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.
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283 views
Hashem is here and there and everywhere?
Is Hashem really in front of us, behind us, next to us, etc?
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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 ...
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1answer
129 views
how do we get out of non-achdus and golus? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are some practical things we can do to bring Moshiach?
Given that we are still in galus (physical as well as spiritual exile), and given that our sages tell us the ...
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1answer
92 views
Why do we Daven for יראת שמים / fear of Heaven?
The Gemara in Nidah 16: mentions the following in the name of Rabbi Chanina:
דאמר רבי חנינא הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים
שנאמר (דברים י) ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלהיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה וגו'. - ...
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1answer
129 views
What attitudes toward Jesus are acceptable for a Jew?
What attitudes toward Jesus are acceptable for a Jew? I understand that idolatry, or embracing the mainstream Christian perception of Jesus as divine, is absolutely out of the question. Furthermore, ...
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2answers
79 views
If a person stops doing the bad action or begins to do the right action, why does he still need to do Teshuvah for a חטא (sin)?
If a person stops doing the bad action or begins to do the right action, why does he still need to do Teshuvah for a חטא (sin)? In other words, why do you need to do Teshuvah if you have stopped the ...
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2answers
92 views
How is knowledge of G-d different from any other knowledge?
The Rambam, in his Morei Nevuchim, says that when it comes to knowledge about G-d, we can only know what G-d is not. I.e. He is not limited in space, or time, He does not have property A, nor does he ...
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182 views
Does the president of the USA have free will?
I don't remember where but I saw a chazal that states something to the effect of "the (non-Jewish) leaders of the world do not have free will".
I would appreciate someone editing to source this.
So I ...
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4answers
219 views
do we get another chance to reach shamayim if we missed our goal once?
I have heard that there is a task for everyone to fulfill before they enter shamayim, but what happens if you had a chance to fulfill your task in life and you missed it? do you get a different task? ...
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1answer
117 views
Which of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's works influenced Chassidut, Mussar, and Haskalah?
In Dovid Cohen (known as Rav Ha-Nazir)'s Wikipedia page, the following idea is attributed to him:
He saw in Moses Hayyim Luzzatto the harbinger of this redemption, pointing out that the three ...
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83 views
Which rabbi said “if a horse had the mind of Kant …”?
I recall hearing in yeshiva that one great rabbi -- I think one of the baalei mussar? once said:
If a horse had the mind of Kant, it would author volume after volume of great philosphical works -- ...
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3answers
164 views
Who are the tzaddikim in olam ha-ba?
The midrash tells of various things that will happen to the righteous in olam ha-ba, such as feasting on Leviathan. Who are these? Everybody except those who have no share in olam ha-ba per Pirke ...
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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?
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4answers
301 views
Why is the foreskin removed?
Why is the foreskin removed? God gave it men, did God also tell them to have it removed?
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5answers
157 views
Will money fall from the sky if you pray for it?
If you daven for a parnasah and then just sit back will money come to you?
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2answers
152 views
Drinking on Rosh HaShanah
Rosh HaShanah has two opposite aspects, one of judgment, and one of Yom Tov. We spend the day(s) in prayer and literally plead for our lives. Yet we eat festive meals and drink wine for Kiddush.
Is ...
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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.
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2answers
270 views
What's up with the Chafetz Chaim yeshiva guys?
I know they learn a lot slower, dress a little flashier, and learn more mussar than in most mainstream yeshivos, but can someone specify exactly what is the philosophy of the Chafetz Chaim yeshiva ...
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2answers
96 views
How can I make my Judaism more enjoyable?
I really enjoy being Jewish, most of the time, but let's be honest, sometimes it can be difficult to enjoy Judaism. Sometimes it's the little things, like having to wait those extra minutes to eat ...
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4answers
113 views
No More Zechuth Avoth?
The Gemara (Bab. Shab. 55a) discusses when Zechuth Avoth ceased. I am aware of several opinions in Tosafoth that it ended for wicked people, or it ended for everyone but the very righteous or it ended ...
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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 ...
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3answers
111 views
Do a mitzva for mashiach?
I recently saw in The Moshiach Times, a popular Chabad-Lubavitch publication for children, an exhortation to "do a mitzvah for moshiach": to do a mitzva with the specific purpose of hastening the ...
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3answers
140 views
Does Judaism endorse guilt?
I am not a Jew. In a few TV series, I saw/heard that Jews experience self-repression due to their belief. I heard that being Jewish means enduring a lot of guilt, or becoming aware of things to feel ...
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2answers
199 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.
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4answers
188 views
Why does evil exist?
I realize this is a very common question, but the problem of evil is an important one, and as far as I can tell, has not been asked here.
In short, why does G-d allow evil to exist?
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1answer
103 views
Stealing one or one Hundred
I wanted to Know any SOURCES and their answers as to if I steal 1 dollar or one hundred dollars is it the same Sin or is it different? Is it one sin of stealing or one Hundred? When you are punished ...
