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 ...
5
votes
0answers
92 views
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukkah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicization to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the ...
6
votes
2answers
143 views
Is one allowed to cancel a check?
If I give a check to someone (as a gift) and I change my mind, am I halachically allowed to cancel it, or do we say that the check is a shtar, and by signing it is considered as if I gave him the ...
14
votes
3answers
529 views
The laws behind the separation of men and women
In Israel there is a hot debate because of instances on some communities where extra steps are taken to separate men and women in every day life. For example in some bus lines women seat in the back ...
4
votes
2answers
118 views
Can donating to a Gemach be ribbis?
Suppose that Reuven is strapped for cash. He goes to the local Gemach and gets a hefty $10,000 dollar loan for his daughter's wedding. 3 months later, Reuven manages to acquire the money and repays ...
4
votes
4answers
395 views
Tzitzis while exercising?
Does one need to wear tzitzis while exercising? Isn't it disrespectful to the tzitzis to make them all sweaty?
9
votes
4answers
143 views
Are there halachos which specify who is qualified for tzedakah?
Following a very interesting and animated discussion at the Shabbos table this past Friday night, I wanted to delve more into the halachos of who is an oni? I understand very clearly from the Neviim ...
5
votes
4answers
120 views
Is it required to knock on doors before entering?
Do we have to knock on people's doors before entering?
5
votes
1answer
77 views
How does someone who needs a cane/walker/etc do the amidah — standing and leaning, or sitting?
According to this question, it is forbidden to lean on anything while praying the amidah, where leaning means the object bears some of your weight. What does somebody who can stand but only with the ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
175 views
Rabbinic Responses to Landline Telephones
Recently the use of cellphones and smartphones has met with a lot of criticism in some communities. I'd be interested to see if landline telephones encountered any similar opposition when they were ...
7
votes
2answers
260 views
Magen Avraham - Practically no Plag HaMinḥah or just no Plag HaMinḥah in winter?
Calling all science and math-oriented Judaism.SE-ers!
According to the website MyZmanim.com, today's Halachic times where I work are as follows (only a handful of times are shown because the question ...
4
votes
2answers
76 views
In which cases are you exempt from eating in the sukkah?
Are we required to eat every meal and every food/drink under the sukkah?
What if it is raining? Cold? What if there are too many people to all fit under the sukkah (we have lots of guests)?
Those ...
2
votes
1answer
237 views
Are women exempt from Tachanun and discouraged from saying it?
My brother heard from someone that she heard that women are exempt from saying Tachanun and therefore discouraged from saying it. Is this so? If so, why? Do you know sources for this?
UPDATE: I ...
3
votes
3answers
151 views
Petur (exemption) - Does intent matter?
Does one's intent factor into one's ability to rely upon an exemption in Halachah?
For example on Sukkoth, if I have no Sukkah and no intention of building a Sukkah (let's say at work, for one ...
7
votes
4answers
262 views
Do you have to check boiled eggs?
Is it necessary to check hard or soft boiled eggs for blood spots?
I've never seen anyone do it, so perhaps it is not, but if so, why?
7
votes
0answers
133 views
What did a “don't-issue-rulings” semicha (ordination) look like?
Again from the biography of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein found in Igrot Moshe Volume 8 (emphasis added):
Many approached [him] for ordination, and he was not difficult on them. Some ordinations were ...
10
votes
2answers
170 views
Jewish definition of a charity
I know that Jews are supossed to give 10% of their income to charity, but what constitutes a charity? I know that Shuls, jewish schools and poor people in your community count, but what about secular ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
May one use Ma'aser (tithe) for non-Jewish charities? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Jewish definition of a charity
May one use one's Ma'aser (tithe) money to donate to non-Jewish charities, or is the requirement for Ma'aser only fulfilled if the ...
11
votes
2answers
477 views
Giving gifts to non-Jews at Christmastime
Is it okay at Christmastime to give a gift to a boss or for kids to give gifts to teachers if they are not Jewish?
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Glass boxes and Hadlaka Oseh Mitzvah [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Fish Tank Menorahs
I think this is a familiar question, but since I don't have an answer, I'll ask it here. Since the halacha is that Hadlaka Oseh Mitzva (the conditions ...
5
votes
2answers
140 views
Is one allowed to fold the corner of a book on Shabbos?
An easy way to keep a bookmark is to fold the upper-right corner of a book (aka Dog ears)
Is such an action permitted on Shabbos?
6
votes
2answers
158 views
Lefties have rights too!
There are many Halachos that a leftie does with his left hand and those that he does with his right hand. For example Shema is always done with the right hand even if you are a leftie. By which other ...
8
votes
2answers
152 views
Leaning on things during prayer?
It says in Shulchan Aruch that one may not lean on anything while reciting sh'mona esre. (OC 94:8) The Mishna B'rura defines "leaning" as placing one's weight on another object such that if the object ...
11
votes
3answers
357 views
Is it better to kill 1 person or let 5 die?
I was recently reading about the Trolley Problem
A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are five people who have been tied to the track by a mad philosopher. Fortunately, ...
5
votes
2answers
115 views
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing Anim Zemiros?
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing the Shir Hakavod (or Anim Zemiros)? Why is it not like any other part of davenning where we use someone over barmitzvah?
3
votes
1answer
73 views
Is one allowed to sell a forged painting?
One makes an exact carbon-copy (perfect copy, in such a way that one will never be able to tell the difference between an original and a copy. For arguments sake, lets say through witchcraft) of (say) ...
