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 ...
61
votes
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? ...
31
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the halachic source for objection to gay (civil) marriage?
New York State is considering legalizing gay (civil) marriages, so tonight on our answering machine we received a message urging us to pray that it doesn't pass because gay civil marriages were, you ...
26
votes
7answers
823 views
Stealing wi-fi?
If someone's neighbor has wi-fi, can he connect into it? Is there an issue of stealing?
26
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it permissible to erase the name of G-d from an E-reader?
Most people seem to be lenient about shemos on digital screens in general (though Bar-Ilan does avoid displaying the Tetragrammaton.) The letters on the screen are just light, there is nothing really ...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
Are children adopted by Jews Jewish?
I was adopted around the time I was three months old by my parents who are both Jewish. I do not know what religion my biological mother was, in fact I have very little detail about her at all. I was ...
20
votes
3answers
326 views
Must a jew-by-choice who is a firstborn observe the fast of the firstborn
I'm interested in the question of whether a ger who is firstborn (of both parents, say, to keep things simple) must follow the rules for Ta'anit B'khorot. There are some remarks on the wikipedia page, ...
20
votes
3answers
532 views
May one use a computer script to do something specifically on Shabbos/Yom Tov?
May one run a program or machine that will operate on Shabbos, either by setting a timer to activate once Shabbos has started, or by leaving it running continually? What if the action is one that is ...
20
votes
2answers
354 views
Can a gentile break shabbos only on a Rabbinic level?
A non-Jew is forbidden from observing Shabbos. When someone is in the process of converting, we advise them to keep the entire Shabbos besides for doing one forbidden activity. A common practice is to ...
19
votes
6answers
934 views
Why is it necessary to ask a Rabbi?
In various places on this site, including the FAQ, we have the following disclaimer:
Like Wikipedia, this site makes no guarantee of validity, and does not offer professional (particularly ...
19
votes
2answers
468 views
So you ate dairy after meat. Now what?
Whatever your tradition for waiting between meat and milk, let's say you forgot you were fleishig, and now realize that you have just eaten milk within your traditional waiting period. What are you ...
18
votes
7answers
1k views
Is one allowed to smoke Marijuana?
Not taking into account Dina D'malchusa, what are the Halachic problems with smoking marijuana? Is it allowed?
18
votes
2answers
927 views
Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture
I've recently been looking into polygamy (having more than 1 wife), and had a few cultural questions.
Was polygamy accepted at the time of David and Solomon? Were there any laws about it?
Was ...
18
votes
2answers
781 views
What are the sources for women to wear/ not wear pants?
I have heard that the argument is beged ish / kli gever, and I have heard people say that even if that was once a real reason for it it doesn't apply today for various reasons.
I understand that the ...
18
votes
4answers
660 views
Can a Jew lose their Jewish Status?
Can a Jew lose their status as being a Jew by performing any action (example: performing idolatry, disavowing core beliefs, converting to another religion, etc)? Or once a person is a Jew then they ...
18
votes
3answers
673 views
bicycle on Shabbat?
Is riding a bicycle on Shabbat permitted within an eiruv, being ridden only on pavement (so no unintended plowing), for transportation and not exercise, and with the understanding that repairs aren't ...
17
votes
4answers
854 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 ...
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 ...
17
votes
2answers
580 views
Riding the Subway on Shabbat
Assuming that there are no problems regarding paying for it (either you entered the system before Shabbat, or a non-Jew paid for you):
What are the halakhic issue with riding the subway on Shabbat? ...
17
votes
3answers
577 views
Can you bowl on shabbos?
In the movie the Big Lebowski Walter explains that he is shomer shabbos and that he can't "roll" (meaning bowl) on shabbos. My question is, if he were able to get to the alley without violating ...
17
votes
1answer
150 views
What do you do if you made a Tzedaka pledge and now the organization folded?
Recently a friend of mine asked me the following question. He pledged $500- to a Yeshiva, yet before he paid the pledge the Yeshiva closed. Does he still have to pay his pledge to another Tzedaka or ...
17
votes
1answer
262 views
Setting aside Shabbat to answer the President's call
In an old MSNBC news story about Jack Lew, a Shabbat-observant Jew who was just appointed to be the new White House Chief of Staff, there's a story about his getting a call from President Clinton when ...
17
votes
1answer
317 views
If I injure a bug, should I kill it?
I'm sure this has happened to lots of people: you somehow injure a bug (or some other animal).
I have always heard that this is a case of Tzaar Baalei Chaim, and that you should kill the bug to ...
16
votes
12answers
1k views
How to tactfully circumvent opposite-gender handshake
Say you're a man in a professional setting, and a woman who isn't used to dealing with observant Jews stretches out her hand to greet you -- but your practice is to avoid shaking hands even in ...
16
votes
9answers
3k views
Is Christianity Avodah Zara?
It is commonly accepted that Islam is not Avodah Zarah (idolatry) since Islam has a clear monotheistic theology with a belief in Allah that parallels our view of "kail" or Hashem. It is even ...
16
votes
5answers
984 views
Are you allowed to save a non-Jew's life on shabbos?
Is a Jew allowed to violate shabbos to save a non-Jew's life?
