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6
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1answer
103 views
Universal theory of Biblical eye-raising
Do any of the commentaries or Midrashim offer a universal interpretation (perhaps of the form "any time you see this, it means that") of Biblical idiom of "raising eyes"?
Below are some examples that ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
What is the Issur of Nivul Peh based on?
I am wondering what exactly the Issur of Nivul Peh is predicated on.
Is it:
That such words shouldn't be spoken from a person's mouth; or
That its a cause of chillul Hashem ...
7
votes
4answers
424 views
What is the exact definition of Shituf (vis a vis 'Avodah Zarah)?
"Shituf" is the heretical idea of some sort of co-mingling of something with G-d (Has VeShalom). According to many rabbinic opinions, Christianity is Shituf (cf., Is Christianity Avodah Zara?), and ...
16
votes
2answers
741 views
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Words in Sefarim in Modern Hebrew [closed]
Sometimes in the more modern seforim, I see an alternate spelling of סוגיה instead of סוגיא, with a Hei (ה) replacing the Aleph (א). Why is this? Also, is this done with similar words? For example, ...
1
vote
2answers
264 views
What's wrong with 'Hip Hip Hooray'?
When cutting the cake at a Jewish birthday party, or other celebrations when a cheer is called for, 'Hip Hip, Hooray!' is never used but rather the Hebrew 'Heyach!' 'Heydad!'.
It seems to be a great ...
1
vote
2answers
113 views
Why is it called Ayin Hara?
Why is it called Ayin Hara (singular) shouldn't it be Anayim Raos (Plural)?
3
votes
2answers
85 views
Why refer to alcoholic beverages as Yash?
In many Chasidishe and Heimishe Shuls - Vodka, Whiskey and the likes are known as "Yash" which is an acronym for Yayin Saraf - יי״ש. However would it not be more appropiate to call it Yas? Then why do ...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
Why refer to Isaac Luria as the Arizal, and not Arizatzal?
One of the common ways to refer to the R' Isaac Luria is "the Arizal". I understand this to mean, The Ari, zecher L'bracha (may he be mentioned/remembered for blessing).
However, one usually refers ...
6
votes
3answers
204 views
Double Yud as G-ds Name
What is the significance of the double Yud used as a stand-in for G-d's name?
2
votes
2answers
106 views
Why was Chanah called an “Ishah Kesheirah”?
The Gemoro says that when Chanah was caught by Eli davening and whispering, he asked the Urim Vetumim about her to see if she was ok. The letters ה ר ש כ appeared on the Urim Vetumim.
Eli understood ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Learning words from the servants of Rebbi
Where is the gemarah that discusses how the sages didn't know the meaning of certain words until their heard the servants of Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi using those words in everyday conversation?
6
votes
3answers
203 views
Shiluach HaKen: why not “Hatzipor”
If you send away the bird, why is Shiluach HaKen called that, meaning "sending the nest", and not "Shiluach Hatzipor", "sending the bird"? The nest is staying in place!
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Midrash/Medrash
Can anyone explain to me the difference between Midrash and Medrash? Is one of them known to be more correct (i.e. most likely older)?
3
votes
3answers
191 views
What is the source of the word “Rabbi”? [closed]
What is the source of the Hebrew word "Rabbi" - which is commonly applied to a Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, etc.?
16
votes
3answers
357 views
When blogging/emailing/etc., do I use “God” or “G-d”?
Is there a religious problem with typing out the name: "G-o-d"?
10
votes
1answer
126 views
Best way to translate “קא”
In the Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud, there is a widely used word "קא", like in the sentence והא קא קרי (in Berahot 13:1).
What is the best way to translate it to Hebrew or English? Or maybe just ...
11
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4answers
5k views
7
votes
2answers
95 views
בְּתוֹךְ and בְּקֶרֶב are used in different places and both translated “in the midst”; what's the difference?
I understand בְּתוֹךְ as "in the midst of". The tree of life is b'tokh ha-gan (in the midst of the garden), and God spoke to the people mitokh ha-eish (from the midst of the fire). I learned today ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Community/Synagogue Honorifics
I visited the Rare Books section of the JTS in New York in Dec. 2009, to view an old manuscript from Kezmarok, Slovakia. I selected certain pages that I was interested in translating, on behalf of ...
11
votes
2answers
332 views
חס ושלום! (whatever that means)
What on earth does חס ושלום mean literally, or what is its etymology? Why do people use that phrase in particular to "ward off" bad things? (That last part of the question is not asking whether saying ...
8
votes
4answers
228 views
Teiku VS. Kashya
When a Gemara does not have a solution to a question why does it sometimes it end off with "Teiku" and sometimes with "Kashya"?
11
votes
2answers
456 views
Why Yehoshua **Bin** Nun and not Yehoshua **Ben** Nun
The Torah refers to Yehoshua as Yehoshua Bin Nun. (See here for an example).
Why Bin Nun and not Ben Nun?
Are there any places in Tanach where he is referred to as Ben Nun?
Is there anyone else in ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Shir Urinanim- Whats the diffrence?
In Ma'oz Tzur, it says:
וּמִנּוֹתַר קַנְקַנִּים נַעֲשָׂה נֵס לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
בְּנֵי בִינָה יְמֵי שְׁמוֹנָה קָבְעוּ שִׁיר וּרְנָנִים
What is the Difference between Shirim and Rinanim?
1
vote
2answers
133 views
Can the word “eitz” mean “a thought” in the Torah?
Is there support in the Talmud or later rabbinical literature to interpreting the Torah term "eitz," commonly translated as "tree," to also mean "thought". This of course, is a common usage in ...
