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
320 views
Sefiras HaOmer - earliest time to count
According to Halacha what is the earliest time can you say Sefiras HaOmer each night and be Yotzei?
5
votes
2answers
190 views
Where is the story of the medieval rabbi who ruled a fish was non-kosher because of his dream?
If I recall correctly there's some fish whose kosher status is questionable; a medieval rabbi (Rishon) ruled it was okay, then had a dream that night where all his students were sitting around and ...
7
votes
1answer
553 views
Tznius In Regards to Covering Elbows
Are there sources that say women do not have to cover elbows? Because I've seen Orthodox women not covering them and I want to be able to say that there are sources that support their actions.
9
votes
4answers
338 views
Quinoa Kitniyos status
Is Quinoa Kitniyos I know it is currently a machlokes can you name the sides and what is the reasoning
8
votes
4answers
224 views
What is the meaning of the inscription on the back of a m'zuza?
The string "כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is written on the back side of the parchment in many a doorpost scripture.
According to the Ra"sh (hilchos m'zuza 18)
וכן נהגו לכתוב באשכנז ובצרפת כנגד ה' אלקינו ה' ...
14
votes
4answers
246 views
When did kosher bakeries, restaurants, etc. start requiring supervision?
If my neighbor Shmerel keeps kosher and otherwise appears to be observant to the best of my knowledge, then I'd be allowed to eat in his house (assuming I'm invited), eid echad ne'eman b'issurin, his ...
9
votes
2answers
503 views
How should one dispose of cut finger nails? Is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to walk on them?
Is there an Inyan of pregnant women walking over cut nails ex: a nail salon? Also, can I just vacuum up the cut nails from the floor?
8
votes
2answers
70 views
Why 30 days of preparation for a חג
Why exactly 30 days to review the laws of the upcoming holidays? Is there anything about the number 30 that makes it significant?
3
votes
1answer
130 views
4
votes
3answers
115 views
Nightime Seudah on Purim
Is there a requirement to have a meal on the night of Meggilah reading?
If not, why is there a custom to eat one?
Is one required to drink even at night?
6
votes
2answers
89 views
Multiple people using one Shalach Manos
Can a bunch of people be Yotzei their Chiyuv of Shalach Manos with one Basket? What are the Halachic requirements for doing so?
6
votes
1answer
55 views
1
vote
1answer
32 views
2
votes
2answers
182 views
Eat before Laining Esther
Can you eat before The public reading of Meggilas Esther and does a year where Purim comes out on Motzeh Shabbos make a difference?
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Microphone for Meggilah
Can one be Yotzeh Meggilah on Skype or webcast or through a microphone or telephone is there a difference between each? Does a Hearing Aid disqualify a person from being Yotzeh the Laining?
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Time for Reading the Meggilah
What is the optimal time for reading the Meggilah
By day?
By night?
When is the first and last halachicly acceptable time for each?
2
votes
1answer
39 views
1
vote
3answers
80 views
Reading Meggilah for women
What is the Process if you are Laining Meggilah for women only:
Who makes the Bracha? Before and after? Can a person who has already heard be yotzeh the Women? Does it make a difference if it is ...
4
votes
2answers
125 views
Meggilah Minyan
Does meggilah require a Minyan And why and how far must one go to get one?(there is a great story about the Gra with this one)
3
votes
2answers
61 views
4
votes
1answer
61 views
Parshat Zachor - Do you need to understand or just hear
The responsibility of reading Zachor is in order to remember to wipe out Amalek. Therefore we read it annually.
Does someone who hears the words of Zachor, but does not understand them, still ...
5
votes
2answers
173 views
Zeicher vs Zecher
What is the underlying argument between the two pronunciations and what are the multiple ways to deal with the problem?
6
votes
4answers
120 views
Parshas Zachor Sfardi versus Ashkenazi
Can a Sefardi be Yotzeh Zachor with an Ashkenazi Laining and vice Versa?
1
vote
2answers
182 views
Drunken Davening
Can one daven Drunk and what is the Level of drunkenness that disallows one from Davening?
3
votes
1answer
218 views
Megilah or Havdalah, which is done first? Why?
When Megilah reading is Motza'ei Shabbos (Saturday Night) what is said first, Havdalah or Megilah and why?
6
votes
1answer
102 views
Owning stock in companies that operate on shabbat
It is my understanding that one may only have ownership in a business that operates on shabbat if you co-own with a gentile and have an explicit arrangement that all profits derived on shabbat belong ...
2
votes
1answer
275 views
What is Neitz and why is it important
What is Neitz and why is it important?
