The rabbis tag has no wiki summary.
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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 ...
4
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1answer
119 views
Rational approaches to superstitious ideas
Can one assume that there is a perfectly rational approach to superstitious ideas? May one go out of one's way to come up with rational approaches if these ideas bother him? My thinking is, ...
4
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1answer
104 views
Answering others' sh'elos
Would it be surprisingly improper for the author of a legal responsum to publish his own answer to a question asked, answered, and published by another such author because he believed he had a better ...
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1answer
62 views
Shiurim on Approaches of Meforshim
Does anyone know of any good shiurim that I could find online going through the approaches of the various meforshim on Torah?
4
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1answer
63 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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1answer
91 views
Is it Halachically wrong to avoid the rabbi's sermon?
At some point in our history, the rabbi's Derashah, or sermon, went from being taboo to so integral to the service that some Shuls have ushers to keep the doors closed at that time, so that no one may ...
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46 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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130 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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373 views
Why were some of the works of Rabbi Steinsaltz banned?
Apparently some of the works of Rabbi Steinsaltz were banned. What are the specific examples that prompted the ban? Is there a list of all of his works that have been banned, as I am interested in ...
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191 views
What is the source of the word “Rabbi”? [closed]
What is the source of the Hebrew word "Rabbi" - which is commonly applied to a Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, etc.?
3
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1answer
92 views
Is there such a thing as dispassionate p'sak?
(Inspired by http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/6008/psak-halacha-by-ai)
Much is made of the need for poskim to be well-experienced people who have been involved in a number and variety of Jewish ...
3
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1answer
74 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 ...
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203 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 ...
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2answers
104 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 ...
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1answer
495 views
Difference between the Mishnah, Gemara and the Talmud
As a non-Jew, I would like to know the difference between the Mishnah, Gemara and the Talmud. I understand that the Oral Law was not written down until after the destruction of the second temple. That ...
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1answer
82 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, ...
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1answer
68 views
Margaliyos family tree
Many famous rabbanim have had the last name מרגליות. A couple that come to mind are ר' ראובן מרגליות and ר' אפרים מרגליות. Are they related? Where could I find genealogical information on such people?
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40 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?
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65 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 ...
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111 views
Who was the first ordained rabbi to live in the USA?
Who was the first ordained rabbi to live in the USA? What was his position?
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213 views
Accurate list of Gedolim [closed]
Wikepedia's list is missing certain Gedolim. Where can I access a list of Gedolim that would be virtually unarguable?
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3answers
417 views
Rav Scheinberg and Tzitzis (series of questions)
I have heard that Rav Scheinberg wore many garments with ציציות on them at a time. . .
Is this true?
If so, why did he do it?
If not, why do other people do it?
How many ברכות do they make when ...
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2answers
93 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 ...
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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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1answer
62 views
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman said Baruch Shepetarani with Shem UMalchut?
I heard a story about Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auebuch that he said "Baruch Shepetarani" for his son with Shem UMalchut. Does anyone have a source for this story?
Usually we only say Baruch ShePetarni ...
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95 views
Non-Israeli pulpit rabbis who actively promote moving to Israel
Are there any rabbis who have pulpits outside of Israel and who have no plans to move to Israel themselves, but who actively and sincerely try to get their congregants to move to Israel?
I don't ...
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1answer
78 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?
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2answers
112 views
What are the main source texts for the chavruta and teacher-student models in Jewish learning?
I'm working on an outline for a short presentation on how new online tools, especially this site, interact with the traditional Jewish learning models of chavruta and teacher-student. What are the ...
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3answers
136 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 ...
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1answer
69 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 ...
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1answer
113 views
Rif, Rosh, and Rambam about the Techelet
The Petil Techelet company (I believe) makes three types of colored strings:
Raavad- 1 full string of blue
Tosafot- 2 full strings of blue
Rambam- 1/2 string of blue
Does the Rif or Rosh mention ...
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3answers
207 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 ...
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150 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 ...
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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 ...
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1answer
104 views
Following old Rabbi's Pesak
Let's you asked your old rabbi a question and he answered you, but not let's say you lost contact with him or some other story. Do you still have to follow this pesak or can you change?
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2answers
148 views
Gedole HaDor: who and how
1)Who do we know to refer to as a "Gadol?"
2)How do we determine who is a "Gadol?"
For example, how did we determine that Rav Elyashiv is a Gadol?
A Gadol HaDor is known as one of the most ...
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118 views
Who gave the “yadav rav lo” ordination a few decades ago?
According to Rabbi Hoenig's article, "The Orthodox Rabbi as Military Chaplain" (Tradition Fall 1976, emphasis in the original):
This situation brought up the question of
proper ordination, the ...
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2answers
184 views
Main Sefardi Rav
Which rabbi do the majority of sefardim follow? Or, do a majority of them not follow a single rabbi?
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133 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 ...
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3answers
180 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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1answer
57 views
Where is the Bandits/Teshuvah Midrash?
Rabbeinu Yonah writes (Shaarei Teshuvah 1:2) a parable in the name of "Midrash Koheles" that at first glance makes no sense. I have my own theory about a way to explain it, but I wanted to check what ...
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1answer
224 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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1answer
129 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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1answer
54 views
Kabbalos Pnei Rabo
That which it says in the Gemorah (Rosh Hashana 16b) that one has a obligation of "kabbalos pnei rabo" (to go see ones rebbe) on holidays - when is the obligation? Is there an obligation every day, or ...
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2answers
131 views
Shabbos sends a letter to Ibn Ezra
Shabbos sends a letter to Ibn Ezra I heard this in in a shiur can anyone find the text of the letter or if it exists and or summarize it and find out who the source for this Legend is?
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58 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 ...
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77 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 ...
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21 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 ...
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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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47 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 ...
