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Why is elevation not factored into zmanim in places like New York?
As you might already know, zmanim (for Shabbos, etc.) are determined by a number of factors, one being the elevation of the particular locale. But for some reason, if you check the charts and ...
9
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4answers
286 views
Why wasn't the Torah given in Israel?
One might naturally expect that the Jewish people would enter the land and then receive the Torah there. It seems logical to me that the Torah should come from a holy place characterized by the ...
7
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3answers
116 views
Why was the torah given on a mountain?
I have seen many divrei torah about the fact that Har Sinai was not the tallest mountain (based on Sota 5a) and the importance of humility in acquiring torah. But, why was the torah given on a ...
5
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1answer
71 views
Why don't islands read the m'gila two days?
Bavli, M'gila 5 amud 2, cites a doubt as to when the m'gila is read in T'verya: on the fourteenth of Adar, as in most places, or on the fifteenth, as in a city walled since the time of Y'hoshua. The ...
5
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1answer
84 views
Is the term Cushite used to refer to people of African descent?
While reading the book of Numbers (I am a Christian, I don't know if it is referred to something else in Judaism), I came across the passage (Numbers 12:1-15) where Miriam and Aaron were speaking ...
4
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1answer
25 views
Southern Birkas Ha'ilanos
I've seen Saying Mashiv HaRuach in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, is Birkas Ha'ilanos (ברכת האילנות) said in Tishrei in the southern hemisphere? That's when the trees bloom.
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1answer
80 views
What are the oldest interpretations of Deuteronomy 33:2?
This verse in Torah sounds highly cryptic and it seems that a message is conveyed in it:
And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and ...
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30 views
Geographic size of an Eruv
Inspired by Is Juneau, Alaska -- surrounded by natural barriers -- a natural eruv
Is there a maximum square mile or square kilometer area that may be enclosed by an Eruv? (sources)
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37 views
Is Juneau, Alaska — surrounded by natural barriers — a natural eruv
I recently visited Juneau, Alaska. It is a small city of 35,000. The city limits are quite large, however -- 3,225 square miles -- but much of this area is separated from downtown Juneau on Douglas ...
3
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2answers
90 views
What route did Bnei Yisrael take through the Midbar? Seeking sources
The question of which route the Israelites took from Egypt to the Holy Land has been asked for centuries and discussed by pseudo-historians and pop-sci documentarians in the History Channel age, and ...
2
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1answer
74 views
Why did the Baba Sali leave Yavneh?
I remember hearing that the Baba Sali very suddenly decided to move away from Yavneh.
Does anyone know the story of what exactly occurred?
5
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1answer
178 views
What are some understandings as to how animals populated different continents after the flood?
What are some understandings as to how animals populated different continents after the flood? Did some species of animals survive the flood? Or are we to understand that the flood only affected the ...
3
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1answer
99 views
Is visiting Antarctica permitted for a Jew?
Antarctica can have very short days or very short nights. As discussed elsewhere on this site, finding the right time to pray can be difficult. Is it permissible to visit places like this?
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0answers
23 views
What if anything was the correspondence between mishmarim of kohanim and cities?
There were twenty-four watches (mishmarim) of kohanim. Each worked for a week, from Shabas to Shabas, and then the cycle repeated itself. (Rambam, K'le Hamikdash 4.)
There were forty-eight cities in ...
3
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1answer
48 views
“פְּנִיאֵל” and “פְּנוּאֵל”
Is the פְּנִיאֵל of BeReishis 32:31 the same as the פְּנוּאֵל of 32:32? If so, why the change in term used to refer to it? If not, is there a story behind the two places with such similar names?
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1answer
60 views
Where is the city of Ninveh?
Ninveh is mentioned in the book of Yona that is read on Yom Kippur. Where is Ninveh?
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0answers
22 views
Shemonei Esrei regarding the seasons in Divine Might
Every time I pray the Amidah, I get very hesitant regarding what season is appropriate for me to pray. I live in the southern hemisphere in a tropical climate. Therefore, we have one season dry and ...
