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 ...
2
votes
2answers
238 views
Attending a relative's non-Jewish wedding in a non-Jewish place of worship?
Could somebody attend his non-Jewish relatives' wedding ceremony if they are held, let's say, in a church or a Buddhist temple?
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Can you attend a sporting event on a minor fast day?
This year the tenth of Teves falls on a Sunday, which happens to also be an NFL game day. Is it permissible or discouraged to attend such a sporting event during the fast?
1
vote
0answers
106 views
Is wine touched/shaken by a non-idolatrous Gentile child forbidden to drink?
Shulchan Aruch (YD 124:1) states:
A Nochri child who does not mention idolatry or Meshamshim, if he
touched wine he forbids only drinking it, but not benefit from it.
(See this related ...
3
votes
3answers
237 views
Husband deciding how his wife should cover her hair
Issues of Shalom Bayis (peace in the home) and any other deciding factor aside, does the husband have any "right" or "privilege" (from a halachic standpoint) to decide how his wife will cover her hair ...
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
210 views
Does Neveilah/Tereifah make you Fleishig?
Another question asks whether meat of a non-kosher species (Behemah Temeiah or Hayah Temeiah) makes one Fleishig (considered to have eaten meat, so cannot eat milk). My question then is about kosher ...
7
votes
1answer
51 views
Do you take challah from something that will be deep fried?
If the requisite amount of dough is made that would require taking challah if it were baked in the oven, should one take off challah with a bracha if she intends to deep fry the dough instead?
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Prohibition on paskening halacha when one is drunk
The Gemorah in Beitzah 4a says that Rav wouldn't give a drasha on Yom Tov after eating the seudah because when he would give a drasha he would be moreh halacha (give over halachic rulings) and this is ...
6
votes
1answer
88 views
What is “blood that moved from one place to another”?
I'm learning laws of salting in the Shulchan Aruch. One concept I'm battling to understand is "דם שפירש ממקום למקום" - blood that moved from one place to another. Here's a good example of my ...
2
votes
3answers
104 views
One-in-Sixty Versus Roiv- Why both?
There are two concepts in the Halacha of Bittul (nullification). One says that if there is an item that is Unkosher that falls into another item that is Kosher, and it is a mixture, and the Unkosher ...
4
votes
0answers
105 views
Must a parent vaccinate her child?
Is a parent compelled by Halacha to vaccinate her child if it can be statistically proven that, without the vaccine, the likelihood of the child contracting the disease that he is being vaccinated for ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Why by the mitzvah of chanukka we must light at both doors so other wont be suspicious
The Halacha is:
That if one has more then one door at his house, he must light the menorah at all doors... The reason is because others might think that someone lives here but didn't light the ...
6
votes
1answer
118 views
Mentioning Yeshu's name?
Is there a source for not verbally (or in writing, for that matter) mentioning the name of Yeshu (the father of Christianity)?
If there is such a source, what exactly is forbidden to say? Is it only ...
6
votes
4answers
246 views
Can you pick your nose?
Is it a violation of halakah to pick your nose (unrefined act, possibly a violation of being a holy nation)? Would there be a difference in halakah if it were the sabbath (possible violation of ...
5
votes
0answers
65 views
Mistake when buying ring to get married with
The following case might perhaps be too localized however I'm asking it as a theoretical question in order to understand these laws in Choshen Mishpat and Evan HaEzer better.
A Kallah (bride) went to ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Aveilus for an adoptive parent
Are there any dinim of aveilus for a child that was adopted when his adoptive parents pass away? Are there any poskim that spoke about this?
7
votes
1answer
145 views
May a man learn Torah without a Kippah?
Is it permissible for a man to learn Torah without a Kippah?
Let's say that he can't wear a Kippah at work, or he lives someplace where it is dangerous to outwardly display signs of being Jewish, ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Can you go to a shul dinner if you are in aveilus?
Can you go to a shul dinner or other formal function that is for social convention and not actually enjoyable if you are in aveilus?
2
votes
0answers
86 views
Can a healthy person use a shabbos elevator?
Can a person who has no health issues make use of a shabbos elevator?
8
votes
1answer
100 views
What happens if you borrowed money and the currency became worthless?
In Israel in the late 70s early 80s the currency (Lira) became worthless. Suppose one day the American dollar would become worthless, and one owes another $1,000,000- would the borrower just pay back ...
6
votes
2answers
99 views
May one refuse pain killers?
Given that one may not intentionally injure herself - see Rambam (Chovel U’mazik 5:1) and Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 420:31) who rules that it is forbidden for a person to injure herself. ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Does one make a shehechiyanu on a leased item? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Would you make a Shehechiyanu when you lease a new car?
Does one make a shehechiyanu on a leased car or other large/expensive item?
4
votes
2answers
90 views
Making a Seudah into a “Seudas Mitzvah”
The Rema in Hilchos Channukah Siman 670 Sif 2 writes that if zemiros and shvachos (songs and praise) are said by a Seudah on Channukah it becomes a "Seudas Mitzvah" (without this it only has in it ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Does a dish received as a gift from another Jew need to be toveled? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Tevilat Keilim on a gift
If I buy Ploni a new coffee mug, does he need to tovel it? Did I need to tovel it?
-3
votes
1answer
147 views
What are the sources that a husband may beat his wife?
What are the sources, even those that are rejected in the final halachic analysis, that encourage or allow a husband to physically abuse his wife?
2
votes
0answers
55 views
Should I rend k'riyah if I witness the death of a non-relative? If so, what's the procedure?
