The rabbis tag has no wiki summary.
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Unique signature of the Chida
The Chida has a very unique signature.
What is the significance of this signature (if any)?
Is it in any way related to the seven kabbalistic seals?
Are there other similarly unusual signatures by ...
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110 views
How does the Rabbanut Harashit work?
Who picks the Chief Rabbi of Israel/Cities? Is it a vote of all citizens/Shuls/Politicians or all of the above?
Who picks the lower Dayanim on the Rabbanut Beis Din? Is it the "Chief Rabbi" or some ...
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192 views
Was Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ever formally ordained? (Given semicha?)
Did Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ever formally receive semicha? From whom? I recall reading that he studied a great deal with his father, and that his first responsum was written "at his father's orders."
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264 views
Whose semicha (ordination) was the last one signed/granted by Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveichik? By Rabbi Moshe Feinstein?
Whose semicha (ordination) was the last one signed/granted by Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveichik? What about by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein?
(The answer may be "the yeshiva ABC class of 1981" or whatever.)
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84 views
Why does the Gemara often mention that certain Amoraim were asleep?
I've noticed that in the Gemara you often see a pattern where two people are discussing an issue in front of an Amorah (e.g R' Yirmiyah) while he was asleep. After their discussion he wakes up and ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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What did a “don't-issue-rulings” semicha (ordination) look like?
Again from the biography of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein found in Igrot Moshe Volume 8 (emphasis added):
Many approached [him] for ordination, and he was not difficult on them. Some ordinations were ...
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Identifying Ba'alei Tosafos [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Who is the voice of Tosafoth?
How much do we know about which specific people wrote which comments of Tosafos?
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510 views
Which rabbis permit food being kosher just based on the ingredients?
Kosherstarbucks.com give options of what to order based on different halakhic standards. They include the "No Utensils List" (CRC-recommended), the Regular list, and the Kosher by Ingredients list ...
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Asara Haruge Malchut (Ten Martyrs), why were 10 Rabbis killed?
In Vayigash, Rabenu Bahya (also the Zohar) comments and says that the reason we had Asara Haruge Malchut because the brothers sold Yosef. However, Reuven didn't sell Yosef, so why should the ...
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159 views
alternate views of Maggid's relationship with the Alter Rebbe?
As far as I know, all chasiduses agree that the Maggid of Mezrich was the primary student of the Baal Shem Tov. But I was listening to an online shiur about Chabad history and it conveyed the ...
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217 views
Do “most leading Orthodox rabbis” really hold that brain-stem death is death?
According to a recent NYTimes piece on the new organ donation law in Israel,
Most leading Orthodox rabbis -- as well as Israeli law -- agree that a person dies when his brain-stem stops ...
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543 views
Which Hasidic rabbi has no beard, and what is the story?
There is a famous Hasidic rabbi who has no facial hair, and I seem to recall that there is a famous story as to why. But I can remember neither which rabbi (or of which sect), nor the story. I do not ...
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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 ...
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72 views
Identification of Rishon
Tosafos Rebbeinu Peretz (in Pesachim 38a) refers to הר"ר דיילקרויישא מאורליינש. Does anyone know who this is, or at least how his name is pronounced? (It looks like it could be "R' Delacroix of ...
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Which rabbi was it who checked a person's identity by asking where he sat in shul?
The story goes something like ...
A few days after his wedding, a man disappeared without a trace. Many years later, a mysterious man showed up back in town, claiming to be him. He looked ...
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90 views
What financial arrangement did Rambam have with his jeweler brother?
I was taught in yeshiva that as a young man, Rambam just studied Torah and was supported by his brother, who was a jewel merchant. Then his brother died at sea, so Rambam became a physician.
Recently ...
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What are the different [para-]rabbinic roles in the UK?
If you look at the "Our Rabbis" page on the website of the United Kingdom's United Synagogue, you'll find people with the personal titles "Rabbi" or "Reverend," and with the organizational roles ...
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Receiving Rabbinic smicha from a group
Is it possible for a man to receive his smicha simply from the fact that the Jews of his time all agree he should be a Rabbi? (I know this leaves out the ceremony part of it.) If a man so clearly ...
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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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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?
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What is the greatest number of pages (daf) you can go in the Babylonian Talmud without encountering Abayei or Rava?
What is the greatest number of pages (daf) you can go in the Babylonian Talmud without encountering Abayei or Rava? I've heard it was 3?
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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?
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462 views
List of Techelet Wearers
I was looking online for a list of people famous for deciding or influencing halacha, who currently wear Ptil Techelet Techelet.
However I could not find one.
Does such a list exist? If not, could ...
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1answer
79 views
Who was R' Jacob Pidanki?
Every once in a while the Judaica Press English translations (such as this one) will quote R' Jacob Pidanki in their commentary anthology.
