The rabbis tag has no wiki summary.
3
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1answer
64 views
According to Reform Judaism, should rabbis be allowed to have non-Jewish spouses?
According to Reform doctrine, is it 1. permissible for rabbis to marry non-Jewish spouses, and 2. advisable for them to do so, considering that rabbis are generally seen as role-models of proper ...
2
votes
2answers
161 views
How can I know a rav has daas Torah
I have been privileged to know rabbis of great wisdom and knowledge who could address my issues with unique and helpful insights through the prism of Torah. I always understood them to have "daas ...
4
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0answers
44 views
The silence of the Rabbis — Should they have defended Bar Kamtza?
In Gittin 55b-56a, we read that a fellow named Bar Kamtza was humiliated by a host of a party in public view of all, including the rabbis. Bar Kamtza received an invitation to the party by mistake, ...
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0answers
64 views
What is the spiritual meaning of a kabalist?
I understand that a Guadol is a bal midot a talmid chacham a tsadik but what does it means in a rouchniut way to say that this rav is a great kabalist ? and why never Abraham, Yitzchak, Yacov, Moshe, ...
1
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0answers
53 views
When did the Kanievsky family switch from Chasidic to Litvish?
R' Chaim Kanievsky shlita davens Ashkenaz and wears Ashkenazi tefilin. His grandfather z'l was a Chernobyler chasid. It's not clear to me how the Steipler Gaon ztz'l conducted himself with regards ...
8
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4answers
246 views
Why did nobody succeed the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
The late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt"l had no successor as the rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. Why is this? Was it simply because he had no children? If so, why was nobody else ...
6
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0answers
48 views
Were there any sages who supported the Zealots during the seige of Jerusalem?
In Gittin 56a-b, we read how the sages warned the Zealots (a.k.a. the Biryonim) to not wage war with the Romans who were holding Jerusalem under seige, but that the Biryonim set fire to the store ...
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0answers
31 views
Does a Rov have to answer a question?
In the past I asked what responsibility does a person have to look up and investigate an answer to a question that he wasn't able to answer.
I'd now like to ask a similar question with a few points.
...
4
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3answers
345 views
Do Rabbis have to be Jewish by ethnicity?
I am under the impression that a person can be received into Judaism from a gentile nation. My question is whether or not that person could conceivably then become a Rabbi?
Please indicate whether ...
3
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0answers
39 views
Why are rabbonim referred to by the names of their seforim?
Many rabbonim who published important seforim are coloquially referred to by the names of one of the seforim. Why is this? When did it start?
4
votes
2answers
87 views
Should a torah scholar be cruel to his family?
Eiruvin(21b-22a): His locks are curled (Shir HaShirm 5:11). Mar Ukva says that teaches us that we are to make many interpretations on every point of the letters of the Torah. black as a raven – With ...
3
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2answers
101 views
Were can I find responses to biblical criticism?
Where can I find well documented source material by strictly orthodox Rabbis or scholars which directly address most (or all) of the major themes of academic biblical criticism such as, but not ...
4
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2answers
86 views
Pinchas and Halacha In Front Of One's Rabbi
The Gemara in Eiruvin 63a,b learns that one is not allowed to paskin a halachah in front of one's Rebbi.
Multiple examples and details are brought. In particular, Elazar haKohen taught the soldiers ...
2
votes
3answers
206 views
Should a Rabbi apologize for a comment that could be misunderstood?
If a prominent Rabbi (meaning someone who heads a community or institution, not just anyone who has semicha) makes a statement that is technically halachically correct/acceptable but is easily ...
2
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3answers
135 views
How to say Adonainu Moreinu VeRabeinu in Aramaic
I have heard people translate "Adoneinu Moreinu VeRabeinu" (please don't ask where) into Aramaic as "Adonana Morana Verabana". I assume that the "a" is an aleph at the end. However, I realized that ...
-3
votes
1answer
67 views
Samaritan Torah and its semantic difference with Rabbinical Torah [closed]
What are the in text semantic differences if any between the Samaritan Torah and the Rabbinical Torah.
Do point out from the text as to how it differs?
