The sources-mekorot tag has no wiki summary.
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Four cups of wine by the Pesach Seder — From the Torah?
I've heard there is an opinion that the daled cosos by the Pesach Seder are m'doraisa. What is the source for this (if there is one? I vaguely remember a source being in the Yerushalmi?)
What Seforim ...
6
votes
1answer
178 views
Custom of not eating by other people on Pesach
There is a custom that many have to not eat by other peoples houses on Pesach. Seemingly it's even if they have the same chumras or perhaps even more chumras (what I've learned over time is not ...
6
votes
2answers
302 views
A Convert taking on customs of ashkanazim or sephardim
When someone converts is there any determining factor on what minhagim (customs) they will take upon themselves in terms of Ashkanazim or Sephardim? Should it be dependent on the Beis Din they ...
14
votes
1answer
141 views
What sources, prior to the 19th century, support or refute the existence of the Council of Jamnia/Yavneh?
Multiple questions on Christianity.SE1 refer to the Council of Jamnia/Yavneh in reference to the canonization of the Bible (Tanakh). Wikipedia states:
In 1871 Heinrich Graetz, drawing on Mishnaic ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Segulah for having a boy
I have heard before that a segulah for having a boy is to have relations with one's wife twice in one night. I remember hearing this in the name of Chazal. Does anyone know the makor for it?
8
votes
3answers
216 views
Did any Achronim Write Books Comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
Did any achronim write books comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
3
votes
2answers
97 views
What is Ruach Rah
Right in the beginning of Shulchan Aruch we see this idea of "Ruach Rah". In regards to washing ones hands and all that comes before that -- not walking more than 4 amos without washing one's hands, ...
14
votes
3answers
475 views
Premature birth contradicting science
I am a teacher at a private all-girls Jewish high school. There are two science teachers in the school, and both of us are Christian. I was talking with my fellow science teacher recently, and she ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Have poskim written about partnership minyanim?
Are there any contemporary responsa regarding partnership minyanim, such as Shira Hadasha and Darkei Noam?
Various rabbis have written against it (e.g., R. Student, R. Rothstein, R. Firmer) and it ...
6
votes
1answer
90 views
Where does Ramban discuss OCD and the mikvah?
I was told that the Ramban writes regarding women who have awful problems using the mikvah because they keep worrying they're not clean enough -- in today's terms, we call that obsessive-compulsive ...
4
votes
2answers
62 views
Naming a child after two relatives
I once heard Rabbi Shmuel Niman, Mashgiach Ruchani of the Chafeitz Chaim Yeshiva, say that he had "recently learned" that it is improper to give a child parts of the names of two relatives. For ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Chazzon Ish and Parshas Parah being D'Oraisa
I heard today that the Chazzon Ish says that the reason Parshas Parah is m'doraisa (See here) is because of the pasuk:
והזהרתם את בני ישראל מטמאותם
"And you shall separate the children of ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
“Lo Plog” in Shas
In a case of a gezera or any other issur that might not apply to a particular person (for whatever reason) we often still say it does because of a "lo plog". In order that we shouldn't make ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
The order of the wording of the Ben Sorrer U'Moreh source Mishnah
In Mishna 1 of of the Eighth Perek of Masechet Sanhedrin it states that we know the ages in which the halachot of ben sorrer u'moreh apply from the fact that the Torah says "ben" (boy) and not "ish" ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Source that a woman is considered to have a bris milah
I recall learning, I think in mesechtas kiddushin, that a woman is the (halachic?) equivalent of a man who has had a bris milah performed. In other words, since she does not have the same organ she is ...
3
votes
3answers
103 views
Seeking sources about the necessity for finding a מנין
I am looking for sources about the necessity for finding a מנין. More specifically, whether or not one has to always be in close range of a מנין, or if he can intentionally put himself in a position ...
2
votes
0answers
29 views
Charging interest to “your brother”
A deleted post from a long time ago made the claim that
[W]e are [allowed to charge interest to other Jews] but not from
immediate family. Even from another Jew, if he or she is not a member
...
