technological innovations
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
why was technology withheld for so long from man
Why did God withhold the discovery of modern technology from man until recently?
what is the reason for this and why does this reason not apply in our era?
(according to the shaar bitachon ch.3 God ...
5
votes
1answer
73 views
are bionic abilities legal for shabbos
Today the world is high in technology; many medical fields are experiencing breakthroughs in artificial limbs and what not.
What are the legalities of these in Jewish law?
For example, a pace maker ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
canned whipped cream on shabbas?
Can one use a pressure can of whipped cream on shabbas ?
It is funny because on the actual can it says to ask your Rabbi if one can use it or not.
10
votes
1answer
129 views
Overhead projector on Shabbos?
A discussion came up with some guests over shabbos. One asked if one could use an overhead projector on Shabbos if it was turned on from before, i.e. could one put a new plastic sheet on it or not? In ...
1
vote
0answers
192 views
May a Jew own/operate a blog open to comments?
In light of recent events I would like to know if a Jew may own and operate a blog or website which is open to comments if it is found that comments can often contain lashon hara, rechilus or motzei ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Using water filter/purification system on Shabbos
(Being asked as a theoretical question. Obviously everyone should ask their LOR.)
There is a water filter (or purifier) that works in the following way:
The water flows into a part where there is ...
15
votes
2answers
288 views
While playing a computer game, may I “worship” one of the game's “gods” to help me win?
I sometimes play a certain computer game. In this game, my character (whom I might name after myself but who does not otherwise resemble me) fights mythological creatures and collects handy items. In ...
1
vote
0answers
109 views
Am I allowed to wear my Pebble Watch on Shabbat? [duplicate]
The Pebble is a smart watch that connects to a smart-phone via Bluetooth and can deliver messages to your wrist. Am I allowed to wear it on Shabbat if I disconnect it from my phone? Think of it, then, ...
0
votes
0answers
83 views
May I let my web browser save my browsing session during Chol Hamoed?
To save electricity, I like to shut down my computer every night. First, I quit my Web browser.
My Web browser is set up so that, when I quit, it automatically saves my session: a list of open tabs ...
1
vote
0answers
86 views
May I vote Stack Exchange answers up or down during Chol Hamoed?
Stack Exchange websites, such as Mi Yodeya, include a "voting" feature. They let me click an "up arrow" icon to indicate that a post is useful, or a "down arrow" icon to indicate that it's not useful.
...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
What Bracha do we say on bread baked with evaporated mei peiros?
If one bakes bread made out of flour and pure fruit juice, it becomes pas haba bekisnin and the bracha is (at times) mezonos.
What if one distilled fruit juice (to produce water) and baked bread out ...
7
votes
1answer
191 views
Can I make a mikvah using artificial rain?
If I have a mikva which needs filling, and there is no rain, can I use the following mechanism -
I have a Mikva in a closed room. On top of this Mikva, there is a cooling system (let's say that this ...
4
votes
1answer
125 views
Solar Powered Wrist-Watch on Shabbos
Is one allowed to go out with a solar powered watch on Shabbos (where they know the watch is in a situation where they will surely benefit from the power produced through the sun?) What could be the ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Is there a way to find proximate words?
I am looking to see if certain words in the tanach are used in proximity to other words. Other than looking a word up in my Even-Shoshan and reading through each instance and seeing if the other word ...
4
votes
0answers
33 views
Software for organizing a “thing” gemach
I'd like to organize a baby clothes gemach in my area and I was wondering if there was any software that people have used to do this, or if this was a piece of software I'd have to write on my own.
...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Are preservatives called a “davar ha'mamid”
At the end of YD Siman 87 we find the dinim of "mamid". Over there it's speaking about cheese made in the skin of the kevah of a nevilah of treifah. The Rema explains that because it is an issur for ...
1
vote
2answers
139 views
Electronic sliding doors on shabbat
What can a person who is staying at a hotel which has only electronic sliding doors that open when one walks near them do to avoid any issue on shabbat?
Wait for someone else to enter and ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Where can I find a professionally typeset pdf siddur suitable for mobile viewing?
I have used a number of siddurim apps for my smartphone/tablet and have found the text layout so abhorrent (nikkud floating all over the place, unprofessional kerning, ugly fonts etc.) that I've given ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
Typing on Shabbos
If one would type on a computer on Shabbos would he be ovar an issur d'oraisa in regards to the malacha of writing? (The other malachos involved aside for a moment.)
Is there any room to say this ...
2
votes
0answers
86 views
Can a healthy person use a shabbos elevator?
Can a person who has no health issues make use of a shabbos elevator?
3
votes
3answers
157 views
Does amirah L'akum apply to robots?
Can you ask/instruct a robot on shabbos to perform melacha on your behalf? Would this fall under the same category as amirah l'akum?
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Best practices for long-distance Nihum Aveilim and Kavod HaMeith
What are some best practices for people who learn from afar of the passing of an individual (not immediate family) and who want show their respects to the deceased and the surviving family?
If they ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Can an 'AGA' oven be koshered?
Can an 'AGA' oven be koshered?
Here are encyclopedia and video explanations of what an AGA oven is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGA_cooker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxRp9b1yFGA
2
votes
0answers
58 views
Sources on the Halachic status of creating three parent child
See here for the background. The basic idea is that the DNA is taken from the mother and father, but rather than traditional IVF, the nucleus is implanted in a donor egg. So there is no male donor ...
3
votes
1answer
119 views
Removing facial hair by laser treatment (for a man)
May a man remove his facial hair with a laser treatment?
(that is the hairs that are normally ossur to remove by way of a razor.)
