The sources-mekorot tag has no wiki summary.
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1answer
29 views
chassan/kallah signing the kesubah or tenaaim
I have seen bridegrooms and brides sign their names on their kesuba or tenaaim (prenup) before the chuppah (wedding ceremony). It seems maybe to be a chassidish custom, though I'm not sure.
Is there ...
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2answers
193 views
What is the source for a woman's voice as ervah?
What is the source that a woman's (singing) voice is considered ervah?
4
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3answers
111 views
Do a mitzva for mashiach?
I recently saw in The Moshiach Times, a popular Chabad-Lubavitch publication for children, an exhortation to "do a mitzvah for moshiach": to do a mitzva with the specific purpose of hastening the ...
4
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1answer
38 views
What is the source for a Bar Mitzva seuda?
What sources are there for our minhag of doing a Bar Mitzva Seuda (meal), and do the sources state that the seuda must specifically be done on the day of the Bar Mitzva (or the night of)? And is this ...
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2answers
210 views
May one walk under the Arch of Titus?
I have heard that it is prohibited (or at least that the custom is not) to walk under the Arch of Titus in Rome. Is this accurate? If so, what is the source? Would it make a difference if a large ...
5
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1answer
139 views
What is the source for Rambam's “physician's oath”?
A physician friend pointed out to me the Rambam's "physician's oath" (it doesn't look like an oath per se, but that's what it's called), which begins (in English):
The eternal providence has ...
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1answer
62 views
The Parameters of Hakaras HaTov?
Hakaras HaTov is generally translated as, or equated with, gratitude. Insofar as it literally means "recognizing the good",are there any sources which explicitly include recognizing good that we do ...
3
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1answer
162 views
Where does it say that one must wear two layers on their head(one of the reasons for the black hat)?
I know that a reason for wearing a black hat is because one must wear two layers covering their head (Mishna Brurah 91:5) but am wondering if that Din is based in Kabbalah?
2
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1answer
59 views
The Rif and the Rosh on Nazir and Sotah
Where can I find the commentaries of the Rif and of the Rosh on Tractates Nazir and Sotah? They're not in my gemara (Oz v'Hadar), and I was wondering if they were appended to a different tractate?
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2answers
104 views
Ari Zal and Sefira
Many people do not take a hair cut until the end of Sefira (including Lag B'Omer) because of a position of the Ari Zal. Where is the Ari Zal? What is the source for this? Did the strigency of the Ari ...
5
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1answer
58 views
What is the origin of the dispute on which way to wrap tefilin shel yad?
Non-Chasidic Ashkenazim wrap their tefilin shel yad inward toward the body when coming over the top of the arm, while Sefardim and Chasidim wrap outward away from the body when coming over the top of ...
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1answer
65 views
Source for shuls flying in yemos hamoshiach?
My son mentioned to me that he learned in school that when Moshiach comes all the shuls (and schools?) will miraculously fly to Eretz Yisroel. What is the source of this idea?
3
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1answer
60 views
Source for “Ben Adam Lemakom” and “Ben Adam Lechavero”
Where does the concept of Ben Adam Lemakom and Ben Adam Lechavero come from?
I know there is a concept of the first five of the ten commandments being between 'man and his friend' and the second ...
2
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1answer
62 views
Location in Ohr Sameach of discussion of the nature of a messenger for a get
I've heard there is a discussion in the Ohr Sameach regarding when someone appoints a shliach (messenger) to divorce his wife, whether the person must use his own klaf (parchment) to write the get on ...
3
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1answer
70 views
A reference to the soul of a Tzaddik like an eyelash in milk
I know that somewhere in something I have read there is a comment that someone (Yaakov avinu?) was so spiritually pure/holy that his soul did not cling to the earthly shell that was his body but came ...
5
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1answer
129 views
Exact model of the Beis Hamikdash?
There is a "classic" model of the Beis Hamikdash (I think it's from the HolyLand model).
Are there any sources for the decisions taken in the model (for example, what components were done based on
...
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1answer
47 views
Source for story about R' Yishmael ben Elisha's mother?
This article tells us the following story about R' Yishmael ben Elisha and his mother:
Rabbi Ishmael's mother was a very pious woman, and she worshipped her son. But one day she astonished the ...
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0answers
48 views
Is there a stated freedom to contract?
In the United States (and other countries), there is the notion of the freedom to contract. This is the idea that two people of sound mind have the right to enter into any contract with one another ...
3
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1answer
106 views
How much must be eaten from the lechem mishneh
Inspired by following 2 questions:
Not eating from the Lechem Mishnah
Challah Loaves on Shabbat have a minimum size?
When eating a Shabbos Seudah how much must the ones that are being yotzee from ...
2
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2answers
300 views
Pleasure of woman at the end of relations (source in Chazal?)
I heard that it says in chazal the woman only has pleasure at the end ("gamar bia") of tashmish (relations). Is there any source/citation for this?