7
votes
2answers
140 views
Cutting through Church property to get somewhere else
I happen to work in a small village, and I noticed while walking to work that if I were to go along the side of one of the churches here and through the back, I could get to the local supermarket. I ...
9
votes
3answers
449 views
What evidence is required to indicate mamzer status?
It seems to me that just about every possible shadow of doubt is used to prevent halachic rulings that would classify a person as a mamzer. From my understanding after having read this paragraph on ...
6
votes
3answers
112 views
What is flavored beer vis-a-vis kashrus?
As referenced in Shalom's answer here, the cRc alcohol list here, and many other places, non-flavored, domestic beer can be assumed legally drinkable according to halacha.
What constitutes flavoring ...
4
votes
0answers
146 views
Using Liquor for Kiddush [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Minimum Shi'ur for Kiddush on liquor
Are you allowed to use other alcohols outside of wine for kiddush and how much must be used? really what i don't understand is ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Making seltzer/soda water on Shabbat or Yom Tov
Can a person make seltzer on shobbos or yom tov with something like sodastream?
5
votes
3answers
220 views
Boruch Sheomar - kissing the Tzitzis
The Mishna Berura Siman 51 :1 says that you should kiss the 2 front Tzitzis when you finish saying Boruch Sheomar.
http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14170&st=&pgnum=155
1 - Why do we ...
4
votes
1answer
76 views
Give ma'aser on money that you didn't make yet?
Can I give ma'aser on money that I didn't earn yet but I know I will be earning in the future?
4
votes
1answer
350 views
Lifting a handkerchief before signing the Ketubah?
I know at a Jewish wedding, just before the Ketubah is signed, the groom picks up a handkerchief in front of everyone. I remember this has something to do with "kinyan chalifin"; could someone please ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Israeli Chazzan outside of Israel says “tal umotor” at the right time for him but not us
We know that the shaliach tzibbur must follow the local custom even to the extent of his own silent Amidah .
What should be done, then, when a resident of Israel who is acting as shaliach tzibbur ...
5
votes
4answers
207 views
Priority of Davening with a Minyan
Is it better to Daven [pray] with a earlier large minyan or better to wait to daven later with a much smaller minyan where i will be needed as the tenth?
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
2answers
213 views
Should retroactive divorce (a la David & Batsheva) be reinstituted?
Almost all the commentaries on David and Batsheva's seeming indiscretion follow Rashi who points out during that time a retroactive divorce was given upon the husband leaving for war, therefore ...
4
votes
2answers
191 views
What is the Brocha one says on Quiche
If one makes a Quiche with bread-dough, does it become Pas Habaah Bkisnin and the Brocha would be mzonos or not?
5
votes
1answer
97 views
Sand art on Shabbos
Is it Hallachicly permissible to make Sand art on Shabbos or is it prohibited on Shabbos and if so what prohibition are you doing maybe writing?
3
votes
0answers
95 views
Proper Bracha on Chanuka candles [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Lhadlik ner (SHEL) Chanukah
What is the proper Nusach - Lehadlik Ner Shel Chanuka or LeHadlik Ner Chanuka?
3
votes
2answers
89 views
Connecting sides of tallit to avoid chiyuv tzitzit
If I have a coat that is slit up the side rov of the way up so that it is chayav in tzitzit, if I sew on some buttons (snap? regular?) to keep it closed below rov, is it no longer chayav in tzitzit, ...
6
votes
2answers
103 views
Why don't we say Avinu Malcanu on Tisha B' Av?
Why don't we say Avinu Malcanu on Tisha B' Av?
The Artscroll Siddur says "on fast days that tachanun is omitted...", is there any other reason?
12
votes
3answers
260 views
Why is Rosh Chodesh sometimes TWO days?
Why for certain months of the year do we celebrate the festival of Rosh Chodesh for two days while on other Roshei Chadashim we have one day of Rosh Chodesh?
6
votes
3answers
94 views
Lashonos Hatzemer
I know what hand-spun is and what niputz lishmah is, but what about "lashonos hatzemer?" It seems the Eidoh Chareidis of Jerusalem adheres to this chumroh for tzitzis. All I know is that it's a stage ...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
What are the kashrut standards of the various nationwide (and regional) kashrut agencies?
I'd like to see a resource developed which transparently compares the standards of the various kashrut agencies. Just like I can retrieve an incredibly in-depth comparison chart from Wikipedia ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Why is one permitted to ignore the prohibition of shatnez when it comes to tzitzis?
Why is shatnez (a garment made of a mixture of wool and linen, which is forbidden) muter (permissible) by tzitzis?
6
votes
1answer
95 views
When is “vesain tal umotor” said in Australia?
When is "vesain tal umotor" said in the Southern Hemisphere eg Australia?
2
votes
2answers
91 views
Responding to kaddish in pesukei dezimro
If I am saying pesukei dezimro, I can only make some responses to kaddish (Tefillo Kehilchoso, 10 (50)).
OC 51 (4) [8] and Biur Halocho d.h. tzorich refer to this but do not specify the permitted ...
10
votes
3answers
190 views
Can I omit ברוך השם לעולם אמן ואמן to catch up in Maariv?
If the Shaliach Tzibbur for maariv (outside of Israel) goes too quickly for me to start the Amidah with him, is there a source which would allow me to omit the section
ברוך השם לעולם אמן ואמן?
This ...
