questions about numbers
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Why did God take 7 days to create the world?
Generally we assume that God is omnipotent, and could have created the world in a single day\act, so He must have had a reason to organize creation into 7 days. Why?
In other words:
Why didn't God ...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
Is there a special significance of 4 directions as opposed to 6?
According to halacha, when a person says the word "echad" (אחד) in Shema:
בדלי"ת צריך להאריך יותר כדי שיעור שיחשוב שהקב"ה יחיד בעולמו ומושל בד' רוחות העולם
[One should] draw out the dale more ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
Is it a popular notion that a Jew should “have at least three children…”?
I have heard it said, "Every Jew must have at least three children (though more is preferable). Two to replace the parents when they die, and at least one more to make up for those lost in the ...
2
votes
12answers
119 views
Chamisha Asar - mi yodeya?
Who knows fifteen?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
0
votes
4answers
49 views
Shisha Vesehiv'im Umeya - mi yodeya?
Who knows one hundred seventy-six?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point at least twenty-four hours from now, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go ...
9
votes
2answers
280 views
What happened to the bechorim?
In the begining of sefer bamidbar, the males between 20 and 60 are counted and it says that there are over 600,000 of them. Theoretically each, or most, of these people should have had a first-born ...
3
votes
1answer
32 views
Shisha Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred sixteen?
?שישה עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 316.
And ... ...
7
votes
18answers
302 views
Shiv'a - mi yodeya?
Who knows seven?
(I mean really, who doesn't?)
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. In about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the ...
4
votes
1answer
40 views
How to fix incorrect omer count
Suppose someone accidentally counts the wrong day of the omer after making a bracha, and then realizes later that night what he had done. How should he rectify this? Should he count the correct day ...
7
votes
0answers
151 views
Criteria for the list of Nashim Kesheiros (Medrash Breishis Rabsi)
The Medrash Breishis Rabsi Parshas Chaya Sara 23:1 lists 22* Nashim Kesheiros.
כ"ב נשים כשרות היו בעולם ואלו הן שרה, רבקה, רחל, לאה, סרח בת אשר, יוכבד, מרים, בתיה בת פרעה, דבורה, צללפונית אשת מנוח, ...
3
votes
1answer
33 views
Chamisha Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred fifteen?
?חמישה עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 315.
Is there a ...
6
votes
2answers
95 views
Why is one permutation of the name of God backwards?
If you spell out each letter that makes up the name of God, then add up the gematria (numerical value) of each letter of each fully spelled out letter you get various values. The value depends on how ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Why celebrate Lag Ba'Omer on the 33rd according to the MaHaRIL?
There are several different opinions about when the students of Rabbi Akiva died, and which days we mourn for them.
Sefer HaToda'ah quotes the Maharil, who says that the students of Rabbi Akiva died ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
One Challah or Two?
If two challahs are braided and baked together on one pan, and before they are completely baked, they have stuck together, do I have one challah or two? I.e. can I separate them and still have two ...
3
votes
0answers
50 views
Can “Three D'Rabbanans be 'motzei' ”Two D'Rabbanans"
We know that when there is a case of someone that is obligated to perform a mitzvah m'drabbanan (and in fact there are 2 d'rabbanans together) they can't be "motzei" someone in the mitzvah who only ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
Adir Hu - mi yodeya?
A popular song sung at the seder is Adir Hu. The song contains many phrases of the pattern:
[Adjective] is He.
that are grouped together alphabetically with a refrain asking for the speedy ...
5
votes
2answers
61 views
Thought about Sefirah but did not say it verbally
I thought (in the middle of Shemona Esray of mincha) that I must count the first day of sefirah after I finish; but did not do it verbally. Should I continue on to make the brocha from the second day? ...
2
votes
1answer
33 views
Why was Ephraim's count not affected by leaving early?
According to the medrash pirkei deRebbi Eliezer (48) 200,000 Ephraimites left Egypt many years before Moshe took the Jews out and were killed. There are other midrashim and a gemarah which quote ...
4
votes
1answer
49 views
What 12 tribes are meant in many places while there really were 13?
There are many mentions of the "12 tribes" (e.g., the tag of this question). But there really were 13: Ya'akov had 12 sons, of which each was the ancestor of one tribe except Yosef that was the ...
7
votes
2answers
67 views
How large is a typical contemporary hagada commentary?
In a contemporary published hagada with commentary, how many total words does the commentary typically comprise? (For comparison, "Hagada - Mi Yodeya?", in its current form, weighs in at about 14,000 ...
9
votes
1answer
138 views
A year with eight Sh'minis is plenteous?
I've heard an idea that a year (like 5772) in which parashas Sh'mini is read eight times[1] is a particularly auspicious one: the wording of the maxim is something like "sh'mona Sh'mini sh'mena" ([a ...
5
votes
2answers
100 views
“גוט שבת, גוט שבת”
My father, passing someone on the street on שבת, says "גוט שבת, גוט שבת" (Yiddish, "good sabbath, good sabbath"): that is, he repeats himself. I thought it might be his own idio-custom — until I ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Parshas Tzav - 96 Pesukim?
At the end of each Parsha many Chumashim have the number of Pesukim that are in that Parsha. By Parshas Tzav they all say 96 which is the Gematria of Tzav צו. However if counted there are 97 Pesukim. ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Should a parent bless a child resting one hand or both?
