The sin tag has no wiki summary.
4
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2answers
47 views
Difference between חֵטְא and עֲבֵרָה
Is there a difference between a חֵטְא (cheit) and an עֲבֵרָה (aveira)? I translate both of those words as "sin." Maybe they signify a different level of magnitude? Or maybe one word is simply ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Why is Akaidas Yitzchak considered a good thing?
I'm having some difficulty understanding the incident of the Akaida. God tested Avraham by commanding him to take his son as a human sacrifice to see if he would obey even this (Genesis 22). However, ...
10
votes
1answer
163 views
Why is Jacob idolized and not villainised?
I've just read the story of Jacob and Esau (Bereishis ch. 25 and 27), and I fail to understand why Jacob is consistently portrayed and idolized as a protagonist and a hero - based on what I've read, I ...
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Why were these pasukim chosen for the upside down Nuns?
In Bamidbar 10:35-36 there are two upside down Nuns. The traditional explanation is that this serves as a break between different accounts of wicked behavior. Not wanting to list three such counts in ...
1
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0answers
53 views
Why did Chava give Adam the fruit to eat?
For what reason did Chava give Adam fruit from the tree of knowledge to eat?
4
votes
1answer
132 views
Can a shul give an aliyah to an openly gay Jewish man when it gives aliyah to people who violate Shabbos?
In a Young Israel shul I've attended, the rabbi would not allow the gabbaim to give Jewish men an aliyah if there is reason to believe that the person is openly gay (and acts on his inclination), ...
6
votes
1answer
103 views
Working in a Potentially Sinful Industry
I work for a company that provides a service that is considered morally objectionable by some Rabbis (see Gambling at casino). The work I do is generic, in that the output could potentially be used to ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Why is hell termed Gehinnom?
Why is the place that that wicked are punished for their sins after death termed Gehinnom? Is there is an association with Gei ben Hinnom where idolatry was performed? If so why was this place singled ...
2
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1answer
58 views
Why is the son of אסנ״ת משגע״ח called a sinner?
The Bavli, N'darim 20:2, reads:
וברותי מכם המורדים והפושעים בי אמר רבי לוי אלו בני תשע מדות בני אסנ״ת משגע״ח בני אימה בני אנוסה בני שנואה בני נידוי בני תמורה בני מריבה בני שכרות בני גרושת הלב בני ...
-6
votes
2answers
85 views
What are the behaviors which will cause the covenant between Bnei Yisrael and God to be broken? [closed]
What are the abominations that Bnei Yisrael should desist from, which would cause it to break the covenant of God. And has the covenant been broken in the past?
3
votes
2answers
107 views
“But Rahab the harlot … dwelt in the midst of Israel, unto this day”
This is from Yehoshua' 6:25.
Assuming she was a harlot and not, as some suggest, an innkeeper, what exactly does this mean? Did she convert? Did her conversion remove the stain of being a harlot from ...
1
vote
0answers
115 views
Eating treif under hashgacha
What happens if someone eats at a restaurant with a kosher certification (hashgacha) but is served, and unknowingly eat non-kosher? What are the spiritual and halachic ramifications to all parties ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Dreaming of doing a sin
Inspired by Why was Hosea acceptable to the people if he took his adulterous wife back?
If one were to dream while sleeping of him or herself doing any sort of sin, is it a sin? (sources)
5
votes
1answer
70 views
Why was Hosea acceptable to the people if he took his adulterous wife back?
Hosea is described by Rabbi Yochanan in Pesachim 87a as the greatest of the four major prophets. At G-d's command (Hosea 1:2), he married a prostitute, Gomer, and fathered children, although there ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Why is misusing God's name so bad?
One is not allowed to take God's name in vain, and certainly not allowed to curse the name of God (chas v'shalom). I'd like to understand conceptually why these things are considered such grievous ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Treating obsessive compulsive scrupulosity without ignoring genuine conscience
I read a psychological paper that was linked to in a comment here, dealing with how obsessive-compulsive scrupulosity can be treated specifically for Orthodox Jews.
