Relations with non-Jews, and laws regarding them.
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
584 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 ...
22
votes
6answers
2k views
Does the Torah discuss aliens?
Does the Torah discuss extra-terrestrial life and/or civilizations?
Do any Torah sources exist which discuss what these hypothetical beings would be like and their status/nature? (eg. Would they be ...
8
votes
4answers
318 views
Was Eisav Jewish?
Was Eisav Jewish? Eisav was born to the same father and mother as Yaakov. It may be possible to say that Yaakov was not Jewish either as it was before Matan Torah, however if Yaakov was Jewish, then ...
12
votes
6answers
346 views
Being a light to the nations - what does it mean?
I'm working on this as my project for a yeshiva program, and I'd like some input
What does the concept actually mean? It's only mentioned briefly in most of our scripture and commentary.
Are there ...
21
votes
3answers
480 views
Keeping Kosher at a secular company
How you do deal with keeping Kosher while working at a secular company? Its easy enough to bring my own lunch everyday, what I'm not sure how to handle are events like company lunches and other social ...
7
votes
1answer
155 views
Amon and Moav today
The Halacha is that a Jewish woman may not marry a convert of Amon and Moav. Is there any way to know who is a descendant of Amon and Moav today?
7
votes
2answers
237 views
How are we to understand Malchi-Tzedek, non-Jewish priest of God?
Malchi-Tzedek is a gentile priest who worships God. I initially read this as just saying God is not exclusive (it says somewhere in Nevi'im that God also has covenants with other peoples), but today ...
10
votes
3answers
374 views
Why do we say Shelo Asani Goy?
Why do we say in Birchas HaShachar Shelo Asani Goi - why do we not say SheAsani Yehudi or SheAsani Yisrael?
9
votes
1answer
205 views
Is modesty a positive or negative commandment?
Given that:
There are two types of Mitzvoth (commandments), 'Aseh and Lo Ta'aseh (positive and negative; ie., "Thou Shalt" and "Thou Shalt Not").
a. Positive commandments, with some exceptions can ...
8
votes
3answers
246 views
Referring to Non-Jews
What's the most diplomatic and politically correct way to refer to non-Jews. Both in conversation, and in terms of this site?
6
votes
3answers
159 views
“Purchasing” Something Free on Shabbos
Suppose someone has a coupon for a free [let's say, iced coffee] from a store. What are the problems with getting such an item from the store, on Shabbos (or Yom Tov)?
To boil it down to more general ...
9
votes
2answers
380 views
Is hamsa allowed?
Does the Halacha allow the use of a hamsa as a good luck charm, considering that it originated as a Muslim symbol?
21
votes
2answers
1k views
Forbidden actions and the role of non-Jews
The question I am to ask is related to personal experience I've had but can be easily broadened. I am really asking for the sake of broadening my knowledge, and I apologize if any part of my question ...
15
votes
5answers
1k views
Why is Judaism not Racism?
I am only asking this question to educate myself, not because I am anti-semitic or for any other hidden agenda. I do not what to turn this forum into an ugly place. I realize this question is ...
10
votes
3answers
226 views
Publicly Teaching Halacha
I was looking at this site and was a little bit surprised at this statement:
It is therefore forbidden for Jews to teach non-Jews Halachah
Is this true?
(See a related question on the Meta).
17
votes
4answers
855 views
Is it possible for a Gentile to convert to Judaism?
Is it possible for someone who is Gentile to convert to Judaism?
What is the prevailing belief of Jewish people on this subject?
What scripture backs up this belief?
What do prominent Jewish ...
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?
7
votes
4answers
336 views
Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism
I have found that the first thing to do when you want to learn something about a subject, is to start with the idea that you know absolutely nothing. I understand, for example, that Judaism has ...
14
votes
7answers
361 views
why half-believe the Torah?
(I'm not sure this is on-topic, and feel free to close it if it's not, of course.)
I understand some who study the Bible claim natural reasons for things we recognize as miracles, from the plagues of ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Chometz Gezel Akum
The Gemara in Pesachim (ה:) says if you are holding Chometz for a gentile and Pesach comes you have to burn it. How is it possible to say that: it is Gezel Akum and even if you pay him back you ...
4
votes
4answers
411 views
Matrilineal Descent
I have heard that matrilineal descent (i.e. having Judaism passed down through the mother) comes from the Roman period when women were raped by Roman soldiers and the babies were then said to be ...
