Questions relating to children under the age of 13 (for boys) or 12 (for girls). Children of this age are minors with respect to various rules, including the obligation to fulfill mitzvos (God's commands).
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Why do children wear crowns on Shavuot?
Here in Israel, the tradition is for young children to wear flower crowns to celebrate Shavuot. (Along with the obligatory white shirts.) See my twins:
Why is this? Is it related to Shabbat 88A ??
...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
Is a child born to a kidnapper also considered kidnapped?
According to Torah law if a man kidnaps a woman and has a child with her is that child now considered kidnapped as well? The question being has the man now violated the prohibition of kidnapping ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Is a child believed (neman) for halachos in regards to himself?
I will pick 2 examples however I don't have any makoros at the moment (so please help to provide or correct me/help edit.)
If a katan (child) is not neman (believed) in regards to tovelling celim for ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Question on Mordechai — Chiyuv m'drabbanan being motzei chiyuv m'doraisa
The Mordechai in Megillah Siman 798 has a case if a blind person can make kiddush for his family since (according to Rebbe Yehuda) a blind person is patur from mitzvas, then his obligation in making ...
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Is there a prohibition against bringing children to a shiva house?
Is there a prohibition against bringing children to a shiva house? I know that children aren't usually brought and that it's respectful to ask in each case, but does anyone know if there is an actual ...
5
votes
2answers
184 views
Why is age 3 the age at which a girl is able to have intercourse?
In msh210's answer to this question of mine, he stated that:
women...who physically could be [intimate with men], which is those who had reached their third birthday.
In comments, he mentioned ...
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Selling Chometz to a young gentile
May the sell of chometz be done with a young gentile that in Judaism would be considered a "katan" in terms of halacha and therefore perhaps wouldn't be able to have his buying and selling be "valid" ...
4
votes
1answer
57 views
Starting the Seder quickly
It says in SA OC Siman 472 that one should hurry to start the Seder in order that the children shouldn't fall asleep. If the person doesn't have any children is there still a reason to hurry to start ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
Women fasting on Taanis Bechoros [closed]
The Machaber in OC Siman 470 writes that there is an opinion that holds a woman that is a bachorah should fast on Taanis Bechoros. The Rema adds there however that this is not the minhag. The Rema ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Fasting for a child bechor before Passover
I've heard that some men fast on erev Pesach for their firstborn son until that son old enough to fast for himself. Is that halakha? Where does this come from?
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What are the parameters of Kiddush ha-shem?
Kiddush Hashem, the sanctification of the name of God, is often associated with choosing death rather than violating a core tenet of Judaism (this is known as dying "al kiddush Hashem"). However, more ...
1
vote
0answers
106 views
Is wine touched/shaken by a non-idolatrous Gentile child forbidden to drink?
Shulchan Aruch (YD 124:1) states:
A Nochri child who does not mention idolatry or Meshamshim, if he
touched wine he forbids only drinking it, but not benefit from it.
(See this related ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
A child that commits suicide (R"L) — losing certain merits
A person who kills himself (R"L) as far as I know loses certain zechuyos (merits) in terms of their kavurah (burial) and other dinim (rules. See here for more). Is the same true if it was a katan ...
5
votes
1answer
59 views
Can one stand a child in an aron kodesh in order for the child to kiss the sifrei torah?
Can you place (stand) a 2 year old child on a shelf in an Aron Kodesh which is on the same level as the Sifrei Torah in order for the child to look at and kiss the Sifrei Torah?
1
vote
1answer
94 views
Shaving vs. Hair cutting on Chol Hamoed
In the Shulchan Aruch, 531:2, the text reads אין מגלחין במועד and then continues to have a discussion about whether one can be מגלח, a word I learned to be "shave." It also later (in s"k 5) it reads ...
4
votes
1answer
57 views
May a child make a Berachah on a Pasul set of 4 species?
May a child make a Berachah on a Pasul set of 4 species that their parents gave them to learn how to make the Berachah and do the Mitzvah?
3
votes
0answers
39 views
Hataras Nedarim for 12 yr old boy
When a boy reaches 12 years old, his nedarim (vows) are considered to be binding. However, I don't believe I've ever seen a 12 year old boy make Hataras Nedarim on Erev Rosh HaShanah. Is there a ...
4
votes
1answer
133 views
Should one say amen to an unnecessary bracha made by a child on the autism spectrum?
If a very verbal (often too verbal) 12 year old child on the autism spectrum has trouble speaking appropriately and particularly likes to say a bracha when he wants to and not necessarily when it's ...
5
votes
0answers
49 views
How does a recent bar mitzva “complete the weekly portion with the community”
When a person becomes bar mitva during the year, 98% of the time the community has already read 1 or even 50 weekly portions.
Does the bar mitzva need to make up those portions?
Would it matter if ...
6
votes
1answer
73 views
If a father has to carry his sons aveiros why not his mitzvos?
If a father must carry the sins & punishments of his son (under bar mitzva) as we know he does from the brocha of "Baruch Shepatrani Meonshin shel zeh" does he — and if not, why doesn't he — ...
2
votes
2answers
153 views
Permissible laundry during the 9 days
Is there laundry that is permissible to wash during the 9 days? Kids' clothes, undergarments, socks, etc.? I've heard yes, but I'm looking for a source. (This blog post cites the RaM"A but doesn't ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Sha'atnez and small children
I was sent an email today alerting my community that Sha'atnez has been discovered in a line of baby pants. A quick internet search turned up other baby clothing that has been discovered to have ...
6
votes
0answers
88 views
Father being Matir Neder for himself: does it affect the family?
If a father is Matir Neder on a minhag (gebroktz, let's say) for himself for a valid reason, does that include his whole family? Are they now also permitted to eat gebroktz because that is now the ...