In "Must EMTs and others rend Kriyah each time they see a patient die?", Chalutznahal cites Yoreh De'ah 40:5, which says that when I witness a fellow Jew die, I must rend my shirt out of sadness. And ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
Does the order of lights in a menorah face the house or the street?
I have always been taught that lights in a chanukiah should be inserted from right to left. So on the first four nights, only lights to the right of the shamash are lit (assuming a shamash in the ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
Fill m'nora in order?
I know that (at least when lighting at a window), one lights the Chanuka m'nora from left to right: the new lamp first and rightward from there. I've seen people careful to fill them with oil (or ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Unkosher sheitel's / wigs?
Is it permissible for a married woman to wear a wig if the hair was sacrificed to an idol or foreign deity? There is a temple in India, dubbed the "Richest temple in the World" where pilgrims shave ...
3
votes
3answers
157 views
Does amirah L'akum apply to robots?
Can you ask/instruct a robot on shabbos to perform melacha on your behalf? Would this fall under the same category as amirah l'akum?
6
votes
1answer
91 views
“Prepare your Menora before Shabbat!”
In this recent "Halocho a Day" blog post, Danny Schoemann leads off with
This week, Shabbat is also Erev Chanuka; prepare your Menora before Shabbat!
This sounds like a nice idea for reducing ...
5
votes
0answers
84 views
Is it halachically permissible to click on contextual ads with no intention of buying?
Contextual ads are those ads you see when you do a search on Google. The advertisers only pay if someone actually clicks on their ad. It seems "pashut" to me that clicking an ad if you know you're not ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Attaching something by way of a hook on Shabbos — problem of binyan (building)?
I will pose the question with the following example. Someone on their porch has a wooden beam structure that has on it metal rings that one can attach a swing to by the way of a hook. The swing can be ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
What happens if your Mezzuzah comes off the wall
I accidentally knocked my Mezzuzah off the wall , what is the process for putting it back on again ?
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Tachshitim on Shabbath
The Gemara Shabbath (several pages, but look anywhere from 59a through at least 62a for several discussions) contains a great deal of discussion about wearing "Tachshitim" (ornaments/jewelry) on ...
6
votes
1answer
113 views
Can a chumash be used for a public torah reading?
I recently attended a weekday morning minyan where the Torah reader was reading simultaneously from a sefer Torah and a printed Chumash. It appeared that the person was mostly reading from Chumash and ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Is there a book with well sourced “discussions” on hilchos lashon hara?
I am looking for a book that does not simply state all of the halachis (such as Sefer Chafetz Chaim). Rather what I am looking for is a book that would do something like pose a question or case ...
13
votes
3answers
164 views
Using Post-its on Shabbos
Is one permitted on Shabbos to use post-it notes or adhesive page flags to mark content in a book for future reference after Shabbos? Would there be an issue with the adhesive or leaving the page ...
8
votes
2answers
135 views
Does one make a blessing if preparing to die al kiddush Hashem?
If one is reasonably sure that he is about to die al kiddush Hashem does he make a blessing before fulfilling this mitzvah? What would the nusach (text) of this blessing be?
Note: I realize that even ...
7
votes
1answer
257 views
Prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah
In the prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah (cf. Vayikra 21:7), what defines a woman as a Zonah? Is it just having had relations with a non-Jew, or does it also include having relations out of ...
4
votes
0answers
53 views
Are you yotzei by lighting candles through a grama?
Does one fulfill the mitzvah of lighting candles (sabbath or chanukah) if done by a grama (indirect action)? Example
1
vote
0answers
69 views
Kohain marrying divorcee
Can A Kohain marry a woman who had a reform/conservative rabbi officiate her wedding.. but she was divorced by an orthodox rabbi.
Thank you so much in advance
2
votes
2answers
251 views
Why is oatmeal considered chometz?
Let's say a pot of raw dry oats becomes fully cooked in 5 minutes. Just oats and water. How is it considered chometz?
8
votes
2answers
186 views
Killing Civilians in a defensive war
In the recent Operation Pillar of Defense against Gaza, many Palestinian civillians were killed by Israeli air-strikes (the Palestines claim the number is as high as 158, while according to the IDF ...
8
votes
0answers
133 views
Inhaling prayers?
Elsewhere I ask whether it's sufficient to pray in a whisper. See there, please, for a description of whispering and how it differs from speaking quietly.
Answers to that question indicate that ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Maaser on Sal Klita
As a new immigrant to Israel I am receiving a little bit of money ( http://www.jewishagency.org/NR/exeres/A2A4F6FE-5CB4-469E-A45C-517CF14D59D5 ) to get started here.
Should I pay maaser on this ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Benediction to be recited over stuffing?
On Thanksgiving, many have the custom to eat stuffing, which usually incorporates bread as a major ingredient, with their turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. What bracha should be recited up it? ...
5
votes
1answer
168 views
Is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery?
Besides the permitted reasons for male kohen, is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery for other reason?
2
votes
0answers
75 views
May one make obscene gestures?
I was told that sign language does not qualify as actual speech (ergo one cannot make a beracha via sign language) as such would obscene gestures be permissible (since they would ostensibly not ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Are you allowed to make, buy and sell trumpets?
The torah forbids creating artifacts used in the beis hamikdash (based on the verse lo taasun iti (Exodus 20:19), see Talmud Avoda Zara 43a, Rambam Beit Habechira 7:10 and Shulchan Aruch YD 141:8). ...
