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
4answers
209 views
Does anyone permit Shehiya to a gas oven/stove without a blech?
Anyone who has made a fire in their fireplace, especially Erev Shabbos for Leil Shabbos, can appreciate the issue of shema yechate b'gechalim as the fuel dies down (and their supper was not yet ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
Genral Muktzeh question [closed]
What are the overall rules of Muktzeh and its categories?
When is one allowed to move a Muktza object and for what purpose?
2
votes
1answer
143 views
11
votes
2answers
322 views
Can you remove a sticker from fruit on shabbos?
Is there a problem removing a sticker that was on your apple, orange, etc. on Shabbos?
2
votes
1answer
88 views
5
votes
0answers
98 views
Pre-Havdalah Melacha [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
After nightfall before Marriv, or after ...
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 ...
12
votes
5answers
354 views
using two plastic cups for Kiddush
I know making kiddush with a plastic cup is problematic because of requirements. I have seen people using two plastic cups: what is the source for this and is it legitimate?
7
votes
2answers
138 views
Standing during the Aseres HaDibros
There are people that always stand by Laining and people that always sit. Among those that sit there are those that stand at certain points, such as the Aseres HaDibros or the Shira, etc. Is it proper ...
6
votes
2answers
179 views
6
votes
3answers
199 views
What is better - checking yourself - or buying pre checked?
Nowadays you can purchase pre checked fresh lettuce, and frozen checked veggies. What is more preferable - to check yourself or to purchase pre checked?
7
votes
3answers
253 views
8
votes
1answer
711 views
Can a live video feed remove the prohibition of Yichud?
I was wondering if and how a public videostream could affect a potential yichud situation. For example, may a single guy and girl be secluded if they set up a continuously broadcasting camera and ...
9
votes
2answers
213 views
Deliveries on Shabbos
This is a two-part question:
What do you do if while you are at home during Shabbos, someone knocks at your door, and when you open it a delivery person (UPS/FedEx/USPS/DHL etc.) hands you a package ...
2
votes
1answer
341 views
What Bracha do you make on craisins?
What Bracha do you make on craisins (dried cranberries)? Is it a HaAdama as fresh cranberries or is it Shehakol as it is dried with a significant amount of sugar? Sources please.
4
votes
2answers
385 views
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Can one person say Kaddish for two different deceased people?
Can one person say Kaddish for two different deceased people?
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Issur Doraisa from Trup? [closed]
What Halacha (Issur Doraisia) do we learn out from a Trup and which word is it?
1
vote
1answer
268 views
taking off your mezuzah
What happens if you take off your mezuzah because its not yours is a bracha required if you change mezuzas?
4
votes
2answers
105 views
Is checking the parshios a hefsek?
Are you required to make another bracha on your tefillin if you take them off to check the parshios?
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Tetragrammaton homophone
If someone has a name in a foreign language which sounds like the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YKVK), is there any problem calling the person by name?
4
votes
2answers
351 views
Washing after Haircut and modern day blood letting
What are the rules for Washing after Haircuts and or Shaving and or is there a requirement at all? Also after donating blood is there a requirment to Wash hands and or a blood test and is there a ...
6
votes
2answers
571 views
Washing Hands post Funeral
What is the proper way to wash after a Funeral or a visit to the Cemetery?
1
vote
1answer
217 views
Worms (Tolaim) in dried fruit
With Tu B'Shevat in 2 weeks, and the Inyan of eating fruits many people eat dried fruit. What are the concerns regarding worms in specific fruits? How do you check to make sure that there are no ...
2
votes
5answers
232 views
Untrustworthy sifrei halacha?
I have noticed that there are a few popular printings of the Mishna B'rura that come with footnote references to the Chazon Ish on each halacha where the two disagree (example).
I have also noticed a ...
3
votes
1answer
265 views
6
votes
2answers
152 views
Hagala for a new pot
I know that there is a halakhic necessity to tovel a new pot. However, has anyone ever heard of the halakhic necessity to do hagala on a new pot?
Reason for asking was this.