6
votes
1answer
116 views
Origin of the nine days
I just learned a gemara (taanit 30a) that seems to pretty clearly state that the mourning for tisha b'av starts the beginning of the week that tisha b'av falls out on, and ends with tisha b'av itself.
...
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2answers
59 views
What does the word “Karpas” mean?
That which by the Seder on Pesach we eat "karpas", what does this word actually mean and where does it come from?
7
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2answers
160 views
Would Adam and Chava have been permitted the tree of knowledge if they'd waited?
I've long been somewhat troubled by the episode with the tree in the garden, because it seems like it was necessary for man to acquire knowledge (how else could we enter a covenant and accept the yoke ...
19
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2answers
168 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 ...
2
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1answer
54 views
Ashkenazi unsure whether he or she counted the 'Omer one night
According to the Daily Halacha website:
If a person is unsure whether or not he counted a day of the Omer, and cannot determine conclusively if he had counted or if he had missed that day, he ...
1
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1answer
58 views
Ana B'Koach authorship and the 42 letter name of Hashem
In my Artscroll siddur it tells me that the hymn Ana B'Koach was written by the tanna, Rebbi Nechunia ben HaKana and that the first letter of each word can be used to form the 42 letter name of ...
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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?
1
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1answer
41 views
Chasam Sofer on innovation
There is a famous quote of the Chasam Sofer, in which he applies the principle stated in Mishna 'Orlah 3:9 (החדש אסור מן התורה בכל מקום) to the question of innovation within Judaism. Rather than ...
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0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
2
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0answers
49 views
Origin of using priestly blessing on Friday night
I know why we use Ephraim and Menashe when blessing the children on Friday nights, (see: Why Does Hashem Bless Us Like Efraim And Menashe?) but why do we use Birkat Kohanim? Is there any specific ...
5
votes
2answers
291 views
Origin of myth about the hole in the sheet?
There is a widespread myth (as far as I know it is a myth) that orthodox Jews must have marital relations through a hole in a sheet. What is the origin of this myth and does it have any actual basis ...
2
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3answers
77 views
Pasuk about community service
I'm looking for a pasuk to pay tribute to a couple being honored for their service to both my local community and the greater Jewish community. Does anyone have one I can use?
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1answer
49 views
Question on Mordechai — Chiyuv m'drabbanan being motzei chiyuv m'doraisa
The Mordechai in Megillah Siman 798 has a case if a blind person can make kiddush for his family since (according to Rebbe Yehuda) a blind person is patur from mitzvas, then his obligation in making ...
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0answers
104 views
How did the modern day Beis Hora'ah phenomenon develop?
Here in Eretz Yisrael, we find Batei Hora'ah in many cities - places where a moreh hora'ah sits either during special times or perhaps the whole day or different rabbonim throughout the day answering ...
6
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3answers
118 views
Sources discussing paying for Torah education
I am looking for sources that discuss the idea of paying tuition money ("schar limud") towards obtaining a Torah education. Topics of interest include: The importance of paying tuition for Torah; ...
2
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1answer
86 views
Learning Torah without understanding
The Magen Avraham in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 50 Sif-Katan 2 writes that learning (Torah) is only called "learning" if one understands what they learn (see there for the context in which he ...
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0answers
26 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 ...
2
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1answer
72 views
Trees l'asid lavo
I recall learning that la'asid lavo the trees themselves will be edible (ta'm ha'etz k'tam hapri) as in gan eden. I cannot find the source for this though.
2
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1answer
63 views
A quote of Shlomo ibn Gabirol
A co-worker posted this as her "Quote of the Day" in an e-mail message. It's attributed to Shlomo ibn Gabirol:
The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the ...
3
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1answer
53 views
Did HaShem “regret” creating someone/something
I heard once that it says somewhere in Chazal that there were certain things or people that HaShem "regretted" (had "charatah") in creating. Although I don't remember which examples were given or if a ...
9
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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 ...
2
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0answers
27 views
Whence “בלי עין הרע”?
What is the source, or earliest reference, I guess, of using the phrase, "בלי עין הרע"?
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6answers
321 views
Lubavitch and Daf Yomi
I know that most lubavitchers won't learn Daf Yomi.
Is there any Sicha (please bring sources) which says if one should or shouldn't learn it?
4
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0answers
29 views
Not eating chametz in Eretz Yisrael on “Achron shel Pesach”
I heard that there is a letter from the Rebbe Rashab (Chabad) that one shouldn't eat chametz on Achron Shel Pesach when they are in Eretz Yisrael (even if they are keeping only one-day Yom Tov.) I ...
2
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2answers
98 views
Source? The day you were born was the day Gd decided the universe could no longer exist without you
I am looking for the source for the following quote
The day you were born was the day Gd decided the universe could no longer exist without you
The greeting card I saw it on said the quote was ...
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0answers
48 views
Why is Moshe (mostly) absent from the haggadah?
Somebody asked at my seder this year why Moshe is largely absent from the magid. I have heard that the reason is because we're supposed to focus on God, and also that Moshe was very humble and there ...
8
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3answers
123 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 ...
1
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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
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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
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2answers
299 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 ...