When a parent gives the traditional blessing usually done on Shabbat evening should the parent place one hand on the head of the child or two?
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Arba'a Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred fourteen?
?ארבעה עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 314.
Lazy ...
1
vote
0answers
49 views
Relations twice as segulah for boy — What about zugos?
I had asked what is the source for the segulah of having relations twice in order to have a boy. I first asked this in order to obtain a source to better ask this question.
The Gemorah says in Niddah ...
5
votes
2answers
85 views
Number of Yamim Tovim that fall on Shabbos
In a given year, a certain number of Yamim Tovim days fall on Shabbos, and a certain number not. What are the minimum and maximum count of Yamim Tovim days that can fall on Shabbos in a single year ...
9
votes
2answers
153 views
What are the 30 Mitzvot for Bnei Noach?
What are the 30 Mitzvot (Commandments) that Bnei Noach have accepted (based on Hullin 92a)?
שלשים מצות שקבלו עליהם בני נח.
Thirty commandments which Bnei Noach accepted upon themselves.
3
votes
2answers
66 views
Shelosha Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred thirteen?
?שלושה עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 313.
Lazy ...
5
votes
1answer
94 views
Achad Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred eleven?
?אחד עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 311.
Give up on ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Giving a slave multiple wives
The posuk says I can provide my Jewish servant with a slavewoman to make me children-slaves. Can I give him multiple wives?
2
votes
2answers
100 views
Correspondence between 365 negative commandments and days of the year?
There are 365 negative commandments which correspond to the days of the (solar) year (see Makos 23b; Tanchuma Ki Seitzeh 2). Apparently the prohibition of Gid HaNasheh (sciatic nerve) corresponds to ...
1
vote
2answers
225 views
Rambam Tzitzith: 7 or 13 chulyoth?
The Gemara says you have to tie no fewer than 7 chulyos and no more than 13. According to most shitas, 13 is the ideal. My question is, according to the Rambam, can you do whatever you want - 7 or 13? ...
3
votes
2answers
66 views
When lighting Chanukah candles on both entrances to courtyard, can I use only one candle?
In Hilchos Channukah OC Siman 671 Sif 8 we learn the halacha that if someone has 2 entrances to their courtyard they must light Chanukah candles by both of them. This is so that passers-by won't see ...
6
votes
20answers
241 views
Shisha - mi yodeya?
Who knows six?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. In about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Shnaim Asar Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred twelve?
?שנים עשר ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 312.
Don't dwell ...
3
votes
1answer
37 views
מֵאַבְנֵי (Gen. 28:11) and הָאֶבֶן (Gen. 28:18)
Do any commentaries mention a reason for the plural "stones" in Gen. 28:11 and the singular "stone" in Gen. 28:18?
In Gen. 28:11, it says that Ya'akov took "of the stones" (מֵאַבְנֵי) and put them ...
14
votes
4answers
711 views
Is there a list of Mitzvot and their corresponding body parts?
The Talmud (Makkot 23B)and the Zohar (1:170B - unverified English translation here) say that the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 limbs of the human body. (The Mishna (Ohalot 1:8) lists ...
7
votes
18answers
191 views
Asara - mi yodeya?
Who knows ten?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point on Chol Hamo'ed, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
3
votes
9answers
106 views
Tish'a - mi yodeya?
Who knows nine?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. In about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
6
votes
19answers
268 views
Shelosha - mi yodeya?
Who knows three?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. In about a day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Minimum number of days in the first week of the Hebrew calendar?
Does the first week of Nissan have a minimum number of days? Or does it range from 1-7? If it does have a minimum (greater than 1 ..obviously), why?
1
vote
1answer
143 views
How many prophets were there and who were they?
How many prophets are recognized by Judaism, and what were their names?
I found a website that claims the number of prophets is 124000. Is this true?
Are all of their speeches or writings ...
6
votes
2answers
61 views
Asara Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred ten?
?עשרה ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 310.
There is lazy ...
11
votes
3answers
426 views
How many of the 613 Mitzvos are we able to do currently?
There are many Mitzvos we can not do in today's generation. For example there are no Korbonos, no slaves, etc.
Per the Chofetz Chaim, there are 77 positive Mitzvos and 194 negative Mitzvos which can ...
12
votes
8answers
688 views
Pomegranate = 613 seeds?
Has anyone ever counted the seeds of a pomegranate? Is it true that each pomegranate has 613 seeds?
2
votes
0answers
98 views
Why are there only a finite number of people?
If the purpose that we ascribe as the reason for creation (as stated in the Ramchal's Derech Hashem, Klach Pischei Chochma and other works) is for God to bestow his goodness unto creation (bearing in ...
3
votes
2answers
75 views
Tish'a Ushlosh Meyot - mi yodeya?
Who knows three hundred nine?
?תשעה ושלוש מאות - מי יודע
In the spirit of the song "Echad - mi yodeya", please post interesting and significant Jewish facts about the number 309.
Swim not in the ...
3
votes
5answers
53 views
Chamisha Ve'arba'im Umatayim - mi yodeya?
Who knows two hundred forty-five?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point at least twenty-four hours from now, I will:
Upvote all answers I consider relevant and interesting.
...
1
vote
0answers
97 views
Pidyon HaBen rate
About how many pidyon haben ceremonies are required to be performed per 1000 Jewish births in the past few decades?
The requirements for a pidyon haben are:
Both parents are Israel, not Kohen or ...
