Questions tagged [halacha]

Jewish law. Specifically, the legal process beginning with the written Torah and continuing through the Mishna, Talmud, and the legal codes (e.g., Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch). // 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.

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Saying the Ribono Shel Olom after counting the Omer

If one is no longer counting the Omer with a Brocho can one still recite the Ribono Shel Olom prayer?
dovid's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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If a chazzan has to repeat Shmoneh Esrei, can he use the chazarat hashatz for that?

Let's say a chazzan makes a mistake in his personal Shmoneh Esrei that he would have to repeat it for (e.g. missed yaaleh vyavoh). Can he use the chazarat hashatz as his required repetition, or must ...
Scimonster's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is one allowed to have a non-Jew cook for him on Shabbos?

Generally, there are ways to have a non-Jew do Melacha for a Jew (You don't tell him explicitly, the non-Jew does it for himself, etc.) Is there a way to get a non-Jew to cook for you on Shabbos (...
ertert3terte's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
257 views

What type of "rainbows" require a bracha?

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 229:1 says: הרואה הקשת אומר בא"י אמ"ה זוכר הברית נאמן בבריתו וקיים במאמרו. ואסור להסתכל בו ביותר: One who sees the rainbow says, "Blessed are you, God our ...
DanF's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
324 views

Automated Cooking Machine Programmed

I realize in most situations to have a factory line be "cooked by a Jew" an observant Jew would have to turn the oven on, stove on, or something along those lines. This morning I saw this article ...
Zach Leighton's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
658 views

Criteria to be considered a gentile for the purposes of selling chametz?

I understand that for some tasks or jobs (particularly those relating to kashrut), Judaism ritually requires more than the criteria of matrilineal descent to qualify as a Jew. E.g., as I understand it,...
Joshua Skrzypek's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
110 views

Pursuing pluralist purpura

According to most rishonim (and the simplest read of the extant Talmudic texts) the tekhelet string is dyed in its entirety. However, the Rambam maintains that only half the string is dyed such that, ...
Loewian's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
228 views

Is there Ribis in America?

Rav Moshe Feinstein, z"l, is lenient with regard to allowing the loaning of money to a corporation because he maintains that the prohibition of ribis (usury) only applies where there is a shibud haguf ...
Loewian's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
173 views

How does a husband make a neder on his wife

How does a husband make a neder on his wife? From shulchan aruch, even ezer: 115.10 (not to talk to someone (maybe only men?)) אם השביע אשתו שלא תדבר עם פלוני ועברה ודברה עמו עוברת על דת היא והפסידה ...
hazoriz's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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If one has a heter to do something unusual, must one do so discreetly?

If one has a heter to do something unusual, must one do so discreetly? I am essentially asking whether marat ayin concerns are relevant to this type of situation. (As for "Why wouldn't they be?"--I ...
SAH's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can one listen to music while he works to make the work less dull?

During the period of Sefirat Ha'Omer Jews are prohibited from listening to music. If one is working in an office and find it more pleasurable (or perhaps just less dull) to listen to music as he ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
933 views

Controversy Concerning Community Consumption of Chametz Coming from Costco

There is a Rabbinic prohibition on benefiting from chametz that was owned by a Jew over Passover. In recent years, an issue was raised in the New York area that a major distributor of grocery items ...
Loewian's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
155 views

Not passing up a mitzvah: putting away laundry at a parent's behest: closest pile first?

My kid asked: I know there's a general rule of en maavirin al hamtizvos, we don't pass over a mitzva. For example, in mishnayos Yoma, the kohanim don't pass over the nearest blood basin to put ...
msh210's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
102 views

Can one sell Chametz he doesn't know about?

If one sold his Chometz in his house for Pesach, and then found (on Pesach) some old Chometz food lying around, does he have to burn it? He probably didn't have it in mind during the sale, but on the ...
ertert3terte's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
7k views

is there an issue in visiting a cemetery while menstruating?