Who was R' Jacob Pidanki? Where did he live? What ...
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274 views
Did Rabbis Moshe Feinstein and Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ever meet in person? How many times?
Rav Moshe was in America, Rav Shlomo Zalman in Israel. Did they ever meet? Where and when? Do we have a photo of both of them together? (I know Rav Shlomo Zalman was asked to speak at Rav Moshe's ...
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44 views
Chafez Chayim checked copies of (which) books?
I've heard that the Chafetz Chayim inspected each page of each printed copy of the Mishna B'rura to be sure that it was printed correctly (with no large ink splotches or the like).
Is there a ...
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93 views
Information about the office of the Chief Rabbi of England
Who determines the Chief Rabbi of England?
Is he picked by a general vote of all Shul attendees in Great Brittan?
Is he picked by a committee picked by boards of different Shuls?
What are his ...
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121 views
Was the Tzemach Tzedek related to the Metzudos Tziyon/Dovid? [closed]
The Tzemach Tzedek (of Lubavitch)'s father's name was Shalom Shachna Altshuler. Is he related to the Metzodos Tziyon?
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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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110 views
Looking for biographical information about R. Avraham Halevi Fattal
I'm writing something for which I need a capsule biography of him. So far, about all I know is:
He is the father-in-law of (יבלח"ט) R. Ovadiah Yosef.
He was an important figure in the Syrian Jewish ...
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1answer
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Choosing Rabbonim in shtetlach
How were Rabbonim chosen in Shetlach?
Was there an Election (like in Crown Heights), and if so, who were eligible to vote?
Was it all men were allowed, or just learned members of the community?
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“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 ...
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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 -- ...
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On What Subjects Does One Say Birchas HaTorah?
Must one say Birchas Hatorah before learning
Aggadata in the Gemara?
Biographies like Shem Hagedolim (a biography of various Rabbonim written by the Chida)?
Artscroll biographies?
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Reb Moshe Feinstein in the New York Times
Reb Moshe Feinstein was once interviewed by the New York Times where he answered questions like how does Klal Yisroel know who is a Gadol? Does anyone know when it was, and does anyone know where I ...
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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 ...
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194 views
Tzlach - source of name?
The Noda BiYehuda has a commentary on Shas known as Tzlach - can someone help me by explaining what that stands for?
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2answers
672 views
Chazon Ish neurosurgery diagram
There is a well-known story about the Chazon Ish, where someone who was scheduled to undergo a neurosurgical procedure came to him for advice, and the Chazon Ish drew a diagram for the surgeon ...
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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 ...
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1answer
319 views
Why did Rabbis stay away from Amei Haaretz?
The Gemara tells Torah scholars that they should not mix with Amei Haaretz, and shouldn't be around them, eat with them, etc. The reason is that the Torah Scholars would learn from their bad ways.
...
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300 views
Is there a difference between a Rabbi and a Temple Priest?
I was reading about Perushim and Tzedukim on Wikipedia and the articles seems to suggest that there is a difference between them.
Is there a difference between a rabbi and a (Temple) priest?
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Why refer to Isaac Luria as the Arizal, and not Arizatzal?
One of the common ways to refer to the R' Isaac Luria is "the Arizal". I understand this to mean, The Ari, zecher L'bracha (may he be mentioned/remembered for blessing).
However, one usually refers ...
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Measurements used in Halacha
What is the underlying argument between the Chazon Ish and Rabbi Chaim Naaeh and Reb Moshe Feinstein? I know they argue in amounts, but what is the underlying argument? How did each get the ...
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1answer
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HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss Shelita and Techelet
Does anyone know if HaRav HaGaon Asher Weiss wears Techelet?
Also, why or why not?
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1answer
78 views
seeking text of a notice published by the Malbim
Someone told the following story today (or something like the following story. I may be remembering it incorrectly to some extent). He said he had gotten it from a book called Em Habanim S'mecha, ...
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346 views
Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel and wearing tzitzios out
Does someone know anything about Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel shlita hamekubal stating that tzitzios should be worn outside the clothes? I read it once but without any sources on a web forum.
It would be ...
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151 views
Sefer Torah Lishma **not** from the Ben Ish Hai?
Yabia Omer vol. 9 Orah Haim sim. 96:
גם ראיתי בקובץ "משנת חכמים", (תשרי תש"ס), במאמר מאת הרה"ג עזריאל מנצור (עמוד לה) שכתב, ששאל על זה מאת הרה"ג יעקב מוצפי זצ"ל, ואמר לו, שספר "תורה לשמה" אינו ...
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List of titles before different Rabbis
It is customary to put many honorific titles before most modern day Rabbis (I've even seen seforim that write Harav Hagaon etc. etc. So-And-So). Many times one sees long lines of adjactives praising ...
