Questions tagged [words]
Questions about the definitions, meaning and use of words specific to Judaism or words that carry unique meaning in Jewish law.
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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"?
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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 ...
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What does שעטנז (sha'atnez) mean?
.שעטנז.
I'm asking about the literal meaning behind the word, its etymology, etc.
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How many words are there in Tanach?
How many letters are in the Torah?
How many words are in the Torah?
How many verses are in the Torah?
How many chapters are in the Torah?
How many letters, words, verses, and chapters are in every ...
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Identifying a chasid
Say you meet a stranger who is a member of a particular community of chasidus. What is the most polite and direct way to ask the person of which community they are a member? I.e. a question whose ...
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Why does kaftor vaferach mean "very nice"?
I have seen sefarim, and heard people giving derashos, use the expression "kaftor vaferach" to mean that an idea works out very nicely, or everything comes out very cleanly.
The words kaftor vaferach ...
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Who is rich in matters of courtship?
The Mishna says: If a man says to a woman, "Marry me. I am rich.", and she agrees, but it turns out he is poor, the betrothal is not valid. If a man says to a woman, "Marry me, even though I am poor."...
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What does it mean to qualify Judaism with the term "Orthodox"?
I notice that quite a few questions include "Orthodox" in the title. I wonder if people could clarify what it means to be an "Orthodox" Jew relative to another Jew that is not considered "Orthodox".
(...
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Rav Yonason Eibeschitz's puzzle
There is a story that the Jews were oppressed and there were harsh decrees and Rav Yonason Eibschitz was challenged by the governor to write "am yisroel chai l'olmei ad" for every Jew who ...
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When do you say Hashem sefatai?
Before saying shemoneh esrei we say "Hashem, sefatai siftach u'fi yagid tehilasecha". Are you supposed to say those words
A) Before you take the 3 steps back to start your shemoneh esrei
B) One word ...
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What's "Modern Orthodox(y)"?
Is there a definition[1] of "Modern Orthodox(y)" that either
has wide acceptability[2] or
has the support of an expert (say, a renowned rabbi some consider Modern Orthodox, or an ...
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What does נְחשֶׁת mean?
In Teruma (25:3), the verse says "וְזֹאת הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר תִּקְחוּ מֵאִתָּם זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחשֶׁת".
Chabad (as well as Artscroll) translates it as "And this is the offering that you shall take ...
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What is the difference between the following words referring to commandments?
What is the difference between the following words?
Commandments
Law
Testimonies
Precepts
Judgements
Statutes
Ordinances
Deut 26:16 - 19 reads
16: This day, the Lord, ...
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*Asher Bamayim* (אשר במים) in kashrus halacha
To find the kashrus status of an organism, we first need to correctly classify it as plant, animal, bird, or asher bamayim*, as each group has its own distinct requirements. E.g., animals need to chew ...
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The difference between שור and פר
In Mishpatim (and perhaps elsewhere), the Tora refers to an animal incurring or causing damage, and calls it a shor, שור, commonly translated ox.
In Pin'chas (and Achare and perhaps elsewhere), the ...
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Why is Kiddushin Performed "according to the tradition of Moshe and Israel"?
When betrothing a woman, the groom says "Behold, you are betrothed to me with this ring, according to the tradition of Moshe and Israel."
As explained in that article, "according to the tradition of ...
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Tzom Gedalya vs. Taanis Esther
Why is Tzom Gedalya known as Tzom Gedalya and Taanis Esther as Taanis Esther. Why not Taanis Gedalya or Tzom Esther?
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ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד after a bracha with a false statement
If we make a bracha levatala or say Hashem's name by accident, we say ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד.
Is this true only if the original bracha is a valid praise of Hashem, or even if it contains false ...
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What are some good resources for finding the meaning of unfamiliar Hebrew and Aramaic words in Acharonim?
I have no trouble using Jastrow for Tanach and Shas but I find it difficult to apply to Acharonim. How might I use it more effectively? Are there peculiarities of grammar I'm missing?
For a few ...
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Why does the Torah use the non-Hebrew word 'Totafot'
Related to this question.
Rashi, on Shemot (13:16): "...וְהָיָה לְאוֹת עַל יָדְכָה וּלְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ " writes:
and for ornaments between your eyes: Heb. וּלְטוֹטָפֹת, tefillin. Since ...
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Mitzva of Netilat Yadaim [duplicate]
Does anybody know what word Netilat exactly means and how it refers to the mitzva of Netilat Yadaim?
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The Absolute Unity of G-d
As we all who know Hebrew can assert, the sufix "im" in the words usually means plurality. How can HaShem be Elohim or Elokim if He is absolutely One and the Only Lord?
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Why does Tanac"h frequently use the term for "knowledge" when referring to sexual relations?
Frequently, when Tanac"h speaks about a man and woman having sexual relations, it uses the term ידע as in Breishit 4:1
וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד
אֶת־קַ֔יִן
...
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what does baruch atah Hashem mean?
most times, the beginning of a beracha is Baruch Atah Adonai, etc.
which is usually translated as Blessed are You God, etc.
what does it mean to say that God is blessed? (on the surface it implies ...
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Is it possible to be chasidish without wearing the garb and keeping all the minhagim? [closed]
Can someone be chasidish (or a chasid) if they don't dress in a distinctively "Jewish" way or don't keep all the minhagim such as "cholov yisrael", saying tehillim on rosh chodesh, etc? Does it ...
