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16
votes
12answers
1k views

How to tactfully circumvent opposite-gender handshake

Say you're a man in a professional setting, and a woman who isn't used to dealing with observant Jews stretches out her hand to greet you -- but your practice is to avoid shaking hands even in ...
14
votes
2answers
305 views

Can a man remove hair?

May a man remove hair from his body through any of the following methods: Electrolysis Tweasing Plucking I am asking specifically about hair between the eyes (unibrow) but I would be interested if ...
14
votes
1answer
886 views

Mixed swimming in a pool?

What are the issues with mixed swimming, from a tzniut point of view? Does it make a difference if the swimmers are or aren't Jewish? For example, are there issues with me swimming with my wife and a ...
13
votes
2answers
210 views

May a man become a gynecologist?

Is there any discussion among the halachic authorities as to whether or not a man can choose to pursue a medical career in gynaecology? The issue that I would presume exists is that unlike other parts ...
10
votes
1answer
118 views

Do men on the women's side count toward a minyan?

If men are on the women's side of the shul during davening when there are no women there, do they count toward the minyan, or are they considered separate? Does it matter if the women's area is right ...
10
votes
1answer
179 views

Lo Yilbash: necklaces and rings

Is there are prohibition for men to wear rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets or anything of the kind or would that go against the prohibition of "Lo Yilbash Gever Simlat Isha — a man shall not wear ...
10
votes
3answers
165 views

Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?

Rabbis such as Abudraham have explained a woman's exemption from positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot shehazman grama) in terms of a woman's ongoing and preliminary role in supporting her ...
8
votes
2answers
491 views

Shaving on Chol Hamoed

May a man shave his beard in a kosher manner on Chol Hamoed? (Sefira considerations aside)
8
votes
2answers
264 views

How can I determine if someone is Shomer Negiah?

I am not Shomer Negiah. However, I have been in mixed social situations where I was unsure if the person I was meeting was Shomer Negiah. I don't want to offend anyone, so I'm wondering if there is a ...
8
votes
4answers
268 views

Permissibility of Wearing Shorts

Is there anything wrong with men wearing shorts (i.e. short pants)? If there is, why would it be any different than wearing short sleeves?
8
votes
2answers
134 views

Is there value in gender-adapted names?

There are various Hebrew names in use that are feminizations of pre-existing masculine names. (The opposite case may exist as well, but I can't think of any examples.) Examples: Yaakova Rafaella ...
8
votes
1answer
440 views

Male tzniut: Swimwear

Seeing as summer is coming, I thought I'd clear up a few questions about male tzniut with regards to swimwear. Namely, my real question is: what is required? I live in southern California, so outside ...
7
votes
1answer
125 views

Who is obligated in Pidyon HaBen?

A woman I know mentioned that she is redeeming her firstborn son. This got me thinking. A Pidyon HaBen is mandated for the first male child to "open" the mother's womb. But whose Mitzvah is it? The ...
7
votes
1answer
198 views

Do married men stop saying a bracha on their *tallit katan*?

This question concerns the Ashkenazic practice. I was always told that the tallit katan (worn under clothing, every day, starting in preschool years) got the bracha of al mitzvat tzitzit, but the ...
7
votes
3answers
319 views

Is mixed gender volleyball permissible?

Are men and women permitted to play volleyball against each other, with each team only one gender? Does it make a difference if they are separated by an opaque wall or a regular net?
6
votes
2answers
191 views

May a woman look at a man for pleasure?

It's ossur for a man to look at a woman for pleasure. Even to look at her small finger with the intention of having pleasure from it (See EH"E Siman 21 Sif 1.) Is there any prohibition for a woman to ...
6
votes
2answers
104 views

Taharas mishpacha class for men

Many women take kallah classes before getting married in order to be familiar and comfortable with the laws of taharas mishpacha. I have heard that there are similar classes for men, and it makes ...
6
votes
2answers
212 views

Should a man say Shehecheyanu when lighting Yom Tov candles?

In a situation when a man will both be lighting the Yom Tov candles and making Kiddush, when should he make Shehecheyanu? Do we say only when lighting candles, since that is when the women say it ...
5
votes
4answers
770 views

May a man pull out the white hairs from his beard/hair?