-2
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2answers
55 views
Rabbis giving conflicting opinions?
Are there any examples in the history of Rabbis giving conflicting opinions on the same issue
2
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2answers
92 views
Asking a shaila where disclosure of classified information might be necessary
Orthodox Jews have taken on more and more responsible government positions and have been trusted with clearances to see highly sensitive classified materials. Many years ago I had such a job. It ...
7
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0answers
90 views
What were the marriage rights of the temporary wives of Rav and Rav Nachman?
According to the gemaras at Yoma 18b and Yevamos 37b, Rav and Rav Nachman (and presumably other chachamin) would send representatives to cities a week before the rebbe intended to visit to find the ...
5
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1answer
124 views
“Rabbi, teach me something new”
Throughout the Talmud* there are launch-pad stories of sages being asked by their students and even their peers to teach them something they've never been taught before or else something that was ...
-2
votes
1answer
197 views
Is it forbidden for the Jews to Establish a Nation of Israel?
I keep on reading about a lot of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis opposed to the building of the nation of Israel as they deem it to be blasphemous and heresy in violation of God's commandment to the Jews.
I ...
7
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0answers
63 views
Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi?
Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi? Sometimes when reading Rashi's commentary on the Torah one finds comments in parentheses that say things such as:
ס"א, ...
5
votes
1answer
106 views
Are there recordings of Rav Elyashiv ztz'l learning with his unique melody?
Rav Elyashiv apparently utilized a distinctive melody when learning. Are there any extant recordings, either audio or video, of this melody?
1
vote
1answer
221 views
Have recently-published allegations that Shlomo Carlebach was a sexual predator led to any bans of his music or conversions?
Even before his death, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach was, at best, controversial. Many people loved his music and some congregatins organized "Carlebach minyans" that emphasized spirituality through music, ...
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0answers
74 views
Has anyone since Rashbi been considered so regularly involved in Torah study so as to be exempt from prayer?
In SA OC Siman 106 Sif 2, the Machaber says that someone that for whom "Toraso Umanaso" ("his torah is his occupation", ie a person that is constantly engaged in Torah study) like Rebbe Shimon Bar ...
2
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2answers
149 views
Asking a Rav a fake question
Many times Rabbonim will not take the time to speak to someone in learning or answer a question unless it is a "practical" question. This to me seems to be a new phenomenon but in Eretz Yisrael it is ...
5
votes
3answers
182 views
Does an Orthodox rabbi have to have semicha?
I have heard that in the Orthodox world rabbis that teach are referred to as "Rabbi" even though they might not have semicha. Even several roshei yeshivah might not have semicha. can this be true?
5
votes
1answer
142 views
What forms of evidence do batei din accept to establish that someone is Jewish?
I am interested in the question, what forms of evidence do contemporary Orthodox batei din accept to establish that someone is Jewish? In particular, if you, your parents and grand-parents are ...
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2answers
229 views
Why does someone wanting to get married need to show an Orthodox ketubah from a maternal ancestor?
My friend is due to get married soon and has been asked by her Orthodox Rabbi to provide proof that she is jewish by showing that she is descended from jews. She doesn't have her parents Ketubah so ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Rav Nissan Kaplan - biography
Rav Nissan Kaplan is one of the Rashei Yeshiva at the Mir in Jerusalem, teaches English-speaking students in Walmark (וולמארק), which is one of the two batei midrash in the Bet Yeshaya building, ...
1
vote
1answer
125 views
What is the biography of Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern?
Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern is the Rosh Yeshiva of Toras Chochom in Israel. What is his background and biography? Meaning, where did he grow up, which yeshivot did he learn at and under whom (I know ...
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3answers
128 views
What sages were known to have revived the dead?
The Talmud speaks of several rabbis who successfully appealed to G-d to revive a deceased colleague or some other individual. As I recall, one revived rabbi asked to be return to the world of the ...
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0answers
18 views
Who were Hillel's greatest students and what were they known for?
In Succah 28a, the Gemara tells us that Hillel the Elder had 80 students of whom Yochanan ben Zakai was the "least" and Yonason ben Uziel was the greatest. There, it says of Yonason ben Uziel that ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
Should works continue to be banned?