Is there an issue about going to a cemetery while menstruating? If so, is it a prohibition or recommendation? What about going to a cemetery at night? I was told there might be an issue with ...
alice fine's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
282 views

Making a kinyan on hefker items on Shabbat

Is it possible to take possession (make a kinyan) of items which are hefker (ownerless) on Shabbat? I know that business transactions are prohibited, but i'm unsure whether this applies to any kinyan,...
Scimonster's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
909 views

Practicing Binding Tefillin at Night

May someone who is not accustomed to laying tefillin practice binding at night, when there is no mitzvah, so that they will be proficient at wrapping when the day comes?
Ze'ev's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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Downloading music from the internet onto my computer [duplicate]

I was online and I found the song Im Ein Ani Li Mi Li by Shloime Gertner on youtube. Then I used a conversion program to convert the video into an mp3 file and afterwards download the file to my ...
Chiddushei Torah's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
104 views

Renting digital services to Jews who are known to work on Shabbes

Given the following scenario: A Jew is the sole owner of a digital business which rents its services (a digital platform that does not require human intervention from part of the owner) for a monthly ...
helloworld's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
216 views

Burial Pod- Kosher?

So I just saw this on Facebook [warning: some links at the bottom of the page contain imagery which is not tzanua] In short, this mentions a concept in which the body of the deceased is put into a ...
Noach MiFrankfurt's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Double Wrapping on Pesach

I have always understood that one may use a non-kosher microwave for kosher food by double (or triple) wrapping the said food while cooking it. May one use the same procedure for cooking on Pesach in ...
yydl's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
62 views

Posting Advertisements on Chol Hamoed

What do the sources say about posting flyers on Chol Hamoed, advertising one's shop (as open generally, not as open only on Chol Hamoed), or is that considered business on Chol Hamoed?
MosheRabbi's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is it permissible to use a French Press on Yom Tov?

Is there an issue of borer when using the plunger of a French Press? What are the possible issues involved? Is it borer with a kli?
Aaron Miller's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
238 views

Potty in the living room?

It is generally assumed that one is not allowed to bring a sefer into a bathroom, at least while the bathroom's in use (see Shabbos 127b, Rambam Hilchos Sefer Torah 10:5, Shulchan Aruch YD 282:6, ...
Loewian's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Art on Chol Hamoed

Most people say that you can't write on Chol Hamoed, but is it permissible to draw for pleasure as that is not considered "work"?
user9243's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
90 views

Can you make chometz ink on Pesach?

My cousin would like to know about the permissibility of making ink on Pesach. The ink recipe includes flour, fruit juice, vinegar, and a little water. According to my cousin, it's not ראוי לאכילת ...
MTL's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
182 views

Meals on Yom Tov and Shabbos

On days when we are obligated to eat (at least) 2 festive meals, must one eat one on the evening and one as lunch? Or may one have 2 daytime meals. This may come up if at a hotel or the like dinner is ...
andrewmh20's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
738 views

Cream cheese on matza - gebrochts

What are the halachic or minhag issues in eating matza with spreads like cream cheese? Many people have written in various posts that they keep gebrochts and put, for example, cream cheese on matza.
user9240's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
200 views

Laws of Chol Ha Moed

Learning the Halachot of Chol Ha Moed I have read on Chabad.org and other w ebsites that generally the same prohobitions of the 39 melachos apply except: •Anything done in order to prepare or cook ...
Akiva's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
111 views

Is it a problem to eat animal leftovers

Is it true that there is a Jewish custom not to eat after animals (even if not mius issue (ie the person eating does not know)) ie if a rat ate a piece of a fruit I can't just cut off that part and ...
hazoriz's user avatar
  • 7,506
4 votes
1 answer
780 views

Can one play computer games on Chol Hamoed

I know that there is a debate among the poskim as to whether one can type on Chol Hamoed. Does anyone discuss whether one can play computer games on Chol Hamoed?
user5303's user avatar
  • 1,474
3 votes
2 answers
911 views

How long does entire process of baking matzo take to be kosher?

If one would like to bake matzo or use flour to make a Passover food, how long do we have for the process to take place? If 18 min, then is that 18m59s or 18m00s? If the food is cooked before 18 ...
alice fine's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
255 views

Does a b'chor need to fast if he didn't partake in food from the siyum?