The paper gives a helpful and ...
7
votes
1answer
85 views
In what way was Niniveh wicked?
What was so especially "wicked" about Niniveh that Jonah would have to go there?
Were they wicked in that they worshiped different god(s)? This is pretty much what every other country did.
Were they ...
2
votes
2answers
62 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
What is an outsider's obligation if abuse is suspected?
What obligation does an outsider (non-family member) have if she or he suspects that there is abuse in another family? Does it matter if the abused party denies the allegation? What if the abused ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
Why is the period of Shovavim connected to tikkun habris?
Please see this question and answers for background information.
What is the reason that the period of Shovavim is used to address tikkun habris (sexual sins)? Why is this time period auspicious for ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
Do you have to listen to angels?
Does one now (or ever in the past) have to listen to the instructions of an angel? If so, would that include listening if the angel told you to violate a Torah commandment (either temporarily or ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Why did David's kingdom split if he didn't sin?
According to one opinion in the Gemara (Bab. Shab. 56b), the reason David's kingdom split was because he sinned by believing Lashon HaRa'. According to another opinion, though, he never sinned at all. ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
Did Yishai sin?
Did Yishai sin? The gemarah (shabbat 55b) states pretty clearly that he did not; however, the midrash (Yalkut HaMakiri, cited here) seems to indicate that he separated from his wife for an extended ...
6
votes
2answers
113 views
Does the mitzvah to return a lost object apply to aveirah items?
I recently saw a flyer that quoted from R' Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita as saying that if one find a smartphone that is not "kosher" there is no mitzvah obligation to return it. Is this in fact the ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
Specific punishments for specific sins
I am aware that the concept of reward and punishment is difficult, and often requires a complex understanding. However, there are places where the Mishna or Gemara claims a specific punishment for a ...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
Where does the concept of bitul Torah come from?
It is a positive commandment to learn Torah. But the concept of bitul Torah seems to imply that it is also a negative commandment not to learn Torah. Where does this concept of bitul Torah come from?
...
4
votes
2answers
128 views
Why does David say that he only sinned against G-d?
In Psalm 51:6 David says that
"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight" (JPS)
I wondered why does he think that he sinned only against the Lord? I think he ...
5
votes
0answers
153 views
If a person isn't sure he is Jewish, does he have to keep Mitzvot?
Let's say that a person has a reason to think his mother might be Jewish (there is some evidence, but only a little), and it is likely that the person will never be able to know for sure. In such a ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
What does God's answer to Yona the prophet (4:11) really mean?
Sefer Yona 4:11 reads:
וַאֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס עַל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ בָּהּ הַרְבֵּה מִשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה רִבּוֹ אָדָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע בֵּין יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ וּבְהֵמָה רַבָּה
...
0
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2answers
47 views
Why does Yona get off easy for running away?
Why doesn't God chastise Yona for disobeying him? Perek 3 of Yona picks up as if nothing had happened.
-5
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2answers
138 views
Why does a Zavah bring a Korban?
Does anyone know why the Zavah (a woman who experiences certain menstrual bleeding outside her regular cycle) brings a sin offering on the eighth day after the bleeding ceases? (Leviticus 15:29).
6
votes
1answer
74 views
If a father has to carry his sons aveiros why not his mitzvos?
If a father must carry the sins & punishments of his son (under bar mitzva) as we know he does from the brocha of "Baruch Shepatrani Meonshin shel zeh" does he — and if not, why doesn't he — ...
2
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0answers
155 views
Does Kiddushin 81b imply that one opinion allows for suicide if that is the only way to keep from sinning?
The Gemoro in Kiddushin 81b brings down the following (shortened version of the) story:
Rabbi Chiya Bar Ashi used to say 'May God save me from the Yetzer
Hora'! When his wife overheard him she ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Why was Shimshon viewed positively?
