Relations with non-Jews, and laws regarding them.
5
votes
2answers
162 views
Jews vs gentiles: disputes
Recently I got a pleasureful reading of the Ramban's dispute.
I think it a great source for "דע מה להשיב" (know what to answer to heretics).
I'm sure there were similar disputes by other great ...
5
votes
2answers
181 views
Tznius and B'not Noach
To what extent do the standards of tznius apply to non-Jews living among Jews? For example, is a married Noachide woman's hair considered ervah? If not, why not?
I know that rules concerning tznius ...
23
votes
3answers
2k views
Should one ask a non-Jew attending synagogue to wear a yarmulke?
It says in Divrei HaRav (by R. Hershel Schachter, p143) that when they asked R. Aharon Kotler whether a non-Jewish secular studies teacher in a yeshiva should be asked to wear a yarmulke, he said he ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Bishul Akum: now what?
What is the kashrus status of a pot if the food cooked in it was Kosher, but cooked by Non Jew? Is the pot kosher or not?
8
votes
2answers
133 views
Were the eirev rav Jewish?
Were the eirev rav Jewish? If they were in fact Jewish why are they described by the term eirev rav instead of just referring to them as we would any other Jew? If they were not Jewish why were they ...
4
votes
1answer
225 views
Does God discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people?
I often wonder if God has a different attitude towards people who are not Jews. Why Jews are consisdered to be most favored nation? Does that mean that all other people are inferior to Jews? Wouldn't ...
6
votes
2answers
245 views
Why Do Converts Change Their Names?
Rabbi Avigdor Miller said that it used to be that gerim (converts) and baalei teshuvah (repentants) who had been given non-Jewish names did not change their names when they became part of the Jewish ...
11
votes
5answers
569 views
May one love a non-Jew?
May one love a non-Jew? Not romantically in the sense of marriage, but rather in the sense that one loves a friend or family. May a Jew love his Gentile father, for example? May a baal teshuvah ...
3
votes
0answers
85 views
Can a non Jew bake bread on Pesach for a Jew to use after Pesach?
In relation to Is it possible to have chometz on the shabbos directly after Pesach? Is there any problem if a non Jew bakes bread on Pesach (the Jew did not ask him and does not care if the non Jew ...
17
votes
5answers
567 views
How to respond to “but he does”
I mentioned to my coworker that I can't eat Domino's pizza, not even without meat, as it's not kosher. He pointed out in response that a fellow coworker of ours, whom I'll call Josh, and who is ...
4
votes
1answer
191 views
Mamzer from non-Jew
If a Jewess married to a Jew has a child from a non-Jew is that child a mamzer?
Is there agreement amongst the poskim about this?
0
votes
1answer
198 views
Entering a place where Gentiles and Jews Daven together from a Siddur
Would it be permitted to pray in a place where there are services that are mixed with Jews and gentiles? Meaning, a synagogue that also invites gentiles to pray with the Jews (but they all pray from a ...
2
votes
1answer
119 views
If someone had a family tradition that he came from an Edomite, would he be allowed to marry a Jew?
An Edomite cannot marry a Jew for three generations.
Nowadays (since the time of Sancheiriv, who mixed all nations together), this law no longer applies as we no longer know who is an Edomite. ...
7
votes
1answer
191 views
Should you greet a non-jew after washing netilat yadayim?
If you wash netilat yadayim and then a non-Jew says "hello" to you, should you:
say "hello" back and wash again?
try to acknowledge him without actually talking?
or ignore him (doesn't seem right)?
...
11
votes
3answers
191 views
Is it permissible for a Gentile to utter Hashem's Name?
I have seen a lot of mention about "Hashem's Name" on this website.
I would like to know:
Is it permissible for a Jew to tell a Gentile what Hashem's Name really is--what I am asking is, say, a ...
6
votes
1answer
130 views
Who are these “aliens” in Isaiah 56?