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
1answer
171 views
Bananagrams on Shabbos
Is there a problem with playing Bananagrams on Shabbos because of Borer or any other reason?
3
votes
2answers
153 views
Child and Lights on Shabbos
Can you put a Child who is not Yet old enough to understand (Lo Higyah Lichinuch) Shabbos in front of a Light switch in order that they turn it off or on and is there a difference between the two ...
14
votes
4answers
583 views
8
votes
1answer
2k views
2
votes
10answers
189 views
8
votes
3answers
93 views
Mitzvot for ketanim?
Are there any mitzvot that kids under bar/bat mitzvah are obligated to keep? (not including for "educational purposes")
8
votes
2answers
434 views
Is there an issue with ladies going to the zoo when they are pregnant?
Is there an issue with ladies going to the zoo when they are pregnant? If yes then why is it a problem?
3
votes
4answers
222 views
Lady drinking Havdalah wine
Many times I have heard that a lady should not drink the wine from Havdalah as it will make her grow a beard.
If a lady drank from the Havdalah wine will she really grow a beard?
Is there a source ...
6
votes
4answers
349 views
Eclipse of the moon, bad sign for the Jews
Tonight, December 20, 2010, there will be a full lunar eclipse visible from North America and many other areas. I recall there is a Gemara that says that a lunar eclipse is a bad omen for the Jews as ...
4
votes
2answers
50 views
Asara B'Teveis on a Friday
This year Asara B'Teveis came out on a Friday. Suppose you would Daven Mincha before Plag and Kaballas Shabbos right after Plag and come home when it is still light outside, would you be allowed to ...
12
votes
4answers
700 views
What Bracha do you make on Sushi?
Really, as simple as that. What Bracha do you make on Sushi? Is the rice the main part and therefore a Mezonos, or is it just a toful in which case I guess a shehakol?
11
votes
2answers
232 views
Stacking Seforim
From the things I heard in yeshiva category:
Are we allowed to place less revered seforim on top of more revered seforim? I believe that the consensus is that you are only allowed to stacks seforim ...
7
votes
2answers
89 views
How did the Sages know that Jerusalem had a wall in the times of Joshua?
The criterion for whether a city celebrates Purim on 14 Adar or Shushan Purim on 15 Adar is whether it was walled in the times of Joshua (about 3300 years ago). (Well Shushan itself is an exception, ...
3
votes
2answers
101 views
sitting on a table with sifrei kodesh on it
Is there a halachik problem with sitting on a table or surface that has siddurim/chumashim on it? What about other sefarim? What about putting one's feet on a table that has such books on it?
8
votes
3answers
263 views
Kohanic Hand Gestures?
How are Kohanim supposed to position their hands and in what shape during Birkhat Kohanim? Answer with most opinions backed by sources wins.
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Loshon Harah in Restaurant Reviews
There is a website and iPhone app that contain a listing of kosher restaurants. In addition, one feature is the listing of 'star-ratings' and reviews by users. Are there any halachic ramifications ...
14
votes
2answers
183 views
Making the Kohen's Gesture
Is it forbidden for a non-Kohen to form the hand formation that Kohanim use during their priestly blessings?
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Answering questions on a website that were asked on Shabbos
Is allowing questions to be asked on a website on Shabbos against Halacha? And is answering them helping encourage Chilul Shabbos?
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Preferable time to light Chanukah Menorah
What is the preferable time to light before Marriv or after and after dark or before?
3
votes
2answers
76 views
What took 8 days
What took 8 days it seems the process of oil Making takes a lot less time (I have done it in Israel on one of the tourist trips) so what exactly Historically took 8 days?
2
votes
2answers
153 views
Fish Tank Menorahs
There are people who light in a Fish Tank Menorah among then Reb Eliyashiv and Reb Kanievsky arguably the two most prominent Halachic authorities in the world.
There is an inherent problem in that ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
Would the rabbis who prohibit all gambling and lotteries prohibit a no-lose lottery?
In a no-lose lottery, lots of people put money in a bank; all of them will get their money back whenever they want. Additionally, the bank takes the proceeds from investing their money and ...