8
votes
2answers
150 views
If two separate studies intersect, is it a good sign?
There is an expression that I have always heard, which is that when two separate Torah studies one is learning happen to reference each other, it is a good sign. A variant of this that I've heard is ...
3
votes
1answer
56 views
Is the name of God associated with bris milah?
I recall learning, but have no source for, the fact that part of what is achieved by the bris milah process is a form of etching (part of?) the name of God into the makom ha'milah.
What is the ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
What is a “migu”
A popular topic discussed sometimes at length in Yeshivas I would like to pose the question here with a few additional points:
What is a "migu"?
How is it used in Shas?
What is a "classic" (or the ...
3
votes
2answers
103 views
Vashti was never Killed
I was told that the Chacmie Tzarfas said that Vashti was never Killed Does anyone have a source for this view in a shiur or inside?
Rashi (Esther 1:19) says that she was executed.
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
What route did Bnei Yisrael take through the Midbar? Seeking sources
The question of which route the Israelites took from Egypt to the Holy Land has been asked for centuries and discussed by pseudo-historians and pop-sci documentarians in the History Channel age, and ...
5
votes
1answer
79 views
Where was it first said that “The generation is diminishing and diminishing”? (הדור הולך ופוחת)
in Hebrew we have an adage that says “הדור הולך ופוחת” ("Hador holekh wepocheth"), meaning “the generation is getting more and more diminished", which may have meant that there are fewer and fewer new ...
-5
votes
4answers
232 views
Seeking Clear Definition of God in Judaism as Presented in Tanakh [closed]
I am curious to know if/how God is crisply defined in the Torah: What is God and what is God not?
For example, here is what can be considered a crisp definition of God in the Quran (necessary ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Which of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's works influenced Chassidut, Mussar, and Haskalah?
In Dovid Cohen (known as Rav Ha-Nazir)'s Wikipedia page, the following idea is attributed to him:
He saw in Moses Hayyim Luzzatto the harbinger of this redemption, pointing out that the three ...
2
votes
0answers
72 views
Water from the Kohanim washing their hands by nei'lah
I heard about a minhag the other day (for the first time) and was wondering if there is any makor for it. I was told that people ran out to "catch" the water that was used to wash the Kohanim's hands ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
Which Talmudic source for Ḥanukah is the real source?
What is the Talmudic source for Ḥanukah?
In discussing candles for Shabbath, the Talmud (Shab. 21b) goes into a discussion about candles generally, touching upon Ḥanukah candles, and ultimately asks, ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Rashi: Caleb married Miriam
I remember reading a rashi on Chumash that quoted a Chazal (I believe sota 12) that says that Caleb married Miriam. Anyone know where this rashi is
2
votes
3answers
79 views
Midrashic sources regarding the Sea splitting into twelve paths
Tehilim 136:13 says:
לְגֹזֵר יַם סוּף לִגְזָרִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ
To Him Who cut the Sea of Reeds asunder, for His kindness is eternal.
Rashi's commentary indicates that this is ...
5
votes
3answers
264 views
Why a human Messiah?
I understand that Mashiach is going to be a human. What is the source for this, and are there any explanations why it must be so? Can't G-d Himself redeem us?
4
votes
3answers
115 views
Where and when is the earliest attestation of the word “mohel”?
Where is the earliest attestation of the word mohel for one who performs the act associated with a ritual circumcision?
When was it written?
What language is it?
[Inspired by Why is there a ה in ...
6
votes
1answer
94 views
Explanation for couple not seeing each other before the wedding?
What is the source and reason for a couple not to see one another before the wedding?
8
votes
1answer
193 views
Kissing and Hugging one's wife
What does it say about chibuk and nishuk (kissing and hugging) shelo b'shas tashmish (not during relations) with one's wife in Sifrei Halacha or Hashkafa?
