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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
15
votes
2answers
289 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 ...
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
2answers
201 views
P'sak halacha by AI?
How good does artificial intelligence need to be before we can turn to a robot for piskei halacha?
The accepted reason that even the most knowledgeable people need to ask legal advice from poskim is ...
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.
11
votes
7answers
201 views
Zmanim accuracy before digital clocks?
How was time measured for the purpose of Zmanim before we had accurate clocks like we do today? Was it possible to accurately determine Chatzos (at night) or the different watches of the night? I know ...
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 ...
26
votes
7answers
821 views
Stealing wi-fi?
If someone's neighbor has wi-fi, can he connect into it? Is there an issue of stealing?
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
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, ...
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 ...
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?
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 ...
5
votes
7answers
381 views
Digital Synagogue displays?
Why do Synagogues use or not use them?
Bonus:
What are some of the companies that make these digital wall displays for synagogues?
How much do they cost?
Does anyone know where I can find info ...
0
votes
2answers
167 views
Would the internet be considered muktzeh due to Nolad (a new thing)
There is a category of muktzeh on shabbat called Nolad. Nolad means literally, something that is born on shabbat. It is interpreted in the modern era, as meaning anything which you did not have ...
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 ...
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.
...
15
votes
5answers
344 views
Why do music tapes and CDs warn about playing on Shabbos?
I have seen written on almost every music CD and Cassette Tape that I have in my house the line:
Please do not play on Shabbos and Yom Tov
I've always wondered if this is really necessary. Does ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
How does Shabbos/Yom Tov mode on a stove work?
Star-K certifies the shabbos mode on some modern stoves. (Oh how I pine for the day of simple rheostats on electric stoves, and pilot lights on gas stoves! Those were the days...)
Our GE gas stove ...
6
votes
4answers
421 views
Is it okay to drive a car on the Sabbath?
The Five Books of Moses mention not stoking a fire on the Sabbath, if I remember correctly. By starting a car, I'd think I am stoking a fire. Is this okay to do for a Jew? Why or why not?
9
votes
4answers
145 views
Online tool for minyan management?
If I'm running a small minyan that sometimes has a quorum and sometimes doesn't, and I'd like to only hold the minyan when I know we'll have ten, is there an online tool to help me manage this?
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 ...
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. ...
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?
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.
...
14
votes
3answers
203 views
Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started?
For example, if I live in New York, could I send a fax (causing the machine to print a document) to Israel on Friday afternoon, before it is Shabbat for me, but after Shabbat has started there?
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
738 views
Electric Appliances and Mikva
Do electric appliances need to be dunked (toveled) in a mikva?
Obviously, if the parts that touch the food are removable (e.g. an electric mixer's bowl and blade, or a blender's carafe, or the ...
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 ...
20
votes
3answers
532 views
May one use a computer script to do something specifically on Shabbos/Yom Tov?
May one run a program or machine that will operate on Shabbos, either by setting a timer to activate once Shabbos has started, or by leaving it running continually? What if the action is one that is ...
7
votes
2answers
199 views
Fulltext search across sources: Gemara, Zohars, Rishonim and Aharonim
I know about Hebrewbooks.org for searching for sources in books, but the problem is you have to get to let's say every Masechta to look for a phrase. Is there a program (doesn't have to be free) that ...
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 ...
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
4answers
287 views
Jewish Android Apps
Does anyone have a suggestion of any useful Jewish Andriod Apps currently available?
4
votes
5answers
274 views
Suggestions for Kosher iPhone apps
I'm an iPhone app developer with mostly Jewish & Israeli iPhone apps and I'm open to new suggestions or ideas for new apps that can be useful for Jewish people.
Anyone here had a case that he ...
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
14
votes
5answers
1k views
Is using a Kindle on Shabbat permitted?
A Kindle is an e-book reader that uses "e-ink" rather than an LCD screen. It has physical controls to turn pages. If left unused it enters a sleep mode, and you can return to reading by moving a ...
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?
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.)
-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?
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
212 views
Shaking a no-battery flashlight on Shabbos
What is the problem with shaking one of the no battery/shaking flashlights which is on on shabbos?
14
votes
1answer
168 views
a wheelchair user's taking “steps” before sh'mone esre
The Shulchan Aruch, OC 94:5, writes:
Suppose someone is sitting on a boat or wagon [and saying sh'mone esre (amida)]. If he can stand up when he reaches the point of bowing, he should stand, so as ...
