Questions related to how something was in the past, and how it's developed since then.
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Relations among King David, the Sanhedrin, and the high priest
Do we have any historical source that discusses the relations among King David, the Sanhedrin during his reign, and the high priest during his reign? Were they on friendly terms? Was there a power ...
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votes
2answers
72 views
How did Dovid Hamelech kill Amaleikim?
Similar to this question.
How did Dovid Hamelech kill the Amaleikim when they were almost completely obliterated (their only survivor was a baby fathered by Agag on his last day) by Shaul Hamelech ...
5
votes
1answer
121 views
Was the Tzemach Tzedek related to the Metzudos Tziyon/Dovid? [closed]
The Tzemach Tzedek (of Lubavitch)'s father's name was Shalom Shachna Altshuler. Is he related to the Metzodos Tziyon?
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votes
4answers
232 views
Why was the Gemara written in Aramaic?
The Gemara (the Bavli and Yerushalmi) are the fundamental texts that we possess of the Oral law. Why were they written in Aramaic?
At first glance, Ravina and R' Ashi probably knew that this will be ...
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votes
2answers
174 views
Start of the Upsherin ceremony
When did it become popular to have a ceremony for a boys Upsherin, his first haircut when he reaches the age of three?
5
votes
2answers
343 views
Sources for Hassidic views on marital celibacy/asceticism?
My understanding is the traditional view of Ger Hassidism was that marital celibacy was a good idea, once all procreative needs had been met.
My impression is that Chabad-Lubavitch never advocated an ...
5
votes
1answer
81 views
If the “ten martyrs” didn't happen together, did the punishment-for-Joseph story happen? When?
It's commonly believed that the "ten martyrs" didn't all live in the same time period, and the description of them as a group is conceptual, not historical.
Now the story opens with a Roman ruler ...
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1answer
182 views
Can a 9 year old do Yibbum?
Back then was a 9 year old and 1 day boy allowed to do yebam to his dead brothers wife?
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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
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1answer
49 views
Who composed the Piyut Echad Mi Yodeya?
Who composed the Piyut Echad Mi Yodeya that is commonly recited on Pesach?
4
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1answer
270 views
Hebrew Havarah?
Similar to this question
Different parts of Eastern Europe had different dialects.
For example, Ukrainian, Polish and Hungarian Jews pronounce a "Shuruk" as a EE, or a Komatz as an oo (so Boruch ...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Tu B'shvat Seder
Where did the idea of doing a Seder on Tu b'Shvat come from? Why a Seder, not just the eating of fruit? Why do we call it a Seder if there is no formalized way of doing it?
4
votes
1answer
209 views
When and why did we start reading the Parshat Hashavua?
My question is twofold:
When did we start reading a new parsha (torah portion) every week?
Why did we start reading a new parsha (torah portion) every week?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
how old is Judaism?
How old is Judaism - not legendary, but indicated by science?
What are the oldest scriptures found of the story of Moses, for example? Or are the scriptures imported from very different cultures so ...
4
votes
1answer
134 views
g'mara about David's conception
Where's the g'mara about Yishay's divorce (or was it separation?) and David's conception, please?
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Aleinu L'Shabeach - Nusach HaTefila
The words "Sheheim Mishtachavim Li-Hevel Voryk Umispallelim El Eil Lo-Yoshiya" - Was this originally part of Aleinu and then removed, or was it added later to Aleinu? Why was this done?
4
votes
1answer
511 views
What's the earliest source/discussion on green beans being “kitniyot” (prohibited legumes) on Passover?
My understanding is that most Ashkenazic communities today don't eat green beans on Passover, treating them as kitniyot (a bunch of legumes for which the custom arose to avoid on Passover). What's the ...
4
votes
1answer
306 views
Yerushalmi Versus Bavli
What are the differences between the two Talmuds? or are there differences? Why did the two Talmuds develop separately or did they? Why do we Poskin like the Bavli or do we? Is it true that the ...
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votes
3answers
516 views
Reb Moshe Feinstein in the New York Times
Reb Moshe Feinstein was once interviewed by the New York Times where he answered questions like how does Klal Yisroel know who is a Gadol? Does anyone know when it was, and does anyone know where I ...
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votes
2answers
176 views
Which Yochanan Kohen Godol is in Al Hanissim?
In Al Hanissim we mention a Yochanan Kohen Gadol. Since there were several kohanim gedolim named Yochanan which one is this, historically?
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votes
4answers
204 views
What's the origin of the name “Jew”?
Why are we called "the Jews"? Did Hashem pick out this name for us? What does the word "Jew" mean?
3
votes
1answer
104 views
Who dropped Moses from the Hagaddah?
