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480 views
What does Psalm 82 mean?
6 I -- I have said, 'Gods ye are, And sons of the Most High -- all of you,
http://yltbible.com/psalms/82.htm
So how many gods are there? Who are "you" here? Are we all gods?
Here is the context. ...
4
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1answer
89 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 ...
5
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5answers
163 views
Where is there a good online source to check how often a word appears in Tanach?
Where is there a good online source where you can check how often a word appears in Tanach?
4
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1answer
89 views
why does Ruth 1:8 use עמדי instead of עמי?
Ruth 1:8 says:
ח וַתֹּאמֶר נָעֳמִי, לִשְׁתֵּי כַלֹּתֶיהָ, לֵכְנָה שֹּׁבְנָה, אִשָּׁה לְבֵית אִמָּהּ; יעשה (יַעַשׂ) יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם חֶסֶד, כַּאֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם-הַמֵּתִים וְעִמָּדִי.
8 And ...
14
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3answers
316 views
Why aren't Tefillin called Totafot?
They're called Totafot in the Torah, so why do we call them Tefilin?
5
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3answers
103 views
The Tur's word counts for Shemoneh Esreh
I have often seen the Tur cited as giving exact word counts for each blessing of the Shemoneh Esreh. The arguments I have seen for being careful to adhere to the word counts include that this would ...
3
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1answer
192 views
What is the origin of “shul”?
What is the origin of the word "shul", meaning "synagogue"? It seems derived from the German "Schule", meaning "school". Moreover, Italian Jews call synagogues "scuola", which also means "school" ...
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3answers
199 views
the aggadic concept of a finite number of words to speak
Is there any truth to the common claim that each person has a predetermined number of words that he can speak in his life? Source, please.
If so, then how does it work? In particular (with sources or ...
7
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4answers
426 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 ...
10
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5answers
161 views
What is the nature of the numeral “ashtei-asar” (11)?
What is the nature of the numeral ashtei-asar (meaning 11) as in וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי פָּרִים עַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר (Pinchas 29:20):
What is the basic word? Is this using semichus, as in ashtaim of ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Father the mercy
Lubavitch prayer books include the words אָב הָרַחֲמִים where other prayer books have אַב הָרַחֲמִים (specifically, in the amida of musaf and mincha of Shabas Shuva, and in a prayer said after ...
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5answers
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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?
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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 ...
1
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2answers
117 views
Why is it called Shalosh Seudos?
Why is the third Shabbos meal called Shalosh Seudos - literally three meals - would it not be more appropiate to call it Seuda Shlishis?
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2answers
314 views
What is a hakira?
In the parlance of Talmud study and lomdus, what does the word "Hakira" mean and how should it be used? Why are Hakiras useful?
5
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1answer
110 views
Different expressions for “permitted” in the gemoro and elsewhere
The Gemara and other sources use different words to say that something is permitted. There are "shari" "muttar" "leis lon boh".
Is there any difference in shades of meaning between these and others ...
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2answers
457 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 ...
5
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1answer
131 views
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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2answers
174 views
Stress of הושיעה and הצליחה in Hallel
Why is הושיעה Mileel (penultimately stressed) whereas הצליחה is Milra (ultimately stressed) in Psalms 118:25?
1
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1answer
82 views
Does the word toad (קרפדה) appears in tanach?
Toad is קרפדה (karpada) in hebrew.
Toad is crapaud in French.
The two words have the same 4 consonants in the same order, which does not seem to be by mere accident. Looks like one language has ...
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2answers
59 views
'amel' vs. 'osek'
We speak of being עָמֵל בַּתּוֹרָה (e.g., Rashi to B'chukosay 26:3 and :14) and also of being עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה (e.g., birchos haTora in the morning). What is each (especially as contrasted with the ...
4
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1answer
124 views
Closing abbreviation ושכמ"ה
Every [anonymous] question asked in the responsum Torah Lishmah ends with an address to the answerer and the abbreviation ושכמ"ה (e.g.). The Otzar Rashei Teivos had only one entry for this ...
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2answers
155 views
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?
5
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2answers
146 views
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
4
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3answers
115 views
Where and when is the earliest attestation of the word “mohel”?
Where is the earliest attestation of the word mohel for one who performs the act associated with a ritual circumcision?
When was it written?
What language is it?
[Inspired by Why is there a ה in ...
7
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4answers
395 views
Does “ki” have four meanings or one?
There is a well-known statement by Resh Lakish in Gitin (90) that
כי" משמש בד' לשונות: אי, דלמא, אלא, דהא"
"ki" expresses four meanings...
