Tagged Questions
1
vote
1answer
22 views
When should a commuter cyclist wear a tallit katan?
Getting around by bike can be a sweat-provoking task. I wear a backpack; not only my undershirt can get sweaty, but also whatever's atop it. I only own a couple of tallitot k'tanot, and I wash them by ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Chanukiyah height restriction and modern architecture?
I have learned that, to publicize the miracle, the Chanukah candles must be within 20 amot of the ground. Yet when I was in Jerusalem during Chanukah some years ago, I saw chanukiyot in windows of ...
1
vote
0answers
17 views
Chanukah in a hotel: where to light?
I might be attending a convention over the Shabbat in Chanukah. I am not worried about opposition from the hotel; this one has historically been pretty liberal about candles in rooms. So if I go I ...
5
votes
1answer
48 views
Korbon tomid whilst Jews were travelling (as opposed to camping) in the desert
The benei kehos carried the miizbeiach whilst the Jews travelled. It would seem improbable that the mishkon was erected every day whilst they journeyed. What happened with the sacrifice of the Daily ...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Making bedikas chometz early — ossur in malacha, eating, learning?
When someone leaves their home within 30 days of Pesach without someone to be bodek it from chometz, they themselves have to be bodek it early (See Siman 436.) In the normal case of bedikas chometz ...
1
vote
2answers
143 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
1answer
107 views
Is visiting Antarctica permitted for a Jew?
Antarctica can have very short days or very short nights. As discussed elsewhere on this site, finding the right time to pray can be difficult. Is it permissible to visit places like this?
5
votes
3answers
406 views
Horse back riding for women
Is it permissible for an Orthodox woman to do horseback riding in an ordinary saddle, or does she have to use a sidesaddle? Furthermore, would she be able to use women's trousers made for horseback ...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
Moving close to the Shul
How close to the shul would a Rabbi generally require congregants or a prospective convert to move (in kilometers please!)?
10
votes
3answers
351 views
Time dilation and waiting between meat and milk
Suppose Ploni eats some meat. He then gets in a spaceship and accelerates to some significant percentage of the speed of light for a short trip into outer space, and then returns home. At the time ...
6
votes
1answer
79 views
Why don't we say Hagomel after driving through a desert?
The Gemara says that four have to say Hagomel:
One who went overseas
One who went into a desert.
One who was [deathly] ill.
One who was in prison [on a capital crime].
Everyone (to the best of my ...
3
votes
1answer
36 views
Is a metzorah oleh l'regel?
A metzorah has to sit outside the city (Mishna Keilim 1:7). Does this mean that he is exempt from the commandment to be oleh l'regel in yerushalayim?
10
votes
1answer
295 views
What halachot does an American traveling to Israel have to be made aware of?
I'm planning to go to Israel for the first time, b"h, in just over a month. I'll be going on an organized trip and then I hope to stay until after tisha b'av. What halchot do I need to know about? (I ...
5
votes
1answer
152 views
Imagine a non-Jewish hostel has a male and a female dorm. Does yichud allow me to sleep in the male dorm?
I'm male. Imagine I arrive at a youth hostel where I'm the only Jew. There's a male-only dorm room; down the hallway, there's also a female-only dorm room. Assume that all the doors are unlocked. ...
3
votes
1answer
255 views
In a non-Jewish youth hostel, is it problematic to stay in a mixed-gender dorm instead of a male-only one?
I'm male. Say I stay in a non-Jewish youth hostel dorm room which is mixed-gender instead of male-only. Might I encounter yichud problems? Might I encounter any other halachic problems? What's your ...
4
votes
1answer
351 views
Being a houseguest in a non-frum or non-Jewish home
I'm Jewish, so I have to keep many laws in mind. Kashrut, tefillin, yichud, kol isha, and more.
When staying as a houseguest in a non-frum or non-Jewish home, what are some of the issues I might ...
12
votes
4answers
681 views
Fast days and time zones
If I fly westward on a fast day, and travel through one/several time zone/s, thereby going back in (clock) time, must I then fast until it ends in my current time zone? What if I fly eastward, thereby ...
17
votes
2answers
614 views
Riding the Subway on Shabbat
Assuming that there are no problems regarding paying for it (either you entered the system before Shabbat, or a non-Jew paid for you):
What are the halakhic issue with riding the subway on Shabbat? ...
14
votes
3answers
415 views
Am I allowed to fly from Australia on Motzei Shabbos?
If I take off from Melbourne on Motzei Shabbos, I will hit the Date-Line, loose a day, and end up flying on Shabbos for a short period of time until the sun catches up again. Am I allowed to do this?
...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Halachos Related to Visiting the Kosel
When one is visiting the western wall, what are some specific halachos that he/she should be cognizant of?
By "specific halachos" I mean halachos that only apply to the Kosel -- and not anywhere ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
Davening whilst on a road-trip, what must I do?
If I'm driving long distance on a road-trip, (approx. 400 miles, leaving house at 3am, arriving at approximately 9am) am I required to stop the car, get out, and daven Shacharit at or before sunrise? ...
18
votes
3answers
709 views
bicycle on Shabbat?
Is riding a bicycle on Shabbat permitted within an eiruv, being ridden only on pavement (so no unintended plowing), for transportation and not exercise, and with the understanding that repairs aren't ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
14
votes
1answer
262 views
The new TSA airport scanners and tznius
Is it OK as per Halacha to go through the new TSA scanners where they see you as if you are naked?
5
votes
2answers
164 views
Return to Egypt: Allowed?
There is an injunction on returning to Egypt. Why was it and is it ignored? For example, how is it that the Rambam an even Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef lived there?
2
votes
3answers
126 views
Prayer for when you are traveling
We will be taking a long trip by car that will be spread out over three days with a break for Shabbat in the middle.
What is the halacha for saying Tefilat HaDerech (Prayer for the traveler)? is it ...
11
votes
5answers
429 views
Halakhic International Date Line issues
According to halakha, where is the international date line?
More specifically, I have heard that some people say you should observe Shabbat on Sunday in Japan & New Zealand and/or on Friday in ...
2
votes
1answer
137 views
Searching for Chumatz before Passavor
If someone is going to be away for Passover, how many days before Passover can one search his home for Chumatz?
