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4
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1answer
66 views
simple faith versus blind faith
There is a view that it is better to avoid studying philosophical works such as the Rambam's guide for the perplexed or the Shaar Yichud from Duties of the Heart. This is based on the idea that Emunah ...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
What's “chosen” about Jews?
Jews are commonly referred to as "the chosen people". I've heard it comes from Exodus 19:5 ("וִהְיִיתֶם לִי סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים", "ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples", JPS). ...
4
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Why do people call cancer the machalah?
It seems that people use the word machalah to refer to cancer not only as a translation of the word (although there might be a more specific and correct translation) but because they do not want to ...
6
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0answers
99 views
Why call so many olim “moreinu”?
I davened in a couple of different Chassidish shuls over the past few days, and in two different places (Tenka and Munkacs), I noticed that nearly all men who were called up for an aliya were ...
4
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0answers
37 views
Levana or Yareach?
In the entire Tanach the moon is generally called Yareach. There are 3 instances where it is called Levana. One is ישעיהו: כד. כג.
וחפרה הלבנה ובושה החמה. Another one is ישעיהו: ל. כו.
והיה אור הלבנה ...
4
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0answers
52 views
Why does Onkelos translate “לֹֽא יוּכַל” as “לָא יִכּוֹל” rather than “לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ”
The verse in Shemos 19:23 says "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יי לֹֽא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַֽעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי." Rashi says that although it uses the words "לֹֽא־יוּכַל" it means they're not allowed. Onkelos ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
Difference between 'rafa' and 'ripa'
The root רפא, "heal", is used in various places in Tanach, sometimes in binyan paal and sometimes in binyan piel. I wonder what the difference is between these. Does any Tanach commentator, or the ...
3
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0answers
84 views
Source for not referring to Chanuka lights as a “menora”
Following up on this question about the use of the words "menora" or "chanukiya" to refer to Chanuka lights:
I find it interesting that the use of "chanukiya" apparently originated in 1897 through a ...
2
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0answers
27 views
Netzach, Selah, Vaed - what is the difference between these words?
Eruvin 54a says that it was taught by Rabbi Eliezer ben yaakov that wherever it says Netzach, Selah, or Vaed it means it will remain so forever. "כל מקום שנאמר 'נצח' 'סלה' 'ועד' – אין לו הפסק עולמית" ...
2
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0answers
27 views
Whence “בלי עין הרע”?
What is the source, or earliest reference, I guess, of using the phrase, "בלי עין הרע"?
2
votes
0answers
59 views
Difference in Tehillim 82:7 quoted in Avodah Zarah 5a
This is Tehillim 82:7 in Masoretic:
אֲנִי-אָמַרְתִּי, אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם; וּבְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן כֻּלְּכֶם
Yet, see the following passage in Avodah Zarah 5a where Tehillim 82:6-7 is quoted by Rabbi ...
2
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0answers
52 views
Nedarim on Questions and Answers
Let's say someone was asked "are you going to shul tomorrow?" and the other person answers "yes." Does that count as a Neder?
BTW Rav Mutzafi says that Nedarim are only on Mitzvot, Torah etc.
1
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0answers
28 views
Language of Mishneh Brurah - Sefiras HaOmer and counting before Aleinu
Shulchan Aruch 489:1 says that after Maariv of the second night of Pesach we begin to count Sefiras HaOmer. The Mishneh Brurah there in note 2 says that one should count before "Aleinu" because "col ...
1
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0answers
28 views
What does “שברירי ברירי…” do? How?
Bavli, P'sachim 112:1:
ת״ר לא ישתה אדם מים לא מן הנהרות ולא מן האגמים בלילה ואם שתה דמו בראשו מפני הסכנה מאי סכנה סכנת שברירי ואי צחי מאי תקנתיה אי איכא איניש בהדיה לימא ליה פלניא בר פלנתא צחינא ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
What are the differences between G-d's mitzvos, chukkim and mishpatim?
In Parasha Netzavim, Devarim 30:16, we learn the commandment to love Hashem, to walk in His ways, and to keep "His commandments [mitzvosav] and His statutes [v'chukosav] and His ordinances ...
1
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0answers
31 views
What is the difference between the blessing of Ga'al Yisrael preceding Shemoneh Esrei and the blessing of Go'el Yisrael?
Before we begin the Shemoneh Esreh each morning, we say the blessing, "Blessed are You, Hashem, Who redeemed Israel (Ga'al Yisrael)." Then within the Shemoneh Esrei itself, in the "Re'eh va'ahneynu" ...
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0answers
33 views
Is the Torah called a tzarah?
It was quoted to me once that the Torah is called a tzarah to a wife. In other words, just like the Torah calls a second wife to a man a "tzarah" (to the first wife) so too the Torah is a tzarah to a ...
