NOTE: Like Wikipedia, this site makes no guarantee of validity, and does not offer professional (particularly rabbinic) advice. Treat information from this site like it came from a crowd of your friends. // Jewish law. Specifically, the legal process beginning with the written Torah and continuing ...
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6 views
May one eat cheese that is wormy?
Nitei Gavriel Shavuos 29:14 says that one may eat cheese that has worms in it, and there is no prohibition of Sheretz on it. Is this accurate? Does everyone agree with this?
2
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1answer
20 views
Must one pray with a minyan?
People wrote on this site that there is no requirement for a man to pray with a minyan as a general rule. This surprised me: indeed, it contradicts what I've known all my life. I seek support for ...
5
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2answers
86 views
Newcomers Overwhelmed by Myriad Halachas
Some people, especially Baal Teshuvas who drastically change their lives to being fully observant may find it somewhat overwhelming to observe the minimum halachas in being an orthodox jew (such as ...
2
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1answer
53 views
learning non-jewish topics as a creative process
Is 'learning' non-Jewish topics a prohibited creative process on Shabbat? If so, on what grounds is learning Tanakh exempted? I read that the study non-Jewish subjects is banned or frowned upon, and I ...
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1answer
29 views
Talmid that is an Avel going to a wedding of his Rebbe
I had heard once that there is a Teshuvas Ranach that says it's muter for a student that is an avel (in the year of mourning) to go to a wedding that his Rebbe is making for one his children. I ...
6
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0answers
54 views
Borrowing a talis and wearing a talis katan. Say a b'racha?
The common and accepted practice among married Ashk'nazim, at least, is that they don a talis katan in the morning without saying a b'racha for the mitzva, and, later, when donning the talis gadol for ...
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1answer
40 views
Borer on Shabbos — Spilling food from a spoon with 2 foods on it
Is the following case a problem of "borer" (separating) on Shabbos?
We know there can be "borer" even when dealing with two edible foods, one food that a person does want to eat and the other that ...
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0answers
21 views
Can I cut my toenails consecutively? [duplicate]
Should I be careful about this issue or there is no rule regarding this?
7
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1answer
59 views
Does an unnecessary brocho pesucha on Hallel necessitate a brocho siyuma?
We had an interesting question arise in our Shul this past Yom Yerushalayim. Our shul has a minhag of saying Hallel without a brocho in Shacharis. At one of the minyanim, the chazzan said a brocho at ...
2
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0answers
61 views
Talking in shul
Most pasken according to the Shulchan Arukh that mundane talk in shul during tefilot is forbidden.
With some exceptions: Is mundane speech allowed in shul?.
Is there anywhere a halachic point of view ...
2
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1answer
43 views
Do we embarrass someone in cheirem?
Let's suppose that someone in a community has been put in cheirem, for whatever reason. This would generally ban him from the community shul. Should this person show up in the community shul, however, ...
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2answers
106 views
How do we know that homosexual relations is a sin?
I recently heard that the Ibn Ezra brings down a minority opinion that the pasukim talking about "laying with a man as you would a woman" are actually talking about androgynous people. The Ibn Ezra ...
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1answer
60 views
Employment questions I have [closed]
I have three questions.
1) Can a religious Orthodox Jewish employer, refuse to employ a Non Observant Jew on Shabbos or other Jewish holidays, if the Non Observant Jew volunteers to work on this, ...
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votes
1answer
126 views
Does halacha permit a Jew to practice Islam simultaneously? [closed]
It is explained here that a Jew cannot lose his 'Jewishness', It seems from this answer that Jewishness is a genealogical status and little to do with religion. So is it possible for a Jew to practice ...
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1answer
37 views
Does one mourn during the days following Shavuot?
We say the four verses starting "Yehi Shem" (instead of Tachanun) after Shavuot because of the bringing of the Korbanot. Does this have any impact on mourning after Shavuot?
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1answer
59 views
Wearing Tefillin over toupe
If someone wears a toupe which is only removed twice a month, is there any way to still get the mitzvah of wearing tefillin? Removing the toupe every morning to put in the tefillin would be an extreme ...
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0answers
20 views
Where is the source of the prohibition of listening to Kol Isha? [duplicate]
It is well known that listening to a women sing is forbidden. Where is the source to the Prohibition?
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1answer
33 views
Does Bishul Akum require intent?
In this answer, @AdamSimon suggested that:
Therefore, in our case (in which the power goes out on or before Shabbos and is subsequently restored during the course of Shabbos), provided that the ...
4
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1answer
89 views
Do you have to listen to the mikveh lady?
From what I understand when a woman goes to the mikvah there is another woman who watches her immerse (dubbed 'mikveh lady'). Apparently this is for practical reasons to make sure everything is done ...
2
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0answers
27 views
Preparing food for Yom Tov Sheni
Orach Chaim 503 says that one may not prepare from the first day of Yom Tov for the second day of Yom Tov. However, if one is going to eat even one piece of meat on the first day, they may full up a ...
5
votes
1answer
60 views
Relying on the tasting of a Jewish chef
In Yoreh Deah (Hilchos Issur V'Heter) we learn about the laws of relying on a chef ("kefelah") that is a goy to help determine if there is the taste of food that might be prohibited inside of a ...
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1answer
87 views
How does Halacha view someone who converts to Islam? [duplicate]
What is the halachic status of the person who converts to Islam, does he remain a Jew in spite of conversion? I am specifically asking the Muslim case since they don't deny the Torah and believe it to ...
5
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1answer
39 views
Korbon tomid whilst Jews were travelling (as opposed to camping) in the desert
The benei kehos carried the miizbeiach whilst the Jews travelled. It would seem improbable that the mishkon was erected every day whilst they journeyed. What happened with the sacrifice of the Daily ...