I was reading through this passage in Isaiah 56:
4 For thus saith the LORD concerning the eunuchs that keep My
sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and hold fast by My
covenant. 5 ...
17
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it a discouraged or an unacceptable practice for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath?
According to Jewish Law and tradition, is it acceptable, discouraged or totally unacceptable for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath according to the regulations spelled out in the Torah and the Talmud and ...
12
votes
3answers
930 views
How does someone not know they're Jewish?
In this answer, someone said they got offended when people wore crosses, especially if they didn't know they were Jewish. I'm just wondering how someone can not know what religion they follow?
11
votes
4answers
3k views
Would a non-Jew wearing the Star of David together with a cross be offensive?
I am not Jewish, although I come from a Jewish heritage. My great-grandmother was Jewish. I have, since childhood, found the religion fascinating, even though my belief in Jesus has firmly placed me ...
10
votes
2answers
248 views
How should a Jew deal with Anti Semitism?
Is there an standard way for a Jew to deal with the threat of hatred, particularly that which stems from a public forum such as a hate group? Do I:
Simply ignore it
Write to my local council/state ...
13
votes
4answers
397 views
Was Darius Jewish?
Darius the Second (the son of Queen Ester and Achashveirosh) was at first glance Jewish, as he was the son of a Jew. On the other hand,the Gemara Rosh Hashana implies that he wasn't Jewish.
What was ...
1
vote
0answers
81 views
How can I be frum in a non-Jewish work enviroment? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do you get non-Jews to treat you with some kind of tznius?
What can I say and how can I act to prevent the non-Jewish people in my company from automatically ...
6
votes
2answers
281 views
How do you get non-Jews to treat you with some kind of tznius?
I am an older unmarried frum Jewish woman. I work among non-Jews. I am sure other Jewish people work with non-Jews also. How do you make them respect that you do not follow their social behavior and ...
16
votes
6answers
622 views
First steps for someone considering conversion
I am 25 years old and I am truly interested in converting. I too also only believe in G-d. I live my life to certain rules that others I see aren't strong enough to live by. I want to know what I ...
6
votes
2answers
257 views
Shituf and Avodah Zara
While the various opinions about shituf have been discussed already.
Somewhat recently, however, I heard a Rav speak on the topic who seemed to take it for granted that shituf was only permitted when ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
Darchei Shalom in Halachah
Halachic Literature will, when relevant, promote certain permitted activities with respect to Gentiles because of "Darchei Shalom" (Ways of Peace).
Do we ever find situations where activities that ...
7
votes
4answers
297 views
How to tell someone about Shomer Negiah
As I'm sure that many of you have had to "break it" to a coworker or friend that you're Shomer Negiah, have you found a strategy or choice of words that seems most effective? As I wasn't raised frum ...
3
votes
2answers
208 views
Jeans as Hukot HaGoyim
Hukot HaGoyim in this case is something done specifically by gentiles and therefore it would be prohibited (see S"A Yoreh Deah 178). So my question is, would jeans fall under this category?
8
votes
6answers
803 views
How are Spartans the son of Abraham?
I was reading the Book of Maccabbees (I and II) over shabbat and in it there is a letter written to Sparta to ask for peace, goodwill and friendship.
In the reply letter back from Sparta, they affirm ...
9
votes
3answers
115 views
Why is המחזיר אבידה לכותי singled out?
The Gemara, Sanhedrin 76b, states that "one who returns a lost object to a כותי (or, per the marginal notes there, גוי) is censured by the Torah. Rashi there explains: "He is thereby equating the כותי ...
6
votes
2answers
203 views
Avodah Zarah in other religions
Picking up on some of the discussions recently, which religions are Avodah Zarah and why? How does that translate into our relationships with them?
6
votes
1answer
198 views
What are the relevant Halachot for participating in a “Secret Santa” at your location of employment?
Secret Santa is a form of communal gift giving, that I have seen being done at workplaces to foster closer ties to employees. It is generally done near the end of the secular year. While the wiki ...
