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 ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Onain saying Kadish for parent's Yahrzheit
An Onain is not obligated to do Mitzvos Asei. An Onain does not Daven, nor make Brachos. Suppose a person is an Onain, and that day is his father's or mother's Yahrzheit, does he say Kaddish for them? ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Is it permissible to embarrass a thief?
Here's a story I witnessed:
Someone trying to get his car out of the public parking lot next to his building found his way out blocked by two cars parked right on the ramp out, whose owners went into ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Does caring for children in foster care count as work?
If someone looked after foster children on weekends (from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon) and received remuneration does this count as work and not permissible on the Sabbath?
11
votes
4answers
200 views
Pesach Sheni when Moshiach has just come
Suppose Moshiach arrives between Pesach and Pesach Sheni - would we bring a Korban Pesach on Pesach Sheni as we did not bring one for Pesach or was there no Chiyuv in the first place and we would not ...
6
votes
2answers
114 views
Does it matter through whom you sell your chometz?
I have seen online forms and received emails from many far-flung places offering to sell my chometz for me. I also have a competent Rabbi in my local shul who is willing to do it. No two of these ...
3
votes
2answers
718 views
Supermarket chains that you can / cannot buy Chometz in right after Pesach
Which supermarket chains are there no issues regarding Chometz Sheovar Alav HaPesach? And which are problematic?
6
votes
4answers
422 views
Is it okay to drive a car on the Sabbath?
The Five Books of Moses mention not stoking a fire on the Sabbath, if I remember correctly. By starting a car, I'd think I am stoking a fire. Is this okay to do for a Jew? Why or why not?
4
votes
2answers
238 views
Praying after the time to say Shema
If you sleep past Sof Zemin Kerias Shema (the latest time to say Shema in the morning) and you are davening by yourself, do you need to make any change to your prayers?
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Starting the Seder after Sheki'ah (sunset)?
In my experience, there is a lot of emphasis on waiting until after Tzeith HaKochavim (the stars come out), which is seen as definitely after nightfall, to start the Seder. The reason is that we want ...
4
votes
2answers
182 views
Is it permitted for a Jew to accept an invitation by the Pope to attend mass
The chief rabbi of Rome received a special invitation from Pope Francis to attend a special mass on March 19.VINNews article. Normally, a Jew is not even allowed to visit a church, much less a ...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Making bedikas chometz early — ossur in malacha, eating, learning?
When someone leaves their home within 30 days of Pesach without someone to be bodek it from chometz, they themselves have to be bodek it early (See Siman 436.) In the normal case of bedikas chometz ...
7
votes
2answers
133 views
When can I speak after eating?
After making a Berachah on food, it is considered a Hefsek to speak before eating said food.
At what point after beginning to eat is it permissible to speak?
After the first bite?
After the first ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Fasting for a child bechor before Passover
I've heard that some men fast on erev Pesach for their firstborn son until that son old enough to fast for himself. Is that halakha? Where does this come from?
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Decorated Tallis gadol [duplicate]
It is quite common to see people with colorfully decorated tallises in non-Orthodox (especially Conservative) shuls, but much less common to see the same thing in Orthodox shuls. Is there any halachic ...
9
votes
1answer
299 views
Is Guinness Beer no longer kosher?
A new Smithsonian article has discovered Guinness Beer's use of isinglass, a technique that Guinness Beer has confirmed that it does to the Huffington Post, and even declared "Guinness Black Lager is ...
5
votes
2answers
95 views
How is one allowed to live in Israel?
When Yehoshua came to Israel, he conquered it and divided it among the Jews. This land belongs to them and their descendants.
When the Jews were exiled many years later and came back (by the 2nd Beis ...
2
votes
2answers
268 views
Are (opaque) stockings under a skirt considered enough to cover ervah?
This is a question about skirt lengths. From this answer:
The halacha is that "tefach b'isha ervah" - a tefach (about 3.5
inches) uncovered on certain parts of a woman's body is ervah -
...
6
votes
2answers
193 views
May a woman look at a man for pleasure?
It's ossur for a man to look at a woman for pleasure. Even to look at her small finger with the intention of having pleasure from it (See EH"E Siman 21 Sif 1.)
Is there any prohibition for a woman to ...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
Attending networking events under false pretenses
I've recently seen some events advertised for specific groups or for people who fit a certain description, and it got me wondering, would it be alright, from a Jewish perspective (Halachic, Hashkafic, ...
4
votes
0answers
272 views
Using a non-kosher toaster oven
What is the permissible way to use a non-kosher toaster oven? My thought process was that, when cooking milk in a meat oven, the covering of the dish and the rack makes it acceptable.
Would covering ...
5
votes
1answer
261 views
Is it appropriate for a Gentile to attend and/or participate in a Seder?
The context: last year, I saw this sign that announced the time and place that a Jewish Seder (probably Yom Kippur) would happen. I was definitely curious and considered going and at least observing ...
5
votes
0answers
54 views
What defines “on this earth” from a halachic standpoint?
Rabbi Ben-Zion Firrer asked whether Torah Law must be observed in space, since Deuteronomy 12:1 says one should follow the Commandments "all of the days which you are alive on this earth."
What ...
5
votes
0answers
36 views
Should someone who is falsely convicted by a relgious court attempt to avoid the death penalty?
This question discusses whether one may attempt to escape the death penalty imposed by a Beis Din for a capital offense. The answer to this question seemed to be that the person should not try to ...
