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
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0answers
10 views
Starting a bracha in the middle of Bircas Krias Shema, what to do?
One is not allowed to say certain brachas in the middle of bircas krias shema (even "between perakim" -- between certain parts of Bircas Krias Shema.) For example Asher Yatzer, or the bracha on a ...
3
votes
0answers
13 views
Making a neder however not specifying verbally
If someone wants to make a prohibition on himself from eating apples and has some apples in front of him and uses a loshon of "konem" in his neder and says "these apples" then they become ossur. What ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Magazine not delivered - what are they responsible for?
If someone has a subscription to a Jewish weekly or magazine or newspaper (for example: Mishpacha, Binah, Ami, Jewish Press, Yated, Hamodia, etc.) and they are supposed to deliver on a specific day of ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
What is the correct wine for kiddush in accordance with all the poskim.?
I have heard of mevushal not being used for kiddush. Now most wine labels indicate whether the wine is mevushal. But are there other things to be concerned about?
The following are halakhic concerns ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Shoe-tying order when tying another's shoes
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 2:4–5:
ינעול מנעל ימין תחילה ולא יקשרנו ואחר כך ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשור של ימין
One should don his right shoe first but not tie it, then don his ...
5
votes
1answer
141 views
May I buy and use cheap fakes instead of paying full price for brand-name clothes?
An old friend recently asked me to purchase some replica "beats" (headphones made by monster) which authentically (depending on the model cost between 120$-500$) so I started to look them up online ...
18
votes
3answers
852 views
What are the sources for women to wear/ not wear pants?
I have heard that the argument is beged ish / kli gever, and I have heard people say that even if that was once a real reason for it it doesn't apply today for various reasons.
I understand that the ...
0
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0answers
30 views
Is instigating a crime through careless choices of words a violation of Lifnei 'Iver?
I would like to look at the scope of Lifnei 'Iver -- the commandment to not put a stumbling block before the blind (Lev. 19:14). Specifically, I would like to know how one is punished for the sin -- ...
5
votes
2answers
249 views
Wine made/handled by non-religious Jews
Assume for the purposes of the question that all circumstances are the same as if the wine had been made/handled by non-Jews. I don't want answers regarding whether it is Mevushal or whether Mevushal ...
9
votes
2answers
385 views
Daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man
Is a Kohen allowed to marry a woman who is the daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man?
6
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4answers
936 views
Kosher Electric Shavers
Which electric shavers are halakhically acceptable for shaving a man's beard?
0
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1answer
37 views
Kedusha after Tefila
Today, in our Shul (in Shaharit) a man walked in a little late and I guess he didn't have enough time to catch up to our Minyan. After Tefila, he asked the Gabbai if he could say his own Shemona Esre, ...
5
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3answers
238 views
14
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9answers
289 views
SE Challenge: Halachot in which rulings range from permissible to Torah violation?
Inspired by my previous question regarding heating up soup on Shabbat, I present a challenge to the Judaism StackExchange community --
List halachot which have halachic decisions ranging from ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Hagales celim in “tzir”
When one wants to make celim (vessels) Kosher by purging non-Kosher absorbed tastes from it, one method is hagaleh, which normally is done with water. The Rema says in SA OC Siman 452:5 that b'dieved ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Does one mourn during the days following Shavuot?
We say the four verses starting "Yehi Shem" (instead of Tachanun) after Shavuot because of the bringing of the Korbanot. Does this have any impact on mourning after Shavuot?
7
votes
1answer
58 views
Mezuzah on a Two-Room Bathroom
This question is a bit complicated:
Let's say I have a two-room bathroom. The first room is a room with sinks and mirrors and the second room has the actual toilets. The first room and second room are ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Postmortem organ donation in halacha
I know we generally accord respect to our dead, which includes not mangling their bodies. On the other hand, obviously saving lives is more important than, well, almost anything, including respect for ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Preparing a dish on Shabbos by night for the day time (in regards to Borer)
It says in SA OC Siman 321 Sif 19 in the Rema that normally it's ossur to peel garlic or onions however that's only to leave them to eat at a later time. However if it's being done to eat right away ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
Amira Lakum: say you can't say?
One is not allowed to tell a non-Jew to do a melacha on shabbas, but one can hint and say "it is cold in here", hoping he will realize and shut the air conditioner.
Is one allowed to explain to the ...
5
votes
0answers
49 views
BT emailing non-observant family
A given person is ba'al teshuva. Though s/he is now Shabbat observant, his/her immediate and extended family is not.
Can/should this individual write an email to his/her family (who live in Israel) ...
2
votes
0answers
19 views
Re-planting on Shabbath
If a plant was uprooted, is it considered a Melachah of planting to re-soil it on Shabbath? The simplest example would probably be that a child pulled a plant out of its pot on, or immediately ...
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Leaving work in time for Shabbat
Candle-lighting time in my city starts 5 mins after I technically finish work, but it takes me about 15 minutes to drive home from work - sometimes longer if the traffic is bad. Is this a violation of ...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
Fruits and Vegetables Prepared With Treif Utensils
Can I eat e.g. a watermelon cut with a treif (non-kosher) knife on a treif cutting board and stored in a treif container?
15
votes
2answers
307 views
Jews under Charlemagne
Jews under Charlemagne in the 8th century and the Carolingian emperors were accredited food providers in addition to providing wine for Christian mass. I am looking for halachic responses to these ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Flying on Shabbos
Would I be able to get on a direct flight that leaves Friday afternoon and lands on Motzei Shabbos?