Among madrichei chassanim (those that teach ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Looking for more information on the bridal virginity blessing
The blessing on bridal virginity is recorded in the Halakhot Gedolot but dismissed by the Rambam in Teshuvot Harambam, II:364-365, #207. What is the original source for this blessing? Do other ...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Berachot in Kriat Shema
I'm sorry if the question is too general, but I was just wondering about Berachot Kriat Shema. What exactly are they? What kind of relationship do they have with the Shema? We need to make a Beracha ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Minhag not to hold your hands together behind your back? [source] [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a Kabbalistic source for not walking with one’s hands behind one’s back?
I was saw someone telling another person off because he was holding his hands together ...
3
votes
1answer
123 views
Which Rabbinic source claimed that the Rambam “killed” the demons?
I've heard many times that the Rambam "killed" the demons rather than simply denying that they ever existed. Which Rabbinic source claims as much? Because the Rambam himself seems to have said that ...
7
votes
5answers
163 views
Meforashim and Poskim on Mas. 'Avodah Zarah and forming a curriculum
A friend and I have decided to start learning Mas. 'Avodah Zarah. Our goal, however, is not to just pick a random Masechta of Gemara and learn it with the commentaries on the Daf. Our actual goal is ...
3
votes
0answers
141 views
Minhag not to learn Torah on the night of Nitel (Who and where)
This related question explains what this minhag is and a couple of reasons for it.
I was wondering to what extent is this minhag practiced today apart from Chabad (see Hayom Yom - 17 Tevet)...do all ...
2
votes
1answer
63 views
Wearing wool Tzitzis on Shabbos
Is it better to wear wool tzitzis? indicates that it is better Halachically to wear a woolen Beged with woolen Tzitzis. Recently I met a fellow who the entire week wears cotton Tzitzis, yet on Shabbos ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Learning Hilchos Chalev and Seder Kodshim as segulah for Refuah
A friend of mine was recently in Eretz Yisrael. When he was here he visited many Gedolim to get brachas for his son who was born with a number of birth defects. He was by R' Chaim Kanevsky to a get a ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Story with Rav Safra — halacha l'maseh?
The following story is brought down in Rashi in Makkos Daf 24a (Found in Sha'iltas D'Rav Ahai Gaon)
והכי הוה עובדא דרב ספרא היה לו חפץ אחד למכור ובא אדם אחד לפניו בשעה
שהיה קורא ק"ש ואמר לו תן ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
The source to be Dan L'Caf Zechut
From where do we know that one must be "dan" someone "l'caf zechut"? (that we must judge someone favorably even though from a certain act it might seem they are doing something?
3
votes
2answers
81 views
Shechting non-Kosher animals
The question was asked: If someone for example is sick and must eat from a non-kosher animal. Must it be shechted (slaughtered) first like a kosher animal? I don't see any reason why it should, since ...
3
votes
1answer
167 views
Who wrote Tohar HaYichud?
Who wrote the anonymous rationalist debunking of kabbalah entitled Tohar HaYichud?
5
votes
3answers
82 views
Source of Midrash regarding Yaakov's saying Shema
There is a famous Rashi in Parashat Vayigash (46:29) where Rashi explains that Yaakov didn't cry on Yosef's shoulders because he was reciting Shema. He cryptically quotes this in the name of ...
1
vote
1answer
118 views
Going to a wedding of a gentile
It says in SA YD Siman 152 Sif 1 that it's ossur to go to a wedding (seudah) that a gentile is making for his son. The Shach and Taz both discuss over there if for reasons of "aiveh" if one is allowed ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
Removing Yarmulka last when undressing (source)
I have noticed that some people remove their Yarmulka last when undressing
and wear it first when dressing.
Is this custom mentioned anywhere?
15
votes
1answer
309 views
Blessing the Children on Friday Night
I have noticed that many families (including my own) have the custom for the father to bless all the children on Friday night before kiddush.
When and where did this custom originate, and by whom, ...
