measurements relating to the performance of different Mitzvot
6
votes
1answer
88 views
Aruch Hashulchan's moon-distance estimate
Aruch Hashulchan, Orach Chayim 397:1, says that a מיל is the same as a Russian верста (verst) or 500 сажен (sazhen), which comes to 1066.8 meters. In 426:2, he says the distance to the moon is about ...
6
votes
5answers
234 views
K'zayis as a weight measurement
The label of the one-pound box of Cohen Halperin Shmura Matza reads:
משקל כל מצה כשיעור כזית
In English (with some Hebrew thrown in, in transliteration, of necessity), that's:
The weight of ...
5
votes
2answers
209 views
Challah Loaves on Shabbat have a minimum size?
In this article regarding the Shabbat Challah loaves, The Shmirat Shabbat KeHilchata (vol. II 55:5) is quoted as saying:
The loaves must each be at least the size of an olive
Normally, the size ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Satmar Rebbe's opinion on Mechitza
Where could I find the opinion of the Satmar Rebbe (Rav Yoel) zt'l on the height and laws pertaining to the Mechitzah?
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Can we really estimate halachic distances?
A mishna on Eiruvin 41b tells of a ship that was coming into harbor at dusk coming into Shabbat. Since Shabbat had already begun when the ship docked, those on board asked R. Gamaliel if they could ...
4
votes
0answers
41 views
What's the Shiur of Mashehu?
Certain issurim (forbidden things) can become batel (halachically nullified) if they were unintentionally mixed in heter (permitted things). In order for this to happen, the heter must outnumber the ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Challah dough that loses its amount
A theoretical question:
Someone was making a dough and in the process a large piece fell out from the mixture onto the floor. They had made exactly the right amount in order to take challah with a ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Shiur of “Miut Hamatzui”
A "miut hamatzui" is a phrased used to express a case where because of a small concern that something exists, or might happened, or does happen that the halacha is affected by this. An example is if ...
8
votes
0answers
129 views
The size/shape of biblical Israel
Based on this Tosafot in Bava Metzia 28a (D"H Chamisha Asar Yom), Eretz Israel is a square (400 sq. Parsah), and the distance between Jerusalem and the Jordan river is 1/39th the distance between ...
7
votes
3answers
569 views
4
votes
1answer
49 views
Violating the prohibition of wearing Sha'atnez
When does one become liable for wearing Sha'atnez? Is it merely putting the garment on one's body? Is it when the act of dressing is complete (ie., buttoning the last button, zipping up the zipper, ...
3
votes
2answers
135 views
Figuring out a K'zayit by weight/volume of ingredients
In this question, I learned that one measures the amount of flour used to determine whether challah separation is necessary. Here I learned that there is a difference of opinion between (some) ...
2
votes
2answers
139 views
What is the absolute minimum length for peyos?
I have often heard that 1/4th of an inch is the minimum length of the hairs in the peyos area. For example, that is mentioned in an answer to a previous question:
How to advise your barber
My ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
What's the Source for Jerusalem and Sepphoris Having Larger Measuring Units?
In Rabbi Pinchas Kehati's introduction to Masekhet Challah, and again in his commentary on Eduyyot 1:2, reference is made to the adjusting of measurements when the Jews "arrived at" Jerusalem, and ...
8
votes
3answers
123 views
What is the Minimum Width of Tefillin Straps?
What is the minimum width of tefillin straps?
For example: if one's tefillin straps partially tore, how much is required to remain for the tefillin to remain Kosher?
2
votes
1answer
45 views
How many calories are in a KeZayith of flour?
I've often wondered how I can be sure I've eaten a KeZayith of flour when I eat something small but complete - like one cookie - and struggle with the decision of whether or not to eat more in order ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
How to measure Menorah height
A menorah should preferably be within 10 tefachim from the ground (though higher than 3 tefachim). Are these ten tefachim measured to the base of the menorah, or to its top, or to the actual level of ...
3
votes
0answers
54 views
A shorter person with a normal sized tallis katan
A theoretical question: If a young person (a boy for example that is 13 yrs old) that happens to be very short (not because of any physical disability) wears a normal size tallis katan it will be very ...
2
votes
2answers
280 views
How long is the required suspension of marital intimacy after childbirth?
How many days a must married couple refrain from intimacy after their baby is born?
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Bentching Ha-Gommel after a Birth
After a woman gives birth many have the custom of reciting the blessing of "ha-gommel" (a blessing of Thanks.) Until how long after a birth may this blessing by recited? (i.e. can it be said even a ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
What is the shiur for anointing on Yom Kippur?
Is there a minimum shiur to be chayav for anointing on Yom Kippur, and, if so, what is it? The gemarah (Yoma 76b) seems to learn it out as a comparison to food consumption: would that mean it has the ...
7
votes
2answers
204 views
Saying 100 Berachoth in a day
What is the source for the idea that one should say 100 Berachoth in a day, and how serious of an obligation is this? Is it mandatory, is it laudatory, or is it merely a nice idea?
5
votes
3answers
149 views
When does counting 100 Brochos per day start and end?
There's a Halacha/Mitzvah to say at-least 100 Brochos a day.
My question is: what does the term "day" mean in this regard. Does a day start at night, and end the following night (as is the case in ...
3
votes
0answers
110 views
How obligated is one to say Kaddish for a deceased relative?
People often talk about an obligation -- Chiyuv -- to recite Kaddish at every opportunity for some time after the death of a relative. (Which relatives are obligated and for how long does not seem ...
6
votes
1answer
132 views
No mitzvah to wear tefillin every day?
I heard that the Bet HaLevi and the Peri Megadim hold that there is no Mitzva for a person to don Tefilin everyday. Can someone source these opinions and explain exactly what they are meaning to say?
