Questions tagged [taamei-mitzvot-reasons]

reasons (as best as we can understand them) for the Mitzvot/Commandments

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Why do we specifically recall the greenery of Har Sinai on Shavuos?

While there are several reasons why there is a custom to spread greenery in shul, one which is brought by the Mishnah Berurah (494:10) is that Har Sinai was covered with greenery. Why is it ...
DonielF's user avatar
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Why is it forbidden to eat after the Qorban Pesah?

The Mishnah (Pesahim 10:8) states (Hebrew, English): אין מפטירין אחר הפסח אפיקומן They may not add an afikoman after the Pesach offering. The commentators (e.g. Bartenura) explain that this is to ...
Lee's user avatar
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Why do we call people up to the Torah by name?

In shul, if a guest is honored with an aliyah, I watch as the gabbai walks over (or sends someone) to get the guest's name, then call that same person up by that name. Once the guest has been told ...
rosends's user avatar
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How is yefas to'ar fair to the woman?

At the beginning of Ki Seitzei (Devarim 21:10-14), the Torah permits a soldier at war to take a woman from the captives as a wife, but only after he shaves her head, grows out her nails, removes her ...
DonielF's user avatar
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What are some religious items that a gentile can make and still be kosher, if any at all?

I'm a gentile. I'm talking about items related to the fulfillment of mitzvot and there are some that are not so obvious to me, they are: tefillin(just the boxes and straps) tallitot shofarot sukkot ...
Leonardo's user avatar
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R' Elazar Hakalir's kerovah for Pesach and reason for אותו ואת בנו

Over Yom Tov I was looking at R' Elazar Hakalir's kerovah for the second day of Pesach, which is in the Daniel Goldschmidt machzor (available on Otzar Hachochmah, search for גולדשמידט) starting on ...
Heshy's user avatar
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Why can't the Amida be repeated without a minyan?

If one purpose of the repetition of the Amida is to allow those who are not expert in prayer to be exempted of their obligation to pray (as per the Shulchan Aruch, O"C 124:1) why isn't this same ...
rosends's user avatar
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4 votes
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Reason for Ein Onshim Min HaDin

There's a concept that אין עונשים מן הדין that appears a bunch of times throughout Shas (Makkos 5b for example). It basically means we don't learn out punishments the same way we learn out obligations....
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How could the law of marrying the rape victim ever be implemented?

I ask this in good faith as I am religious. How is it possible for this situation to come about? If you claim the rapist must receive a punishment via the fines, then we know that at least two ...
user1879026's user avatar
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What’s the reason behind having to use specifically animal skin for klaf?

What’s the reasoning behind the need to use animals per se as opposed to any other paperlike material for klaf (to write on)? Is there significance in the need to take the life of an animal for the ...
Yitz Shap's user avatar
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Is the Sefer Hachinuch actually about reasons for mitzvos?

(Inspired by the answers given by @רבות מחשבות and @mevaqesh to this question.) When people speak about reasons for mitzvos they generally mean something along the lines of "God commanded us to do ...
Alex's user avatar
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Can the "societal standards" argument outweigh a textual source?

Certain halachot are based in ascertaining contemporary societal practices -- I learned (though I don't have a source) that the issue of "do her nails" regarding a female captive (Dev. 21:12) is ...
rosends's user avatar
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If Yom Kippur Katan has to exist, why isn't it ON Rosh Chodesh?

The practice of Yom Kippur Katan is held on erev Rosh Chodesh (by some) so that we can maintain the element of kapparah essential to Rosh Chodesh but not compromise the celebration of the day by ...
rosends's user avatar
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Why does the Torah allow "tzorech ochel nefesh" on Yom Tov?

Are there any explanations as to why the Torah allows ochel nefesh on Yom Tov (in contrast with Shabbat)? It is indeed very practical, especially in chutz laaretz, on a two-day Yom Tov (or even on a ...
Binyomin's user avatar
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Does anyone say this is the paradox of the red heifer?