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1answer
82 views
May the Sotah take the bitter waters intravenously?
In Naso, we read (Bamidbar 5:32) that the kohen blots out the curses (which include Hashem's name) in the bitter waters and then gives for the woman to drink (5:24).
What if the woman is unable to ...
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2answers
103 views
Is it considered Pikuach Nefesh if you break Shomer Negiah to give someone emotional comfort?
I've asked myself this before, but I'm not sure. Say that you see someone depressed, severely depressed and they just need a hug. If they're the same gender, that's all fine and dandy. However, if ...
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3answers
112 views
What is considered work on the sabath?
I was reading about sabbath observances in modern practice and I found a lot of caution and effort is expended to not work: like, even switching on the lights or lifting things could be considered as ...
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3answers
132 views
I am or was a religious jew and purposely ate non kosher
I'm a religious Jew. I kind of lost faith and ate non-kosher purposely, and now I feel so bad with myself that I want to die. What should I do? Is there any type of repentance I should take upon ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Why don't we count sefirah without shem u'malkhut
Our current practice is that if you forget to count one day of the omer (morning and night), it is still incumbent upon you to count, but you can't say a bracha.
As far as I understand, the reason ...
5
votes
1answer
73 views
are bionic abilities legal for shabbos
Today the world is high in technology; many medical fields are experiencing breakthroughs in artificial limbs and what not.
What are the legalities of these in Jewish law?
For example, a pace maker ...
3
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0answers
32 views
What is a “time of kingdom's decree”
The gemara in Sanhedrin 74 talks about a time of oppression, during which even for "light mitzvot" one must die.
What exactly constitutes such a time? Is it any time when the government makes a ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Shoe-tying order when tying another's shoes
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 2:4–5:
ינעול מנעל ימין תחילה ולא יקשרנו ואחר כך ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשור של ימין
One should don his right shoe first but not tie it, then don his ...
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0answers
38 views
Can a Jew cut a non-Jew's nails consecutively?
Can a Jew cut a non-Jew's nails consecutively? This would relate to a profession in which one trims nails such as podiatry, nursing, pedicurist etc.
2
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1answer
111 views
Does a rapist have any parental rights to a child conceived from the rape?
An interesting question was asked regarding whether the child conceived by a kidnapper and his victim, and who is still held by the kidnapper, is also considered kidnapped. I think that a more basic ...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
Is a child born to a kidnapper also considered kidnapped?
According to Torah law if a man kidnaps a woman and has a child with her is that child now considered kidnapped as well? The question being has the man now violated the prohibition of kidnapping ...
3
votes
1answer
27 views
What is an example of a “Tavshil Shel Baser”
In Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 89 Sif 3 we find the following rule. According to the Machaber if one ate a "tavshil shel baser", then, in order to eat cheese afterwards, one must only wash their ...
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0answers
22 views
What should one do if he forgets the changes in the tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva?
What should one do if he forgets all the changes in the Tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva? When should he go back, when may he continue?
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0answers
30 views
When do we switch from Morid Hatal to Morid Hageshem and vice versa?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
When do we switch from Morid Hatal to Morid Hageshem and vice versa? What about Barechenu and Barech Alenu?
What ...
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0answers
22 views
When do we add Avinu Malchenu?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Avinu Malchenu?
What should one do if he forgets to say it?
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1answer
34 views
When do we add Al Hanisim?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Al Hanisim? (Just Purim and Hanukkah?)
What happens if we forget to say it?
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0answers
33 views
When do we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
What happens if we forget to say it?
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0answers
39 views
How to act when somebody walks into a minyan?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
How must one conduct himself when he is in a minyan that hasn't yet begun, or a Minyan that has already begun, and ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
According to the Shulchan Aruch (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What should one do when he's late to Shachrit? What should he skip and what must he say?
4
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0answers
33 views
Are placebos permitted without telling the person they are getting one?
Does Judaism allow placebos where the person thinks it does something, and is thereby cured, even though the item does nothing?
Is this gnevas da'as (or some other issur), or because it can help them ...
5
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1answer
48 views
Would a replacement kohen gadol be anointed on yom kippur?
Here is what I know:
When a kohen gadol dies we replace him. In fact we've got a replacement kohen gadol waiting in the wings on yom kippur just in case
Any kohen who becomes kohen gadol gets ...
3
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1answer
57 views
Is there a halachik problem with wearing shorts while davening?
I have often heard that one should not wear shorts while davening. This makes intuitive sense to me that we should do this out of respect. But is there any halachic reasoning behind this? Is it ...
3
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0answers
48 views
Is it considered tzaar baalei chayyim to deliberately feed a live animal to another animal?
There are many pets available today that experts recommended to feed (infrequently or at times solely) on live animals. Many reptiles (snakes, chameleons, geckos, monitors, etc.) and many fish are ...
3
votes
2answers
52 views
What is the proper way to hold one's hands while praying?
Similar to Not interlacing fingers in prayer
What is the proper way that one should hold his hands while praying, if there is such a way? What is the level of obligation to hold one's hands in that ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Seeing dam due to relations and the halachos of vests
If a woman was a "ro'eh machmis tashmish" (she saw blood after having relations), does the day that it happened go into the account of her "vestes" (the days that she will have to be concerned she may ...
3
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1answer
58 views
Going to lectures with overhead projector on shabbat
Is attending public lectures (and looking at the screen) permissible on the Sabbat? Information from a computer is projected onto a movie screen and the lecturer may be using a microphone. The ...
4
votes
1answer
40 views
How to fix incorrect omer count
Suppose someone accidentally counts the wrong day of the omer after making a bracha, and then realizes later that night what he had done. How should he rectify this? Should he count the correct day ...