8
votes
3answers
149 views
Delaying using the toilet
According to Gemara Makkot 16b, the phrase in Vayikra 20:25
... and do not make your souls disgusting - וְלֹא תְשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם
is a command not to hold in the urge to urinate or ...
3
votes
2answers
113 views
4
votes
2answers
390 views
7
votes
1answer
115 views
Beis Shammai's dinar for kiddushin - philosophy?
The Mishna in Kiddushin (1:1) outlines a machlokes regarding the minimum amount of money necessary to effect kiddushin (i.e. create a marriage).
According to Beis Hillel, the amount of money (or ...
2
votes
2answers
167 views
Upper limits of “kovea itim”
It is known from the gemara (Shabbos 31a and cited in maamar Toras HaBayis ch. 1, among other places) that when a person dies, he is asked if he had set times for learning. I know that these times can ...
11
votes
3answers
455 views
Why do we say “You should live till 120”?
Prior to the Mabul people lived for hundreds of years. After the Mabul lifespans shortened although we see that the Avos lived in the 180 year range. In the Pasuk in Tehilim we say Yemei Shenoseinu ...
11
votes
2answers
79 views
Why does Ezekiel describe the maneh as 20 + 25 + 10 + 5 shekels instead of just saying 60?
Ezekiel 45:12, in discussing just weights and measures, says:
וְהַשֶּׁקֶל, עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה; עֶשְׂרִים שְׁקָלִים חֲמִשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים שְׁקָלִים, עֲשָׂרָה וַחֲמִשָּׁה שֶׁקֶל--הַמָּנֶה, יִהְיֶה ...
11
votes
2answers
308 views
Why does writing on Shabbos need two letters?
In order to transgress "writing" (כותב) on Shabbos, (m'd'oraysah) one must write two letters. (See for example here.)
Why is this so? Shouldn't writing anything still be considered writing?
For ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
What is the minimum shiur for dehydrated maror?
Given that you can use dried maror for the seder (Mishna Pesachim 2:6), and assuming that horseradish is actually maror, what is the minimum shiur of dried horseradish (e.g. horseradish powder)? Is it ...
8
votes
2answers
70 views
Why 30 days of preparation for a חג
Why exactly 30 days to review the laws of the upcoming holidays? Is there anything about the number 30 that makes it significant?
11
votes
1answer
126 views
How big, and what exactly, is “Kedei Kelipah”?
{Kedei Kelipah is a term used in Kashruth for the amount of something that needs to be removed in order to allow one to treat the remnant as Kosher. (This only applies under certain conditions, which ...
5
votes
1answer
103 views
What is the source for the current Shiurim that we have?
There are generally two types of Shiurim, the "classic" type (R' Avrohom Chaim Noeh) which says that when we measure an Amah nowadays it is roughly the size of an Amah in the time of the Beis ...
5
votes
2answers
168 views
How many T'fachim make up an Ama?
Is it possible to convert between Torah measurements?
Specifically, T'fachim & Amot, (cubits) so I can figure out the size of the luchot (tablets) within the Aron Hakodesh (ark). (The Luchot are ...
8
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the source for washing Mayim Acharonim with only a few drops of water?
OC 181 (4) MB [10] says that when washing mayim acharonim one must wash up to the second knuckle and using a few drops does not fulfill the mitzvah at all. Shulchan Oruch HaRav 181 (4) says there is ...
5
votes
2answers
101 views
Within what time frame does one have to give maaser on a large sum?
If someone suddenly has a large sum of money from a lottery or inheritance or gift, how much time does one have to disperse maaser money from that?
5
votes
5answers
134 views
How was flour measured in the bes hamikdash?
Modern cooks will tell you that the way to measure flour is to scoop flour with a scoop whose volume is known, and then to shave any excess off the top. (However, liquids are measured by pouring into ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
Is there a time limit for Borei Nefashos and Beracha Me'en Shalosh?
It seems that there's a 72-minute period after eating in which one must bentch.
Does this also apply for Borei Nefashos and Beracha Me'en Shalosh?
5
votes
2answers
132 views
What is a source that allows one to treat one's house as all within four amos?
I am after a source that allows one to treat one's house as all within four amos l'chatchila, with respect to nagel vasser (hand washing in the morning).
5
votes
4answers
107 views
14
votes
2answers
115 views
Hagalah in Denver?
In high-altitude cities, water boils at a lower temperature than the standard 212 degrees Farenheit. For example, in Denver the boiling point is about 203 degrees. Can one kasher utensils with hagalah ...
6
votes
1answer
162 views
How long until a bean chulent is totally cooked (mevushal kol tzorko)?
My son has started raiding the chulent Friday night. To be able to return the chulent crock pot back to the casing, everything must be fully cooked. I rarely cook with beans, but would like to try ...
4
votes
0answers
51 views
Connection of Toch Kedei Dibbur to Walking 4 Amot
According to this, the gemara compares Toch Kedei Dibbur (the length of time neccasary to greet someone; see Shalom alecha rebbi (u'mori) ) to the time it takes to walk 4 amot (cubits). Thus, with ...
7
votes
1answer
448 views
18 minute Matzah?
Are there sources EXPLAINING why we have to make matzah within 18 minutes? I understand having a time limit if in fact the reason we eat matzah is to reenact the speed which we left Egypt (that ...
8
votes
1answer
87 views
Is there a minimum size for Chanuka flames?
Do the flames atop the chanukiya need to be a certain size to be valid? At the extreme, are tiny (but sustained) balls of blue flame sufficient?
5
votes
0answers
85 views
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukkah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicization to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the ...
