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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67 views
Are coupons for Chometz - Chometz? II
Inspired by yydl's question.
I read that in Russia where bread was unpurchasable without "bread ration cards", people would save them throughout Pesach and use them after Pesach. One such person ...
4
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272 views
Using a non-kosher toaster oven
What is the permissible way to use a non-kosher toaster oven? My thought process was that, when cooking milk in a meat oven, the covering of the dish and the rack makes it acceptable.
Would covering ...
4
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0answers
129 views
Would synthesized meat be Kosher?
Scientists are preparing synthesized meat for human consumption. See here for a excerpt, and two articles here and here.
My question is: Would this meat be considered Kosher? Might it depend on the ...
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 ...
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
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27 views
Concern for liquidy finished product only
"Meat and Dairy—A Kosher Consumer's Handbook", by the Star-K, indicates:
Uncovered dairy in a clean fleishig [=meat] oven — If one cooks fleishig in an oven and ensures it remains clean (i.e. the ...
3
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50 views
Can “Three D'Rabbanans be 'motzei' ”Two D'Rabbanans"
We know that when there is a case of someone that is obligated to perform a mitzvah m'drabbanan (and in fact there are 2 d'rabbanans together) they can't be "motzei" someone in the mitzvah who only ...
3
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40 views
Can one use potential wind power to transport on Shabbos?
Would it be permitted to set a cart with a sail in a reshus yachid with the intent that if the wind picks up, it will carry the contents 1) into a reshus harabbim, or 2) through a reshus harabbim and ...
3
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0answers
33 views
Is there a prohibition against bringing children to a shiva house?
Is there a prohibition against bringing children to a shiva house? I know that children aren't usually brought and that it's respectful to ask in each case, but does anyone know if there is an actual ...
3
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47 views
Insurance and Ribit
What is the halachick treatment of a long term insurance contract issued by a company held by a Jew?
In particular -
Is the underlying investment that contributes to the ultimate amount of the ...
3
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0answers
33 views
Tattoo of an image of idolatry
According to this exhaustive article on the subject of tattooing in Halachah, there is an important opinion with many ramifications that states that one is only liable for the biblical prohibition of ...
3
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35 views
Making bedikas chometz early — ossur in malacha, eating, learning?
When someone leaves their home within 30 days of Pesach without someone to be bodek it from chometz, they themselves have to be bodek it early (See Siman 436.) In the normal case of bedikas chometz ...
3
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47 views
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone of suffering?
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone (a human or an animal) of suffering? I am talking about excruciating suffering, not merely discomfort, and I am not talking about ...
3
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81 views
Can a born-Jew who converted out of Judaism be buried in an Orthodox Jewish cemetery?
We've discussed previously that halacha prohibits the burial of non-Jews in the same cemetery as Jews. But what about born-Jews who converted out? What about Jews who were simply atheists?
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34 views
Should I only make one Berachah, or should I make one on each different food?
When I was in "Pirchei" boys' youth groups as a child, at snack time I was taught to make a "Mezonos" on my cake, "Shehakol" on my drink, and "Haetz" on my sliced fruit. Then, at the end, the group ...
3
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66 views
Do other Chasidic communities follow Shulchan Aruch HaRav?
The Maggid of Mezeritch told the Baal HaTanya to put together a Shulchan Aruch for Chasidim. The result is the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, which is used as a final authority for halacha in Chabad ...
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68 views
Strike chest in “S'lach lanu” on Shabas?
Suppose someone is praying maariv, shacharis, or mincha on Shabas, starts the weekday amida's blessings, and then realizes, amid those weekday blessings, that he should be saying the amida of Shabas. ...
3
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0answers
74 views
How to respond to a non-Jew who asks to shovel your snow on shabbos?
If a non-Jew asks if he may shovel your snow on shabbos what is the proper halachic response? Does it make a difference if he is asking to do this for pay (not previously arranged before shabbos)?
3
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68 views
Scheduling a USPS Pickup for Shabbos
So it turns out that the USPS has a feature where you can ask them to come and pickup a package. So you go online to their site, enter your information, choose a date for the pickup, and tell them ...
3
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0answers
96 views
Would time travel be assur/mutar?
Inspired by this question which the author states is not a question of issur/heter. Assuming time travel is possible (to the future or past) is there any reason it should be assur?
3
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0answers
115 views
If my kavanah is towards the Islamic idea of God, am I yotzei?
I have been reading through the various questions about Islam and its relationship to Judaism, and about the Rambam's view that Islam is a monotheistic religion and not idolatry and I am wondering: If ...
3
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131 views
Children of Converts and Specific halachos
The Pri Megadim in OC Siman 156 Ashel Avraham Sif-Katan 2 writes that a child that was conceived in kedusha (sanctity) and born in kedusha to a mother and father that had both converted (i.e. these 2 ...
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54 views
A shorter person with a normal sized tallis katan
A theoretical question: If a young person (a boy for example that is 13 yrs old) that happens to be very short (not because of any physical disability) wears a normal size tallis katan it will be very ...
3
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34 views
“Yichud L'Olam” in Hilchos Muktzeh
In Hilchos Muktzeh we find there is an idea that even a rock ("evan") one can be m'yached (set aside) for a certain purpose allowing one to move it around on Shabbos (See SA OC Siman 308 Sif 22.) ...
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60 views
Berachah LeVatalah (blessing in vain) retroactively
Can a Berachah be made LeVatalah retroactively?