Often today when a Jewish book is banned that leads to a dramatic increase in sales and circulation of the work. This would seem to be the exact opposite of what the Rabbi or Beit Din was trying to ...
2
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1answer
74 views
Why did the Baba Sali leave Yavneh?
I remember hearing that the Baba Sali very suddenly decided to move away from Yavneh.
Does anyone know the story of what exactly occurred?
1
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1answer
66 views
Today, what is our replacement for prophets?
Today, who can be a good replacement for prophets?
Whom should we go to in order to find truth?
Is a rabbi a good replacement for prophets? Today, what are the requirements for a rabbi so he can be ...
4
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1answer
61 views
Where Does the Talmud Teach Not to Learn Halacha From Observation of Teachers?
Back when I was learning Daf Yomi, I ran into an interesting lesson I'm finding difficult to find again. It was a teaching that one should learn halacha from your rebbe's teachings and not through ...
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0answers
32 views
Looking at the Nasi
It says in the Gemorah in Chagigah Daf 16a
המסתכל בג' דברים עיניו כהות בקשת ובנשיא ובכהנים ...בנשיא דכתיב ונתת
מהודך עליו
That the eyes of anyone who looks at the "Nasi" (a leader of the ...
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0answers
45 views
Which 20th century rabbi said “G-d normally doesn't stop the ill-intentioned”?
I recall hearing the following story:
There was a non-observant Israeli Jew who kept having visions of his deceased father telling him he should do more religiously. Finally he was about to turn on ...
6
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1answer
98 views
Source for Dubno Maggid's rebuke of the Vilna Gaon?
In a shiur I heard that the Vilna Gaon begged the Dubno Maggid to give him mussar (rebuke) after repeatedly declining the Maggid responded that
It is not so difficult to be a Gaon, cloistered in ...
11
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2answers
165 views
Is there a chief Rabbi of the United States?
Is there currently or has there ever been historically a chief Rabbi of the United States? If not, why not?
12
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7answers
379 views
About what were rabbis ahead of the times?
I have heard claims that experts in the world of Torah were significantly ahead of their counterparts in the world of natural science (or mathematics, or psychology, or…) in that they knew X ...
0
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3answers
173 views
Are gedolei Yisroel fallible?
Is there a source to assert that the leaders of the Jewish people at any given time are always correct in how they lead (perhaps because their decisions are divinely inspired), or is it possible to ...
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0answers
50 views
Where can I find family history of Rabbi Schneor Zalman Altshuler? [closed]
To rephrase my question correctly and not to make it too broad: where can I find information about the direct ancestors of Rabbi Schneor Zalman Altshuler?
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
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0answers
69 views
Where can I find family history of Shalom Shachna Altshuler? [closed]
I'm looking for history about Shalom Shachna Altshuler, the father of the tzemach tzedek (Menachem Mendel Schneerson), and his family afterwards till now.
Your help would be greatly appreciated in ...
8
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1answer
57 views
What is the genealogy of Judah ben Bava?
Is Judah ben Bava, noted for continuing the tradition of ordination, the son of Bava ben Buta, the Rabbi who was spared by Herod?
1
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3answers
131 views
Has a gadol be'Torah ever drastically changed his type of avodas Hashem?
I know that my question is a bit broad and maybe abstract but I'm not sure how to phrase it better. I'm looking for any change in avodah. It can be a change in which group of Jews he associated with ...
2
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1answer
151 views
Who was R' Avin Nagara
The Gemara (Bab. Shab. 23b) relates a story about one R' Avin Nagara ("The Carpenter").
Was he a Rabbi? Or was this merely an honorary title given to him because of his great children (as related in ...
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0answers
83 views
Which rabbi said “if a horse had the mind of Kant …”?
I recall hearing in yeshiva that one great rabbi -- I think one of the baalei mussar? once said:
If a horse had the mind of Kant, it would author volume after volume of great philosphical works -- ...
2
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2answers
90 views
Is there a book containing references to contemporary responsa according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch?
Is there a book containing references to contemporary responsa (maybe think starting from around the time electricity became common until now) according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch? I tried to ...
