Relating to Jewish books.
4
votes
1answer
327 views
Hashems name on device
Is there any issue regarding deleting electronic files with Hashem's Name, and also is there any issue taking such a device into the bathroom.
15
votes
1answer
163 views
Anonymous glosses in the Shulchan Aruch
The Rama wrote a series of glosses to the Shulchan Aruch to reflect standard Ashkenazi practice, as the Shulchan Aruch was weighted towards the Sephardim. These glosses have been reprinted in almost ...
9
votes
2answers
84 views
What is the provenance of Maseches Sofrim
Who wrote Maseches Sofrim and when did he live. Is it accepted by everyone?
The Rashba in Brachos 34a writes that is one of the minor masechtes that were authored by the early sages. He reiterates in ...
28
votes
7answers
529 views
Did any Achronim comment on the American Revolutionary or Civil Wars?
I've heard that for instance, in the 1800s, the American rabbis in the South were pro-slavery, and the American rabbis in the North opposed to it. But what were the views towards America of the ...
9
votes
3answers
202 views
Halachic authority of books
To what extent do books on Halachah have authority? I was taught that the Gemara was "closed" and may no longer be challenged in terms of its Halachic authority. To what extent is this authority ...
18
votes
2answers
201 views
Why the custom to switch around negative-sounding numbers, such as שד?
Often in sefarim we find that if the number of the siman spells out something negative, such as siman 304 which has a letter value of שד, we switch it around so it no longer reads as a "bad" word. ...
15
votes
2answers
244 views
Halachot of Shul Mechitzas
What are some good books, articles, websites, or seforim for learning about the Halachot of constructing and maintaining a Shul Mechitza (the barrier between the men and women sections)?
Issues ...
8
votes
1answer
128 views
Interrupting in the middle of Shmona esrei
Am I allowed to interrupt in the middle of Shmona esrei in order to pick up a Siddur (or any other holy book) that has fallen to the floor? Same question, if I have to make some steps in order to pick ...
4
votes
2answers
231 views
Is the sefer Toldos Yeshu accepted in the yeshiva circles?
Is the sefer Toldos Yeshu quoted by any big rabbanim? Which version is the most accurate (original)?
17
votes
5answers
404 views
After chumashim with notes and Rashi, what's the next torah commentary I should acquire and study?
When I read the torah text (parsha or otherwise) I currently use a couple of chumashim with notes, and Rashi. I know some Hebrew but am not fluent. I'm ready to stretch beyond what I'm reading now ...
8
votes
3answers
201 views
What are the authoritative Jewish documents?
When I'm reading through answers on this site I often see users make references like -
Baba Batra 75A
Or
Chagiga 12A
I don't understand what these mean.
What are the documents that ...
6
votes
2answers
249 views
What is a good place to buy kabbalah seforim online?
I am aware of Nehora and the other sites I could find googling this same inquiry, I'm looking for other recommendations of sites that have a good selection. Specifically I'm looking for Kanfei Yona ...
4
votes
2answers
253 views
English translation of Sefer Machaneh Yisrael
Is there an English translation (preferably online) of the Chofetz Chaim's sefer Machaneh Yisrael (a guide for Jewish army conscripts), or other English works on the same topic?
3
votes
1answer
435 views
English translation of Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim (Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed) on the Internet?
Is there an English translation on the Internet of Rambam's philosophic treatise on Jewish philosophy, Moreh Nevuchim?
14
votes
4answers
299 views
Why is Sha'ar Ha'Yichud of Chovos Ha'Levavos so “controversial”?
I have heard that Sha'ar Ha'Yichud of Chovos Ha'Levavos is controversial, and that one needs a rebbe in order to learn it. What does the author say that is so difficult to understand?
11
votes
1answer
196 views
Bringing wallet with benscher into bathroom
If someone has one of the small "pocket benschers" that slide into his wallet, is it a problem for him to walk into the bathroom with his wallet in his pocket?
8
votes
2answers
330 views
Starting a Jewish Library
What Jewish Religious books should one consider when starting a Jewish Library in their home? A set of Shas (Talmud)and the Shulchan Orech (Code of Jewish Law) are the obvious ones, What else should ...
7
votes
3answers
181 views
Which masechtot don't really have Rashi?
I often hear that the printed "Rashi" commentary in certain masechtot of the Talmud Bavli (first that come to mind are Moed Katan and Nedarim) is not actually written by Rashi. Does anyone have a full ...