How would this be different from getting on a boat before Shabbos and getting off the boat at your ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
What's the Bracha Rishona on oatmeal/oat flakes with cold milk?
What's the Bracha Rishona on oatmeal/oat flakes with cold milk? Is it Pri Adama or Mezonot?
Do we need extra Sheakol on milk?
0
votes
1answer
45 views
When do we switch from Morid Hatal to Morid Hageshem and vice versa?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
When do we switch from Morid Hatal to Morid Hageshem and vice versa? What about Barechenu and Barech Alenu?
What ...
1
vote
2answers
138 views
Blessing on the next American President (or any politician)
If the candidate I supported in a political election wins, does this qualify as good news for reciting the blessing hatov ve-hameitiv (Who is good and beneficent) upon hearing the results?
In my ...
11
votes
1answer
200 views
Are we allowed to ask someone if he's a convert?
I remember learning that we are forbidden to "remind a convert of his past". The implication, as I remember it, is reminding someone that he used to be an idolater. (Though not all converts were.) ...
6
votes
2answers
102 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. ...
5
votes
1answer
48 views
Korbon tomid whilst Jews were travelling (as opposed to camping) in the desert
The benei kehos carried the miizbeiach whilst the Jews travelled. It would seem improbable that the mishkon was erected every day whilst they journeyed. What happened with the sacrifice of the Daily ...
9
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1answer
194 views
Is it a sin to escape the death penalty?
If someone is sentenced to death by a Jewish court and is being held prisoner until the sentence can be carried out, if he escapes, is that a sin for him?
7
votes
1answer
81 views
Getting body piercings
The Torah prohibits, generally, the infliction of a wound on yourself or someone else. See Lev. 19:28. The obvious exception is the commandment to perform a bris millah (circumcision) on a male ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Would I be allowed to sell my Chametz alcohol during the Prohibition?
During the Prohibition, owning alcohol was permitted, though selling it was prohibited.
If I had a barrel of Vodka which I bought before the prohibition was made law, would I be allowed to sell it ...
0
votes
1answer
203 views
Are psilocybin mushrooms permitted/prohibited/advocated in Jewish law or tradition?
What does Jewish law or tradition have to say about magic mushrooms? Or in general, about any hallucinogen.
Is it forbidden to consume psilocybin mushrooms or other hallucinogens? Is it advocated? ...
3
votes
1answer
294 views
4
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0answers
56 views
Washing oneself on Erev Shabbos with hot water
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 260) writes that there is a mitzvah to wash one's body on Erev Shabbos with hot water, as seen in Tractate Shabbos 25b. The Biur Halacha writes that one can argue about ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
'Kavannah' of Shem Havayeh in the first line of Kriat Shma
The requirement when saying the name 'Havayeh' to have in mind both the meaning of 'adon ha-kol' and 'hayah hoveh ve-yihyhe' takes me some time: longer than almost anybody I see in shul taking to ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Why hold the second loaf unwrapped?
We use two loaves of bread at Shabas and yom tov meals. Some people cut into both loaves, but some only cut into one, merely holding the other with it while reciting the b'racha. Rav Chayim Pinchas ...
16
votes
3answers
358 views
While playing a computer game, may I “worship” one of the game's “gods” to help me win?
I sometimes play a certain computer role-playing game (RPG). In this game, my character (whom I might name after myself but who does not otherwise resemble me) fights mythological creatures and ...
5
votes
1answer
88 views
are bionic abilities legal for shabbos
Today the world is high in technology; many medical fields are experiencing breakthroughs in artificial limbs and what not.
What are the legalities of these in Jewish law?
For example, a pace maker ...
7
votes
0answers
77 views
Borrowing a talis and wearing a talis katan. Say a b'racha?
The common and accepted practice among married Ashk'nazim, at least, is that they don a talis katan in the morning without saying a b'racha for the mitzva, and, later, when donning the talis gadol for ...
6
votes
1answer
61 views
Hatoras Nedarim for wife taking her husband's Minhagim
According to Minchas Yaakov 112:2 and Darchei Teshuva 112:94, one who is always careful with Pas Yisrael and now wants to start eating Pas Paltar would have to be Matir Neder. Suppose a girl who was ...
4
votes
2answers
158 views
When a Bechor's Bris is delayed beyond the day of the Pidyon HaBen
If a baby who is a Bechor had his Bris delayed beyond the 31st day - should the Pidyon HaBen be pushed off until the Bris is ready to be done? On one side you do not want to delay a Mitzva in its ...
27
votes
7answers
879 views
May I use my neighbor's Wi-Fi without asking permission?
My neighbor has never set up password protection on his wireless router. If I wanted, I could wirelessly connect to his high-speed Internet service.
May I use his Internet service without asking him ...
10
votes
1answer
95 views
Ta'amei Mikra and the Torah Scroll
I have heard that a haftorah klaf (scroll) is still considered kosher and usable if the Ta'amei Mikra have been written on it. Yet I've always been told that this is not true for a Torah scroll. Why ...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
canned whipped cream on shabbas?
Can one use a pressure can of whipped cream on shabbas ?
It is funny because on the actual can it says to ask your Rabbi if one can use it or not.
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Is there a halachik problem with wearing shorts while davening?
I have often heard that one should not wear shorts while davening. This makes intuitive sense to me that we should do this out of respect. But is there any halachic reasoning behind this? Is it ...
6
votes
2answers
108 views
Zerizin Makdimin or Brov Am
If you have a choice of doing a Mitzva earlier and being Mekayem Zerizin Makdimin or doing it later and at that point there would be more people doing the Mitzva together and thus you would gain Brov ...
