Questions related to how something was in the past, and how it's developed since then.
5
votes
2answers
64 views
Bracha on giving Machatzis HaShekel
In the times of the Beis HaMikdash when the Machatzis HaShekel was given was a bracha recited?
4
votes
1answer
109 views
Historical account of Jewish worship via the graves of saints and Prophets
Are there any examples in the Jewish history of Jewish people falling into worshiping the dead saints and prophets in their tombs ?
Also, does building Tomb and concrete structures over the graves ...
2
votes
0answers
81 views
Sitting or Standing for Kaddish - historical divergence between Conservative and Orthodox minhag
At most (maybe even all?) Conservative synagogues, the congregation remains seated during every kaddish (except mourner's kaddish, and then only mourners rise). At Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogues, the ...
-4
votes
2answers
201 views
When did the switch to matrilineal descent occur?
Does anyone know when the switch the matrilineal descent took place? I've seen other information about the potential impetus, but when did it become so? Was there even a switch?
3
votes
3answers
221 views
Why do we venerate previous generations?
In understanding torah sh'baal peh, as well as halacha we generally work under the presumption that earlier generations were correct and/or knew more than later generations. For example many a talmud ...
5
votes
1answer
258 views
Which major gedolim have said Hallel on Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim?
Which major gedolim, especially at the times at which the events occurred, but in general too, have said Hallel for Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalyim?
The definition of a major gadol is, of course, ...
1
vote
1answer
121 views
Breakdown of Yirmiyahu's 70 year prophecy
Can someone supply a good breakdown of Yirmiyahu's 70 year prophecy, and the misinterpretations of the prophecy? This is what I've learned in the past:
Yirmiyahu made a prophecy that 70 years after ...
1
vote
0answers
76 views
Has anyone since Rashbi been considered so regularly involved in Torah study so as to be exempt from prayer?
In SA OC Siman 106 Sif 2, the Machaber says that someone that for whom "Toraso Umanaso" ("his torah is his occupation", ie a person that is constantly engaged in Torah study) like Rebbe Shimon Bar ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Was Pinchas born in Egypt?
I'm a little confused about the chronology of the Biblical giants Caleb and Pinchas. Caleb appears to have been part of the Exodus generation, and with Joshua, their defense of the Land of Israel ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
Haredi clothing
Every time I see videos or photographs of Haredim of sixty-eighty years ago, I notice an abundance of grey suits and hats, with the occasional brown or grey waistcoat. Examples of this include the ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Did Joseph ever forgive his brothers? Did they request forgiveness?
After Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, did the brothers ever ask for Yosef's forgiveness for having sold him into slavery? And did Yosef ever formally forgive them? I'm looking for chapter ...
0
votes
3answers
118 views
Are there cases of a one-time (extreme) punishment that rabbis meted for the sake of a community's commitment to Torah?
I have heard about cases (during the period of the late Rishonim) where a Posek or a Beis Din meted out a harsh punishment to an individual for their breach of halacha in order to protect their ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
What's the Source for Jerusalem and Sepphoris Having Larger Measuring Units?
In Rabbi Pinchas Kehati's introduction to Masekhet Challah, and again in his commentary on Eduyyot 1:2, reference is made to the adjusting of measurements when the Jews "arrived at" Jerusalem, and ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
How did the Oral Torah survive the years after Joshua died?
In the Book of Judges 2:10 it says that after the death of Joshua and his generation, "there arose another generation after them, who knew not Hashem nor the deed which He had done for Israel." ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Was Shlomo Molcho a great kabbalist or a false messiah?
History records that a Portuguese Marano, Diego Peres (born 1500), after being spurned by Jewish adventurist David Reuveni, circumcised himself, changed his name to Shlomo Molcho, and went on a ...
3
votes
0answers
74 views
Ashkanazim paskening like Rema
Was it always a straightforward presumption ("davar pashut") that in general the Ashkanazim should decide Halachic questions ("pasken") in accordance with the Rema over the Machaber/Beis Yosef (when ...
