The sources-mekorot tag has no wiki summary.
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1answer
140 views
Drinking the wine that spills over the cup during Kiddush
There is a widespread custom among the Jewish people to fill up their kiddush cup to the point that it overflows. This overflowing of wine symbolizes Hashems blessing overflowing in our lives. I was ...
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1answer
62 views
Are the airuv rav compared to tza'ras?
Looking for a source in chazal that compare the airuv rav to tza'ras.
I have vague recollection of learning something to this effect once and it would make a killer addition to my Shavuos dvar ...
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3answers
124 views
What is the source for the mitzvah of kiruv?
Is kiruv a mitzvah?
Is it biblical or rabbinic?
Is there any reason it should supersede other mitzvot?
what are the sources in chazal and halacha relating to kiruv?
related: Kiruv and halachik ...
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1answer
88 views
Where do chazal refer to rus and naomi as birds?
Where is the chazal that refers to Rus and Naomi (na'ama?) as shnei preidos tovos - two good birds?
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2answers
169 views
Matza on 14 Iyar
I have seen a custom (it seems to me primarily among Chassidim) to eat matza on 14 Iyar (known as Pesach Sheni). What is the earliest source for this custom? What are the reasons given for following ...
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76 views
Source for Categorization of Matter
What is the source for the idea that all matter is either domem (lifeless), tzomeach (plant), chai (animal), or medaber (speaker)?
I sometimes find this quoted places (in articles and divrei Torah), ...
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2answers
120 views
What's up with Rabbi Shimon ben Nesanel in Avos 2:10?
In chapter 2 of Pirkei Avos (Ethics of Our Fathers) it says that:
"Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai had five disciples"
It goes on to list their names and qualities, and then it says that R' ...
5
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1answer
96 views
Women and Tefillah - per the Rav
I remember a long time ago hearing that the Rav (Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993)) held that women should pray three times a day.
Can anyone verify this, and what is the reason/source ...
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4answers
844 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 ...
3
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1answer
407 views
What is the source of the Birkat Habayit?
What is the source of the text of the Birkat Habayit:
I've seen them written on a hand, and some come with garlic, multi-colored beads, and some other strange objects.
Inspired by: ...
3
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0answers
98 views
Young boys returning Chumashim after Torah reading
I often see young boys going around shul after the Shabbos/Yom Tov morning Torah reading to collect Chumashim and return them to their shelves. Is this an actual 'minhag' with a history behind it? If ...
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1answer
138 views
A year with eight Sh'minis is plenteous?
I've heard an idea that a year (like 5772) in which parashas Sh'mini is read eight times[1] is a particularly auspicious one: the wording of the maxim is something like "sh'mona Sh'mini sh'mena" ([a ...
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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 ...
6
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1answer
270 views
What is the danger in cutting fingernails in order?
The Ramo (OH 260:1) writes that one should not cut their fingernails in order; rather he should cut them by skipping neighboring nails and cycling through all the fingers.
וכשנוטל צפרניו לא יטול ...
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1answer
89 views
Matzah the entire week
Is it the Vilna Gaon who maintains that it is a mitzvah to eat matzah (to eat matzah, in addition to abstaining from chametz) every day and night during the week of Passover, or somebody else? The ...
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1answer
85 views
Source in Tosafos for playing ball on Yom Tov
I know there is a Tosafos in Beitza 12a that discusses playing ball on Yom Tov, but I remember learning another Tosafos which said something like "for children under nine it would be permitted on ...
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2answers
124 views
What is the halachic source for the minhagim of mourning during Sefira?
What is the earliest halachic source for the minhagim of mourning during sefira? Note that this does not mean the story of R' Akiva, I'm talking about halachic references to prohibitions such as not ...
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191 views
Source for the minhag of 'gebrokts' [duplicate]
There is a not-uncommon minhag, primarily in chassidic circles called 'gebrokts' where matza is not allowed to come into contact with water during Pesach. What is the earliest source for this custom ...
11
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1answer
218 views
What happened to Zeresh (Haman's wife)?
Virtually all of the major charachters (and some of the minor ones) in Megillas Esther have a clear ending for them. Mordechai and Esther live happily ever after (sort of). Haman and his ten songs are ...
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2answers
287 views
Forbidden to eat while standing up?
I heard that it was preferred, or perhaps even required, to avoid eating food while standing. For example, as people often do at a cocktail party.
With the reason being that "animals eat standing up ...
7
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1answer
104 views
Origin of Spilling Wine by 10 Plagues
The custom among all Jews (as far as I know) is to spill a drip of wine for each of the plagues as they are mentioned in a list in the haggadah. This custom is not mentioned anywhere in the Talmud (as ...
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2answers
149 views
Who wrote Aleh Katan by Avraham Fried? [closed]
There is a (in my opinion) beautiful song by Avraham Fried called Aleh Katan. Does anyone know who composed this song?
Is it Yishai Lapitdot? It seems like he said his name here: ...
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2answers
126 views
The order of Tehillim
Sefer Tehillim (Psalms) consists of 150 mizmorim, most likely compiled (and perhaps even entirely written) by King David. The mizmorim are not in chronological order following the events that inspired ...
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2answers
89 views
Who was the קדוש מרדוש?
Today, in a shiur, I heard someone quote an opinion of the "קדוש מרדוש" (pronounced "Kadosh Meradoosh", I think). The Bet Yosef in E"HE 35 seems to quote the מרדכי who quotes him, so apparently he's a ...
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1answer
65 views
Where is the Pesach seder discussed in the Mishna?
I heard a podcast that discussed the differences between the Pesach Seder as described in the Mishna and what we do today. But I couldn't catch the name/number of the relevant mishnaot. What are they?
...
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2answers
150 views
Are these two urban legends about perceptions of God's help for Jews true?
