Relations with non-Jews, and laws regarding them.
4
votes
1answer
94 views
What are the ways of the Amorites?
When we are told not to go in the ways of the Amorites (Shabbat 67a, Yerushalmi Shabbat 6:9), However the practices enumerated there do not seem to be specific to the Amorite people. Were there other ...
2
votes
4answers
474 views
Teachings of Chabad (Lubavitch) - controversial or not?
I have been reading about Chabad Lubavitch and, since I have started to be in contact with a local group, I am in doubt about the Chabad messianism (belief of some adherents about the last Rebbe).
...
2
votes
4answers
135 views
Why do we read Yona on Yom Kippur?
Why do we read Yona of all things on Yom Kippur? There are better tales of teshuvah that are more relevant to klall yisroel; why was this sefer, which deals exclusively with non-Jews doing teshuva, ...
6
votes
1answer
100 views
Why does Hashem send Yona to tell non-Jews to do teshuva?
Sefer Yona 1:2 Why does Hashem send Yona to tell non-Jews to do teshuva (repentance)? I don't believe this was ever done before or since.
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Mezuzot for shared apartment
For someone sharing an apartment with a non-Jew, do the common doors in the apartment need a mezuzah? Does the Jewish person's bedroom even need one if the apartment is shared with a non-Jew?
9
votes
2answers
282 views
Is it permitted for a Ben-Noach be an atheist?
Avoda zarah is one of the things prohibited by the Seven Noachide Laws. But what about atheism? I know that the 7 Laws are often taken to include a larger number of halachot from the Torah, so would ...
5
votes
2answers
145 views
Can a Ben-Noach practice another religion?
Could a Ben-Noach actively practice a religion other than Judaism as long as it isn't considered avoda zara? Suppose, for example, he was born Muslim. Could he continue to actively follow Islam and ...
2
votes
4answers
292 views
What is the source of hatred perceived by Jews in different parts of the world?
I don't know if this is off topic but a similar question is here at Christianity SE and I thought it would be interesting to ask the corresponding one here.
It intrigues me how people from other ...
12
votes
2answers
151 views
Why isn't Peru URvu one of the 7 Noahide Laws?
The commandment to "Be fruitful and multiply" was given to Adam HaRishon. Why, then, is this not included in the Sheva' Mitzvoth Bnei Noaḥ?
0
votes
1answer
117 views
Non-kosher, non-Jewish-run, Sushi Restaurants
Is the food served at a non-kosher, non-Jewish run sushi restaurant considered non-kosher because of the non-kosher-ness of the knives, the bishul akum of the rice, or both?
2
votes
3answers
188 views
What is a Gentile to do? Ie. What would you do if you were not born Jewish? [closed]
Short form: I happen to not be one of the chosen ones. If you were in that situation what would you do or feel? What is a Gentile to do?
Long form: I have been reading and studying a lot about ...
11
votes
4answers
212 views
Why do we still use the non-Jewish way of delineating chapters in tanach?
The "perakim" (chapters) of tanach were established by non-Jews. Why do we continue to use them? Many of the chapter breaks do not correspond to our petucha/setumah paragraph system, and they often ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Da' Mah LeHashiv vs. teaching Torah to non-Jews
Is the paradigm of Da' Mah LeHashiv limited to heretical Jews, and that of the restriction on teaching Torah to non-Jews limited only to non-Jews (excluding heretical Jews), such that there is never ...
8
votes
2answers
234 views
Can a Mezuzah be given to a respectable and trustworthy non-Jew?
Would it be permissible to give a Mezuzah to a non-Jew if he is honorable and can reasonably be trusted to treat it with great care such as a dignitary or a collector of cultural artifacts?
6
votes
1answer
292 views
Is wine left in a bottle poured by non-Jews really permitted*?
I could be wrong, but my reading of the Nosei Keilim (Y"D 125:1) indicates to me that if a non-Jew pours a bottle of wine, the remaining wine is totally fine, or at least ok if there is some loss ...
3
votes
0answers
100 views
Why is wine poured by a non-Jew forbidden?
The S"A 125:1 (YD) states that a non-Jew pouring non-Mevushal wine makes (at least) that wine unfit, but other than citing earlier authorities (maybe, I can't figure that part out) he doesn't give a ...