3
votes
1answer
250 views
Did most Hasidic men wear the shtreimel and kapote in Eastern Europe?
I have heard that the shtreimel and kapote (and variations) were mostly worn only by the Rebbes, while most followers were too poor for a beaver-skin hat; most hassidim wore the ordinary clothes of ...
9
votes
4answers
265 views
Can a convert be a prophet?
I don't think there were any gerim amongst the nevi'im, but would it have been possible?
2
votes
1answer
88 views
When did upsherins become part of standard American Orthodox practice?
According to Rav Wikipedia, the upsherin is a custom that was brought from Muslims to Palestinian Jews to Tzfat Sephardim to Chasidim.
Recently, I've noticed mainstream (non-charedi) Orthodox Jews ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
History of the Mir Yeshiva
Can anybody recommend a good history of the Mir Yeshiva - specifically until the outbreak of World War II, but ideally even inclusive of the war years? Shaul Stampfer has an excellent history of ...
4
votes
2answers
105 views
Has the Ban of Rabbenu Gershom expired?
I have heard that the ban or cherem of Rabbenu Gershom has expired. Is this the case? If so, what are the ramifications visa vi his enactments?
3
votes
1answer
60 views
The “ben neichar” who is banned from eating the Korbon Pesach
Exodus 12:43 says that a "ben neichar" would not be able to eat the Korbon Pesach (the Passover offering) when the Temple is rebuilt, placing this category of persons in the same category as non-Jews. ...
3
votes
2answers
104 views
How was Devorah appointed a judge?
Although there is already a question on how judges were appointed during the period after the First Temple was built, that question did not cover the period of the Judges, following the time of ...
0
votes
3answers
221 views
Were there any other religions before Judaism that their followers should convert to Judaism?
You could imagine that with the advent of a new religion, any followers of the last religion would be required to convert to the new religion.
Which followers of which religion converted to Judaism, ...
2
votes
0answers
73 views
Are there any statistics regarding how many people convert yearly?
Are there any statistics for the last 50-100 years as to how many people convert and become Geirim yearly?
-2
votes
1answer
95 views
Does Judaism believe that Moshe (Moses) is the last Prophet?
Does Judaism believe that Moshe (Moses) is the last Prophet? Is this suggested in the Torah? If he was not the last prophet, but the Torah seems to suggest it, what does that mean?
6
votes
1answer
98 views
Source for Dubno Maggid's rebuke of the Vilna Gaon?
In a shiur I heard that the Vilna Gaon begged the Dubno Maggid to give him mussar (rebuke) after repeatedly declining the Maggid responded that
It is not so difficult to be a Gaon, cloistered in ...
6
votes
2answers
76 views
Why are Chazal asking if words are spelled with א or ע?
In Shabbos 77a-77b, Chazal ask about the spelling of a series of words, questioning whether the words are spelled with an alef - as in גראינין - or with an ayin - as in גרעינין. Wasn't ayin vocalized ...
11
votes
2answers
166 views
Is there a chief Rabbi of the United States?
Is there currently or has there ever been historically a chief Rabbi of the United States? If not, why not?
12
votes
7answers
386 views
About what were rabbis ahead of the times?
I have heard claims that experts in the world of Torah were significantly ahead of their counterparts in the world of natural science (or mathematics, or psychology, or…) in that they knew X ...
9
votes
2answers
112 views
Looking for information on the Savoraim
I am looking for more information on the Savoraim such as a list of who they were, what they wrote outside of comments/amendments in the talmud, meaning do they have responsa, ethical or halachik ...
4
votes
1answer
123 views
Do Jews believe the content of Maccabees (I-IV) is true?
This related question touches on the book of Maccabees.
I was wondering if Jews believe the content of Maccabees (I-IV) is true, even though it is outside the canon. If any of the Rishonim or ...
1
vote
0answers
104 views
How did the modern day Beis Hora'ah phenomenon develop?
Here in Eretz Yisrael, we find Batei Hora'ah in many cities - places where a moreh hora'ah sits either during special times or perhaps the whole day or different rabbonim throughout the day answering ...
