The parts-of-the-body tag has no wiki summary.
14
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4answers
712 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 ...
12
votes
2answers
609 views
What are “universal minimum” standards of tznius for halachic purposes?
What are the minimum standards of tznius for halachic purposes? By "halachic purposes" I mean Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75, which forbids praying in the presence of ervah. I am raising the question ...
11
votes
3answers
362 views
Nose Job in Halacha
Is a nose job allowed Hallachicly? Not all cosmetic surgeries, but rhinoplasty in particular, as I heard that rhinoplasty is allowed because we see by a Kohen that having an abnormally long nose is a ...
11
votes
7answers
329 views
Do surgically removed body parts require Kevurah?
If one has surgery (may it never be necessary) that requires the removal of an organ of the body (e.g. a gallbladder or appendix), is burial required? Or can the body part simply be discarded?
10
votes
1answer
266 views
According to Halacha, does one have to bury teeth?
Is there a halachic obligation to bury teeth that have fallen out, just as one buries other body parts that become detached?
If not, why?
Does the same apply to detached skin? Or hair?
Related: Do ...
9
votes
2answers
124 views
Which kidney should you donate?
All things being equal medically, if a person is going to donate a kidney is there halachic or hashkafic reason to presume donating one kidney would be better than the other?
8
votes
3answers
263 views
Kohanic Hand Gestures?
How are Kohanim supposed to position their hands and in what shape during Birkhat Kohanim? Answer with most opinions backed by sources wins.
8
votes
2answers
131 views
May one recite a bracha while in the presence of ervah?
May one recite a bracha while in the presence of ervah? According to Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75, one may not pray or recite Torah while in the presence of body parts that should be covered. Does ...
8
votes
2answers
91 views
If one hand gets dirty, do both require washing?
I'm in middle of davening, and scratch a usually-covered place using my little finger (pinky) on my right hand. This requires me to wash my hand before continuing. Do I have to:
wash both my hands?
...
7
votes
1answer
555 views
Tznius In Regards to Covering Elbows
Are there sources that say women do not have to cover elbows? Because I've seen Orthodox women not covering them and I want to be able to say that there are sources that support their actions.
7
votes
3answers
174 views
Which parts of the head should be covered by the kippa?
I understand that it is a widespread minhag for men to wear a head covering. Recently I have seen kippot covering different portions of the head. So please tell me which parts of the head should be ...
7
votes
1answer
167 views
On “he who saved one life saves the world”
According to Talmud (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5; Babylonian Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 37a),
Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire
world. And whoever saves a life, it ...
6
votes
4answers
245 views
Can you pick your nose?
Is it a violation of halakah to pick your nose (unrefined act, possibly a violation of being a holy nation)? Would there be a difference in halakah if it were the sabbath (possible violation of ...
6
votes
2answers
191 views
Talis over head
Why is it that most Ashkenazim that are not married do not put the Talis over their head?
6
votes
4answers
175 views
Is autocannibalism halachically prohibited?
I was wondering if sucking your own blood or biting at your own scab or otherwise consuming yourself was halachically permissible, since, as far as I can tell, humans are not kosher. Even so, it would ...
6
votes
2answers
179 views
Tefilin - broke left middle finger, and it's now splinted
How should one tie his shel yad on his hand if his middle finger is splinted?
6
votes
2answers
76 views
Covering eyes for leolam yehey
As in this question, if you begin "leolam yehey" at the beginning of shacharit near the end of the time for reciting shema, and you may not otherwise recite it in time, you are supposed to recite a ...
6
votes
1answer
72 views
What is the significance of the place from which Eve was created?
Bereshis (2:21-22) tells us that God created Eve from the rib (or 'side') of Adam. What is the significance, if any, of choosing this particular bone from which to form Eve, as opposed to any other ...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
Rubbing the Havdalah wine
Is there any source for the practice of not only dipping one's fingers into the Havdalah wine that was used to extinguish the fire and rubbing the eyes with it, but also spreading it around onto other ...
6
votes
0answers
69 views
What is the significance of the skull of Araunah the Yevusi?
Araunah the Yevusi sells the land upon which the beis hamikdash will eventually be built to Dovid HaMelech (II Shemuel 24:18). Subsequently his skull is found underneath the mizbeach at least twice ...
5
votes
3answers
222 views
5
votes
1answer
114 views
Where can one get the Pri Yitzchak, a text discussing the 613 Mitzvot
Regarding the Chassidic text written in 1840 entiled Pri Yitzchak that details all 613 Mitzvot and the corresponding 248 limbs for positive mitzvot and 365 sinews for negative commandments.
My Rabbi ...
5
votes
1answer
136 views
Covering your head with a tallis at night - problem?
I once heard from a friend that if you are wearing a Tallis at night, for example as the Chazan for maariv or everybody at maariv of Yom Kipppur, you should not cover your head with it as some people ...
5
votes
3answers
205 views
Drawing with ink on your skin
Shalom,
I have heard many times that there is a problem with drawing on your skin with ink. Can anyone provide sources on the topic? I would like to know things like what issur this falls under and ...
5
votes
0answers
60 views
Significance of the Kohen's hand gestures?
What is the significance of the shapes (windows?) created by the kohen during birkas cohanim? This question and the ensuant answers detail at least 3 opinions of the gesture, I would really appreciate ...
4
votes
2answers
172 views
Yichud with someone who can't have an erection
If a man is in a physical situation where he is unable to have an erection will there still be an issur of yichud (the prohibition of being alone with someone that it is forbidden to have relations ...