5
votes
2answers
73 views
Shifting subjects and objects in Gen 12:15
There are three statements in Genesis 12:15:
וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתָהּ שָׂרֵי פַרְעֹה וַיְהַלְלוּ אֹתָהּ אֶל פַּרְעֹה וַתֻּקַּח הָאִשָּׁה בֵּית פַּרְעֹה
And Pharaoh's princes saw her, and they ...
7
votes
2answers
186 views
Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד
Why when someone says Hashem's name in error do we say particularly Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד?
3
votes
2answers
267 views
What's the etymology of the Hassidic term “b'sho'oh” for a chaperoned quasi-date?
I've heard in the Hassidic world, if two families decide that one's young fellow should meet the other's young lady, the couple has a brief, chaperoned, meeting, known as a b'shoh (spelling?), to ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
Nefesh, neshama and ruach as words for “soul”
All three words can mean something like "soul", e.g., neshama in גלגול נשמות, and ruach in וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם (Bereshit 45:27). So, what is the difference?
8
votes
3answers
263 views
All you need is love?
I once had a Hebrew professor state with absolute determination that "Ahavah" (the Hebrew word for "love") does not, in fact, mean love. His proof was twofold:
1. G-d could not have commanded us to ...
7
votes
3answers
87 views
The difference between צדיקים and חסידים
What's the difference between צדיקים and חסידים?
I assume that there is a difference because of Psalms 145:17. Also at the end of Nishmat Kol Chai where it says "uvdivrey tzadikim titbarach uvilshon ...
4
votes
2answers
114 views
Are these Latin/Greek translations of Hebrew terms useful?
If you use the following Latin or Greek translations of Hebrew terms in conversation with secular people, do they tend to know what you're talking about? If so, in what contexts - a university ...
4
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2answers
215 views
7
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3answers
271 views
Posek vs. Rabbi?
It seems to me obvious that certain sheilos are best dealt with by only the leading Rabbanim. At the same time colloquially we often say a Rabbi has "paskened" a sheilah when the answer is fairly ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Kindness and truth
The Posuk says (Gen 47:29):
וְעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּדִי חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת
Translated as do with me Kindness and truth
Rashi is bothered that Chesed and Emes are two different things so Rashi says:
חסד ...
4
votes
5answers
169 views
Why isn't Half Hallel called “85 percent hallel”?
When we say hallel on days like Rosh chodesh, we don't say parts of two prakim of tehillim. This is often called "chatzi" hallel, or half hallel. In fact, according to ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Were the prophets and holy people who lived before Judah (Yehudah) also Jews?
The word "Jew" originates from the name of the eldest son of Jacob. The term "Jew" was introduced many generations and decades after him. I wonder whether Adam, Noah, Lot, Abraham and Moses were all ...
5
votes
3answers
231 views
Why masechet “Beitza”?
Why do we call it masechet Beitza now, and not masechet Yom Tov, as was apparently once common? Unlike the parshiot, which are named after their first words, masechtot are all named after topics, ...
9
votes
2answers
138 views
Why is the Machzor called a Machzor?
The Siddur we use for Yom Tov is known as a Machzor. What does it mean and where did this originate?
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Tu B'shvat Seder
Where did the idea of doing a Seder on Tu b'Shvat come from? Why a Seder, not just the eating of fruit? Why do we call it a Seder if there is no formalized way of doing it?
4
votes
2answers
113 views
Is Aggadah the same thing as Midrash?
(Inspired by a comment on this question.)
What characteristics define Aggadah and Midrash, and how are they related?
If the distinction is merely that Aggadah is a more general category of "legend" ...
11
votes
3answers
135 views
So should be done unto the man
The verse in Esther 6:11 describing Haman's pulling Mordochai on the streets says:
כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ
So shall it be done unto the man whom the king ...
5
votes
2answers
116 views
What does שעטנז (sha'atnez) mean?
.שעטנז.
I'm asking about the literal meaning behind the word, its etymology, etc.
4
votes
1answer
76 views
Changing the spelling of “G-d” and Halachic erasure
Is there a problem of "erasing the name of HaShem" if you erase the English word spelled G-o-d, and if so, is there then a problem of erasing it in order to spell it in a more acceptable way (such as ...
1
vote
3answers
190 views
What does the term “sons of G-d” mean?
The term "sons of G-d" בני האלהים is found 3 times in the Hebrew Bible, once in Genesis (6:2), and twice in Job (1:6 and 2:1). What does it mean? Does it have the same meaning in both instances? What ...
10
votes
2answers
225 views
Meaning and pronunciation of יישר כחך
What is the exact meaning of the phrase "יישר כחך", and what is the gramatically-correct way to pronounce it?
6
votes
3answers
188 views
Difficult phrases in the “Sale of Chametz” document
I am currently working on a clarification of the document which is usually used by rabbis to sell chametz to a non-Jew. The version I am working with is that of Harav hagGaon Avraham Aharon Yudelewitz ...
5
votes
2answers
240 views
Why can't Ploni Almoni be a real name, in Ruth?
The verse states (Ruth 4:1):
וּבֹעַז עָלָה הַשַּׁעַר, וַיֵּשֶׁב שָׁם, וְהִנֵּה הַגֹּאֵל עֹבֵר אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר-בֹּעַז, וַיֹּאמֶר סוּרָה שְׁבָה-פֹּה פְּלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי; וַיָּסַר, וַיֵּשֵׁב
Now Boaz ...
3
votes
2answers
38 views
בישול Versus שולק
The Shulchan Aruch and the Gemara use two words that to me seem to mean the same thing: "Cooking". My question is what is the difference between שולק (Sholek) and בישול (Bishul)? Please provide ...
8
votes
1answer
80 views
Why is it considered respectful to capitalize G-d and its derivatives/pronouns?
I recognize that in English proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized, especially in the case where a proper noun is also a common noun (e.g. the mall vs. the Mall), but only when referring to G-d ...