8
votes
1answer
331 views
Is programming against Judaism?
I just recently learned about this site when I saw Judaism was one of the stack overflow topics. I have been Jewish all my life and two years ago I started programming.
I was wondering if there ...
3
votes
0answers
72 views
Referencing Iron before the Iron Age [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why does the Torah mention iron when the Torah was given in the Bronze age?
A guest brought up this question at the shabbos table, and no one had an answer.
In D'Varim ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
Downloading Torah in the bathroom [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hashems name on device
I know this sounds a little ridiculous, but this has actually happened to me. Let's say you are using a smartphone to download a lengthy Devar ...
-2
votes
2answers
299 views
If one watches television on Friday night, will one go to hell?
If one watches television on Friday night, will one go to hell?
4
votes
2answers
348 views
Looking for daf yomi app recommendations
Are there any good daf yomi apps? I saw the video for the artscroll app but it doesn't seem to be out yet. Any recommendations?
8
votes
1answer
87 views
Attending a Siyum virtually
If one attends a Siyum virtually, whether by phone, Skype, or some other means of mass communication, can one partake of the Se'udath Mitzvah (relevant to allow eating during the 9 Days for Ashkenazim ...
10
votes
3answers
177 views
“Silk-Screened” Sifrei Torah
What are the halachic issues with Silk-screened sifrei torah? I am interested in a summary of concise halakhic rulings of multiple authorities on the prohibition or permissibility of HaRav Yitzchak ...
7
votes
2answers
122 views
Cryonics in Judaism
I was recently reading an article about cryogenics, there are around 200 bodies frozen in cryogenics labs around the world, and in the article they said that in the near future they may be able to ...
7
votes
1answer
165 views
Electronic communication immediately before wedding
Is it permissible to chat with your future spouse during the week before the wedding when you are not supposed to see each other face to face? Are any, all, or none of the following permissible:
...
7
votes
1answer
99 views
Does halacha require me to install ad-blocker software?
There are so many Internet banner ads out there that contain immodest content.
Say I own a personal computer and I use it every day for Facebook, email, and Web surfing. Does Jewish law require me to ...
5
votes
0answers
68 views
Is it acceptable to use software which incidentally blocks ads?
A question on this site on whether ad-blocking software is permissible suggests that the answer is that it probably, but not definitely, is acceptable.
I don't use ad-blocking software myself, but I ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
Prosthetic limbs in halacha [closed]
What is the status of prosthetic limbs in halacha? For example would a prosthetic hand require netilas yadayim? Is there a difference depending on what material it is made out of?
7
votes
2answers
173 views
How to learn Amidah, Shma and others?
I live 3000km from shul and take conversion classes remotely. I am learning from Koren Siddur. Because I do not ever hear how the words should be spoken, I sometimes wonder if it is a waste of time. I ...
-4
votes
3answers
364 views
Is Sex Outside Marriage Still a Sin After the Invention of Paternity Tests?
I asked something like this. The reasoning if I can remember:
You should not sell your daughter as prostitute.
Rambam said that all sex outside marriage is prostitution.
Therefore sex outside ...
7
votes
0answers
83 views
Does closing a browser with His name count as a sin? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hashems name on device
Is it permissible to erase the name of G-d from an E-reader?
What are the practical limits of shaimos in the common era?
Forgive me if I get ...
1
vote
1answer
289 views
Does Jewish law forbid Internet usage?
The Ichud HaKehillos LeTohar HaMachane anti-Internet rally is coming up in a few weeks, on May 20, 2012. What do contemporary halakhic authorities say about the permissibility or prohibition of using ...
4
votes
2answers
257 views
Does anyone know where one can buy a hebrewbooks harddrive?
I am looking to purchase a hebrewbooks hard drive (It may very well come handy here!).
Does anyone know where can I buy it online? (eichlers, etc.)
4
votes
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?
5
votes
2answers
208 views
Are robo-calls permitted?
A robo-call is an automated phone call that does not involve a human caller. The majority of these are uninvited solicitations (either for money or votes), and these are the ones I'm asking about. ...
14
votes
3answers
309 views
Is ad-blocker software permissible?
Kalashnikover_Rebbe at hashkafah.com asks:
Isn't blocking ads stealing??? The people put them on the sites for a reason....
He elaborates:
On one hand the argument can be made that [forum ...
8
votes
3answers
138 views
Beracha upon seeing a friend on a webcam
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 225:1) rules:
שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן רכה
הרואה את חבירו
לאחר שלשים יום, אומר: שהחיינו, ואחר י"ב חדש מברך: מחיה
מתים, והוא שחביב עליו הרבה ושמח ...
5
votes
1answer
56 views
Birkot HaTorah and Typing
Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 47:3) as well as Yalkut Yosef (47:14) write that before one writes down words of Torah, he must recite Birkot HaTorah (because people that write sometimes voice their ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
Dropping a phone siddur or chumash
If you have a siddur or chumash on your phone and you drop it, do you kiss it if...
the siddur is not open
the siddur is open, but shem hashem is not showing
the siddur is open and shem Hashem is ...
10
votes
1answer
184 views
Opening an umbrella indoors
Is there anything wrong with opening up an umbrella indoors according to Jewish tradition?
I have met many people who view it as bad luck or possibly rude.
On the other hand we are commanded not to ...
4
votes
1answer
153 views
How can I slow-cook dairy if my slow-cooker is meat?
I have a (meat) slow-cooker and very occasionally want to be able to slow-cook dairy foods. Is it possible to adapt my existing appliance for this purpose?
The slow-cooker consists of a glazed clay ...
