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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1answer
185 views
Woman and Zimun: What is the requirement?
What is a woman's requirement to say Bircat Hamazon with a Zimun of women?
What is a women's requirement to say Bircat Hamazon with a Zimun of men?
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2answers
211 views
Is there tashlumin for n'ila?
Can one make up n'ila at the next prayer or the previous one at n'ila?
11
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4answers
244 views
Voting for a person that will not uphold Torah values
It is well known that Rabbi Avigdor Miller Zatzal strongly condemned those that voted for candidates that would not uphold Torah values. Yet there were many Gedolim that had no problem voting for such ...
11
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1answer
270 views
Putting Tefillin on Un-educated Jews
May one put tefillin on an uneducated Jew without first explaining to him the laws of keeping his body clean and conveying to him the seriousness of the sanctity of tefillin (is that even possible?)?
11
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4answers
192 views
Commencing Shabbos: Shkiya behind a mountain
It is common practice nowadays for Shuls to publish the zmanim (times) to begin Shabbos (the Sabbath) and other activities. These times, it would seem, are based upon standard calculations of sunrise ...
11
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2answers
340 views
Shomer Negiah without direct contact?
An interesting thought crossed my mind: does shomer negiah specifically only relate to direct, physical contact, or does it additionally extend to cover cases where there is no direct touch?
Though ...
11
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4answers
197 views
Aluminum Pan Reuse
If you reuse an Aluminium pan does it then require a Tevilah as it is no longer a one time use disposable pan and now is a Keli which requires Tevilah?
11
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3answers
245 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 ...
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3answers
227 views
Is one allowed to have a tattoo of G-d's name removed?
Inspired by Dan's question , and requested by DoubleAA...
If one got a tattoo of G-d's name, either in ignorance or in spite of the prohibition against tattooing, may one have it removed? Would this ...
11
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1answer
162 views
What is the source that Parshas Parah is from the Torah?
I have read in many places that Parah could be a bliblical requirement to read.
Why is that? Zachor makes sense (as it says so in the Torah here). Why Parah?
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2answers
474 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?
11
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2answers
308 views
Why does writing on Shabbos need two letters?
In order to transgress "writing" (כותב) on Shabbos, (m'd'oraysah) one must write two letters. (See for example here.)
Why is this so? Shouldn't writing anything still be considered writing?
For ...
11
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1answer
196 views
Bringing wallet with benscher into bathroom
If someone has one of the small "pocket benschers" that slide into his wallet, is it a problem for him to walk into the bathroom with his wallet in his pocket?
11
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5answers
343 views
Did the Rambam believe in magic?
If you read through Chapter 11 of the Rambam's laws on Idol Worship, you'll see what seems to be the Rambam forbidding anything that even resembles magic, all while calling such practices foolish and ...
11
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1answer
277 views
Mouthwash on a public fast day?
Is it permitted to use mouthwash on a public fast day? Would a sensitive mouth, due to medical reasons be a good reason to be lenient?
(I can see it being less problematic than brushing one's teeth, ...
11
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2answers
174 views
Does everyone have to drink the Kiddush wine?
When making Kiddush, does everyone who is yotzei have to drink the wine or grape juice, or is merely hearing it enough?
In my experience, it appears that Friday nights everyone is careful to drink, ...
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3answers
224 views
Limits to Dina Dmalchusa Dina
What are the specifications of Dina Dimalchusah? A more targeted question to answer would be: If I ripped off the label of my mattress — the label that says its removal is punishable by federal ...
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1answer
116 views
Bracha after an earthquake
Per the Artscroll Siddur after an earthquake we make a Bracha "Oseh Maaseh Breishis". Up to how long after the earthquake can you make this Bracha? (sources please)
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3answers
190 views
What potential issues may arise with serving jury duty on Tisha b'Av?
I was recently summoned for jury duty and initially selected to be on the jury for a criminal trial that was expected to go through Tisha b'Av. If I were selected, what issues would I face in serving ...
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2answers
129 views
Does an improperly slaughtered animal render the Shochet impure?
In Vayikra 11:39 it says:
לט. וְכִי יָמוּת מִן הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר הִיא לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּנִבְלָתָהּ יִטְמָא עַד הָעָרֶב:
39) If an animal that you [normally] eat, dies, one who ...
11
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2answers
709 views
What are the halachic boundaries between a brother and sister?
Can they touch each other? Hug? Are they allowed to expose their legs, arms, etc., in front of each other? Can they swim together? Dance together?
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5answers
420 views
Halakhic International Date Line issues
According to halakha, where is the international date line?
More specifically, I have heard that some people say you should observe Shabbat on Sunday in Japan & New Zealand and/or on Friday in ...
11
votes
1answer
201 views
Why does a Meat Thermometer not need Tevilla?
In this answer, We were told that "according to the Star-K Tevila Guidelines, no tevila is required for a meat thermometer."
Why not?
From the Star-K's article on Tevillat Kelim:
Utensils ...
11
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1answer
181 views
Rainbow in water spray
You can often see a rainbow in a spray of water such as from sprinkler irrigation. Is the brocha for a rainbow applicable in that case?
Also, does a rainbow that comes from a prism get a brocha too?
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1answer
307 views
Kiddush between 6 and 7 o'clock - Which clock?
Many people hold that one should not make kiddush on Shabbos between the hours of 6 and 7. (Sources: Shulchan Aruch Harav and Taamei Haminhagim, (who, in turn, bring a Maharil, a Magen Avraham, and a ...
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2answers
134 views
“Avram” for when he was young?
