Jewish philosophy as well as Jewish perspectives - i.e. not only formal philosophy. NOT for questions about Jewish practice unless there's a philosophical component.
6
votes
1answer
223 views
Should a Jew who doesn't believe in G-d observe the commandments?
In an earlier question, I asked if it was a commandment to believe in G-d. As with so many areas, there were differing opinions. Some of the respondents claimed that there would be no point in being ...
2
votes
0answers
39 views
Sincerely wants to have Emunah? [closed]
What would you tell someone who tells you that they sincerely want to have emunah but is having a hard time believing in things such as Torah miSinai, the special "chosen" status of the Children of ...
7
votes
3answers
125 views
Can you pray something that isn't true or (at least) that the petitioner doesn't believe to be true?
In the Aruch HaShulchan OH 581:4, he writes regarding the selichos we recite before Rosh HaShanah:
האחת: דאלו שאינם מתענים, ובהסליחה מוזכר לשון "תענית" או "צום" – לא יאמרו זה, דלא ליהוי כדובר שקרים. ...
5
votes
2answers
162 views
Jews vs gentiles: disputes
Recently I got a pleasureful reading of the Ramban's dispute.
I think it a great source for "דע מה להשיב" (know what to answer to heretics).
I'm sure there were similar disputes by other great ...
8
votes
1answer
111 views
How was the Shaalos Utshuvos Min Hashamayim allowed to do what he did?
The Shut Min Hashamayim was written by a Rishon in the time of Tosfos. He used to ask questions from Shamayim (Heaven) in a Sheilas Chalom (Dream Question) and write the answers down. Many of those ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Is buying a lottery ticket a lack of faith?
Everybody would like to be rich, and winning the lottery is the easiest (albeit most unlikely) path to sudden wealth.
In terms of Jewish hashkafa (philosophy), I agree that buying more than one ...
-1
votes
1answer
79 views
Belittling of the Holocaust? [closed]
Hitler killed six million Jews. Rabbi Meir Kahane, HaShem Yikom Damo, famously said NEVER AGAIN. What is the Torah attitude towards espouse misguided viewpoints such as the one recently portrayed by ...
4
votes
1answer
319 views
Why did Rabbis stay away from Amei Haaretz?
The Gemara tells Torah scholars that they should not mix with Amei Haaretz, and shouldn't be around them, eat with them, etc. The reason is that the Torah Scholars would learn from their bad ways.
...
9
votes
2answers
248 views
“bad impression” vs “Judge your friend favorably”
There are two commonly known halachic concepts. "Marit Ayin", a bad impression, and "Dan Lekaf Zechut", "Judging favorably". Here is a nice article on the concept of Marit Ayin and it briefly talks ...
6
votes
4answers
104 views
What is the purpose of t'chias hamasim?
Given the following: (note please feel free to argue with any of these premises, but please also cite a source)
t'chias hamasim will only occur for the righteous
the righteous who are currently dead ...
12
votes
1answer
854 views
Why does the Jewish calendar HAVE to end?
It seems to be common knowledge that on or around the year 6,000 of the Jewish calendar "everything" (left intentionally vague) will come to an end and there will be a 1,000 year 'Shabbos'. I'm ...
6
votes
1answer
598 views
Is there any difference between Jewish G-d and Muslim G-d? [closed]
Do Jews and Muslims worship the same G-d? If so, do they understand G-d the same way? As a related point, is there any linguistic or theological connection between "Allah" and "Eloha" (or "Elohim")? ...
4
votes
1answer
224 views
Does God discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people?
I often wonder if God has a different attitude towards people who are not Jews. Why Jews are consisdered to be most favored nation? Does that mean that all other people are inferior to Jews? Wouldn't ...
5
votes
3answers
255 views
Why does Judaism require more orthodoxy than other religions?
Why is Judaism comprised of so many precise stringencies in comparison to other religions?
Why is conversion to Judaism so strict and difficult?
11
votes
5answers
568 views
May one love a non-Jew?
May one love a non-Jew? Not romantically in the sense of marriage, but rather in the sense that one loves a friend or family. May a Jew love his Gentile father, for example? May a baal teshuvah ...
6
votes
3answers
187 views
Is the enemy of my enemy my friend? If so, which one?