I've always understood that the parah adumah, the red heifer, is the quintessential chok, decree of the Torah, because it has the following paradox: It purifies the impure, and it impurifies the pure. ...
robev's user avatar
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For what purpose do married women need to cover their hair

I'm looking for a sourced reason for what purpose married women (as opposed to women who were never married) need to cover their hair. I have found that it is assumed that it is to make her less ...
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The reason of Tiltul in Shabbath

I remember to have studied a Tosefot where it is written that it is very hard to understand why is forbidden to transport something on Shabbath (Tiltul). Somebody can tell me where is this Tosefot
Igor Braha's user avatar
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Why must we stand when counting the Omer?

The Rambam (Hilchos Temidim U'Mussafin, 7:23) says that we must stand when counting the Omer. The כסף משנה (s.v. "ואין מונין אלא מעומד וכו") writes that the reason we must stand is based on ...
RCW's user avatar
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Why is the laining identical on the first 2 days of Sukkot?

The laining is chosen (on many holidays) to deal with the holiday, itself. As the Rambam explains, וקוראין בעניין המועד, לא בסדר השבת. ומשה רבנו תיקן להן לישראל, שיהיו קוראין בכל מועד, עניינו; ...
rosends's user avatar
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Reason why pressing on an animal throat is forbidden during shechitah

The Rambam writes (MT Shechita 3:1) about five factors that disqualify ritual slaughter (shechitah). One of them (3:11) is dirasah, pressing on animal throat (based on the gemara in Chulin 30b) For ...
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Why may one not make a business out of hunting wild animals?

Sheviis 7:4: צָדֵי חַיָּה עוֹפוֹת וְדָגִים שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לָהֶם מִינִים טְמֵאִין, מֻתָּרִים לְמָכְרָן. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אַף מִי שֶׁנִּתְמַנָּה לוֹ לְפִי דַרְכּוֹ, לוֹקֵחַ וּמוֹכֵר, ...
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What is the spiritual significance that the Sefer Torah is in a Scroll format?

I have read the Q&A at: Why does the Torah have to be in a scroll format But what I am looking for in this question is something that goes beyond the purely legal and technical (halachic) reasons ...
Dr.YSG's user avatar
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What does the Red heifer supposed to mean?

I've seen references to the importance of the Red Heifer as an eschatological sign of the coming Messianic Age. What is it supposed to mean?
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Source that Lulav is a banner representing life

I am reading a Devar Torah by an esteemed Rosh Yeshiva which says "Furthermore, the Midrash explains that when we lift our lulavim and esrogim on Sukkos, it is essentially a celebration of life. The ...
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Blood on Right Earlobe, Right Thumb, and Right Big Toe

There is a ritual in the Bible in which blood from a sacrifice is applied to the right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe of people. The ritual is done for Aaron and his sons during their ...
Aaron's user avatar
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Are there reasons for duties of the heart?

For example, is there a reason for the mitzvah of bitachon? Of emunah? I think this is important to know because the Chovos Halevavos here appears to say one should do rational mitzvos both because ...
Yehuda's user avatar
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What does this quote about meat and milk mean?

I'm trying to understand the meaning of this quote from טעמי המצוות by מנחם בן משה הבבלי, Mitzva Lo Ta'ase 56: (I think I understand all of the words, and I'm just not able to string them together, ...
Lo ani's user avatar
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Pesach circumcision a rememberance of the covenant made with Avraham?

Within the narrative of the story of the covenant and promise made with Avraham we learn a couple of things. One of those things is that the seed of Avraham will be gerim in a land not theirs. It's ...
Levi's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
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Understanding the sin of Lashon Hara

The problem is simply that I do not completely understand the principle of lashon hara.   One definition I often see is that lashon hara is spreading true (or also false in broader terms), ...
jp dozen's user avatar