5
votes
2answers
195 views
Why is the Mesillas Yesharim so popular and accepted?
To overgeneralize, I bet there is a copy of the mesillas yesharim in almost every orthodox home, shul and beis medrash. I'm wondering why this work is so popular and accepted.
My wondering is ...
5
votes
0answers
85 views
Was the Chasam Sofer known for having an interesting way of learning?
I have a lot of experience learning Gemara and find myself oft dealing with the views of the Achronim to understand the Pshat in Rishonim. Unfortunately, I have inside me a slight aversion to the ...
2
votes
3answers
139 views
What exactly happened on the 25th of Kislev?
What historical event (if any) actually took place on the 25th of Kislev to cause that date to be the commencement of Chanukah?
3
votes
0answers
84 views
Source for not referring to Chanuka lights as a “menora”
Following up on this question about the use of the words "menora" or "chanukiya" to refer to Chanuka lights:
I find it interesting that the use of "chanukiya" apparently originated in 1897 through a ...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Celebrating the Hashmonaim as part of Hanukkah
The Hashmonaim are an integral part of the Hanukkah story.
BUT after the story of Hanukkah the Hashmonite family did some very terrible things (wars between Jews etc) during their reign.
Why do we ...
0
votes
0answers
71 views
The Huncovce, Slovakia Yeshiva — any photos, diaries, documents?
I have translated a page about Hunsdorf/Huncovce, Slovakia, from a Yizkor (Memorial) Book, Pinkas Slovakia, as part of an effort by JewishGen to make information available to the world. Over the ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
How could a man named Philip in USA have Hebrew name Yehoshua Falk?
My great-uncle from Eastern Europe had given name of Philip in America (came in 1880s), is shown in 1889 directory as Philip plus his surname. His gravestone gives his name as Yehoshua Falk [then ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
When did David Hamelech write Tehillim?
When did David Hamelech write Tehillim? Or to be more technical, when did David write his first Tehillim and when did he write his last?
Also was there a certain period of time within which he wrote a ...
10
votes
3answers
202 views
Were our symbols for trope and nekudos created by the Masoretes, or transmitted by them?
It is commonly said in secular sources that the shapes of the trope and nekudos we use today were invented by the Masoretes (7th to 11th Century CE), but I cannot find any source in our mesorah to ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
Yerushalayim City of Gold
What is the origin of the concept of Yerushalayim being a "City of Gold"?
It is the name and theme of a famous Israeli song from the 1960s, and I always assumed it was either from that song, or that ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
Where can I find family history of Rabbi Schneor Zalman Altshuler? [closed]
To rephrase my question correctly and not to make it too broad: where can I find information about the direct ancestors of Rabbi Schneor Zalman Altshuler?
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
7
votes
1answer
107 views
Who is “the blaspheming foe” of Maoz Tzur?
In the song Maoz Tzur it says
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּחַ -
which the OU translates as -
When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe.
Who is this ...
7
votes
2answers
71 views
Dressing similarly at a Din Torah - When did this change and why?
Gemara Shevuos 31a says that if two people come to Bais Din one dressed in rags and the other dressed in expensive clothing, we make them dress similarly. Sefer Hachinuch Mitzva 235 indicates that ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
Ululating in Jewish culture
In ancient times, Jews living in Israel ululated if I am not mistaken. Is this practiced by Ashkenazi or Sephardic Jews today? Which other Jewish communities ululate? Ethiopians, Mizrahis, etc?
Are ...
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?
2
votes
1answer
118 views
Is it true that proselytes immersed in their birthday suits in ancient times?
I was told that Jewish proselytes immersed in their birthday suits in ancient times. Is this true? If so, could you please provide sources stating this fact?
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Did “Litvish” frock coats button left-on-right?
My understanding is that today, most men's clothing buttons left-on-right, i.e. the buttons are on your right. A Hassidic kapote or bekkeshe reverses this, but if you order a "Litvish" ("Lithuanian", ...