What if you eat something that is spoiled, not realizing it until a bite or two in? You would not make a Berachah on spoiled food. But if you did, ...
3
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99 views
Pronunciation of “Two”s in Hebrew
Thomas O. Lambdin calls out the words שְנַיִם and שְתַּיִם as exceptions to "shewa as the initial vowel in a word is always vocalized," i.e. it is "shtayim" and "shnayim". That's a secular expert's ...
3
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71 views
Is one allowed to use electricity on Shabbos in Israel?
I have heard that some don't use electricity made by the Israeli Electric company on Shabbos and only use generators.
However, I have seen people who do use public electricity on Shabbos.
What are ...
3
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0answers
110 views
How obligated is one to say Kaddish for a deceased relative?
People often talk about an obligation -- Chiyuv -- to recite Kaddish at every opportunity for some time after the death of a relative. (Which relatives are obligated and for how long does not seem ...
3
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0answers
69 views
mi shebeirach for yourself when calling a relative up for an aliyah
I have been looking at the halachot for a son who is the gabbai and who calls his father up for an aliyah here and I know that there was a question about it, but my question is about after the aliyah. ...
3
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0answers
125 views
Is one allowed to go to a standup comedy show during the 3 weeks?
I know that one is not allowed to listen to live music during the 3 weeks.
My question is if Standup comedy is not allowed as well?
3
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0answers
130 views
Selling a house to a non Jew
Notwithstanding anti discrimination laws which may disallow a seller to only sell to other Jews exclusively. Suppose a Jewish fellow - living outside of Eretz Yisroel - lives on a block which is ...
3
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0answers
162 views
Brachos and Amen “parties”
What is the source for brachos and amen parties wherein a group of people sit together and take turns making various brachot and answering amen? Do these events violate any halachot?
3
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0answers
85 views
Can a non Jew bake bread on Pesach for a Jew to use after Pesach?
In relation to Is it possible to have chometz on the shabbos directly after Pesach? Is there any problem if a non Jew bakes bread on Pesach (the Jew did not ask him and does not care if the non Jew ...
2
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0answers
40 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?
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0answers
62 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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0answers
28 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 ...
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0answers
44 views
Maris Ayin and bags from restaurants
Similar to this question, suppose there is a chain of restaurants that is mostly non-Kosher, but there happens to be one kosher franchise in the chain. The example I am thinking of is that there is ...
2
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0answers
46 views
One Challah or Two?
If two challahs are braided and baked together on one pan, and before they are completely baked, they have stuck together, do I have one challah or two? I.e. can I separate them and still have two ...
2
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0answers
50 views
What God must gentiles believe in?
In the Rambam's Mishne Tora, the end of chapter 8 of M'lachim reads:
Any [gentile] who accepts seven commands and is careful to fulfill them is among the pious of the nations of the world and has ...
2
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0answers
46 views
Does a Jewish idolater's pouring of non-mevushal wine make that wine forbidden to himself?
We see from this answer that wine poured by a Jew who rejects Judaism is yayin nesech. Would that cause the wine to be forbidden even to himself, or is it only forbidden to others? Would he be ...
2
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0answers
46 views
Apostate Jew performing mitzvahs
It has been discussed many times on this site that a non-Jew may not observe Shabbat (in addition to various other mitzvot that are prohibited to non-Jews). We have also seen that a Jew who renounces ...
2
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0answers
69 views
Is a Jew able to go hunting?
What is the Halacha in regard to whether or not a person can go hunting? What have Poskim said on this issue?
2
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0answers
41 views
Time-limited promotional giveaways for some, fees for everyone later
If someone provides a discount for early payment, and raises the price for others, there is reason to consider this a form offorbidden usury.
What if someone is giving away a gift to some as a ...
2
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0answers
45 views
Speaking in the middle of Havdallah
Someone was making havdallah and, after saying the bracha on besamim (spices) and then smelling them, exclaimed "Ah! A mechayah!". Is this considered a hefsek (interruption) in the havdallah? Meaning ...
2
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0answers
26 views
Difference between leaving place of eating and place of smelling besamim
We learn in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 178 the laws if one leaves the place where they were eating if a new bracha has to be made or not when they come back (or if they change to a different place.) ...
2
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0answers
57 views
Agnostic Jew serving as the tenth for a minyan
I remember reading a responsum on the issue of agnostic Jew's serving as the tenth for a minyan, but do not remember the outcome. Does anyone know the rule?
Also, do we count, as the tenth man, a ...
2
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0answers
24 views
Is it allowed to make bread in the shape of the lechem hapanim?
The lechem hapanim had an unusual folded-over shape that would seem difficult to make. Is it allowed to try and see what would happen if you made bread shaped like that, or would that be considered ...
2
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0answers
34 views
What does one do if he makes a mistake in Brachos before Birkas HaTorah?
If one makes a mistake in saying a Bracha (like he started saying a bracha and remembered that he shouldn't say it) after saying "Baruch Atah Hashem", he should finish it off with "lamdeini chukecha" ...
2
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0answers
45 views
What to do after sh'mone esre before Sh'ma
Shulchan Aruch, OC 236:3:
If someone discovered a group that had already read [the evening] "Sh'ma" and is about to say amida [of maariv], then he should say amida with them and then say "Sh'ma" ...
2
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0answers
32 views
Bracha Achrona with a little pasta and a lot of rice
This question is kind of related to this one.
Suppose someone makes a borei minei mezonos bracha on pasta (whose bracha achrona is al hamichya), and exempts rice (whose bracha achrona is borei ...