12
votes
2answers
467 views
Can a non-Jew don tefillin?
May a non-Jew or a person who is in the conversion process don tefillin? If not, what are the reasons that they cannot?
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Formulation of name(s) when praying for non-Jews
When praying for non-Jews, how should one formulate the name of the sick individual if he or she as a Hebrew-derived (vernacular) name? Eg., Jack ben Rebecca vs. Ya'akov ben Rivkah?
7
votes
1answer
132 views
Transfer of loan / mortgage from non-Jew to Jew
What happens if a Jew borrows money on interest from a non-Jew, and then the lender turns around and sells the debt to a Jew? (Such transactions are very common in the mortgage industry.) Is it ...
9
votes
2answers
283 views
Was Judaism ever a proselytizing religion?
It is often asserted that up until the time of Constantine or so, Judaism was an actively proselytizing religion. This can be contrasted with the common practice today of rejecting potential converts ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
Midrashim concerning Balaam?
Where can I find Midrashim about Balaam the Gentile Prophet, who appears in this week's Torah Portion?
12
votes
1answer
173 views
Non-Jews Tending to Abandoned Cemeteries
Those of you who may have read my profile know that I have been reading and transcribing information on tombstones in towns in the Spis Region of Slovakia, in which no Jews remain. My colleague is ...
1
vote
1answer
133 views
What is the status of a library loan?
When you borrow something from the (secular) library does it follow the same halacha as a loan from one Jew to another?
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Should you show preference to a Jew/ Jewish establishment? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Purchasing from a Jew
If you have the opportunity to do business or make purchases with either a non-Jew or a Jew equally is there any reason to prefer the Jew over the ...
7
votes
4answers
343 views
Are non-Jews/gentiles permanent slaves to Jews in Olam Habah?
Are non-Jews permanent slaves to Jews in the world to come? I'll post the source text once I find it, or if someone can edit this and post the source for me. I believe it's in the Talmud, but not sure ...
11
votes
1answer
127 views
Was Og responsible to follow the commandments for B'nei Noach?
The Midrash relates that Og, later to become King of Bashan, survived the flood in the generation of Noach (Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer, 23). Was he responsible for following the seven commandments despite ...
3
votes
0answers
130 views
Selling a house to a non Jew
Notwithstanding anti discrimination laws which may disallow a seller to only sell to other Jews exclusively. Suppose a Jewish fellow - living outside of Eretz Yisroel - lives on a block which is ...
5
votes
0answers
54 views
Was Naaman tamei from tzaraas?
In Melachim Bet 5:10 we read:
וַיִּשְׁלַח אֵלָיו אֱלִישָׁע, מַלְאָךְ לֵאמֹר: הָלוֹךְ, וְרָחַצְתָּ שֶׁבַע-פְּעָמִים בַּיַּרְדֵּן, וְיָשֹׁב בְּשָׂרְךָ לְךָ וּטְהָר.
And Elisha sent a ...
7
votes
2answers
178 views
Are there any hechshers that certify food as kosher for B'nei Noach?
Are there any hechshers that certify food as kosher for B'nei Noach? Or any restaurants that offer such food? If not, how do observant B'nei Noach ensure that the meat that they eat was definitely not ...
7
votes
1answer
114 views
Milk and 'Ever Min HaḤai
This article at the end mentions a famous Halachic distinction made between the prohibition of 'Ever Min HaḤai as it pertains to Jews vs gentiles. For gentiles 'Ever Min HaḤai doesn't apply to milk, ...
12
votes
1answer
172 views
Who knows science?
On whom does one recite the blessing "ברכת שנתן מחכמתו לבשר ודם" (the blessing recited on non-Jewish scientists)?
Does he have to be a Ph.D? Does he have to have inventions to his name?
Did he have ...
11
votes
4answers
597 views
Non-Jews and kosher wine
As a non-Jew, undergoing the conversion process, I am very careful regarding the Torah, rabbinic, and cultural laws. However, some times it seems to me that some laws are not compatible for converts.
...
-1
votes
3answers
128 views
Would Israel's sibling nation do Yibbum?