The Gemara in Brachot 13a teaches us that we should only refer to Avraham as Avraham and not as Avram.
תני בר קפרא כל הקורא לאברהם אברם עובר בעשה שנאמר (בראשית יז) והיה שמך
אברהם רבי אליעזר אומר ...
11
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2answers
212 views
May one walk under the Arch of Titus?
I have heard that it is prohibited (or at least that the custom is not) to walk under the Arch of Titus in Rome. Is this accurate? If so, what is the source? Would it make a difference if a large ...
11
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1answer
168 views
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse? I will be in Nevada next week and would like to make a blessing over the May 21 Solar Eclipse. Thanks!
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3answers
311 views
Yerushalmi Versus Bavli in Halacha
The halacha we have today is mostly sourced in Talmud Bavli(the Babylonian Talmud),Medrash and Zohar. I would like to know what Halachot in which we rule according to the Yerushalmi (the Jerusalem ...
11
votes
3answers
349 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, ...
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3answers
365 views
In regards to writing, can soda bottles be opened on Shabbos?
Specifically, when the writing - such as an expiration date - is printed in dot matrix style across the line between the bottle cap and the bottle cap's ring, what are the issues involved in opening ...
11
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2answers
160 views
Cooking meat and milk as a chef
In this article an Orthodox woman describes how her rav permitted her to enroll in culinary school. Although he apparently did not permit cooking meat and milk together, is there any angle to permit ...
11
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2answers
248 views
Does golel for first torah stand for second torah?
When there are two or three sifrei torah read on the same day, either the magbiah or golel holds the first sefer while the second is read. In this case should he stand for…
kadish after reading from ...
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2answers
147 views
Gap zip up sweatshirt Kesivah on Shabbos?
Does zippering up a sweatshirt like this one, which when zippering causes the letter A to become a letter create a problem of Kesivah on Shabbos? Is an Old Navy sweatshirt where the word Old is on one ...
11
votes
3answers
191 views
Is it permissible for a Gentile to utter Hashem's Name?
I have seen a lot of mention about "Hashem's Name" on this website.
I would like to know:
Is it permissible for a Jew to tell a Gentile what Hashem's Name really is--what I am asking is, say, a ...
11
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2answers
161 views
If you realize you're carrying on Shabbat, what's the best thing to do?
I've heard that you should put it down on a makom patur while still walking. However, a true makom patur is tall and skinny, like a post, and therefore possibly difficult to find.
I've also heard ...
11
votes
3answers
363 views
Woman's hair covering in the home or in private
Trying to sort out my question, I came across this one, which is closely related, but it is not an exact duplicate.
According to those who say a woman must cover her hair, not just her head (those ...
11
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2answers
188 views
Is it forbidden to wear a snap-brim Borsolino fedora on Shabbos?
The Talmud, at Shabbos 138b, presents the opinion that one may not wear a siyana -- which Rashi defines as a wide-brimmed hat -- on Shabbos if it has a brim that is one tefach (hand-bredth) wide ...
11
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2answers
252 views
Starbucks VIA on shabbat
Someone recently mentioned in a conversation about making/ not making tea on shabbat with a tea bag, that the Starbucks VIA coffee is micro-ground vs how ever regular instant coffee is made and that ...
11
votes
1answer
280 views
Why don't we bow “correctly” during tefillah anymore?
According to the Gemara (Megillah 22b), and according to the RaMBa"M (Hil. Tefillah 5:13) (and apparently R' Avraham ben HaRaMBa"M was adamant), when we pray we are supposed to bow down ON our knees ...
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3answers
197 views
Ma'aser kesafim on capital appreciation
If you own property (e.g. stocks or real estate) that increase in value over the course of the year, are you require to donate 10% of the increase to tzedaka, if you are merely holding on to the ...
11
votes
1answer
159 views
if a convert later finds out she was Jewish anyway through her mother's mother, does she need a new ketubah?
If a convert (orthodox) later finds out she was Jewish anyway through her mother, does she need a new ketubah since the one she has says bas Avraham and giyorta? Would the answer be different if the ...
11
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1answer
132 views
Bagging meat with milk
Two different supermarket cashiers have expressed mild surprise at my willingness to put cold, packaged meat and cold, packaged cheese in the same shopping bag, explaining that other Jewish customers ...
11
votes
1answer
146 views
Rockets from Gaza while praying
I live in Beer Sheva, Israel where there are presently ongoing rockets fired at us from Gaza. We are warned of an impending rocket by a loud siren that gives us less than a minute to run to a bomb ...
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2answers
170 views
What is the bracha on “cookies and cream” flavor ice cream?
I saw here that Rav Belsky holds the following:
One of the flavors of Klein's parve ice cream is "Cookies and Cream" which contains cookie crumbs or bits which are sprinkled through areas of ...
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2answers
323 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?
11
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1answer
166 views
Insurance against משיח
According to this rather amusing blog post, there is apparently a common clause in rental contracts in Jerusalem, called the Messiah clause, in which, when a landlord outside of Israel rents out a ...
11
votes
1answer
170 views
In a bulk food store, must I ask to see the original label every time I return and buy my favorite food?
I know that where I live, some foods don't need kosher certification. But most do.
Say I go to a reliable bulk food store, ask to see the original bucket that a certain food came in, see a reliable ...
11
votes
1answer
160 views
Safek (doubt) in Halachah - How unsure does one have to be?
If someone is unsure if he recited Tal UMatar, one has to repeat the Shemoneh 'Esreh (it's slightly more complicated, but let's keep it simple).
If one is unsure if he remembered to Bentch (recite ...
11
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2answers
174 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 ...