My inspiration:
http://mekubal.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/at-long-last/#comments
1
vote
0answers
79 views
Hashem's Name in Digital Works [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hashems name on device
Normally there are all sorts of problems with writing Hashem's name on paper, and then erasing it. How does this apply to digital mediums (more ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Tehillim while jogging
May I recite Tehillim while jogging or performing other kinds of physical exercise?
3
votes
1answer
67 views
Shehechiyanu on Mishloach Manos and Matonos L'Evyonim
When we say Shehechiyanu in the morning by Kriyas HaMegila they announce in my Shul to have in mind the Mitzvos HaYom of Mishloach Manos, Matonos L'Evyonim, and Seudas Purim. Can you give Mishloach ...
9
votes
3answers
411 views
Where did the “different bracha for mishloach manos” idea come from?
Rambam and Shulchan Aruch say you can send two types of meat as mishloach manos on Purim.
Yet somehow I (and many other people, apparently) were taught that the two different items have to be in two ...
5
votes
1answer
166 views
Eating in someone's home who eats in non kosher restraurants
Can one eat at a friend's home who keeps a kosher home but eats at non kosher restraurants?
5
votes
4answers
321 views
Reading a newspaper on Shabbat
Is there any issues with reading a newspaper on Shabbat? Assuming you are not carrying the paper into the house without an eruv, I seem to remember hearing that you can not read a Saturday newspaper ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Halachos of an Aveil with Mishloach Manos
The Rama in Orach Chaim 696:6 says we do not send Misloach Manos to an Aveil. The way people send is to send it to the family, rather than directly to the Aveil. If you do not know anyone else in the ...
6
votes
1answer
154 views
Purchasing from a Jew
רמבם, הלכות מתנות עניים י:ז
שמנה מעלות יש בצדקה זו למעלה מזו, מעלה גדולה שאין למעלה ממנה זה המחזיק ביד ישראל שמך ונותן לו מתנה או הלואה או עושה עמו שותפות או ממציא לו מלאכה כדי לחזק את ידו עד שלא ...
3
votes
1answer
349 views
4
votes
2answers
119 views
Measurements used in Halacha
What is the underlying argument between the Chazon Ish and Rabbi Chaim Naaeh and Reb Moshe Feinstein? I know they argue in amounts, but what is the underlying argument? How did each get the ...
3
votes
2answers
222 views
Shabbat restrictions in the Army
Are there any Shabbat restrictions in the army during basic training? If this is only basic training and not war-time is this still considered pekuach-nefesh?
2
votes
2answers
77 views
Jewish king outside Eretz Yisra'el
What would the status of a country dictated by a Jewish monarch be if that country were not [in] Eretz Yisra'el?
Would people need to separate t'rumos and ma'asros there?
(Sorry for the brevity, but ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
5
votes
2answers
178 views
Greek Mythology in Jewish Day Schools
Is there any issue with the general studies department of a Jewish day school teaching Greek mythology to the students?
5
votes
2answers
196 views
Does Robot = Golem?
Would an anthropomorphic robot who could communicate with and do the bidding of humans qualify Halachicaly as a Golem? Would new rulings have to be devised for their status?
4
votes
0answers
84 views
Tzitzis and Sports [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Tzitzis while exercising?
Should one take them off during sports? I've heard lots about this (both ways), but I want to know what Halacha says.
3
votes
1answer
91 views
Is there such a thing as dispassionate p'sak?
(Inspired by http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/6008/psak-halacha-by-ai)
Much is made of the need for poskim to be well-experienced people who have been involved in a number and variety of Jewish ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
Birchas Hatorah and Sefardic women
In an earlier question I mentioned that women make Birchas Hatorah. Is the same true for Sefardic women and why?
5
votes
1answer
118 views
4
votes
1answer
87 views
התראה by phone?
Can warning for a capital crime be accomplished by telephone?
Hello?
Are you aware that it is currently שבת where you are?
Yes. I am aware of the punishment and prepared to do it anyway.
Are ...
2
votes
2answers
200 views
P'sak halacha by AI?
How good does artificial intelligence need to be before we can turn to a robot for piskei halacha?
The accepted reason that even the most knowledgeable people need to ask legal advice from poskim is ...
3
votes
1answer
184 views
Chanukas Habayis
In Chutz Laaretz do you make a Chanukas Habayis? Do the Halachic requirements and process differ from in Israel?
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Cancellation of debt, income?
Suppose someone has a $20,000 balance on a credit card or HELOC and settles for $10,000 - the IRS considers it cancellation of debt income and you are required to pay taxes on your $10,000 gain. Would ...