If a b'chor attended (or made) a siyum on taanis bechoros but did not partake of any food does he need to fast?
user9229's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
777 views

Selling flour for Pesach

For those who do not rely on heter mechira (selling) for bal yera'eh bal yimatzeh (the prohibition to own leaven on Pesach) for chametz gamur (certain leaven), do they generally sell flour or get rid ...
Loewian's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
3k views

Using the SodaStream on Passover

Generally speaking, the contemporary practice is to be very machmir when it comes to Pesach, above and beyond the letter of any law. I'm curious to know if there have been any relevant rulings or ...
Loewian's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
191 views

Bal Tashchit and Chametz

Before Pesach, it is common to attempt to get rid of whatever chametzdik food one is able to. Taking this and the issur (prohibition) of bal tashchit into account, is it actually permissible to throw ...
Noach MiFrankfurt's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Throwing Out Bread

What is the nature of the prohibition to destroy bread? Why is it commonly presented differently from other destruction (bal tashchit)?
mevaqesh's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
631 views

Karet for eating chametz on Pesach - Where is the line drawn?

As I understand it, for something to count as a single act of eating, it must meet two requirements. The amount ingested must be the minimum of Kezayit. Some hold this to literally be the volume of ...
Echad-Ani-Yodeya's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Getting back together with a girlfriend after she has dated other guys?

Suppose a young Jewish couple, Bob and Jane dated, and had sex. (Yes, I realize premarital sex isn't ideal under orthodox Judaism, but I am interested in the halachic and spiritual implications given ...
Gregory Magarshak's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
350 views

Dina D'Malchuta with regards to the State of Israel?

Simply put, I've heard that the 2nd oath (of the 3 oaths Ketubos 111a) (i.e. not to rebel against the nations of the world) doesn't apply within the State of Israel. I don't know whether or not that ...
warz3's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
122 views

Does a Jewish-owned supermarket need to completely seal its chametz product aisles?

Follow up to this question: In almost all the Jewish-owned supermarkets that I have seen, the store owner completely seals the chametz aisles by placing a huge cardboard "wall" at both ends of the ...
DanF's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
337 views

Sold Chametz being visible

Is there any issue with chametz sold to a non-Jew being visible during pesach? For example, if I sell my whiskey, can I keep the whiskey in a glass enclosure in the living room where it could be seen?
Gavriel's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
98 views

Can someone blaspheme to save their life?

As is well known, one is to die rather than murder a Jew, perform adultery and the like, or worship an idol (Sanhedrin 74a). Is blasphemy (i.e. denying one's dedication to the Torah) permissible to ...
warz3's user avatar
  • 1,477
2 votes
1 answer
261 views

What makes a Kohen not a Kohen?

If a Kohen has sex with a non-Jew do they lose their Kohen status forever? If a Kohen becomes impure through lesser means, for example walking on a grave or touching a dead body, do they lose their ...
Mikaelkohein123's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
684 views

Shehecheyanu upon affixing mezuzah

The Rambam writes in Sefer Ahava - Hilchos Berachos - Halacha 9: That Shehecheyanu is recited for every mitzvah that involves acquisition of property: I.e. Mezuzot. ט כל מצוה שהיא מזמן לזמן כגון ...
helloworld's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
111 views

Can later scholars make an issue of something that earlier scholars were not concerned about?

I know that this is a potentially broad subject but there seems to be a phenomenon where later generations of scholars (i.e. after the close of the Gemara; the Amoraim) come up with new halakhoth or ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
958 views

Do women need to count the Omer?

Is counting the Omer nowadays considered a time-bound Mitzva that women are exempt from?
user5303's user avatar
  • 1,474
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

Sales on Chol HaMoed

On Chol HaMoed, one is not allowed to do melocho, even without excessive tircha or skill, if it's not l'tzorech hamo'ed (a need of the holiday) nor a davar ha'aved (financial loss). How do we ...
Loewian's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
179 views

Can the 3 items that Rabban Gamliel requires during the Seder be explained using sign language?

Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Rabban Gamliel's Three Things: רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה אוֹמֵר: כָּל שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ בַּפֶּסַח, לא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן פֶּסַח, מַצָּה, ...
DanF's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
594 views

Netilat yadayim without a keli?

It is known that the Sefer Halakhoth Gedholoth codifies that since only the descendants of Aharon HaKohen were strictly commanded regarding netilath yadhayim with a keli, it is therefore enough for a ...
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