1
vote
2answers
83 views
May one allow children to play in water on minor fasts?
May one allow children to play in water on minor fasts? Are the rules the same (depending whom you follow) as for an adult?
4
votes
1answer
76 views
Midrash on children and the letter shapes?
I've heard about a midrash that discusses a day when little children took over the study hall and, by interpreting the shapes of the Hebrew letters, articulated many of Judaism's most powerful ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Converting a baby - When to do Circumcision
I know that one can convert an infant (and if he doesn't recant when he becomes of age, the conversion is retractively chal) but what about milah? For a Jewish child, milah before the 8th day isn't a ...
8
votes
1answer
80 views
Does the Levi who washes the hands of the Kohanim have to be over bar mitzvah?
The Leviim wash the hands of the Kohanim when they go up to bless the people. If a Levi is not available a first born (to the mother) can wash (according to the Askenazi custom) instead, Orach Chaim ...
4
votes
0answers
66 views
an adult's responding to a child's sneeze with a blessing, or vice versa
The halacha states (Mishnah Brurah 230: 7) that one should respond to a sneeze with a blessing and the person who sneezed and was blessed should return with a blessing in kind. this is not done if you ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Would a gentile child that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech?
Would a gentile child - under the age of 13/12 - that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech? Or can only an adult make it into Yayin Nesech?
6
votes
1answer
109 views
Can a Minor Convert Effect Yayin Nesach?
Per the answer to Are children adopted by Jews Jewish? a child that is adopted by Jewish parents when they reach adulthood (13/12) are given the choice of remaining Jewish.
If I know of a child that ...
4
votes
2answers
116 views
Why not focus on halacha in elementary education?
From the Mishna B'rura's introduction to the rules of Shabas:
…But by what means can we arrive at this level: that one keeps Shabas in all its details? The advice on this is that one urge himself ...
3
votes
0answers
98 views
Young boys returning Chumashim after Torah reading
I often see young boys going around shul after the Shabbos/Yom Tov morning Torah reading to collect Chumashim and return them to their shelves. Is this an actual 'minhag' with a history behind it? If ...
4
votes
1answer
85 views
Source in Tosafos for playing ball on Yom Tov
I know there is a Tosafos in Beitza 12a that discusses playing ball on Yom Tov, but I remember learning another Tosafos which said something like "for children under nine it would be permitted on ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Godparents in Judaism
Does Judaism have any tradition resembling the Christian practice of assigning godparents? Godparents are a man and a woman entrusted by the birth parents to take care of their child spiritually and ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Why are children given money on Purim?
There seems to be a minhag (or at least what appears to be a minhag) that children who deliver mishloach manos are given a small sum of money by the recepient.
Is this an actual minhag?
And if so, ...
13
votes
6answers
349 views
Height of a mezuzah and children:
If a child cannot reach the upper third of the doorway and he is the primary occupant of said room, may the mezuzah be affixed lower than the upper third?
7
votes
1answer
159 views
3 year olds lighting a shabbat candle
When my eldest turned three her male cousin also turned three. Many of her friends and her cousin were getting Tzitzit. She asked for her own. We explained that boys wear TzitTzit and girls light ...
5
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
114 views
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing Anim Zemiros?
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing the Shir Hakavod (or Anim Zemiros)? Why is it not like any other part of davenning where we use someone over barmitzvah?
17
votes
4answers
329 views
How does one explain God to little kids?
As I understand it, the ability to understand abstract concepts develops gradually in kids and is certainly not all there when they first start having conversations. This comes into play when kids ...
4
votes
1answer
262 views
Is playing board games on Shabbat prohibited?
I have heard different opinions on playing games on Shabbat. Are games using money (ie Monopoly) mukza? What about games without money. (obviously games with writing necessary are muksa and need not ...
11
votes
1answer
104 views
At what age should we start teaching the distinction between Midrash and Text?
At a very early age children learn the history of the world and the Jews through the enthralling stories found in many varied sources.
They learn that the world was created in six days; that ...
6
votes
1answer
53 views
Why can't a minor's rights to eat while harvesting crops be waived?
The Torah grants workers who are harvesting a field to consume some of it while on the job.
The Mishna in Bava Metzia (7:6) points out that a worker can waive his Biblically-granted rights, and make ...
12
votes
3answers
223 views
Are parents responsible if their children damage in a store?
If a parent brings a child (defined as under 13 for a boy and under 12 for a girl) into a store, and that child damages an item, is the parent responsible to pay?
Would it matter if the child simply ...
5
votes
4answers
177 views
Why does there seem to be different standards for future sinners?
In Bereshit (21:17) Rashi tells us that the Angels wanted G-d to kill Yishmael, but G-d said that He wouldn't judge him according to his future deeds, but rather according to his present state:
In ...
5
votes
1answer
56 views
Does a child tear Kriyah at the Kosel?
Does a kid under Bar/Bas Mitzva have to tear Kriya when they go to the Kosel?
5
votes
1answer
145 views
tying tzitzis together on Simchas Tora
When I was a child in the 1980s, something the boys in my synagogue did on Simchas Tora was tie one person's talis to another, or sometimes to furniture. (Now that I'm older and in a different ...
4
votes
4answers
301 views
Why is the foreskin removed?
Why is the foreskin removed? God gave it men, did God also tell them to have it removed?
11
votes
8answers
326 views
What is the source for the “Upsheirin”?
In some families/communities, little boys do not get their hair cut until they are three, and then there is a gathering for cutting their hair. The haircut is called an "upsheirin" or "chalakeh."
...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
arachin: dependance on age and sex
Why is the erech (Vayikra 27:1–8) of a woman less than that of a man? And why does erech depend on age? Sources, please.