"Help! My beard/hair is turning white." May a man pull out the white hairs from his beard/hair?
5
votes
1answer
334 views

Husband lighting Shabbat candles

If my wife is out of the country for an extended trip, am I required to light Shabbat candles in the house if I am home alone? Does it matter how long she is going to be away? Or that the time ...
5
votes
4answers
352 views

How assur is mixed dancing?

What is the level of the issur on mixed dancing? Minhag? D'Rabanan, D'oraita, etc.? What about separate dancing but without a mehitza?
5
votes
2answers
121 views

Tallit Katan and Tallit brachot

Why is that when you wake up you put on a Tallit Katan and then you go to shul and put on a Tallit Gadol? How is it that you can say two different brachot? If it is in fact, that each peice of ...
5
votes
0answers
182 views

Woman wearing her husband's comfortable clothing

Is there any printed discussion about a woman wearing her husband's comfortable clothing? While there is an Isur for a woman to wear a man's clothing, I've read in several places that this is about a ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views

Why not do as Avraham and Sara did w.r.t. conversion

Rashi to B'reshis 12:5 quotes Rav Huna: "... whom they brought [to Judaism]. Avraham was converting the men and Sara the women...". My understanding is that nowadays female prospective converts study ...
4
votes
2answers
195 views

For a man, does any four-cornered garment require tzitzit?

As far as hilchot tzitzit are concerned, are there many instances where a Jewish man would be required to affix tzitzit to a garment other than a tallit katan or gadol? A few "for-instances" would ...
4
votes
2answers
170 views

What are the requirements of a men's mikva?

There are many requirements given for a women's mikvah (See Yoreh De'ah siman 201), yet I have not seen much information regarding a men's mikva (to tovel every day before prayers or for Erev Yom ...
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", ...
3
votes
1answer
119 views

Removing facial hair by laser treatment (for a man)

May a man remove his facial hair with a laser treatment? (that is the hairs that are normally ossur to remove by way of a razor.)
3
votes
2answers
708 views

Hotels in Yam Hamelach with Kosher Swimming

Can I get a list of Hotels in the Yam Hamelach (dead sea) area that feature separate swimming hours for men and women? Are there any? Also looking for specific information on the Le Meridian (here). ...
3
votes
0answers
148 views

Is Cross dressing allowed on purim [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is cross-dressing permitted on Purim and if so why? Normally cross dressing is against Halacha is it allowed on Purim?
2
votes
2answers
319 views

Are “dog tags” Begged Isha? Can men wear them?

Is a man allowed to wear a "dog tag" type of thing? Is it beged eesha?
2
votes
0answers
49 views

Can members of Hatzalah learn how to deliver a baby?

This seems like a very simple thing. Is there anything wrong with male members of hatzalaha (a frum Jewish emergency medical organization) learning how to deliver a baby? I recently heard that ...
1
vote
2answers
116 views

Why is a Sholom Zochor called a Sholom Zochor?

Why is a Sholom Zochor called a Sholom Zochor?
1
vote
2answers
70 views

Segulah for having a boy

I have heard before that a segulah for having a boy is to have relations with one's wife twice in one night. I remember hearing this in the name of Chazal. Does anyone know the makor for it?
1
vote
1answer
27 views

Why is birkas kohanim in the masculine singular?

If the kohanim are blessing the entire people, one would think that it should be worded, "יברככם...וישמרכם" Why is it in the singular form? On a related note, if a father places this blessing on his ...
0
votes
0answers
132 views

Is male and female masturbation Biblically (“miDeoraita”) prohibited?

Is male and female masturbation Biblically ("miDeoraita") prohibited? If it is, where do we learn this from? Please provide sources. Thank you.
0
votes
0answers
123 views

How should a husband speak to his wife if her looks are affecting the marriage?

Looking for answers based on experience or sources only The gemarah (kiddushin 41a) stipulates that a man must see his wife before marrying her because if he finds her unattractive and marries her he ...
-4
votes
2answers
79 views

Who should be asking a nidda shaala

Who should be asking a niddah shaala the woman or her husband, or is there no difference or does it perhaps depend on what the shaala is. Rabbis prefer woman for a variety of reasons. The man often ...