Moses is not mentioned in the Hagaddah (with one minor exception), presumably to show that the exodus happened entirely by G-d's power and to not deify Moses.
Presumably, though, the maggid during ...
3
votes
0answers
83 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
Shabbat songs that rhyme only with Hashem's real name [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Pronouncing Hashem's name in a song
Many songs we sing and the Shabbat table we use the word Hashem instead of Hashem's real name even when the song was written in ...
3
votes
3answers
138 views
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development?
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development? By ancient I mean B.C.E.
I also would appreciate if you can also provide links to online English translations if ...
3
votes
1answer
222 views
Source of appellation “Shimshon HaGibor”
I've heard it claimed that the expression "Shimshon HaGibor" (Samson the Mighty) [as a descriptive of Shimshon in Tanach] was invented by the Zionists, to promote their "strong Jew" narrative. Is this ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
What do we know about the Yemenites adding (deleting?) Maimonides from their prayers in the 1100s?
I've always heard that the Yemenite Jews of the late 1100s were so grateful for the theological support they were given by Maimonides' writings (Rambam's Igeret Teiman), that where their kaddish ...
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5answers
320 views
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1answer
55 views
was paroh the same paroh during the 210 years
Was Paroh at the start the same as the one when it says "there arose a new king" (Exodus 1: 8)? How many parohs were there during the 210 years.
3
votes
3answers
110 views
When did the practice of lighting flames for Chanuka begin?
It seems clear from the G'mara that the institution of Chanuka as a holiday began the year immediately following the seminal story - with praising of God and commemorating miracles, but there is no ...
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votes
1answer
249 views
How do rabbis explain the reason for the Spanish Expulsion. Why did the Jewish people deserve it
I notice you already have this question for the Holocaust but haven't found it for the Spanish expulsion. I understand that many great people gave reasons for it, like the seder hadoros, tsror hamor ...
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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
0answers
81 views
Why does a hamentash have three sides and filling? [closed]
All Hamentashen that I've seen have three sides and all Hamentashen have filling.
Why is that?
2
votes
1answer
143 views
Why was the Mishna written in Hebrew while the Gemara wasn't?
By the time of the Mishna, people speaking in Aramaic on a day-to-day basis. Nonetheless, R' Yehuda Hanasi wrote the Mishna in Hebrew. So were the Toseftas and the Braisos.
Why?
On the other hand, ...
2
votes
5answers
541 views
A natural explanation for the significance of the numbers 7 and 40
In the Jewish religious texts the numbers 7 and 40 seem to appear quite often and carry special significance. Some examples among many:
God's creation lasts 7 days
The Great Flood was from rain ...
2
votes
3answers
192 views
Moshe Rabeinu's Yarzheit
It is common knowledge that Moshe Rabeinu was Niftar on 7 Adar. Was it a plain year with 1 Adar or a leap year with 2 Adars? If it was a leap year on what Adar was he Niftar?
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vote
4answers
299 views
Why do we count years from the date of Creation?
Why do we count years from the date of Creation? I intend two sub-questions here, of which the second is far more interesting, so please answer it:
Whence did this tradition originate?
Why do we ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Were the prophets and holy people who lived before Judah (Yehudah) also Jews?
The word "Jew" originates from the name of the eldest son of Jacob. The term "Jew" was introduced many generations and decades after him. I wonder whether Adam, Noah, Lot, Abraham and Moses were all ...
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votes
2answers
71 views
Why aren't Zeraim or Toharos included in the Bavli as Mishnayos?
Whatever the reason, there is no Gemara on most of Zeraim and Toharos. Why, though, were the mishnayos themselves not included in their entireties in the redacted Talmud Bavli?
It seems strange that ...
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1answer
83 views
What is the challenge of our generation [closed]
In Jewish thought, if each generation, just like each person, has a particular task to accomplish or a particular difficulty to overcome, then what is our challenge right now?
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1answer
149 views
What was the 'evolution' of determining who is part of the Jewish people?
Starting with Abraham and continuing till modern halacha. how has the halacha regarding who is part of the Jewish people changed? What were the causes of the change, and the reasoning, and the change ...
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1answer
133 views
What are the evidence of red/reed sea crossing?
Are there any credible historical evidences behind red/reed sea crossing? Besides, of course, the Torah.
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votes
1answer
87 views
Which nation in this prophecy of Haggai will shake nations and will be given peace(שָׁלוֹם) [closed]
The following verse in the Torah prophesizes about a nation which will be given "peace" and coming of a praised being:
and I will shake all nations, and the choicest(חֶמְדַּת ) things of all ...
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votes
2answers
200 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?