4
votes
3answers
382 views
chapstick/vaseline on shabbos
How should one deal with chapped lips on shabbos? Is it considered refuah?
4
votes
1answer
83 views
Eyebrow Trimming During Sefira
Are there any known halacha- or responsa- sources that deal with the permitting or prohibiting of trimming eyebrows during Sefira? I'm wondering if eyebrows fall into the "regular" category of haircut ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Not interlacing fingers in prayer
I have heard from an unauthoritative source that one should not interlace his fingers while praying, because, l'havdil, Christians do. Is there any authoritative source for the claim that it's ...
4
votes
2answers
152 views
When and why do we cover thumbs?
We are instructed to cover our thumbs during shmoneh esrei, havdalah and in the beit hamikdash as these would select the kohen to do the avodah. What is the significance of covering the thumb and are ...
4
votes
1answer
103 views
May one have augmentative cosmetic surgery?
I realize much of the discussion on plastic surgery can be found in the answers to this question. However, the actual question was only addressing nose surgery. I would like to to know:
If there ...
4
votes
3answers
221 views
Is the brain the seat of the soul?
There are disturbing ideas in the Feb 21, 2011 Time magazine cover article 2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal. The article attributes to Raymond Kurzweil the prediction that within the next 25 years ...
4
votes
1answer
138 views
Permissibility of removing wisdom teeth
Dentists often recommend that teenagers have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid future problems. However, the medical need for these extractions is unclear at best. Is removing teeth without ...
4
votes
2answers
89 views
Why is it that there's NO mention in the entire Torah (including Tanach) considering the Brain (Moach) as the source for thought?
Wherever the Torah refers to thinking and feelings of Anger, compassion etc. it always mentions the Heart as the controlling organ (also Kidney) but NEVER the Brain?
(Even in the G'mara the Moach is ...
3
votes
1answer
203 views
Traditions what to do with removed foreskin
In Germany we recently started a debate, whether foreskin-amputation of children (not only Jews, but Muslims as well) has to be forbidden according to our fundamental laws.
Some magazine illustrated ...
3
votes
2answers
230 views
Halachic permissibility of a vasectomy
What are the halachic concerns surrounding vasectomies? Are vasectomies permitted by halacha under any circumstances?
The issues that I could see as possibly being connected would be chavala ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Eglah Arufah (עגלה ערופה) Measurement
How does one measure, for עגלה ערופה purposes, which city the dead is closest to: from which part of the body?
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Why did Yosef wash his face after crying the second time but not the first?
In Miketz, Yosef is seen to cry twice.
42:24:
וַיִּסֹּב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וַיֵּבְךְּ וַיָּשָׁב אֲלֵהֶם
He turned from them, cried, and returned to them.
43:30–31:
וַיְבַקֵּשׁ לִבְכּוֹת ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
Source for checking talis over shoulder
What is the source for checking one's tzitzis while the talis is over one's right shoulder: isn't the halacha just to check the knots and strings? Can't the checking be done on a table?
3
votes
2answers
52 views
What is the proper way to hold one's hands while praying?
Similar to Not interlacing fingers in prayer
What is the proper way that one should hold his hands while praying, if there is such a way? What is the level of obligation to hold one's hands in that ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
כחל of a Ḥayah Tehorah - same din as כחל of a Behemah Tehorah?
I'm trying to tighten up my answer on Haman and prepare for my Purim Derashah. Does anyone know if כחל of a Ḥayah Tehorah has the same Din as a Behemah Tehorah?
FYI, I want to change the words ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Explanation of Avos 2:6?
Is there a comprehensive explanation of Avos 2:6?
Why is it in aramaic?
why is this lesson included in Avos (seems out of place)
Who is this skull and how does Hillel know it was drowned due to ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Postmortem organ donation in halacha
I know we generally accord respect to our dead, which includes not mangling their bodies. On the other hand, obviously saving lives is more important than, well, almost anything, including respect for ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Communities where men didn't put their טליתות over their heads?
I heard that the Rambam in his commentary to the Mishna mentioned cases where the custom of the place was different, one such place being יָוָן, where men didn't cover their heads with their tallitot, ...
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Times where one must refrain from flatulence?
From my understanding one should refrain from passing gas during the amidah prayer and when wearing tefillin. Are there other times where one is adjured not to flatulate, perhaps when holding a sacred ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
Prosthetic limbs in halacha [closed]
What is the status of prosthetic limbs in halacha? For example would a prosthetic hand require netilas yadayim? Is there a difference depending on what material it is made out of?
1
vote
2answers
179 views
Women face veil prescribed
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. Is there, in fact, a rule requiring or encouraging covering the faces of women in presence of unrelated men? If so, what is the source for ...
1
vote
4answers
81 views
Why the Heel of the foot? (Parshas Ekev)
Parshas Ekev starts off
וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים
Rashi says on this:
אם המצות הקלות שאדם דש בעקביו תשמעון:
What is the significance of the so called lite Mitzvos ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Being m'ziah (sweating) individual body parts on Shabbos
If one looks into the Tur Beis Yosef (and Shulchan Aruch) in Orach Chaim Siman 326 you will find the halachos of bathing on Shabbos. The Beis Yosef there points to the gemorah where it outlines the ...
0
votes
1answer
170 views
Explanation in Rokeach in regard to kissing ones wife
The Rokeach in Hilchos Niddah (see here) discusses the results of certain events or actions by the parents prior to conception, affecting the build or personality of the child. One case he brings is:
...
