Questions tagged [kerovim-close-relatives]

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16 votes
2 answers
5k views

What are the halachic boundaries between a brother and sister?

Can they touch each other? Hug? Are they allowed to expose their legs, arms, etc., in front of each other? Can they swim together? Dance together?
4 votes
0 answers
115 views

Yichud with close relatives in the past

The gemarra in Kiddushin 81b says that it is permitted to seclude oneself (yichud) with a close relative such as a mother or sister, despite the fact that seclusion with people who it is forbidden to ...
3 votes
1 answer
67 views

Do relatives count as Rey'eyhu?

Follow up to this. The obligation on Purim is "mishlo'ach manot, ish l'rey'eyhu", the sending of food, a man to his neighbor. Do relatives counts towards the concept of "neighbor"? Can a man hand ...
1 vote
1 answer
79 views

Witnesses becoming invalid Ex Post Facto

Suppose Reuvain & Shimon sign a document as witnesses for Levi. Now a few years later Reuvain marries Shimon's sister. Brother in laws may not be witnesses together. Rambam Edus - 13:6. Does this ...
-3 votes
2 answers
69 views

Who is closer, parents to children, or grandparents to grandchildren?

According to Judaism, what relationship is closer: parents to children or grandparents to grandchildren? What is greater: the love to children or the love to grandchildren? (Someone asked me and I ...
6 votes
0 answers
3k views

What determines whether a man's Hebrew name uses "ben" or "bar"?

I have (obviously) heard a lot of Hebrew names of the form "Ploiny ben Almoiny," where Almoiny is Ploiny's father. But occasionally I see names written with the Aramaic "bar", for example Simon bar ...
3 votes
2 answers
206 views

Leniency to aggrieve a minor (one's child)?

Causing certain types of harm to one's fellow (for example, stealing or battering) is prohibited. But do these laws apply if the victim is a minor? To what extent? What if the minor is one's own child-...
4 votes
1 answer
752 views

Is it recommended not to marry a first cousin?

If someone were offered a Shidduch with his first cousin, and she is 'right for him', should he take her, or would he have halachic or other reservations because she is his cousin?
2 votes
1 answer
819 views

Is negiah okay if the relationship would be forbidden?

Please excuse my lack of knowledge on this topic. Is non-sexual touch allowed between two people between whom a relationship would be halachically forbidden? I assume the answer is "yes" for, say, a ...
3 votes
2 answers
738 views

Can a woman clean her father, when he is naked, if he cannot?

Let's say an elderly man needs to be cleaned: he cannot clean himself because of extreme weakness. Can his daughter do this or must she hire someone else?
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

No kaddish for a sister?

I have heard that some (e.g. Chabad?) have the practice not to say kaddish for one's deceased sister. Can anybody confirm this? What might be the reason for this? I had thought there is an ...
1 vote
1 answer
41 views

Do the laws of witnesses apply to members of a bait din?

Do the laws restricting witnesses based on their relation to other parties in the case or based on their past sins apply to the judges of a bait din? Eg. Can a father and son serve together? May a ...
6 votes
1 answer
111 views

k'riah at the funeral of an adoptive parent

Should an adoptee of Jewish parentage do k'riah at the funeral of an adoptive parent, and, if so, should it be done on the left side of the garment or the right?
6 votes
1 answer
507 views

Androgynal self-impregnation

Is a naturally self-impregnated androgynus's child a mamzer?
1 vote
2 answers
154 views

Explaining if the terms 'Father' and 'son of G-d' are used in Jewish books

Within Judaism and their books, was it a custom of the time to refer to G-d as the Father? Is the term son of G-d used in any of your works? I heard this term is used to refer to an observant ...
3 votes
0 answers
70 views

Ordering of cholim in bracha r'fayeinu

In shemoneh esrei, if adding in names of cholim in the bracha of r'fayeinu, is there a preferred ordering when mentioning multiple cholim by name? Some possibilities I thought of: doesn't matter men ...
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can convert siblings marry each other?

I understand that there's a concept of גר כקטן שנולד דמי (not sure I got the words 100% right) - that a convert (ger) to Judaism is halachically considered to have no family. If that is the case, ...
9 votes
2 answers
9k views

Sitting shiva for non-Jewish relatives?

Should one sit shiva for a non-Jewish relative? Say your mother is Jewish and your father is not, and he dies.
4 votes
2 answers
5k views

Attending a relative's non-Jewish wedding in a non-Jewish place of worship?

Could somebody attend his non-Jewish relatives' wedding ceremony if they are held, let's say, in a church or a Buddhist temple?
7 votes
1 answer
620 views

close (male) relatives going to the mikvah together

I know of some people who are particular not to go to the mikveh together with a close relative (father-son , brothers, and even brother-in-laws). On the other hand I also have seen Chassidim and ...
19 votes
2 answers
2k views

When (if ever) are converts still related to their relatives?

It is my understanding that when a person converts to Judaism, certain halachic relationships are severed. So I have a couple questions about this. Which relationships are severed? Is a convert ...
14 votes
2 answers
877 views

Halacha of Yichud with half sibling

May siblings of the opposite sex that share only one parent be secluded (yichud) with one another? Does it matter which parent they share?
12 votes
3 answers
1k views

Siblings marrying siblings

Can two siblings in one family marry two siblings of another family?
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Walking Between 2 Women - Relatives

A man is not allowed to walk between two women. Does this apply where one of them is his mother (or sister)?