Relations with non-Jews, and laws regarding them.
4
votes
1answer
162 views
Is a male considered Jewish if his dad is Jewish and his mom is not jewish but the dad had his male child have a brit-millah
I have uncles and cousins who married non-Jewish women but had their boys have brit-millah when they were babies. Are they considered Jewish under orthodox Judaism?
4
votes
2answers
115 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
633 views
What makes something “chukat goyim?”
One of the most famous examples I have heard is that one should not even tie one's shoes like the non-Jews do in times of persecution. That seems rather excessive. What if the Jews started doing some ...
4
votes
2answers
59 views
May a man wear a wedding band?
Is there any halachic reason that a man may not wear a wedding band (ring)? Possible reasons to forbid it would include beged isha and chukas hagoyim.
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?
4
votes
3answers
296 views
Is there any problem with thanking a non-Jew by saying “God bless you?”
If your neighbor/coworker/etc. is a religious non-Jew and they do you a favor, is there a problem to say "thank you, God bless you?", assuming you think they'd appreciate hearing that?
4
votes
2answers
80 views
Selling Chometz to a young gentile
May the sell of chometz be done with a young gentile that in Judaism would be considered a "katan" in terms of halacha and therefore perhaps wouldn't be able to have his buying and selling be "valid" ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Not interlacing fingers in prayer
I have heard from an unauthoritative source that one should not interlace his fingers while praying, because, l'havdil, Christians do. Is there any authoritative source for the claim that it's ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Matanos L'evyonim to a non-Jew
I live in an area where b"H it is difficult to find Jewish poor. Can matanos l'evyonim be given to non-Jews, or must at least 2 of the poor people be Jewish?
4
votes
1answer
70 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?
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Can my non-Jewish co-worker bring me coffee from the corner cafe?
Assuming coffee is Kosher, would it be alright if my non-Jewish co-worker brings me coffee on a trip to the corner cafe? May I assume that the co-worker indeed purchased a Kosher item and has not ...
4
votes
1answer
154 views
Food cooked by a non-Jew not kosher?
Why is it that food cooked totally by a non-Jew - without the participation of a Jew - is not kosher?
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).
...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Aleinu L'Shabeach - Nusach HaTefila
The words "Sheheim Mishtachavim Li-Hevel Voryk Umispallelim El Eil Lo-Yoshiya" - Was this originally part of Aleinu and then removed, or was it added later to Aleinu? Why was this done?
4
votes
2answers
119 views
What food product was the Birkei Yosef discussing when he said Bishul Akum didn't apply?
If my non-Jewish neighbor cooks some rice and brings it to my house, I'm not allowed to eat it because of Bishul Akum (even if I know his ingredients and equipment are 100% vegan and grape-free). Too ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Is idolatrous belief forbidden for gentiles, or is it just practice?
Suppose a non-Jew believes that there are multiple gods, but he does not worship them in any way. Is this a violation of the prohibition against idolatry for gentiles?
4
votes
2answers
189 views
Bas Cohen having relations with a non-Jew
It says in SA YD Siman 305 that a Bas Cohen that has a bechor (firstborn) with a non-Jew there is chiyuv of pidyon haben since the Bas Cohen through having relations with the non-Jew she looses her ...
4
votes
2answers
146 views
Sitting shiva for non-Jewish relatives?
Should one sit shiva for a non-Jewish relative? Say your mother is Jewish and your father is not, and he dies.
4
votes
1answer
65 views
Is a non-Jew reliable for Sha'atnez?
Suppose someone is fabulously wealthy, and they have their own personal tailor who is not Jewish. May this tailor be relied upon not to make anything which contains Sha'atnez? May this tailor be ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
Are these Latin/Greek translations of Hebrew terms useful?
If you use the following Latin or Greek translations of Hebrew terms in conversation with secular people, do they tend to know what you're talking about? If so, in what contexts - a university ...
4
votes
0answers
69 views
Opened “please-take!” food items in a non-Jewish workplace
Is it alright to consume unsupervised food items at work that are open and available to anyone, assuming the items were initially known to be Kosher1 and there's no evidence of tampering?
Items that ...
4
votes
0answers
40 views
Loshon Hara against public Jewish and non-Jewish figures
Both American and Israeli politics, and of course those of other democracies, can include a lot of personal attacks, both true and untrue, including inuendo about possible adultery, gay or straight, ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
350 views
Does Judaism recognize other religions?