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3answers
76 views
Helping others succeed
What do you do when you are trying to help friends get themselves on a good track, but you are afraid that by helping them you yourself might fall...what is the Torah obligation here?
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1answer
89 views
What about the Kohen?
It is a given that the Kohen blesses the people, but who blesses the Kohen? Is the Kohen excluded from the Brakha or is he included in the one he makes on the kehillah's behalf?
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3answers
151 views
May we genetically engineer stuff?
The possibilities of genetic engineering continue to grow. May a Jewish scientist genetically engineer things?
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1answer
288 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 ...
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3answers
186 views
Source in Jewish writings for Moshiach?
What is the source in Jewish writings (Pre-Rambam) that there is a concept of a Moshiach, and his nature?
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2answers
129 views
Modern Traditionalist Scholars Combatting Critical Approaches to the Tanach
I know that Shadal, David Hoffman, and many others tried very hard to combat the claims of scholars that criticized the Torah (both in terms of Higher and Lower Criticism). Can anyone help me find ...
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2answers
108 views
Is there a p'sak when dealing with de'os?
I was wondering if the idea of paskening applies to the de'os area of Torah.
As an example there is a machlokes rishonim how to view Chazal's relationship with the science they relied on to pasken ...
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1answer
180 views
Following 'the spirit of the law' vs 'the letter of the law'
My question has several parts, and I'd love to hear your thoughts for all parts:
What are the responsibilities of a Jew regarding the following of laws in general?
Is it permissable to follow the ...
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3answers
221 views
Is the brain the seat of the soul?
There are disturbing ideas in the Feb 21, 2011 Time magazine cover article 2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal. The article attributes to Raymond Kurzweil the prediction that within the next 25 years ...
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1answer
53 views
Why does the Rambam require repentance, and not just more good deeds, before Yom Kippur?
The Rambam says if someone's virtues-vs-sins balance is even as of Rosh Hashanah, their verdict happens on yom kippur. If they did teshuva in those ten days, they get a pass; if not, they don't.
...
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1answer
55 views
How did the trees deviate from God's command?
In Bereshis 1:11 God commands עֵץ פְּרִי עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְמִינוֹ however in the next pasuk where it happens we find וְעֵץ עֹשֶׂה-פְּרִי אֲשֶׁר זַרְעוֹ-בוֹ, לְמִינֵהוּ. This discrepancy is explained by ...
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1answer
129 views
If someone doesn't believe in the Gemara, is he a heretic?
If someone says "I believe that the Mishnayos/Braisos/Toseftas are accurate, but I think that the Gemara made mistakes and has no holiness.
Is such philosophy heresy?
What about someone who argues ...
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1answer
161 views
All ramifications of “Lo BaShamayim Hi” [closed]
What are all the ramifications of "Lo BaShamayim Hi"?
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1answer
126 views
Maimonides and the Allegory of the Cave
Does Maimonides ever refer to the Allegory of the Cave from Plato's The Republic?
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1answer
95 views
Ideology of R' S. R. Hirsch
Perhaps someone can summarize the idea of "Torah im Derech Eretz" as endorsed by R' Samson Raphael Hirsch.
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1answer
98 views
Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
According to this page, Chaza"l intentionally omitted solar and lunar eclipses from the list of natural phenomena upon which we make a bracha. The following explanation is given:
"The Hebrew term ...
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0answers
43 views
The silence of the Rabbis — Should they have defended Bar Kamtza?
In Gittin 55b-56a, we read that a fellow named Bar Kamtza was humiliated by a host of a party in public view of all, including the rabbis. Bar Kamtza received an invitation to the party by mistake, ...
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1answer
60 views
simple faith versus blind faith
There is a view that it is better to avoid studying philosophical works such as the Rambam's guide for the perplexed or the Shaar Yichud from Duties of the Heart. This is based on the idea that Emunah ...
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61 views
Is the idea that there is always at least one illness with an unknown cure - a Jewish idea?
I have heard many times that there will always be at least one illness that is uncurable. Is this a Jewish idea? What is its source?
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1answer
88 views
Is “You Shall Choose Life” ever interpreted literally?
Inspired by Did people ever place actual physical stumbling blocks before the blind?
In Devarim 30:19, we are told by G-d to "choose life":
This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as ...
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4answers
183 views
Since G-d is Omnipotent Why Does He Need Our Prayers?
What are some good answers to the Question if God is all powerfull what does he need our Prayers for? I would appreciate as many answers as possibile
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3answers
175 views
Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Does Hashem benefit from mankind doing the commandments of the Torah?
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3answers
416 views
Bad Jew or Good Gentile?
Whom does Hashem love more: Gentiles who love Jewish people and Israel or Jews who are against Jewish people and Israel?
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2answers
270 views
Are the Jews today still waiting for the Messiah to come?
Are the Jews still today waiting for the promised Messiah to come? If so, then what kind of Messiah are they expecting right now? When do they expect him to come?
