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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132 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 ...
8
votes
0answers
176 views
Tattling on fellow Mi Yodeyans
We are currently in the beginning of the 2012 Mi Yodeya Moderator Election.
To what extent can one avail oneself of the exception of "to'elet"="for a purpose" to the standard rules of Lashon HaRa' ...
7
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0answers
119 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.) ...
7
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0answers
126 views
Saying a b'racha acharona and continuing to eat (other food)
Suppose someone is eating something that requires a b'racha meen shalosh — for example, noodles — and something that requires a "bore n'fashos" — for example, salad or water. Then he ...
7
votes
0answers
125 views
What did a “don't-issue-rulings” semicha (ordination) look like?
Again from the biography of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein found in Igrot Moshe Volume 8 (emphasis added):
Many approached [him] for ordination, and he was not difficult on them. Some ordinations were ...
6
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0answers
55 views
Would a genetically engineered red heifer be usable?
Assuming that a non-Jew chose to create a genetically engineered parah adumah (red heifer) and further assuming it met all the halachic requirements --no two black hairs, hadn't been used for work ...
6
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0answers
100 views
Mandatory evacuation on Shabbat: what can and can't you do?
A major storm hit New England starting this past Friday. While people knew this was coming and precautions were already in place, apparently (according to a news article I read tonight) some areas ...
6
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0answers
66 views
Onen and Meis Mitzvah
If an onen comes across a mas mitzvah (let's assume there is either another person to be involved with the onen's personal mas or there is more time to be involved with his mas later), is the onen ...
6
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0answers
88 views
Father being Matir Neder for himself: does it affect the family?
If a father is Matir Neder on a minhag (gebroktz, let's say) for himself for a valid reason, does that include his whole family? Are they now also permitted to eat gebroktz because that is now the ...
6
votes
0answers
112 views
Can an Ashkenazi write a Sephardi Torah?
If an Ashkenazi Sofer writes a Sefer Torah in the Sephardi or Yemenite tradition:
a) has he fulfilled his obligation of writing a Sefer Torah (thanks, Double AA!), and
b) since a Sefer Torah must be ...
6
votes
0answers
67 views
Decorative food plating on Shabbath
This question asks about using an ice cream scoop on Shabbath, and an internet forum linked in the question has a discussion about the permissibility of decorative plating of food generally. According ...
6
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0answers
79 views
Chatzi LaHashem
I've been having this discussion with my friends and family about the Halacha of dividing Yom Tov into Chatzi LaHashem (half of the day devoted to prayer and learning) and Chatzi Lachem (half of the ...
6
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0answers
95 views
American Idol and HaMalbin Pnei Ḥavero BeRabim
(Inspired by this question)
Is watching televised talent shows, such as "American Idol", which are known to invite contestants to embarrass themselves in front of millions, and even have judges whose ...
6
votes
0answers
65 views
Counting towards a Keriat HaTorah one who accidentally ate
We have Halacha that at least 6 people need to be fasting in order to read the Torah in a fast day. However, let's say there are 10 people and 5 are definitely fasting and one who accidentally ate ...
5
votes
0answers
35 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
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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
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
71 views
Thinking about Purim Torah in the bathroom
It is not permitted to think about Torah in the bathroom regularly, but what about Purim Torah, which is certainly not real Torah study, but still often refers to actual Torah?
One might think that ...
5
votes
0answers
45 views
How does deep snow affect carrying on Shabbos?
Thinking about the snow in Boston and the discussion at Shabbos 5a, if there was more than 10 tefakim (handbredths) of snow on the ground, would a reshus hayachad (private domain) extend from the soil ...
5
votes
0answers
59 views
Significance of the Kohen's hand gestures?
What is the significance of the shapes (windows?) created by the kohen during birkas cohanim? This question and the ensuant answers detail at least 3 opinions of the gesture, I would really appreciate ...
5
votes
0answers
64 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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
153 views
If a person isn't sure he is Jewish, does he have to keep Mitzvot?
Let's say that a person has a reason to think his mother might be Jewish (there is some evidence, but only a little), and it is likely that the person will never be able to know for sure. In such a ...
5
votes
0answers
187 views
Fresh fish need hechsher
Does fresh fish from a supermarket or fish market require a hechsher? I would be tempted to believe that a fish known to be of a kosher variety would not need certification since there is no shechita ...
5
votes
0answers
49 views
How does a recent bar mitzva “complete the weekly portion with the community”
When a person becomes bar mitva during the year, 98% of the time the community has already read 1 or even 50 weekly portions.
Does the bar mitzva need to make up those portions?
Would it matter if ...
5
votes
0answers
64 views
Shomronim and Halakha
Do the Baraitot brought down by Masechet Kutim and other random halachot in the Talmud that were said about "kutim" apply to the 750 remaining Samaritans in the world today (who currently live in ...
5
votes
0answers
68 views
Is it acceptable to use software which incidentally blocks ads?
A question on this site on whether ad-blocking software is permissible suggests that the answer is that it probably, but not definitely, is acceptable.
