that include his whole family? Are they now also permitted to eat gebroktz because that is now the ...
10
votes
2
answers
394
views
Do the parents of a convert merit in the afterlife for their child's decision?
When my child was little, she wanted to know whether my parents, who are not Jewish, would go to Heaven. I explained to her that the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come. But ...
9
votes
1
answer
149
views
What is the genealogy of Judah ben Bava?
Is Judah ben Bava, noted for continuing the tradition of ordination, the son of Bava ben Buta, the Rabbi who was spared by Herod?
9
votes
1
answer
798
views
Can a convert mourn for their Jewish parents?
Consider someone who was born to a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother who then converted to Judaism with his mother. It seems pashut from the Shulchan Aruch that one who converts is considered a "...
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Did Avraham Avinu really have a daughter named Bakol?
I heard that Avraham Avinu had a daughter named Bakol. But in the Biblical narrative, there is no mention of a daughter to Avraham, only a son, Yitzchak, whom we all know well.
Did Avraham really ...
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Halachically, must a Jewish convert sever ties with his non-Jewish family?
It has been said that a convert must avoid aspects, or relics of their non-Jewish life, from before conversion. I have heard some rabbis say, all ties to genetic family are severed with conversion. ...
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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Saying loshon hara to a spouse or close relative
Are there any relationships within which loshon hara is permitted? I guess I mean loshon hara that is said for a purpose--but perhaps not purposes which would meet the strict halachic criteria for ...
8
votes
2
answers
4k
views
At what age does negiah start applying for non-immediate family?
Wikipedia's article "Negiah" begins:
The term negiah (Hebrew: נגיעה), literally "touch," is the concept in Halakha that forbids or restricts physical contact with a member of the opposite sex (...