Does Judaism acknowledge that there are some other religions that come from G-d?
If yes, how? Which religions are that? Please give me some examples. And what are the reference for this claim?
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?
3
votes
3answers
245 views
Are there any national brands of tuna that are Bishul Yisroel?
Are there any national brands of tuna in the USA that are Bishul Yisroel?
3
votes
4answers
430 views
Non-Jews (Gentiles) in Olam Haba (Jewish Afterlife)?
Are there non-Jews in Olam Haba, either in Gehenom (Hell) or Gan Eden (Heaven)?
3
votes
2answers
285 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
418 views
are jews allowed to listen to music that is performed by non-jew?
i am machmir on only listening to music that was performed by a jew, but i dont really understand it. does anyone know what is the source for this? does matisyahu perform with only jews?
3
votes
3answers
418 views
Bad Jew or Good Gentile?
Whom does Hashem love more: Gentiles who love Jewish people and Israel or Jews who are against Jewish people and Israel?
3
votes
1answer
108 views
adoption and qualifying for being “officially” considered Jewish
My wife and I (no known Jewish heritage) are adopting an infant child. The child's birth-mother was herself adopted and raised as a Jew by Jewish parents. We do not know of any Jewish heritage ...
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; ...
3
votes
3answers
205 views
Modern nations and Umos Haolam
Where can I find a discussion about the roots of modern nations, in the Umos Haolam mentioned in the Torah and Chazal?
3
votes
2answers
734 views
Can a gentile go to Synagogue on Shabbat and what is forbidden on Shabbat for a gentile?
Is a gentile allowed to participate in Shabbat prayers in a Synagogue (of course he/she will not count for a minyan) if they do so in order to gain knowledge of Jewish customs for the purpose of ...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
Selling to a gentile on Yom Tov — Same by a Jew?
It says in SA OC Siman 497 Sif 17 that one may sell to a gentile on Yom Tov a treif animal (i.e. after this animal was slaughtered on Yom Tov permissibly it was found to be treif, non-kosher). The SA ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
May one sell challah to a gentile?
Consider the following scenario.
A person left his home in Eretz Yisrael to go to Chutz L'Aretz for Pesach. He remembered before the zman issur in Chutz L'Aretz that there was a piece of challah ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What are the parameters of Kiddush ha-shem?
Kiddush Hashem, the sanctification of the name of God, is often associated with choosing death rather than violating a core tenet of Judaism (this is known as dying "al kiddush Hashem"). However, more ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
How did the 2 spies which Yehoshua sent have authority to save Rachav and family
Devarim 20:16 reads:
טז. רַק מֵעָרֵי הָעַמִּים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ
נַחֲלָה לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה׃
However, of these peoples' cities, which the Lord, your God, ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
Bishul Akum Technology
Is there Bishul Akum when Using a Microwave being that it is not Cooking as it was in the times of CHAZAL?
3
votes
3answers
156 views
How can I avoid Bishul Akum with a rice-cooker?
ASSUMING:
I have a rice cooker here that's absolutely, certainly, never used for anything other than plain rice. The rice contains no flavorings, bugs, or anything else non-kosher.
Rice is raw ...
3
votes
3answers
157 views
Does amirah L'akum apply to robots?
Can you ask/instruct a robot on shabbos to perform melacha on your behalf? Would this fall under the same category as amirah l'akum?
3
votes
1answer
99 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?
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Being a fan of a Non-Jewish sports figure?
Is it a problem for a Jewish person to be a fan of a non-Jewish sports figure?
Since there is an issur of "lo sechonem" -- not to praise a gentile for his prowess or other attributes?
(I suppose ...
3
votes
0answers
30 views
Structure and relevance of Sefer Yeshaya
Was Yeshaya included in Tenach as all of it is relevant for all time? If so, what is the relevance of chapter 13-22 for example. Is there any evidence that his prophecies to the other nations ...
3
votes
0answers
74 views
How to respond to a non-Jew who asks to shovel your snow on shabbos?
If a non-Jew asks if he may shovel your snow on shabbos what is the proper halachic response? Does it make a difference if he is asking to do this for pay (not previously arranged before shabbos)?
3
votes
0answers
51 views
Selling land to Gentile to build Church
In YD Siman 151 it discusses the things that one is allowed and not allowed to sell to a gentile (for reasons that they might be used for Avodah Zara -- idol worship). I didn't see the following ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