11
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2answers
209 views
May one walk under the Arch of Titus?
I have heard that it is prohibited (or at least that the custom is not) to walk under the Arch of Titus in Rome. Is this accurate? If so, what is the source? Would it make a difference if a large ...
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0answers
61 views
42 camps and 42 non-refuge Levite cities (Masei)
What is the significance of the numerical correspondence between the 42 camps or waypoints mentioned in the recounting of the forty years of wandering (Bamidbar 33) and the fact that 42 of the 48 ...
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0answers
59 views
Sheidim after the Baal Shem Tov
According to the Minchas Elazar, the Baal Shem Tov evicted the Sheidim from where humans live. Does that mean that they are still located in the wilderness areas and one must be "choshesh" for them ...
5
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2answers
143 views
Were the Cities of Refuge ever built?
Are there any sources saying that the ערי מקלט were really built? I heard once that it was too hard to built the all the roads to them so they were never actually constructed. I know in Yehoshua ...
5
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0answers
84 views
Late sunset times and Jewish observance
This question is distinct from other questions which ask how and when to begin Shabbat, etc. when there is no sunset. I am asking about places in which sunset occurs very late during certain times of ...
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1answer
203 views
Is all-night Shavu'ot learning as prevelant in the Southern Hemisphere?
In the Northern Hemisphere, Shavu'ot falls in the late Spring or early Summer. As a result, sunrise is relatively early, so learning "all night" and then praying the morning service at the earliest ...
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0answers
100 views
Where did the Jews send the goat “for Azazel” while in the desert?
Rashi (Vayikra 16:8) says:
Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” ...
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50 views
Shkiya/Netz behind a mountain [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Commencing Shabbos
If one is located behind a mountain, what time is Shkiya or Tzeis?
Is it when the sun sets below the "calculated" horizon (when the sun should set ...
11
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1answer
93 views
Facing Yerushalaim during Kaddish
Must one face Yerushlaim (or the Hechal) when reciting Kaddish,the way one should for Amida? This seems to be generally practiced; does it have a source in the Shulchan Aruch or achronim or is it a ...
5
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1answer
66 views
Halachic sources on business ethics in a globalized industry?
The usual rule in halachah, as far as business dealings, is הכל כמנהג המדינה - everything follows the local custom. This applies to things like expected product quality (Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat ...
6
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2answers
102 views
Walled cities for Purim other than Jerusalem
The holiday of Purim is unique in that some locations celebrate it on different days. The rule is: if the city was walled at the time of Joshua's conquest of the Land of Israel then they celebrate on ...
5
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2answers
183 views
What's the history of Hekhalot/Heichalot/Heikhalot literature?
There is a field of study, which focuses on the Hekhalot literature. However, the internet gives conflicting information about them.
For example, some state that they were written by the early ...
6
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1answer
86 views
Walled from the times of Joshua: Why Joshua?
The Halacha is that those who live in a city that was walled in the times of Yehoshuah reads on a different day. The question is why from Yehoshuah (Joshua) when the commentaries explain it they speak ...
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1answer
195 views
Are there any Synagogues or Rabbis available in Pakistan?
There was once a very thriving Jewish community available in Pakistan. There was a Synagogue in the port city of Karachi as well till 1985.
What is the current situation now? What if someone would ...
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1answer
63 views
Why be happy Shushan Purim?
Rama (695:2) quotes from the Maharil (though I don't see it there):
וחייב במשתה ושמחה קצת בב׳ ימים י״ד וט״ו
and one must have a drinking party and joy, a little, on two days: the fourteenth and ...
4
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1answer
262 views
Hebrew Havarah?
Similar to this question
Different parts of Eastern Europe had different dialects.
For example, Ukrainian, Polish and Hungarian Jews pronounce a "Shuruk" as a EE, or a Komatz as an oo (so Boruch ...
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0answers
129 views
The size/shape of biblical Israel
Based on this Tosafot in Bava Metzia 28a (D"H Chamisha Asar Yom), Eretz Israel is a square (400 sq. Parsah), and the distance between Jerusalem and the Jordan river is 1/39th the distance between ...