There is no indication in the text that the Jews were aware that Shimshon was secretly waging a one-man war against the Plishtim. From outward appearances it would seem that a former shofet of the ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Making a Berachah on rabbinically prohibited foods
Should one refrain from making a Berachah on rabbinically prohibited foods, or does that rule only apply to biblically prohibited foods?
7
votes
5answers
191 views
Are there unforgiveable sins?
If parents have committed atrocious sins against their children such as incest, physical abuse, drugging, etc. is it considered an unforgiveable sin?
1
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0answers
46 views
Leaving the King's road?
We say in Bemidbar 20:17 to Edom:
Let us now pass through your land: We won't pass through the fields
and vineyards and we won't drink well-water; on the road of the king
we will go, we won't ...
-2
votes
1answer
347 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
403 views
Does casual sex establish a marriage?
Do premarital sexual relations effect Kiddushin (betrothal/first step of Jewish marriage) if there is no intention of getting married?
If so, is the physical act itself determinative of whether or ...
5
votes
1answer
55 views
Safek yehareg v'al yaavor
If there is a situation in which you aren't sure whether you are required to give up your life, do you give up your life or not?
The most simple example would be if someone doesn't know whether ...
11
votes
11answers
1k views
How can I curb my sexual desire?
I am looking for the best and most practical suggestion as to what a man can do to curb his yetzer hara (evil inclination) for sexual desire. Please provide sources for why your answer should be ...
10
votes
1answer
89 views
Can one take any money offered to him?
Is a tzedaka allowed to take money from people who earn their money in inappropriate way (say, the person worked on Shabbos, stole, cheated, etc.)
If not, is this a chumra or a halacha?
Please ...
10
votes
2answers
185 views
Could someone who has committed a heinous crime convert to Judaism?
Is there any reason that someone who has committed horrible sins in the past (for example, mass murder) could not become a Jew? Assume, of course, that the sinner/criminal is willing to do teshuvah ...
7
votes
1answer
83 views
Paying bill for aveirah already done
Is one allowed to pay a service fee for an aveirah which someone else has already done, in order to get some other good or service now? The case I had in mind is an animal adoption where the agency ...
6
votes
2answers
158 views
What is Zimri's sin?
Note: This is Zimri that was speared by Phinehas for sleeping with a foreigner.
Wikipedia says that he committed idolatry. However, the Bible only mentions that he slept with a foreign woman. Nothing ...
11
votes
4answers
871 views
If masturbation is so bad, why is it not in list of 613 Mitzvos?
If masturbation is, as stated in the Shulchan Oruch (Even HaEzer 23:1), "the worst sin in the Torah", then why is it not listed in any of the various lists of 613 Mitzvos and why is there no verse in ...
17
votes
5answers
575 views
How to respond to “but he does”
I mentioned to my coworker that I can't eat Domino's pizza, not even without meat, as it's not kosher. He pointed out in response that a fellow coworker of ours, whom I'll call Josh, and who is ...
13
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5answers
498 views
Anyone who says these people sinned is mistaken. For real?
The Gemara (Talmud Bavli Shabbos 55b-56b) relates that several Biblical figures who, from the text itself, seemed to have sinned, in reality did not. These statements take the form of "כל האומר פלוני ...
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vote
0answers
37 views
Why is the atonement for פשע limited to leap years in the Amida for Musaf Rosh Chodesh? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Saying Ulichaporas Pasha in Musaf of Rosh Chodesh
This question is a slightly different take on this one. I have posted a comment there and await to see if it needs to ...
6
votes
3answers
132 views
Good inclination or evil inclination in the womb?
The Posuk says:
ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה (בראשית כה, כב)
To which Rashi comments:
כשהיתה עוברת על פתחי תורה של שם ועבר יעקב רץ ומפרכס לצאת, וכשהיתה עוברת על פתחי עבודה זרה עשיו מפרכס לצאת
...