There has been discussion over the ages as to what ...
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3answers
75 views
All, every: how to interpret these words in the Scriptures?
What is the correct way in interpreting, understanding the words "all", "every" in the Bible? My problem is that I learned maths for years and sometimes it makes me very hard to understand things. ...
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6answers
2k views
Online glossary of Talmudic terms
Is there an online glossary anywhere that explains important Talmudic terms, with similar scope to the Practical Talmud Dictionary? I'm more interested in an Aramaic-English resource, but ...
2
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3answers
141 views
Meaning of the a word in an magen david
I have a magen david with שוי writen inside and I want to know the meaning
3
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2answers
399 views
What is the meaning of 'Tishbi' in 'Eliyahu haTishbi'?
I've heard theory that it's a place, but have never heard of a place with a similar name...
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2answers
227 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?
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1answer
95 views
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2answers
120 views
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ“ךְ עַדַ”שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ"ךְ עַדַ"שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב. We call the last Makah "Makas Bechoros" - why didn't Rabbi Yehuda say בְּאַחַ"ם
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3answers
156 views
Lag Baomer - why not Laomer?
Nusach Askenaz says Baomer, Nusach Sefard and Sefardim say Laomer - Why does everyone call it Lag Baomer - why not call it Lag Laomer?
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2answers
165 views
Why do many (most?) people call the upcoming holiday “Peysach”?
In some Ashkenazic dialects, lots of words in which the first syllable is accented and the vowel is segol are pronounced as though they had a tzeirei. Examples include "meylech," "tzeydek," and ...
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4answers
224 views
What is the meaning of the inscription on the back of a m'zuza?
The string "כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is written on the back side of the parchment in many a doorpost scripture.
According to the Ra"sh (hilchos m'zuza 18)
וכן נהגו לכתוב באשכנז ובצרפת כנגד ה' אלקינו ה' ...
3
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2answers
154 views
What is the earliest source that mentions Gematria?
What is the earliest source that mentions Gematria?
5
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3answers
174 views
Charvona? How many Charvona's were there?
In the Megila twice the name Charvona is mentioned. However there is a difference - Once it is spelled with an Aleph at the end and once it is spelled with an Hai at the end? Were there two Charvona's ...
3
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2answers
151 views
Welcoming someone back after a visit to Israel
Is it proper to say "Welcome back" after someone visits Israel because of the lower level of Kedussah between Israel and Chutz LaEretz?
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2answers
116 views
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2answers
173 views
Ish Yehudi - where else?
Where else in Tanach are there the words "Ish Yehudi" besides Megilas Esther?
3
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2answers
107 views
Etymology of “Grager”
What is the Etymology of “Grager”?
Grager is the noisemaker we use on Purim during the Megila when Haman's name is read.
3
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3answers
165 views
Etymology of “Krepel”
What is the Etymology of “Krepel”?
Krepel is a 3 cornered stuffed piece of dough that we eat on Purim, Hoshana Rabah, and Erev Yom Kippur.
2
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2answers
109 views
Why does the book (Megillah) of Esther never use the Hebrew word “armon” for palace?
It talks about the capital and "the king's house", but never uses the Hebrew word for "palace", "armon", as appears in Psalms and elsewhere. (Or does it appear and I missed it?) Why not?
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6answers
198 views
What do people mean when they say “Kaballah”?
I recently spoke to someone who said she was interested in learning Kabbala but could not find any classes. I mentioned to her she may want to try learning Tanya because there is a lot of Kabbala in ...
2
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1answer
87 views
Is the term/idea “inviolate” used in the old testament?
I was discussing the idea of privacy with my ethics professor, and he mentioned the concept of "inviolate personality". When it came up he was pretty sure the word inviolate either comes from or is ...
1
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1answer
109 views
Shushan Versus Shushan Habirah
What is the difference between Shushan and Shushan Habirah or is there one, and when does the Meggilah use each one? (Please quote sources)
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38answers
1k views
words often mispronounced [closed]
What are some words commonly mispronounced? (Not by elision/reduction (like ה׳→אדְני) or assimilation (like תזכרו→תשׂכרו), but rather words that are pronounced wrong ...
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3answers
99 views
Egel- Why EILEH is Plural
Why when the Jews made the egel, a single bull, they use the words Eilah Elohecha Yisroel which is plural?
7
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3answers
474 views
Hakaras hatov vs. hoda'a
It seems that there are two terms that could be broadly translated as "gratitude", which each express different aspects of the concept. הכרת הטוב denotes recognition, while הודאה has strong echoes of ...
