supererogatory behavior
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 ...
4
votes
0answers
54 views
Following the stringencies of different opinions
There is a tangential discussion in 'Eruvin, Daf 6b-7a about whether or not we can take the stringencies of two conflicting opinions. The Gemara seems adamant that we cannot, though there are examples ...
0
votes
0answers
107 views
Is a woman obliged in the mitzvah of Niddah if her husband is not Jewish? [closed]
Since Niddah is a woman's obligation alone, in theory, it should not depend on whether her husband is Jewish. Correct?
If so, then why do many modern mikvaot exclude women with non-Jewish husbands?
...
3
votes
2answers
66 views
When lighting Chanukah candles on both entrances to courtyard, can I use only one candle?
In Hilchos Channukah OC Siman 671 Sif 8 we learn the halacha that if someone has 2 entrances to their courtyard they must light Chanukah candles by both of them. This is so that passers-by won't see ...
1
vote
0answers
76 views
Extrapolating from individual responsa to form a general psak halacha
R' Tsvi Heber of the Kashruth Council of Canada writes:
Is it permitted to order whole fruit[34] or drink water in a non-kosher restaurant? If not, can one enter a non-kosher restaurant to use ...
8
votes
1answer
117 views
Accepting parents' minhagim
Since the Conservative movement tends to take most of its minhagim from the German tradition due to its German roots, most Conservative Jews in America tend to practice the German customs (such as ...
11
votes
0answers
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
189 views
Why do people get Chassidishe Shchita?
The Rambam says that the Shchita of a Mumar for one aveira is Kosher, just that there needs to be a Shochet who will check his knife before he shechts (as one can assume that he won't work too hard to ...
6
votes
1answer
183 views
Microwave on Pesach
A friend told me that his family will kasher his microwave in general (ie if non-kosher food was heated up in it) but will not kasher it for Pesach, letting it lie dormant instead. Does anyone have a ...
6
votes
4answers
288 views
Peeling vegetables on Pesach
It is a minhag in Chabad to only eat vegetables that you can peel on Pesach. There is a possibility that either the wax coating on certain vegetables contains chometz or that certain processing of the ...
9
votes
4answers
292 views
What happened to Chasidus?
When one reads stories of the old Chasidim, from the Baal Shem Tov through the first few generations, the impression one is left with is of a movement very different from the Chasidim of today. ...
5
votes
2answers
174 views
Tallit with Wool Atara
The only tallit I know of that has an all wool atara is the Beit Yosef Tallit, which is marketed for Sephardim. Is there a specific source for this or is it simply being machmir to wear an all-wool ...
5
votes
3answers
256 views
Why does Judaism require more orthodoxy than other religions?
Why is Judaism comprised of so many precise stringencies in comparison to other religions?
Why is conversion to Judaism so strict and difficult?
3
votes
1answer
117 views
Purple/Red Cabbage kashrut issues
Funny thing happened to me tonight.
I was buying some falafel and noticed that they did not have any "purple cabbage" (a.k.a. red cabbage) as a side dish option. I asked if they had any in back, and ...
7
votes
3answers
245 views
Are You Obligated to Vote a Question You Answer?
If a question provokes your answer, it's at least Derekh Eretz (good manners) and Hakarat HaTov (gratitude) to vote on the original question. Does any halachic reason obligate you to upvote (or ...
6
votes
2answers
249 views
What is the difference between dati, chasidish, and charedi?
How would one explain the distinctions between datim, chasidim, and charedim, especially to an American Jew who didn't know much about the Israeli religious spectrum? In particular, are all chasidim ...
5
votes
1answer
43 views
Why are we strict during the 10 days of repentance?
The lone halacha in Shulchan Aruch O.C. 603:
Even someone who is not careful about eating [pas akum], during the 10 days of repentance he must be careful.
Since the S.A. didn't mention stringencies ...
5
votes
1answer
230 views
Wine made/handled by non-religious Jews
Assume for the purposes of the question that all circumstances are the same as if the wine had been made/handled by non-Jews. I don't want answers regarding whether it is Mevushal or whether Mevushal ...
6
votes
3answers
93 views
Lashonos Hatzemer
I know what hand-spun is and what niputz lishmah is, but what about "lashonos hatzemer?" It seems the Eidoh Chareidis of Jerusalem adheres to this chumroh for tzitzis. All I know is that it's a stage ...