11
votes
2answers
474 views
Giving gifts to non-Jews at Christmastime
Is it okay at Christmastime to give a gift to a boss or for kids to give gifts to teachers if they are not Jewish?
3
votes
2answers
65 views
How many factors did Esav need to prompt him to marry Machalas?
At the end of parashas Toldos (28:6-8), the pesukim indicate factors in Esav's decision to add Machalas, who was not a Canaanite, as a spouse:
א וַיִּקְרָא יִצְחָק אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ; ...
15
votes
1answer
146 views
Can a Noachide continue to believe in religious tenets that are against the Torah?
Say you have a Christian* or a Muslim (or a member of any other monotheistic religion) who accepts the Seven Noachide Laws, and (as per Mishneh Torah, Hil. Melachim 8:11) does so because he believes ...
2
votes
4answers
176 views
Is it idolatry to use the english word “God” to refer to Hashem?
Shabbos 67b says "Gad" (גד) was the name of an Amorite idol, and we shouldn't use it. Shouldn't this apply to the name "God" as well?
eg. "God forbid"
6
votes
3answers
109 views
Ben Noach Stealing less then a Perutah
The Medrash Rabbah בראשית ל''א ס''ק ה says that what the people of the Dor Hamabul did in order not to have to be punished by their courts is to steal less that a Prutah (minimal Monetary Value) which ...
5
votes
3answers
201 views
Of Rats and Hemorrhoids
The Plishtim or Philistines captured the Ahron Kodesh from the Jews (Shmuel I Chapter 5), then they returned it with a gift of golden rats and hemorrhoids as that was what they were punished with for ...
11
votes
4answers
219 views
Gentile owned and operated Kosher establishment
Are there any restrictions or limitations for a gentile owning and operating a kosher establishment? Are there any limitations or restrictions for Jews patronizing such an establishment?
12
votes
2answers
190 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
319 views
Why is this wine Yayin Nesech?
There is a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe where he writes a letter to a person whose brother said that not traveling on a Jewish owned ship is a "hard test" (which the person seemed to have failed).
...
-7
votes
1answer
924 views
Why do the Philistines have many Giants?
Were the Philistine giants bigger than the Israelites? Were giants common among the Israelites' neighbors? Did they have better nutrition? (Just curious.) Were the Israelites typically smaller in ...
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 ...
13
votes
1answer
290 views
Jews under Charlemagne
Jews under Charlemagne in the 8th century and the Carolingian emperors were accredited food providers in addition to providing wine for Christian mass. I am looking for halachic responses to these ...
3
votes
2answers
283 views
are homosexual relations forbidden by God? Why?
To my understanding, Bible says that God does not like homosexual relations. But why? Why did God punish and destroy inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? They were not Jewish and were not given the laws ...
9
votes
3answers
359 views
Asking non-Jews to pray for someone
Is it appropriate to ask non-Jews to pray on behalf of someone in dire straits (sick, wrongfully imprisoned, trapped, etc.)?
Edit: If it's appropriate, would it be inappropriate if the person being ...
16
votes
2answers
392 views
Is a Jew allowed to participate on Christianity.SE?
I was browsing meta.Christianity.SE recently when I noticed a question with a rather obvious (and good) answer that had not been posted. I was about to go ahead and answer it when I realized there ...
7
votes
1answer
240 views
Is abortion of a gentile child of a Jewish father permissible?
If a Jewish man were to father a child with a gentile would they be allowed to consider an abortion or would that be disallowed in the Halachic literature ?
17
votes
1answer
165 views
Scrolls on door frames - what are they called and what should I do?
I've moved into a new flat (apartment).
It has these small scrolls in containers on door frames outside and inside the apartment.
I am not Jewish.
I do want to be respectful of other people's ...
13
votes
5answers
583 views
Do gentiles have neshamot?
As I have seen here, some say that only Jews have a neshama, others say that all humans have one. There was a reference there only of the former opinion (Jews only), and I know from elsewhere that ...