5
votes
1answer
142 views
Do Jews have an obligation to support the effort to free Jonathan Pollard?
I am not entirely clear on all of the particulars of the mitzvah of pidyon shivuyim - redeeming Jewish captives. Nor am I positive that someone jailed by a democratic goverment for breaking secular ...
5
votes
0answers
34 views
Pidyon Shevuyim - when does it apply?
Does the Mitzva of Pidyon Shevuyim apply in a case where one is being held in prison for having committed a crime or only where a innocent person was captured for ransom? If it does apply to cases ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
How to salt a chicken at home?
I'm Sara Gittel from the Shtetl and I just got back to my home with my freshly shechted chicken that I had brought to our local Shochet. I seem to have forgotten though how to salt it. Can please you ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Were condemned prisoners drugged prior to execution?
According to this unsubstantiated Wikipedia entry, criminals condemned to death by Beith Din were drugged and rendered senseless prior to being executed.
Is this factually correct (either ...
4
votes
1answer
25 views
Southern Birkas Ha'ilanos
I've seen Saying Mashiv HaRuach in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, is Birkas Ha'ilanos (ברכת האילנות) said in Tishrei in the southern hemisphere? That's when the trees bloom.
5
votes
2answers
254 views
Bitcoin and Halakha
What are the halakhot that apply to bitcoin? Is it halakhickly money? What even is the halakhic definition of money? Can bitcoin transactions be made over shabbat? That sort of thing.
6
votes
3answers
119 views
Meat right after Milk… make a new bracha?
Suppose someone is planning on having some dairy food just before a meat meal. May the person make a bracha to cover the entire dairy/meat meal, or must he finish his dairy, make a bracha achrona, and ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Resuscitation of Aged Nursing Home Patients
Recently, there was a story about an 87-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack in a nursing home. The nursing home called 911 and the dispatcher begged the nurse to do CPR on the patient until the ...
4
votes
2answers
119 views
Lighting Sabbath Candles as “Pharisee Propaganda”
Does anyone know of any sources that say that the reason that we light the Shabbos candles is to show that we do use light for Shabbos, as opposed to the Karaites that do not?
6
votes
4answers
344 views
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah?
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah? Not necessarily that the Rashbi authored the Zohar, but in the general tenets of kabbalah including but not limited to: tzimtzum, sefirot, ...
6
votes
1answer
75 views
Is it permitted to use a thermochromic cup on Shabbos?
A novelty cup, see for example here, appears black when cold. When hot liquid is poured into it, the black changes to white and the previously concealed writing (underneath, so to speak) becomes ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
Who is a Jew according the Tanach?
Does the Tanach give guidelines to Identify who is a Jew and who is not?
11
votes
4answers
392 views
Would a Karaite be required to undergo conversion?
If a Karaite who knows that his mother is Jewish (Karaite) wanted to join the Orthodox Jewish Community - would he be required to undergo a conversion?
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Is it permissible to be mechalel Shabbos to save the life of an animal or pet?
Is it permissible to be mechalel Shabbos to save the life of an animal, such as a family pet?
Could minchag, chumras, and/or purely Rabbinical prohibitions be relaxed in such a situation, and to what ...
3
votes
0answers
46 views
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone of suffering?
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone (a human or an animal) of suffering? I am talking about excruciating suffering, not merely discomfort, and I am not talking about ...
4
votes
1answer
74 views
Kayak or canoe on Shabbos?
Is it permissible to canoe or kayak on Shabbos for pleasure if a non-Jew puts the boat into the water and takes it out?
1
vote
0answers
34 views
What Bracha do we say on bread baked with evaporated mei peiros?
If one bakes bread made out of flour and pure fruit juice, it becomes pas haba bekisnin and the bracha is (at times) mezonos.
What if one distilled fruit juice (to produce water) and baked bread out ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Is practical Kabbalah forbidden today?
Is it forbidden to practice "practical" kabbalah (kabbalah maasit) today? If so, why? If it is forbidden to practice is it also forbidden to study?
8
votes
2answers
116 views
Obligation of community to support those who study Torah?
Is the community obligated to support financially those who study Torah all day long? Is one allowed to request such support from the community based on his choice to study full-day and not make a ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Can my non-Jewish co-worker bring me coffee from the corner cafe?
Assuming coffee is Kosher, would it be alright if my non-Jewish co-worker brings me coffee on a trip to the corner cafe? May I assume that the co-worker indeed purchased a Kosher item and has not ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Tefillin with chipped paint
Is there a problem with wearing tefillin whose paint has started to chip off? Would such a situation require one to get the tefillin repainted? Can someone still be yotzei by tefillin whose paint is ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
brit-milah for dead infant [duplicate]
Recent tragedy in NY, young haredi couple killed in auto accident.
Wife pregnant with baby boy.
Doctors delivered the baby but, tragically, he also didn't survive.
Before burial, a brit milah was ...
1
vote
2answers
181 views
Women face veil prescribed
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. Is there, in fact, a rule requiring or encouraging covering the faces of women in presence of unrelated men? If so, what is the source for ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Wearing pieces from two different sets of tefillin
Tefillin are usually thought of as coming in sets, one for the hand (shel yad) and one for the head (shel rosh). But is there any reason two sets can't be mixed and matched? May one wear tefillin ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
Is it allowed to make paintings of living creatures?
Among the Ten Commandments is:
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the ...
11
votes
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 ...