I don't use ad-blocking software myself, but I ...
5
votes
0answers
53 views
On What Subjects Does One Say Birchas HaTorah?
Must one say Birchas Hatorah before learning
Aggadata in the Gemara?
Biographies like Shem Hagedolim (a biography of various Rabbonim written by the Chida)?
Artscroll biographies?
5
votes
0answers
84 views
Late sunset times and Jewish observance
This question is distinct from other questions which ask how and when to begin Shabbat, etc. when there is no sunset. I am asking about places in which sunset occurs very late during certain times of ...
5
votes
0answers
122 views
Can you fulfill Netilat Yadayim by dipping your hands in a sink?
According to the Gemara in Hullin on 107a, if there's a vessel with a hole in it, and there's a "stream" (more than a drip but not necessarily the "sheffoferet hannod" required for a real mikveh) ...
5
votes
0answers
85 views
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukkah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicization to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the ...
4
votes
0answers
30 views
Are placebos permitted without telling the person they are getting one?
Does Judaism allow placebos where the person thinks it does something, and is thereby cured, even though the item does nothing?
Is this gnevas da'as (or some other issur), or because it can help them ...
4
votes
0answers
91 views
Using a cell phone as a watch on Shabbos
I seem to recall learning that it is permissible to use a cell phone as a watch on Shabbos as long as the time is always displayed on the front and no buttons would need to be pressed in order to ...
4
votes
0answers
28 views
Davar Ha'avad on Chol HaMoed — Loss coming later
It says in SA OC Siman 537 that one is allowed to do a malacha on chol hamoed if it's a "davar ha'aved". That is to say if the person doesn't do the malacha now it will come to a loss ("hefsed".)
...
4
votes
0answers
68 views
Opened “please-take!” food items in a non-Jewish workplace
Is it alright to consume unsupervised food items at work that are open and available to anyone, assuming the items were initially known to be Kosher1 and there's no evidence of tampering?
Items that ...
4
votes
0answers
30 views
Geographic size of an Eruv
Inspired by Is Juneau, Alaska -- surrounded by natural barriers -- a natural eruv
Is there a maximum square mile or square kilometer area that may be enclosed by an Eruv? (sources)
4
votes
0answers
37 views
Is Juneau, Alaska — surrounded by natural barriers — a natural eruv
I recently visited Juneau, Alaska. It is a small city of 35,000. The city limits are quite large, however -- 3,225 square miles -- but much of this area is separated from downtown Juneau on Douglas ...
4
votes
0answers
51 views
What's a floor?
There are certain laws pertaining to a floor. For example, if a Sefer Torah is dropped on the floor, one is supposed to do some sort of atonement (eg., most famously, fasting for 40 days).
What is ...
4
votes
0answers
67 views
Writing HaShem's actual name in English
Is it permissible to write out HaShem's actual name (the "Tetragrammaton") in English (or any other, non-Semitic, language)?
Does it make a difference how you spell it, ie., whether you write it in ...
4
votes
0answers
104 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 ...
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
4
votes
0answers
45 views
How were the “seven good men of the city” appointed?
How were the “seven good men of the city” שבעה טובי העיר appointed? Was there an election and if so who could be candidates?
4
votes
0answers
44 views
Answering Amen to quiet Berachoth
According to this answer citing RaM"A (124:11), you can answer Amen to any Berachah even if you don't hear it, so long as you know which one is being said. Does this apply only to Tefillah BeTzibur ...
4
votes
0answers
74 views
Ose shalom post shemona esre
Basic Background:
Following the shemona esre prayer, the sages instituted concluding the prayer with the verse "yihyu leratzon" followed by "petira"- symbolically exiting from before G-d through ...
4
votes
0answers
105 views
Why do most of the shuls in Manhattan face the wrong direction?
As a first time visitor to Manhattan, I was very surprised to see that most shuls (with a few notable exceptions) are facing roughly south-south-west. This is nowhere near the direction to face ...
4
votes
0answers
106 views
Does a French Press Shoulder Nut Require Tevila?
On a french press, there is a piece that sits on the bottom of the plunger rod above the filtering discs called a shoulder nut. The purpose of this piece is to keep the filtering discs plunged down ...
4
votes
0answers
78 views
Kevias Ittim Vs. the General Mitzva of Talmud Torah
The basic mitzva of learning Torah can be fulfilled minimally with Kerias Shema. This comes from a Gemara in Menachos (99b) which goes through several conflicting interpretations of the verse in ...
4
votes
0answers
66 views
an adult's responding to a child's sneeze with a blessing, or vice versa
The halacha states (Mishnah Brurah 230: 7) that one should respond to a sneeze with a blessing and the person who sneezed and was blessed should return with a blessing in kind. this is not done if you ...
4
votes
0answers
67 views
Are coupons for Chometz - Chometz? II
Inspired by yydl's question.
I read that in Russia where bread was unpurchasable without "bread ration cards", people would save them throughout Pesach and use them after Pesach. One such person ...
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 ...