4
votes
2answers
137 views
Shakespeare in Classic Jewish Sources
Does anyone know of any references to Shakespeare, translations of his works, or anything related to Shakespeare in classic Rabbinic sources?
10
votes
4answers
303 views
what are the limits of “mesira”?
It seems that most people have an idea that you cannot report a Jew to the non-Jewish authorities (police, government, etc) except for extreme circumstances (imminent danger, abuse, etc). However, ...
14
votes
7answers
669 views
Phrasing of refuah prayer when praying for a non-Jew
How would you phrase a refuah (recovery from illness) tefillah (prayer) for a sick gentile?
"Thomas ben [=son of] Mary"?
"Thomas Smith"?
Is it appropriate to include the name during the ...
4
votes
4answers
528 views
Are Europeans Edomites?
I had always thought that Europeans descended from Yafet, not Shem, and certainly not Shem, Avraham and Yitzhak. I am aware that it was common in the past to equate Rome with Edom, but I always ...
11
votes
8answers
1k views
If Christianity is avodah zarah and Islam is not, why has the Christian world triumphed over the non-Christian, and why do Jews prefer to live among Christians and not Muslims?
The Rambam quite clearly considered Christianity to be avodah zarah. He did not feel the same way about Islam, however, going so far as to condone praying within a mosque, and many Orthodox Jewish ...
9
votes
5answers
431 views
Sources For Listening To/Not Listening to Non-Jewish Music
What are sources for it being allowed to listen to non-Jewish music and sources for it being prohibited?
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?
2
votes
3answers
128 views
Why offer the Nations mitzvos from the Torah that are already in the Noahide Laws?
When Hashem went around offering the Torah to the other nations each asked what is written therein to each nation He told them of the commandment representing their weak point or vice, hence they ...
9
votes
2answers
214 views
Deliveries on Shabbos
This is a two-part question:
What do you do if while you are at home during Shabbos, someone knocks at your door, and when you open it a delivery person (UPS/FedEx/USPS/DHL etc.) hands you a package ...
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?
11
votes
5answers
452 views
Nittle Nacht Meaning
What is Nittle Nacht?
What does the name mean?
What is its significance?
Which Halachic authorities speak about it, and what do they say?
What is the actual date for it?
How is it effected this ...
11
votes
1answer
384 views
Can a Christian “Grace” invalidate food?
Suppose there's a communal meal in a secular workplace, at which some of the food is reliably kosher. Now suppose that right before anyone takes any food, one of the participants, to general assent, ...
8
votes
3answers
223 views
Explaining non-Jewish holidays to children?
How should one explain non-Jewish holidays and churches to young children?
4
votes
3answers
295 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?
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
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?
16
votes
2answers
285 views
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
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
174 views
What's the role of the state in halacha's recognition of marriage for Bnai Noach (non-Jews)?
If I understand correctly (I think this was in R' Aaron Lichtenstein's book on the Seven Noahide Laws), halacha recognizes a marriage between a non-Jewish man and woman if they've gone through ...
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 ...
6
votes
10answers
417 views
Jewish tunes similar to non-Jewish ones
What are some examples of a traditional Jewish song that bears a strong similarity to a non-Jewish melody?
(I am wording this question carefully to exclude recent Jewish take-offs of secular music; ...
5
votes
1answer
139 views
Must a flambé be ignited by a Jew to remain kosher?
Because of the halacha of Bishul Akum (or Bishul Yisrael, call it what you will), even if a food's ingredients are all kosher, it needs to have a Jew involved in the cooking process for it to be ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Can you drink a beer (such as Miller or Budweiser) at a bar?
Can you buy and drink a beer (such as Miller or Budweiser) at a bar owned by non-Jews?
13
votes
2answers
895 views
Mikvah - Non Jewish Husband
Can a woman use a Mikvah if her Husband is not Jewish (She is currently on the road to becoming a BT)
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?
9
votes
2answers
189 views
Why do we say that Hashem chose us if He offered to the Torah to all the other nations first?
According to Midrash Sifri (Deuteronomy 343), Hashem first went around to all the nations and offered them the Torah before offering it to Bnei Yisroel. So why do we say in Kiddush and Birchas ...
6
votes
2answers
254 views
Teaching Written Torah to Christians
There is an idea mentioned by the Rambam, but not in the Mishneh Torah as I recall, that it is permissible to teach Wrtitten Torah to Christians because they accept it as Divine and don't study it in ...
