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 ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Amen on a Berachah that may be out of place but isn't false
An answer to another question says that, when a particular modern-day Torah scholar heard someone recite the blessing of "SheHalak" (recited in the presence of only the most eminent scholars of Torah ...
8
votes
2answers
171 views
Davening early Maariv first night of Shavuos
I have always heard that on the first night of Shavuos you should wait till Tzais HaKochavim for Maariv in order to have Temimos - 7 complete weeks of Sefira. Recently I heard that Harav Ovadia Yosef ...
8
votes
1answer
142 views
Are marriages on Shabbat allowed?
I saw a similar question, hope I'm not being redundant.
I wanted to know if marriages on Shabbat are allowed, and if not, where is it said, and why not.
Thanks in advance! It is a pleasure!
10
votes
2answers
251 views
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What are the steps taken and how does this come to be resolved according to halachah and in the most constructive way for ...
3
votes
2answers
87 views
Levi does not want to wash Kohen's hands
Suppose there is only one Levi in Shul and he does not want to leave the Shul to wash the Kohain's hands since he will lose the Amein's during the time he is out of the Shul. Should the Levi be ...
3
votes
1answer
66 views
Cooking Parve food but with mixed utensils
If by mistake, someone who is cooking parve food but uses a dairy pot and selects a meat spatula or mixing utensil does this:
A) Raise concerns about the food
B) Render the pot non-kosher
C) Render ...
3
votes
3answers
232 views
Rainbow, telling a friend
We know The rainbow is a bad Omen. Is one allowed to tell a friend when he sees one, in order to allow him to make a Bracha or should he hold back as it is a bad sign?
7
votes
3answers
174 views
Which parts of the head should be covered by the kippa?
I understand that it is a widespread minhag for men to wear a head covering. Recently I have seen kippot covering different portions of the head. So please tell me which parts of the head should be ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
Is it permitted for a minyan to daven outdoors?
The weather in New York is beautiful recently. It crossed my mind to daven outside in the glory of HaShem's beautiful Creation.
Is it permissible to daven outdoors?
11
votes
4answers
364 views
Getting married in age order
Those that refrain from allowing a younger sibling to get married prior to an older sibling mention the verse from Lavan, "Lo Yaiose Kain BimiKomeinu Losais Hatziyira Lifnei HaBechira, In our locale ...
3
votes
1answer
52 views
Is there dancing at a divorcee's wedding
When a divorcee gets remarried, is there dancing at the wedding or is this prohibited?
3
votes
0answers
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
votes
1answer
106 views
How much must be eaten from the lechem mishneh
Inspired by following 2 questions:
Not eating from the Lechem Mishnah
Challah Loaves on Shabbat have a minimum size?
When eating a Shabbos Seudah how much must the ones that are being yotzee from ...
2
votes
0answers
44 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
54 views
Chametz left over Pesach — Must be burnt?
Chametz that belonged to a Jew over Pesach is prohibted (ossur) to have benefit (haneh) from (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 448 Sif 3.)
Is it enough that this chametz simply be thrown away or ...
3
votes
0answers
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 ...
2
votes
0answers
49 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
How much is an ashkenazi kesuba today
A standard Ashkenazi kesuba is a document no different to a post dated cheque; there is nothing religious or holy about it. It says that the man will pay his wife upon divorce or death the sum of 200 ...
4
votes
1answer
100 views
Keeping one or two days of Yom Tov in towns outside the biblically stipulated borders of Israel?
If you’re living in Amman, Jordan, I believe that you need to keep two days of Yom Tov. But if you’re in Eilat, you keep one day. Why?
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Being m'ziah (sweating) individual body parts on Shabbos
If one looks into the Tur Beis Yosef (and Shulchan Aruch) in Orach Chaim Siman 326 you will find the halachos of bathing on Shabbos. The Beis Yosef there points to the gemorah where it outlines the ...
5
votes
2answers
209 views
Challah Loaves on Shabbat have a minimum size?
In this article regarding the Shabbat Challah loaves, The Shmirat Shabbat KeHilchata (vol. II 55:5) is quoted as saying:
The loaves must each be at least the size of an olive
Normally, the size ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
Not eating from the Lechem Mishnah
Take for example the following case. Someone only has one piece of bread. However his neighbor has 2 whole challas (and only 2.) May the first with the piece of bread take from his neighbor the 2 ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Shaving on Friday when Lag Ba'omer falls out on a Sunday
This year (2011) Lag Ba'omer falls out on a Sunday. I've heard from a few people that the halacha is, that you can shave on the Friday beforehand l'kavod Shabbos. Are there any sources for that? Any ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Making a delayed havdallah from Motzei Shabbos on the night of Rosh HaShanah
The Biur Halacha in Siman 299 brings an interesting opinion from the Magen Avraham. If someone was fasting (and had taken on to fast for a few days) and wasn't able to make havdallah Motzei Shabbos ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Throwing out food with “questionable” hechsher - bal tashchis?