The following story is told as an urban legend:
I don't know if the following story is true, but I'll let you decide. Kenya's star soccer player used to offer a prayer for victory before every ...
5
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2answers
172 views
Is there any source for saying the first possuk of Shema quietly?
The Rema in OC 61(26) says the custom is to say the first possuk of the shema aloud. In this question Sh'ma aloud but amida quietly Gershon Gold said that Shema is said aloud in unison and msh210 ...
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2answers
162 views
Jews vs gentiles: disputes
Recently I got a pleasureful reading of the Ramban's dispute.
I think it a great source for "דע מה להשיב" (know what to answer to heretics).
I'm sure there were similar disputes by other great ...
3
votes
2answers
230 views
Biblical evidence for not eating bread on passover?
Can someone cite lines from the Torah that specify what Jews should eat during Passover? I'm aware that Jews don't eat leavened bread during Passover. Where does this rule come from?
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2answers
154 views
Source for not having picture taken
Is there any source, halachic or otherwise, for an aversion to having one's picture taken?
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1answer
166 views
Where did Baruch She'amar come from?
The Mishnah Berura (51:1) says that the blessing "Baruch She'amar" was instituted by the Anshei K'nesset HagGedola, based on a page that "fell from the sky" (whatever that means).
What is the ...
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2answers
187 views
What is the source for Pardes?
What is the source for expounding the torah according to remez, derush and sod (along with 'pshat' the group can be referred to by the acronym PaRDeS)?
These forms of hermeneutics are not found in ...
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1answer
133 views
Where Rashi uses a Russian word in Nach?
I heard that Rashi uses a Russian word where he deals with the building of the Beis Hamikdash by King Shlomo. I also heard that he uses a Polish word.
Does anyone know where it is?
11
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1answer
162 views
What is the source that Parshas Parah is from the Torah?
I have read in many places that Parah could be a bliblical requirement to read.
Why is that? Zachor makes sense (as it says so in the Torah here). Why Parah?
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3answers
344 views
Basic laws, why is milk with meat not kosher?
I've recently read (again) the verse "לא תבשל גדי בחלב אמו", meaning, "Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk".
How did anyone get from that, to "Don't eat meat with milk at all"? I've always ...
5
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1answer
44 views
Chafez Chayim checked copies of (which) books?
I've heard that the Chafetz Chayim inspected each page of each printed copy of the Mishna B'rura to be sure that it was printed correctly (with no large ink splotches or the like).
Is there a ...
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1answer
119 views
(Seeking Original Source in Yechave Daas ) Limiting instances of doing something 3 times becoming a neder
According to Harav Musafi Shelit"a (Q&A 74259) (and I'm sure earlier sources), if you do a "Hanhaga Tova - good deed" three times you need Hatarat Nedarim. I believe Harav Ovadia Shelit"a in his ...
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1answer
208 views
Lechem Mishlesh?
(Based on Tosfot Pesachim 116a and Aruch haShulchan 274:5 I assume that the man did not fall on Yom Tov and double fell on Erev Yom Tov, and that this is why we have lechem mishne on Yom Tov.)
When ...
5
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2answers
81 views
Should the shaliach tzibbur wear a talis to say the 13 middos ?
The Gemoro in Rosh Hashono 17b says that HKB”H put on a talis like a shaliach tzibbur and taught Moshe the 13 middos and said whenever Israel sins they should perform before Me according to this ...
5
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1answer
171 views
Sherlock Holmes-ian deduction in the Talmud
I remember learning a story in the Talmud (I think) and am trying to find the source. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but this is what I remember.
There was a Talmudic Rabbi who was sold into ...
3
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1answer
100 views
Seared Sushi Bishul Yisroel
Certain Sushi require the searing of the fish on the outside. Does this process require a Jew light the torch used to do the searing or is it not required? I have seen that some stores do and some do ...
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2answers
271 views
Who didn't recite Kabbalas Shabbos?
In this article, R. Michael Broyde writes that:
Indeed, there have been prominent halachic authorities of the last generation who did not recite Kabbalat Shabbat.
Can anyone provide examples of ...
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3answers
211 views
Are there any Sefardi Posekim that permit the consumption of Chodosh in Chutz LaAretz?
Are there are any Sefardic Posekim that permit the consumption of Chodosh in Chutz LaAretz just like the Ashkenazim's Heterim?
Preferably Aharonim or contemporaries.
6
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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?
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2answers
72 views
Metzudat Tzion on the Torah
Was there a Metzudat Tzion written on the Torah? If so, does anyone know if it is available online or for sale?
I always loved this commentary as it explained the hard words on the Nach.
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1answer
143 views
Singing part of kidush with the leader
Some people, although listening to another's kidush (Friday night), sing part of it along with him: specifically (in my experience), the lines starting "ki vanu vacharta" when recited with this tune. ...
8
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1answer
191 views
“Don't say 'lehavdil' between one Jew and another.”
In today's Parashat Hashavu'a Chat, I used the qualification "lehavdil" (*) to apply to a pun that jokingly and innocuously related the actions of Datan and Aviram to those of a community member here.
...
4
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1answer
46 views
Gemara on volunteering?
I heard that there was a Gemara to the effect of "volunteers cost more than employees because their motivation is not as good" -- or somesuch. Any ideas? Thanks.
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0answers
60 views
Sources for Hamsa
I know from Ben Ish Hai Shana Bet Parashat Pinehas siman 13 where he writes to make a Hamsa from wood. However, I am wondering if there any earlier sources to solidify the fact that this would ...
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3answers
237 views
Halachic Source for Women-Only Mikvaoth?
Some (actually many) Mikvaoth are designated for women's use only, generally for reasons of cleanliness.
Is there Halachic literature supporting (or urging) this?
(This question is not asking for ...
