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 ...
11
votes
7answers
311 views
Which parts of the prayer service must be said clearly out loud?
I've heard a few different opinions on this. During longer prayer services, such as Shacharit on Shabbat, at least in Nusach Sefard, Pesukei D'Zimrah is quite long and there is a tendency for the ...
11
votes
2answers
143 views
Pool and Tzitzis
Do I need to make another Bracha on putting on tzitzis after I get out of the pool?
11
votes
2answers
286 views
Heretics in the bathroom
From my understanding a torah scroll written by a heretic has no sanctity and should be burned (Gittin 45b). May one read torah related material, written by a heretic but that contains nothing ...
11
votes
1answer
208 views
Lechem Mishlesh?
(Based on Tosfot Pesachim 116a and Aruch haShulchan 274:5 I assume that the man did not fall on Yom Tov and double fell on Erev Yom Tov, and that this is why we have lechem mishne on Yom Tov.)
When ...
11
votes
2answers
417 views
Am I allowed to view a Kotel Cam on Shabbos?
If there is a camera in Israel that is operating on Shabbos, am I (a person living in America, where Shabbos only starts 6 or 7 hours later) allowed to view such a camera?
I suppose the same could be ...
10
votes
2answers
687 views
Can a Cohen marry a bat niddah?
Can a Cohen marry a bat niddah? Are Cohens generally restricted from marrying baalei teshuva because of the possibility that they may be b'not niddah?
10
votes
6answers
526 views
Am I liable to be stoned for my devotion to Hashem and the Jewish people?
I have spent over 2 years to this day praying for the Jewish people from the Koren Siddur and Machzorim. I have with my Rebbe's help tried to follow Jewish customs and laws, to my best ability. ...
10
votes
5answers
249 views
10
votes
8answers
283 views
How do you extend the sound of a daleth in Shema?
How does one extend the sound of the daleth in the echod of the shema as prescribed in OC 61 (6)?. The letter as we say it does not seem to allow extension. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalet ...
10
votes
3answers
488 views
Can a female be a Shochet? (slaughter animals)
Can a female slaughter animals according to Halacha? (sources)
10
votes
4answers
207 views
What is the best way to visualize the Churban Bais HaMikdash?
It is now thousands of years since the Churban Bais HaMikdash. Many jews feel very comfortable in their surroundings. What is the best way for a person to visiualize the great loss of the Bais ...
10
votes
6answers
244 views
Technological innovations and halacha
A generally accepted halachic principle is that the Torah was not given to angels. As such, halacha is only applied within normal human capabilities.
A classic example is that one is not required to ...
10
votes
5answers
415 views
10
votes
4answers
127 views
Why is there Pesach Sheini - The Second Passover?
What is the primary/basic reason why one has a second chance to bring the Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) on Pesach Sheni (a month after Passover)? Other mitzvos, such as hearing the shofar or ...
10
votes
3answers
226 views
Publicly Teaching Halacha
I was looking at this site and was a little bit surprised at this statement:
It is therefore forbidden for Jews to teach non-Jews Halachah
Is this true?
(See a related question on the Meta).
10
votes
3answers
212 views
Is it required to stand during Kaddish?
I've noticed that there are varying minhagim among people whether to stand during Kaddish or not. Is there any actual halacha regarding this and whether it's required?
10
votes
5answers
357 views
10
votes
2answers
167 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 ...
10
votes
4answers
164 views
How do we erase the memory of Amalek?
What does "erase the memory of Amalek" (Deut. 25:19) mean? Does it not contradict the obligation (Deut. 25:17) to remember them every year?
10
votes
3answers
187 views
How long can you say Asher Yotzar if you forgot?
If you forgot to say Asher Yotzar and remember a while later, is there a time limit as to when you are allowed to say it?
10
votes
4answers
381 views
The Ability to Pasken
What gives someone the ability to Pasken? At what point do we say that he is knowledgeable enough to decide questions on a topic? Does this have to do with "Semicha"? Does it have to do with being a ...
10
votes
2answers
216 views
If it rains on my sukkah and I put up a tarp, should I stay in the sukkah?
If it is raining on Succos is there any benefit in eating in a Succah covered with a (Schlack) tarp over eating in the house? (sources please)
10
votes
2answers
295 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
125 views
Relationship between wearing a kippa and reciting a blessing
Before I started wearing a Kippa all the time, the people around me and I had the reflex to cover our head when saying the name of G-d or when reciting anything holy.
Since the mitzvah is to wear it ...
10
votes
2answers
204 views
What is a woman's obligation when it comes to T'fillah?
In Orthodox practice it is commonly thought that women are not obligated in T'fillah (parts of it anyway) due to its time-bound nature. However, what is a woman's obligation? Which prayers must she ...
10
votes
2answers
202 views
Dangling tzitzit
Do tzitzit need to dangle? Can one use some velcro to pin the strings down along the side of the beged so that they don't dangle down and get in the way of things?
10
votes
3answers
185 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 ...
10
votes
3answers
172 views
Flexibility in choice of verses for morning Kiddush
The morning Kiddush on Shabbat and holidays consists of one or more Torah verses followed by the blessing on the wine (or perhaps other beverage). I have seen in print and in practice various ...