If one receive cooked food from a person that perhaps used ingrediants from a hechsher that one normally wouldn't eat is it bal tashchis to throw out the food?
With packaged, store-bought food it ...
1
vote
0answers
191 views
May a Jew own/operate a blog open to comments?
In light of recent events I would like to know if a Jew may own and operate a blog or website which is open to comments if it is found that comments can often contain lashon hara, rechilus or motzei ...
5
votes
1answer
45 views
Mistake in aliyah on Rosh Chodesh
On Rosh Chodesh we have four aliyos by Krias HaTorah.
Rosh Chodesh fell out on Monday and by mistake it was read by the first aliyah of Kohen the Parsha of that week. After the aliyah was finished ...
13
votes
2answers
209 views
May a man become a gynecologist?
Is there any discussion among the halachic authorities as to whether or not a man can choose to pursue a medical career in gynaecology? The issue that I would presume exists is that unlike other parts ...
4
votes
2answers
139 views
Sitting shiva for non-Jewish relatives?
Should one sit shiva for a non-Jewish relative? Say your mother is Jewish and your father is not, and he dies.
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Eating new grains on the 17th vs the 18th of Nisan
The Shulhan 'Aruch (OC 489:10) states:
אסור לאכול חדש אף בזמן הזה בין לחם בין קלי בין כרמל עד תחלת ליל יח בניסן ובארץ ישראל עד תחלת ליל יז בניסן
"It is forbidden to eat new (grains) even ...
9
votes
3answers
290 views
Wedding ring composition
I was recently told that the ring used for kiddushin should be made entirely out of one kind of metal (usually gold), with no other adornments such as diamonds, etc. I had been under the impression ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
Why is a utensil required when washing one's hands after bathroom use?
I am under the impression that one is required to wash one's hands with a utensil (typically, the same type of cup used to wash before bread) after using the bathroom.
Firstly, what is the source of ...
2
votes
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
votes
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
218 views
Why do plastic bags and not fuselages protect against impurity?
In a picture on this article, we see a kohen who has enclosed himself in a plastic bag so as to avoid becoming impure as a result of flying over a cemetery. Why is it that a pressurized fuselage does ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
If a non-jew steals is he liable to the death penalty?
Stealing is a Noahide commandment. If a non-jew violates a Noahide commandment he is obligated to die. That means if he steals a penny or something he's obligated to death?
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Using water filter/purification system on Shabbos
(Being asked as a theoretical question. Obviously everyone should ask their LOR.)
There is a water filter (or purifier) that works in the following way:
The water flows into a part where there is ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Ashkenazi unsure whether he or she counted the 'Omer one night
According to the Daily Halacha website:
If a person is unsure whether or not he counted a day of the Omer, and cannot determine conclusively if he had counted or if he had missed that day, he ...
10
votes
1answer
118 views
Do men on the women's side count toward a minyan?
If men are on the women's side of the shul during davening when there are no women there, do they count toward the minyan, or are they considered separate? Does it matter if the women's area is right ...
10
votes
3answers
165 views
Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?
Rabbis such as Abudraham have explained a woman's exemption from positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot shehazman grama) in terms of a woman's ongoing and preliminary role in supporting her ...
26
votes
7answers
818 views
Stealing wi-fi?
If someone's neighbor has wi-fi, can he connect into it? Is there an issue of stealing?
1
vote
2answers
80 views
Does a synagogue have the right to dispose of objects abandoned there?
A particular synagogue has large numbers of abandoned tallesim and tefilin in the drawers in the chapel.
Does the synagogue have the right to dispose of objects abandoned there?
Does the law change ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Repentance for stealing not accepted?
I've heard before that there is a Gemorah in Baba Kamma (also brought down in Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Hilchos Genevah) that one who steals something and later wishes to repent and return what ...
9
votes
3answers
324 views
Is catch and release fishing permitted?
Is catch and release fishing permitted? I've heard different opinions on this matter. Whats the official halacha?
2
votes
0answers
68 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?
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Why is the seder “beseder” (in order)?
Is there any halachic reason why we do the seder in the order that we do? It seems that many of the components of the seder are halachically mandated, but is there any halachic mandate that we do them ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views
Can a shul give an aliyah to an openly gay Jewish man when it gives aliyah to people who violate Shabbos?
In a Young Israel shul I've attended, the rabbi would not allow the gabbaim to give Jewish men an aliyah if there is reason to believe that the person is openly gay (and acts on his inclination), ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Can the descendants of a mamzer ever become full Jews?
Is there any way for the descendants of a mamzer to ever become Jews with full rights, or are they stuck with mamzerus forever? For example, if a man who is a mamzer marries a non-Jew, and then their ...
20
votes
2answers
353 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 ...
9
votes
5answers
425 views
Sources For Listening To/Not Listening to Non-Jewish Music
What are sources for it being allowed to listen to non-Jewish music and sources for it being prohibited?