6
votes
2answers
183 views
Siddur & chumash — which gets stacked on top?
I've seen this one asked over and over again, and always heard different things.
Do you stack a chumash on top of a siddur, or the other way around?
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Magid Mesharim: How is it that the angel knew Aramaic?
There is a book called "magid mesharim" written by Maran Bet Yosef in Aramaic through the exact words of an angel. My issue with this is that we learned from some Gemaras (Shabbat 12b is one) that ...
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
2answers
80 views
Can Sforim be used as a shtender?
Is it ok to place the sefer that you're learning from slanted on top of another sefer/sforim - sort of like a shtender or is is this considered to be a zilzul (disrespectful) to the sforim?
5
votes
1answer
114 views
Where can one get the Pri Yitzchak, a text discussing the 613 Mitzvot
Regarding the Chassidic text written in 1840 entiled Pri Yitzchak that details all 613 Mitzvot and the corresponding 248 limbs for positive mitzvot and 365 sinews for negative commandments.
My Rabbi ...
5
votes
3answers
438 views
Which seforim did you use when learning for Rabbinic Semicha
Which sforim and topics are commonly learned by students who are studying to receive Rabbinic ordination?
ie: Yoreh De'ah Melicha - Tur V'Shulchan Aruch
Different groups within Orthodox Judaism ...
5
votes
2answers
183 views
What's the history of Hekhalot/Heichalot/Heikhalot literature?
There is a field of study, which focuses on the Hekhalot literature. However, the internet gives conflicting information about them.
For example, some state that they were written by the early ...
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?
5
votes
0answers
72 views
Dictionary of symbology in Kodshim and Taharot
I'm wondering if anyone has ever put together a book that lists all the different elements that can come up in the realms of Kodshim and Taharot (e.g. bulls, the number seven, water, slaughtering, ...
5
votes
2answers
388 views
Pronunciation of משנה הלכות
Are R' Menashe Klein's volumes of responsa pronounced "Mishna Halachos" or "Mishaneh Halachos"? Can someone provide the grammatical explanation please?
4
votes
2answers
151 views
Sefer Torah Lishma **not** from the Ben Ish Hai?
Yabia Omer vol. 9 Orah Haim sim. 96:
גם ראיתי בקובץ "משנת חכמים", (תשרי תש"ס), במאמר מאת הרה"ג עזריאל מנצור (עמוד לה) שכתב, ששאל על זה מאת הרה"ג יעקב מוצפי זצ"ל, ואמר לו, שספר "תורה לשמה" אינו ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
Who wrote Tohar HaYichud?
Who wrote the anonymous rationalist debunking of kabbalah entitled Tohar HaYichud?
3
votes
2answers
234 views
Sefardic contemporaries for Techelet?
Are there any Sefardic Poskim today that have written a book and discuss the Techelet? If so, can you bring one that is FOR the Techelet?
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Why is the Rif's digest of tractate Niddah hidden in tractate Shevuos?
Rabbi Isaac Alfasi's summary of tractate Niddah is hidden in masechet Shevuot. Why is it buried in maseches Shevuos?
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Where can I find the Rif's commentary on tractate Niddah?
Where inside tractate Nidda can I find R' Isaac Alfasi's commentary on the tractate? I looked in hebrewbooks.org's 685-page tractate-Niddah PDF but couldn't find it.
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Is the Magen HaElef Sefaradi or Ashkenazi?
There is a Sefer written by someone named Yaakov Ben Yaakov Moshe called Magen HaElef. Is he Sefaradi or Ashekneazi?
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Which Sacred Books Require Burial?
A straightforward question: can anybody please source for me a full discussion of which seforim require burial and which do not. (By way of an example, I have heard it said that a gemara need not be ...
1
vote
3answers
197 views
What does R' Feinstein say about eating kosher food in a non-kosher restaurant?
The last paragraph of Igros Moshe O.C. 2:40 discusses when you may order kosher food [such as a banana] in a non-kosher restaurant.
R' Moshe Feinstein begins:
ובדבר אם מותר לאכול ברעסטאראנט ...
1
vote
0answers
60 views
Learn more about the Ramchal's plays
Apparently the Ramchal wrote several plays.
What are they about
Where can I find full text (Ifound migdal oz here) - preferably translated
Have gedolei yisroel discussed how to approach these ...