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What is the difference between a Kohen Gadol and a Kohen Rosh?
What is the difference between a Kohen Gadol and a Kohen Rosh?
Both titles are used in Tanakh, sometimes even to refer to the same person. For example:
Kohen HaRosh is mentioned in Ezra 7:5, Chron. I ...
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Translate the beginning of the blessing "Asher Yatzar"
The blessing said after leaving the rest room begins:
אשר יצר את האדם בחכמה
Who created man with wisdom
Does "with wisdom" mean:
1 - G-d used His wisdom when creating man? or
2 - G-d ...
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Source that "Teiku" References Eliyahu?
What is the earliest source that indicates that "teiku" (תיקו) references Eliyahu?
Any source earlier than the Tosafos Yom Tov who provides an alternative explanation?
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Rav vs. Rabbi in Talmudic Times
I was reading about the life of Rabbi Zera, and it said he was originally a Rav. The Rabbis of Eretz Yisrael offered to confer on him the title of Rabbi and at first he refused, until they told of ...
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Stress of הושיעה and הצליחה in Hallel
Why is הושיעה Mileel (penultimately stressed) whereas הצליחה is Milra (ultimately stressed) in Psalms 118:25?
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דילמא == Dilemma?
Is there documentation to prove that the Aramaic word "דילמא" is a transliteration or derivation of the Greek word "dilemma"?
If so, this fact is informative to G'mara-learning in understanding the ...
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First use of the term "Taharat HaMischpacha "
When and by whom (and why) was the phrase "טהרת המשפחה" ("family purity") first used to describe the halachot relating to niddah?
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What does the title "Hatomim" mean?
I have stumbled upon the title "Hatomim" before people's names in Chabad-oriented documents on the Internet.
What is the meaning and significance of this title, in this context?
Practically speaking, ...
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What is the earliest source that mentions Gematria?
What is the earliest source that mentions Gematria?
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Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed after saying Hashem's name in error - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד
When someone says Hashem's name in error, why do we say Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד?
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What color is Yarok?
Yarok ירוק in modern Hebrew means green. What color does it refer to in Mishnaic Hebrew? I have heard that it refers to yellow and not green because the Mishna in Sukkah (on 34b) discusses a citron ...
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wording of the invitation to birkas hamazon
I know some Ashk'nazim say rabosay n'varech, some rabosay mir velen bentschen, and some hertzi rabosay mir velen bentschen. (Any other forms?) Is there any particular reason given for one or another?
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Definition of Leitzanus
I have often seen leitzanus, mockery, defined along the lines of making a joke out of serious matters. Intuitively this is a good definition, but does anyone have a source which spells it out?
And to ...
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What is the Shekhina?
To what are people referring when they talk about the Shekhina? Is it a form of God? A part of God? An attribute of God? Perhaps it is something else entirely?
Also, what is the etymology of the word,...
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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 ...
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חַס וְשָׁלוֹם: why and for what
What is saying חַס וְשָׁלוֹם (chas v'shalom) supposed to accomplish? Does it do so, or is it just a waste of breath?
Based on the answers given to my previous question about this phrase, it seems ...
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Who are these "aliens" in Isaiah 56?
I was reading through this passage in Isaiah 56:
4 For thus saith the LORD concerning the eunuchs that keep My
sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and hold fast by My
covenant. 5 ...
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Pronunciation of Yerushalayim
In the Tanach, the word Yerushalayim is almost always written without a yud between the lamed and mem, but pronounced as if there is a patach under the lamed and a yud following it. We find though ...
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What is the meaning of Davar Shebakedusha?
How does something become a Davar Shebakedusha? What is the criteria?
This question was inspired by the discussion over here. People half-standing for אלקינו in zimun
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Meaning of the term "Amen Ve'Amen"?
Upon completing a lecture many rabbis end their blessings with the words "Amen Ve'Amen" (True and True). The source for this quote seems to be Tehillim 41:14.
What is meant by the repetition of the ...
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Why do we call the "judges" experts?
The hataras nedarim of Erev Rosh Hashanah starts with "Listen now my masters, expert judges" ("שמעו נא רבותי, דיינים מומחים").1 In practice, at least as far as I've seen, these judges are ...
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Ya'amod by an Aliya
The root of the word Ya'amod means to stand in place. See Hebrew dictionary here. Thus why do we call up someone to an Aliya with the word Ya'amod? We are not asking him to stay in place, we are ...
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What does it mean that "his face became blackened" in the Gemara?
Throughout the Gemara we see times when someone's face is described as becoming blackened, due to fasts or other things like intense learning. (Example: Sotah 12a) What does this mean?
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What does the ל of לבעבור mean?
Shemos 20:17:
ויֹּאמֶר משֶׁה אֶל הָעָם אַל תִּירָאוּ כִּי לְבַעֲבוּר נַסּוֹת אֶתְכֶם בָּא הָאֱלֹהִים וּבַעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל פְּנֵיכֶם לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאוּ
What does the 8th word in the ...
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Which word in "אלו ואלו דברי אלקים חיים" is חיים modifying?
"אלו ואלו דברי אלקים חיים" is generally translated as "These [and these are both equally] the words of the Living G-d" or some variation thereof. Is that correct, though? Is it not possible that it ...