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1answer
59 views
Archeological finds related to King Hezekiah's closing a wellspring under Jerusalem?
The Gemara says that King Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) closed one of the springs of water in (under?) Jerusalem, so the Assyrian army wouldn't be able to use it.
Do we have any guesses what exactly that ...
7
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1answer
86 views
From where do the maps of Kriyas Yam Suf come?
I have seen many maps showing where the Jews crossed "Yam Suf" (Usually translated as the Red Sea).
Then they show where the Jews traveled, where is Mt. Sinai, where did the Jews encamp, etc.
Where ...
4
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0answers
89 views
On a boat in the Arctic Circle [closed]
I and my wife will be spending Shabbat Hagadol (this year the 31st of March) on a ship. The evening before the ship will be leaving one of the more northern ports of Norway, and navigating through ...
9
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1answer
90 views
Bes El or Bes Kel?
There is at least one city mentioned in Tanach named Bes El, written as two words; that name currently belongs to a city in Israel and a number of synagogues and Reform temples. Does that "El" have ...
6
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4answers
154 views
What defines a “Jewish State” according to Rav Kook?
This question is only According to the opinion of R' Kook, who says that modern day Israel "would be considered the
quasi-Kingdom of Israel".
What component of the modern-day state would give it ...
8
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1answer
282 views
Four Holy Cities
I have often seen reference to the Four Holy Cities: Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias. What is the earliest source to reference this? Why these four cities? Has there ever been a different count? ...
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3answers
2k views
Implications of Samoa skipping a Friday
This week, the island of Samoa is switching time zones, causing it to skip from Thursday directly to Saturday. Out of simple curiosity, what implications might this have on any Jews on the island? ...
4
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3answers
170 views
Techelet from the Kineret
Is the Murex trunculus (used by Ptil Tekhelet) found exclusively at the Kineret? Or is at found at the Kineret as well as other locations?
The reason I am asking this question is because the Arizal ...
5
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2answers
65 views
Are there any eruvs that include both sides of a US Interstate Highway?
Are there any eruvs that include both sides of a US Interstate Highway?
I assumed this was halachically and/or logistically impossible. Is that correct? Can anyone prove this wrong by (groan) ...
6
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1answer
95 views
When is “vesain tal umotor” said in Australia?
When is "vesain tal umotor" said in the Southern Hemisphere eg Australia?
4
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6answers
119 views
Al Hamichyah - Wide land?
In the Brocho after eating grains which are not bread we say:
על ארץ חמדה טובה ורחבה
Translated very loosely as: On the Land (ISRAEL) that is desirable good and WIDE.
Now, anyone with a ...
2
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1answer
75 views
Michvar goats' sneezing from Jerusalem incense?
Tamid chapter 3 says (in my own free translation):
One could smell from Y'richo the scent of the blend[1] of the k'tores. Rabbi Eliezer b. Diglay said, "Father's house had goats on Mt. Michvar ...
2
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0answers
62 views
Where are the borders of Eretz Israel nowadays? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the Halachic boundaries of Eretz Yisroel?
How far into Jordan/Lebanon/Syria/Egypt is still considered "Halachic" Eretz Israel?
7
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2answers
64 views
Why is it that there appear to be so many different nuschaos of Selichos?
Why is it that there appear to be more different nuschaos of Selichos than other tefillos? I have heard of Askenaz, Sfard, Lita, Polin and Ungvar.
7
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2answers
477 views
Why blessings on Mt. Gerizim and curses on Mt. Ebal?
Devarim 11:29 says:
וְהָיָה, כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--וְנָתַתָּה אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה עַל-הַר גְּרִזִים, וְאֶת-הַקְּלָלָה עַל-הַר עֵיבָל.
...
2
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1answer
148 views
Eiruv in Manhattan?
There are two ways one could build an Eiruv on an island:
One build walls, Tzuras Hapesachs, etc.
One relies on the "natural" walls. This hetter applies only if
The ocean does not bring up ...
