questions about numbers
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
31 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 ...
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, ...
6
votes
0answers
38 views
Division of Al Cheit
Al Cheit has a chorus line ועל כולם, אלוה סליחות, סלח לנו, מחל לנו, כפר לנו after the first 20 Al Cheits, then after the next 12, then after the next 12. Who made this division? Why was it not divided ...
6
votes
0answers
101 views
The blessing for 600,000 Jews
The Gemara (Berakhot 58b) mentions that upon seeing 600,000 Jews one says the blessing "Baruch...Chacham HaRazim" (Who knows all secrets), and this is halacha (Sh.A. O.C. 224:5).
Does any know of any ...
5
votes
0answers
61 views
42 camps and 42 non-refuge Levite cities (Masei)
What is the significance of the numerical correspondence between the 42 camps or waypoints mentioned in the recounting of the forty years of wandering (Bamidbar 33) and the fact that 42 of the 48 ...
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
50 views
How strong was Midian's army?
When Israel took vengeance on Midian they sent 12,000 troops (Numbers 31:4) and prevailed. We aren't told how numerous Midian was, only that the spoils includes 32,000 virgin women (31:35). This ...
2
votes
0answers
44 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
0answers
74 views
What do Chazal mean when they say that when Moshiach comes there will be another note added to the octave making a total of 8 notes?
Related: What were Chazal referring to when they said there were 7 notes in a musical octave?
There is a well known Medrash (anyone help with the source?) [I think on the Posuk 'Lamnatzeich Al ...
2
votes
0answers
85 views
What were Chazal referring to when they said there were 7 notes in a musical octave?
Related: What do Chazal mean when they say that when Moshiach comes there will be another note added to the octave making a total of 8 notes?
There is a well known Medrash (anyone help with the ...
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 ...
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
75 views
Is there a set of “base”(factor?) midrashic numbers and what are they?
I've always wanted to do an analyses of the Torah based on the numbers given and their midrashic meanings. Specifically, I'm looking for "base" numbers: that is, which are meaningful inherently, not ...
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?
0
votes
0answers
69 views
Is two hundred and ten a name of God?
Is there a name of God (derived through gematria, kabbalah or otherwise) associated with the number 210?