If Klal Yisrael would all die, ch"v, then would Edom become obligated in Tora uMitzvot because of Yibbum? (because Jacob's/Israel's brother is Esav, Edom.) Or would chalitzah happen because no other ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Are the airuv rav compared to tza'ras?
Looking for a source in chazal that compare the airuv rav to tza'ras.
I have vague recollection of learning something to this effect once and it would make a killer addition to my Shavuos dvar ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Would a gentile child that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech?
Would a gentile child - under the age of 13/12 - that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech? Or can only an adult make it into Yayin Nesech?
15
votes
1answer
348 views
Do Jews need to care about non-jewish homosexuality?
Since there is currently no way and/or need for Jews to administer capital punishment to gentiles who violate the 7 noahide laws, is there any halachic reason for a Jew to care whether or not a ...
9
votes
2answers
153 views
What are the 30 Mitzvot for Bnei Noach?
What are the 30 Mitzvot (Commandments) that Bnei Noach have accepted (based on Hullin 92a)?
שלשים מצות שקבלו עליהם בני נח.
Thirty commandments which Bnei Noach accepted upon themselves.
5
votes
1answer
151 views
Imagine a non-Jewish hostel has a male and a female dorm. Does yichud allow me to sleep in the male dorm?
I'm male. Imagine I arrive at a youth hostel where I'm the only Jew. There's a male-only dorm room; down the hallway, there's also a female-only dorm room. Assume that all the doors are unlocked. ...
6
votes
2answers
158 views
What is Zimri's sin?
Note: This is Zimri that was speared by Phinehas for sleeping with a foreigner.
Wikipedia says that he committed idolatry. However, the Bible only mentions that he slept with a foreign woman. Nothing ...
3
votes
1answer
245 views
In a non-Jewish youth hostel, is it problematic to stay in a mixed-gender dorm instead of a male-only one?
I'm male. Say I stay in a non-Jewish youth hostel dorm room which is mixed-gender instead of male-only. Might I encounter yichud problems? Might I encounter any other halachic problems? What's your ...
4
votes
1answer
336 views
Being a houseguest in a non-frum or non-Jewish home
I'm Jewish, so I have to keep many laws in mind. Kashrut, tefillin, yichud, kol isha, and more.
When staying as a houseguest in a non-frum or non-Jewish home, what are some of the issues I might ...
1
vote
2answers
641 views
Why usury or interest on loan is illegal within Jews and legal for non-Jews [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are we allowed to charge interest or not?
Any action or deed which is not considered ethical for ourselves, should also apply on others as well. Also throughout the ...
4
votes
2answers
114 views
Do non-Jews inherit?
Inspired by this question.
If a non-Jew dies, do his children (or other inheritors) automatically assume possession of his properties (karka), loose items (metaltelin), and debts the way Jewish ...
11
votes
3answers
200 views
What happens if the non-Jew the chometz was sold to dies?
I can't imagine it has never come up before:
Someone sells their chometz before Pesach to a non-Jew. On Pesach the non-Jew dies. What happens now?
8
votes
4answers
191 views
Seven Mitzvot of Benei Noach without Na'aseh veNishma
Why are Benei Noach obligated in their Seven Mitzvot if they never said Na'aseh veNishma?
7
votes
1answer
200 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
114 views
How to explain Matzah Shemurah in 18 minutes
(Not to be confused with this question)
How can one explain Matzah to a curious colleague in under 18 minutes?
So far I have been asked:
Why does it need to be extra watched? (I've shown her Sh. ...
6
votes
1answer
90 views
Yeshivat Sheim v'Eiver
Assuming that our patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob spent time learning in the House of Study of Sheim v'Eiver, the descendents of Noach, what were they learning? The seven commandments of the ...
9
votes
2answers
150 views
Are these two urban legends about perceptions of God's help for Jews true?
The following story is told as an urban legend:
I don't know if the following story is true, but I'll let you decide. Kenya's star soccer player used to offer a prayer for victory before every ...
9
votes
2answers
171 views
Lifnei 'Iver and your maybe-Jewish co-worker
I work in an office in which someone working down the hall is disabled. She has a Jewish sounding last name and talks to me about her family's practices in regard to being members of a Reform temple ...