16
votes
6answers
283 views
Is it considered stealing to look at mi.yodeya while at work?
More generally, doing personal things like phone calls, emails, etc. while on company time. How far does the "everybody does it" rationale go? I believe there is some category in halakha that accounts ...
16
votes
2answers
298 views
When (if ever) are converts still related to their relatives?
It is my understanding that when a person converts to Judaism, certain halachic relationships are severed.
So I have a couple questions about this.
Which relationships are severed?
Is a convert ...
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 ...
16
votes
1answer
513 views
How should we respond to objectionable content in a public forum?
The blessing and curse of sites like StackExchange is that everything happens in public. Sometimes someone will post something objectionable and it isn't possible to take the person aside for a ...
15
votes
2answers
687 views
Can one throw out a Menorah?
Is it an issue to discard a menorah that has been used for the mitzvah of Neros Chanuka?
What if the menorah is made from something not usually used for a menorah? For example,bottles, cans, ...
15
votes
3answers
190 views
Glasses and Shema
The Shulhan Aruch records the custom of placing one's hand over his eyes in Shema in order to increase concentration. What about someone who wears glasses? Must he move them or remove them?
15
votes
2answers
244 views
Halachot of Shul Mechitzas
What are some good books, articles, websites, or seforim for learning about the Halachot of constructing and maintaining a Shul Mechitza (the barrier between the men and women sections)?
Issues ...
15
votes
3answers
518 views
What Bracha should you say on a Hurricane?
What Bracha should you say on a hurricane? Oseh Ma'aseh Vereishis?
You say Birchas Gomel if you travel over the sea; do you also say it if the sea travels over you?
15
votes
2answers
502 views
If a woman converts to Judaism while pregnant, will her child be a Jew?
If a woman converts to Judaism while pregnant, will her child be a Jew once born?
15
votes
4answers
752 views
Is practicing Yoga against Torah?
What does Halacha and Halachic Authorities have to say about the permissibility of a Jew practicing Yoga? Is it Avodah Zarah?
If it is problematic, are there methods of doing it where it would be ...
15
votes
4answers
277 views
Train ticket not collected: destroy?
Assuming a train line where single-ride tickets are normally collected or cancelled manually by train crew circulating among seated passengers, and it is physically possible to use them later if they ...
15
votes
2answers
265 views
Does artificial meat grown in a petri dish have the halachic status of meat?
Scientists are developing means of growing artificial meat in a petri dish. Does such 'meat' have the halachic status of meat?
Source: ...
15
votes
1answer
351 views
Do Jews need to care about non-jewish homosexuality?
Since there is currently no way and/or need for Jews to administer capital punishment to gentiles who violate the 7 noahide laws, is there any halachic reason for a Jew to care whether or not a ...
15
votes
1answer
159 views
Saying Hashem's name when studying
I learned somewhere that when you are learning, if you are going to read an entire pasuk without interruption you can say Hashem's name, however if you are going to only say part of the pasuk (for ...
15
votes
1answer
214 views
Is unmasking an anonymous author addressed by Halacha?
If an individual writes a document for public consumption anonymously or pseudonymously and either explicitly or presumably desires to remain anonymous, is there a Halachic issue with publicly ...
15
votes
1answer
148 views
Yichud in a dorm like situation
I was wondering if yichud is an issue in a situation like one that might arise on a college campus in an all girls dorm (apartment style- the building is mixed but each apartment is separate) if one ...
15
votes
2answers
291 views
While playing a computer game, may I “worship” one of the game's “gods” to help me win?
I sometimes play a certain computer game. In this game, my character (whom I might name after myself but who does not otherwise resemble me) fights mythological creatures and collects handy items. In ...
14
votes
7answers
243 views
SE Challenge: Halachot in which rulings range from permissible to Torah violation?
Inspired by my previous question regarding heating up soup on Shabbat, I present a challenge to the Judaism StackExchange community --
List halachot which have halachic decisions ranging from ...
14
votes
3answers
341 views
Saying “I love you” during nidda
While a woman is nidda and she and her husband are observing harchakot, is it permitted for them to tell each other, "I love you," or is that too suggestive of a statement for the nidda period?
14
votes
6answers
484 views
Fish eaten with milk?
Is there any halachik problem with eating fish and milk together? (A classic example is a bagel with lox and cream cheese)
14
votes
6answers
403 views
Dairy that you have to wait 6 hours after eating it
Which dairy is considered sharp and requires you to wait 6 hours afterwards, prior to eating meat?
14
votes
4answers
584 views
14
votes
3answers
266 views
Humming during shmoneh esre
On shabbat for shacharit and mussaf, I am usually still davening shmoneh esre by the time the chazzan gets to kedusha. In this situation, can I hum to the tune of kedusha?
This essentially boils down ...
14
votes
3answers
778 views
Shaking hands with the opposite gender?
What's the story: Can a man shake hands with a woman (or vice versa) in a business setting?
14
votes
1answer
568 views
You accidentally broke your fast*. Now what?
What are you supposed to do if you inadvertently broke your fast*? Do you:
keep going;
extend it (if so, how long);
cancel it (if so, do you make it up a different day)?
*This question is for ...