10
votes
2answers
188 views
Am I allowed to count people?
Where did the practice of not counting people come from? People count not-one, not-two, not-three etc. What is wrong with counting one, two, three etc? This is often found when counting to see if ...
10
votes
1answer
84 views
STa"M on which children disagree
There is a halacha that if one is unsure if certain letters of STa"M (Sefer Torah/Tefillin/Mezuza) are of the right length, one can ask a child.
What happens if there was a doubt in a letter in a ...
10
votes
1answer
180 views
Bar Mitzvah before Circumcision?
If one was never circumcised can they be called up to the Torah for their bar-mitzvah?
10
votes
2answers
120 views
Can you respond to קדושה if you are not already done with your own ש''ע?
Can you respond to קדושה if you are not already done with your own ש''ע? I heard that you can if you are past a certain point after שים שלום/שלום רב. I just want to know if that's true and, if so, ...
10
votes
4answers
313 views
“Is the market-based distribution of income fair or unfair?”
This post, by a leading economist, lists the main differences on economic policy between the right and left-leaning economists. On many economic issues, Judaism does not necessarily take a clear ...
10
votes
3answers
324 views
When does somebody living in space (e.g. ISS) observe Shabbat?
I understand that Jewish astronauts have been advised to observe Shabbat by Cape Canaveral time, by analogy with traveling to a place that doesn't have daily sunrise/sunset where some rule you use the ...
10
votes
3answers
374 views
Why do we say Shelo Asani Goy?
Why do we say in Birchas HaShachar Shelo Asani Goi - why do we not say SheAsani Yehudi or SheAsani Yisrael?
10
votes
2answers
208 views
Dew distinct from water among the shiva mashkim
The seven mashkim are blood, water, milk, honey, wine, oil, and dew. What is the difference between water and dew? Isn't dew a type of water?
10
votes
1answer
321 views
Is one allowed to drink alcohol on regular weekdays?
Is it permissible to drink alcohol in any circumstance other than Holidays and Shabbat? Please cite sources.
CYLOR.
10
votes
1answer
290 views
What halachot does an American traveling to Israel have to be made aware of?
I'm planning to go to Israel for the first time, b"h, in just over a month. I'll be going on an organized trip and then I hope to stay until after tisha b'av. What halchot do I need to know about? (I ...
10
votes
3answers
267 views
DNA and Jewish Law
Why isn't DNA seen as a valid source of Halachic decision making?
Is it because it's too small for the naked eye? A margin of error propblem? What?
Normally, physical evidence is plenty of ...
10
votes
2answers
379 views
Is Exercise on Shabbos Allowed?
Is one allowed to do exercises on Shabbos?
Are any types allowed? Some examples of different types:
Lifting weights or heavy items
Jumping jacks
Taking a walk (long, but without Techum issues)
...
10
votes
2answers
296 views
Would a baalat teshuva need a get from each previous sexual relationship?
Would a baalat teshuva need a get from each previous sexual relationship? In light of the idea that marriage can be contracted solely through bi'ah/public knowledge of the couple's relationship (as ...
10
votes
1answer
96 views
Are there any restrictions about a chazzan if there are questions about his orthodoxy?
If someone comes up to daven as a chazzan, and you have questions about how kosher they are or whether they're truly shomer shabbos, are you allowed to still use him as a chazzan, or are there ...
10
votes
1answer
75 views
Cleaning chanukia in a bathroom?
The easiest way I have found to get candle wax off a metal chanukia is with a stream of hot water. The wax melts and runs off with the water.
One kettle of hot water is not enough to clean it all, ...
10
votes
2answers
295 views
Morning After Pill in Halacha
Is the morning-after pill considered an abortion in Halachic terms or does it have another status, and, if the latter, may it be used?
10
votes
3answers
317 views
May a Jew be a Freemason?
According to what I've been told by several people who have inquired of "practicing" (is that the right word?) Freemasons, and supported by Wikipedia, "Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it ...
10
votes
2answers
153 views
Nursing in the bathroom
Per Food in bathroom it is forbidden to eat in the bathroom. Can a lady nurse in the bathroom or is it considered like eating in the bathroom? (sources)
10
votes
2answers
142 views
Different Teffilin, now what am I required to do?
If I do not have my regular Teffilin one morning and need to borrow someone else's, but that person's Teffilin are different from mine, is that sufficient, or should I get a pair of Teffilin later on ...
10
votes
2answers
174 views
What can a Menorah be made of?
Are there any halachic limitations on materials that can be used (l'chatchila) to make a Menorah?
For example, can one fulfil the mitzva on a Menorah of ice? How about one of cans, potatoes, or ...
10
votes
1answer
266 views
According to Halacha, does one have to bury teeth?
Is there a halachic obligation to bury teeth that have fallen out, just as one buries other body parts that become detached?
If not, why?
Does the same apply to detached skin? Or hair?
Related: Do ...
10
votes
2answers
326 views
Wearing Watches on Shabbat
What is a watch one can wear on shabbat?
There are the analogue quartz watches with just one crown to adjust the time that (as far as I'm aware) most people would wear on shabbat (especially an ...
