The rabbis tag has no wiki summary.
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Talmid that is an Avel going to a wedding of his Rebbe
I had heard once that there is a Teshuvas Ranach that says it's muter for a student that is an avel (in the year of mourning) to go to a wedding that his Rebbe is making for one his children. I ...
3
votes
2answers
200 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
73 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 ...
1
vote
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
180 views
What is “emunas chachomim”?
My daughter came home from school with a textbook response for what "emunas chachomim" is. I disagreed strongly with what was written in the book, so I'm not even going to say what they said. ...
2
votes
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 ...
4
votes
0answers
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, ...
-2
votes
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, ...
8
votes
2answers
642 views
Smicha from R' Zalman Nechemia Goldberg?
One often sees that individuals' have smicha from R' Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. The smicha exams are typically considered more theoretical than that of the Israeli rabbinate, which requires more ...
3
votes
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
56 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 ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is a rabbi required to be married?
I have heard (I honestly cannot remember where...) that to be a rabbi a man must be married. Is there any truth to this?
I am more interested in knowing if this "WAS" true in time of Jesus, than if ...
9
votes
4answers
278 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
votes
0answers
49 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 ...
7
votes
7answers
192 views
Beginner on Rav Soloveitchik
I am looking to delve into the teachings of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993). Any recommendations on a good starting point?
5
votes
1answer
125 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
335 views
Which 20th-century Rosh Yeshiva studied under the mysterious Monsieur Chouchani?
Monsieur Chouchani was a mysterious figure who travelled around post-World War II and taught several great Jewish thinkers, including Emmanuel Levinas z"l and [yibadel l'chayim] Elie Wiesel.
...
19
votes
6answers
465 views
Looking for more information about a story of positive atheism/heresy
In a 2006 article (original link no longer available), Rabbi Jonathan Sacks tells the following story:
“DO YOU believe,” the disciple asked the rabbi, “that God created everything for a purpose?”
...
4
votes
3answers
348 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 ...
0
votes
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.
...
3
votes
0answers
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?
4
votes
2answers
89 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
202 views
Meforshim Nick"names
It has become common practice to refer to most meforshim by acronyms of their name (eg Rashi, Rosh, etc.). When and why did this practice start, and is it proper?
11
votes
2answers
222 views
Why are the descendants of Rav Pappah mentioned in the text of the Siyum for a tractate of Talmud?
Who are the descendants of Rav Pappah mentioned in the text of the Siyum for a tractate of Talmud, and why are they so important that we mention them all by name? Why don't we mention any other great ...
12
votes
8answers
560 views
What to call the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe
Often times a few different rebbes are mentioned (either previous Chabad rebbes or rebbes of other Chasudusim) in the same talk and then the word "The Rebbe" comes in and it's ambiguous.
I have heard ...
3
votes
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 ...
13
votes
2answers
212 views
How do you CYLOR after posting on judaism.stackexchange.com?
We recommend CYLOR. How do I:
ask the OR a shaaloh that one has already posted on judaism.stackexchange.com. Should I acknowledge its use when asking?
introduce the concept of ...
4
votes
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
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
158 views
Why is precedent set by individual rabbis, not courts?
The headline on this obituary for R' Eliyashiv ("A One Man Supreme Court") got me thinking - why do we invest so much power in precedents set by individual rabbis, as great as they may be, but not in ...
14
votes
6answers
330 views
G'dolim or Rabbis Owning Pets
Are there any g'dolim (or rabbis of major influence) - past or present - who are known to have owned pets/kept animals for non-agricultural purposes?
9
votes
2answers
169 views
Did the Rosh (Rabbeinu Asher) describe the culture clash moving from medieval Germany to Spain?
Rabbi Asher (the "Rosh") moved from medieval Germany to Spain. I know he describes some different halachic practices that were done in Spain (e.g. linen tzitzis); but does he describe the difference ...
2
votes
2answers
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 ...
-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?
7
votes
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 ...
-2
votes
1answer
341 views
I suspect I must do something, but don't want to. Must I check into the halacha?
I'm sometimes in a situation where, if I do nothing, I'll benefit. But I suspect Jewish law may actually require me to take action that will prevent the benefit.
I'm not sure if I should ask my ...
9
votes
2answers
160 views
Why did God give the Rabbis so much power?
The Torah demands that we adhere to the laws implemented by the Rabbis (I think the source is "don't veer from what they tell you to the right or to the left"). This has given the Rabbis far-reaching ...
-2
votes
2answers
55 views
Rabbis giving conflicting opinions?
Are there any examples in the history of Rabbis giving conflicting opinions on the same issue
2
votes
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 ...
12
votes
7answers
386 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 ...
-2
votes
1answer
200 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 ...
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?
7
votes
0answers
65 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, ...
22
votes
5answers
553 views
How Is It That Rabbis Have Copies of Their Own Responsa?
(I could use some help with tagging.)
There are many seforim out there that are the compiled letters or teshuvos of this or that Rabbi. Those that come to mind are "Igros Moshe", from R' Moshe ...
1
vote
1answer
223 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, ...
-3
votes
2answers
239 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
520 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
184 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?
4
votes
2answers
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 ...