I guess this is a two-part question. Are there any sources that support this common maxim? And if so, are there any sources that provide guidance on which enemy we now befriend?
If one enemy ...
10
votes
2answers
161 views
Non-belief in Torah's divinity - Wickedness or Ignorance?
If a Jew breaks halacha because he honestly does not believe that the Torah is G-d's law or that he is obligated it follow it, is his nonconformance with the law considered wickedness or ignorance? ...
1
vote
4answers
155 views
Please clarify Mishlei 24:21 regarding mingling with dualists
Mishlei 24:21 "My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not mingle with dualists" source
(1) please define "dualist" from the perspective of Judaism. If it is "someone who believes/practices dualism" ...
11
votes
4answers
311 views
Is belief in a G-d a commandment?
I am studying to convert to Judaism and one of the questions I was asked was about the Ten Commandments. I remember reading at that time that there was debate about the division of the statements ...
1
vote
2answers
99 views
How much room is there for personal influence given the existence of “free will” and “God's will” and “God's plan”?
Today's interesting question delves deeper into the concept of free will. I understand that Judaism views free will as the freedom to choose between life and death (i.e. choose life and live), but ...
7
votes
3answers
332 views
How do you know what is God's will in a particular situation?
After reading this superb article by the great Rabbi Noah Weinberg I'm left pondering point number 5 "Make your will God's will".
I understand that this does not mean that whatever you personally ...
2
votes
3answers
253 views
What is the orthodox view towards the existence of a progressive denomination? [closed]
How did the progressive and orthodox denominations come about?
What is the orthodox view towards the existence of a progressive denomination?
MODERATOR NOTE: The chatting in the comments on this ...
12
votes
6answers
730 views
How do we know that God exists?
Simple enough question, and very much related to the topic.
According to the sources, on what basis should people believe that there's a God?
9
votes
1answer
157 views
“Wedding anniversary” in Jewish thought.
Does the concept of "wedding anniversary" specifically enter Jewish thought or is it to be thought of as another of the many occasions for giving thanks to HKB"H?
5
votes
1answer
88 views
All Sifre HaRamhal? (Rabbi Moshe Chayim Lutzato)
Is there a set that has "Kol Sifre HaRamhal"? The have "Kol Sifre HaHida" and other Rabanim, so maybe they'll also have all Sefarim of the Ramhal?
4
votes
1answer
161 views
All ramifications of “Lo BaShamayim Hi” [closed]
What are all the ramifications of "Lo BaShamayim Hi"?
10
votes
2answers
91 views
Why didn't the Tur discuss traditional Jewish philosophy?
Of all classical works of Halacha, only the Rambam has a section dedicated "Hilchos Deos". For example, he begins with the most fundamental Jewish belief, the belief in one G-d, that G-d is the ...
11
votes
3answers
129 views
What are Rambam's “עיקרים”?
Rambam, in his Commentary to the Mishna (Sanhedrin 10), enumerates 13 "עיקרים" or "יסודות", which he holds are the core "principles" that every Jew is expected to believe. (Summary in English.)
But ...
4
votes
1answer
290 views
Torah Im Derech Eretz and Torah Umada
What exactly is "Torah Im Derech Eretz" and "Torah Umada." I am not looking for a translation but rather an explanation of Yeshiva University's philosophy regarding these things. What are the ...
8
votes
1answer
144 views
Eilu V'Eilu - Until Where?
Many times rabbis disagree on things in both hashkafa and Halacha. Usually, even when disagreeing, they will view the others' opinion as valid, even if they themselves would not rely on it. This is ...
6
votes
2answers
113 views
The original Mesilas Yesharim
Mesilas Yesharim is a digest version of a previous work by the Ramchal. This work is an ongoing conversation between a wise man and a pious man (Thank you chanoch for the correction). I don't recall ...
6
votes
2answers
576 views
The meaning of Tzadik
I am having difficulty in understand the meaning of Tzadik. Maimonides says "One whose merit surpasses his iniquity is a tzadik". I have trouble in understanding this sentence. Can someone explain the ...
11
votes
4answers
212 views
Did hardening Paro's heart mean he wasn't really responsible?
As a child I often wondered how, if God kept hardening Paro's heart after each plague, it could really be Paro's fault. It sounds like God was setting him up to fail, and while that's God's ...
9
votes
1answer
157 views
Does someone who dies very young have a soulmate?
As discussed in this question, the Talmud tells us that 40 days before someone is born, a heavenly voice calls out "This person is destined for so-and-so".
Not sure if anyone can answer this, but ...
14
votes
1answer
152 views
What Happens to People Who Don't Have a Portion in Olam Haba?
The last perek of Sanhedrin lists some people who have no share in Olam Haba. Other people who forfeit their share are discussed in the answers to this question: No Olam Habah for these?
My question ...
11
votes
2answers
180 views
What is “emunas chachomim”?
My daughter came home from school with a textbook response for what "emunas chachomim" is. I disagreed strongly with what was written in the book, so I'm not even going to say what they said. ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
Nothing new under the sun, except for women chasing men?
I noticed that in Yermiyahu 31:21, it says .
עַד-מָתַי תִּתְחַמָּקִין, הַבַּת הַשּׁוֹבֵבָה: כִּי-בָרָא יְהוָה
חֲדָשָׁה בָּאָרֶץ, נְקֵבָה תְּסוֹבֵב גָּבֶר.
"...and Gd will create a new ...
5
votes
3answers
137 views
How can people effectively bless when blessing is God's domain?
How do people have the power to bless? Yitzchak's blessings for his sons pretty much came true, and similarly later when Yaakov blesses his children and earlier (in the inverse) Noach curses Canaan. ...
6
votes
3answers
132 views
Good inclination or evil inclination in the womb?
The Posuk says:
ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה (בראשית כה, כב)
To which Rashi comments:
כשהיתה עוברת על פתחי תורה של שם ועבר יעקב רץ ומפרכס לצאת, וכשהיתה עוברת על פתחי עבודה זרה עשיו מפרכס לצאת
...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Asking From Angels Borchuni Lshalom
Jews usaly do not ask angels for help as per the RAMBAM. He writes (in Sanhedrin, Perek 11) in the fifth Yesod ha'Emunah the prohibition against serving Avodah Zarah -- that not only should a person ...
7
votes
2answers
126 views
Talking to objects and Avoda Zara
This question inspired by This question here at programmers.se
There is a concept in some programing circles called "Rubber Ducking", where one expresses a problem to a rubber ducky and through that ...
5
votes
6answers
183 views
Resources for learning about the foundations of Judaism
I recently met an intelligent Soviet immigrant interested in learning more about Judaism. He would like to start with understanding the basics. Such as:
How do we understand G-d?
What are the ...
8
votes
1answer
94 views
Animals vs. plants: kashrus
Why did God make all plants, but only some animals, kosher? Sources, please.
14
votes
1answer
231 views
Who is Moshiach?
How do I know that someone is Moshiach? Will I just know? Are there requirements? If someone tells me that he is the Moshiach, is he to be believed. It would seem seem strange to say so.
7
votes
4answers
274 views
Dreams in Judaism?
What does Judaism have to say about dreams and do have any legitimacy?
Are they in any way binding, or are they assumed to be just products of an overactive imagination?
15
votes
2answers
391 views
Why does the Hebrew alphabet not have letters representing vowels?
(Re-asking this question in a way more suited to SE.)
The Hebrew alphabet is actually an abjad rather than a "true" Western-style alphabet, in that every letter represents a consonant, and vowels, if ...
6
votes
6answers
248 views
Tikkun Olam source
What is the source for the concept that Jews have to practice Tikkun Olam, and where in the classical Jewish sources is this concept defined? It seems people throw this term around a lot in the ...
-7
votes
1answer
194 views
If God was never incarnated, how come He sat in front of Abraham's tent and appeared among the oaks of Mamre? [closed]
http://yltbible.com/genesis/18.htm
And Jehovah appeareth unto him among the oaks of Mamre, and he is sitting at the opening of the tent, about the heat of the day; 2 and he lifteth up his eyes and ...
4
votes
2answers
200 views
Why did God allow slavery?
How could a kind GxD allow his people to use slavery on their weaker contemporaries and neighbours and yet be so strict with other requirements.
11
votes
3answers
218 views
Do people have an effect on the mood of God?
If a person commits idolatry or fornication he is sinful. Not only that, but the curse of Hashem is with that person. On the other hand, if a person does a lot of mitswots (commandments) and believes ...
