All Questions
1
vote
0answers
8 views
Stolen goods that rise in value at the time of theft -how does this effect compensation?
A thief steals the gold bar sells it off at higher price.
If the value of the gold bar increased in value rapidly at the time of the theft.
(the loss of the investment potential is an issue)
OR
if ...
3
votes
0answers
22 views
Can one trust the Kashrut of Alcoholic Beverages in bars?
Recently, a (small) number of bars and restaurants on the East Coast were busted for replacing expensive alcohol with cheap alternatives.
What are some arguments for or against retaining the Chezkat ...
4
votes
2answers
41 views
Can Gentile light a Shabbat Candle and do the Prayers?
I am a gentile, however I am seriously considering to convert.
I would like to do some of the Shabbat traditions just to get a feel of the celebration (can you call it that?) like light the candle and ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Why do people say that Abraham and his family were idolaters at first?
A common idea these days, is that Abraham, his father and their families were supposed to have worshipped idols, until the true Creator, the LORD, called him from Ur of the Chaldees to give unto him ...
3
votes
1answer
25 views
Who wrote the Piskei Tosfos?
After the section of Gemara in most sefarim, before the Rosh there is a section of the Piskei Tosfos. Who authored this work?
3
votes
0answers
34 views
Satmar Derech Halimud
I was curious as to what the Derech Halimud is for Satmar Chassidim. I understand that the general Chassidish Derech is one that moves at a quicker pace with not as many commantaries as opposed to a ...
6
votes
0answers
101 views
Why is Jacob idolized and not villainised?
I've just read the story of Jacob and Esau (Bereishis ch. 25 and 27), and I fail to understand why Jacob is consistently portrayed and idolized as a protagonist and a hero - based on what I've read, I ...
2
votes
0answers
39 views
May one eat cheese that is wormy?
Nitei Gavriel Shavuos 29:14 says that one may eat cheese that has worms in it, and there is no prohibition of Sheretz on it. Is this accurate? Does everyone agree with this?
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Must one pray with a minyan?
People wrote on this site that there is no requirement for a man to pray with a minyan as a general rule. I took this to mean that one need not attend a minyan heknows meets regularly, instead praying ...
4
votes
1answer
35 views
What happened to insects during the flood?
We know that Noach took onto the ark all kinds of animals including "every creeping thing of the ground" (מִכֹּל רֶמֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָה), which I've always understood to be creeping things that actually ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
Cicadas - once in 17 years
I was reading an article today regarding the Cicadas which appear once every 17 years.
Is there any Sefarim that discuss this phenomenon?
Also if they were created at the time the world was created, ...
4
votes
2answers
55 views
May a man wear a wedding band?
Is there any halachic reason that a man may not wear a wedding band (ring)? Possible reasons to forbid it would include beged isha and chukas hagoyim.
3
votes
1answer
43 views
How do we know that God does not take human form?
Christianity believes that God takes human shape in the form of Jesus, and comes down to earth as a man. Of course, Jews do not believe that God ever takes the shape of a human, but how do we know ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
Aruch Hashulchan's moon-distance estimate
Aruch Hashulchan, Orach Chayim 397:1, says that a מיל is the same as a Russian верста (verst) or 500 сажен (sazhen), which comes to 1066.8 meters. In 426:2, he says the distance to the moon is about ...
5
votes
2answers
93 views
Newcomers Overwhelmed by Myriad Halachas
Some people, especially Baal Teshuvas who drastically change their lives to being fully observant may find it somewhat overwhelming to observe the minimum halachas in being an orthodox jew (such as ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
learning non-jewish topics as a creative process
Is 'learning' non-Jewish topics a prohibited creative process on Shabbat? If so, on what grounds is learning Tanakh exempted? I read that the study non-Jewish subjects is banned or frowned upon, and I ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Why were these pasukim chosen for the upside down Nuns?
In Bamidbar 10:35-36 there are two upside down Nuns. The traditional explanation is that this serves as a break between different accounts of wicked behavior. Not wanting to list three such counts in ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
What decree is Tosafos on Sukkah 46b speaking of, is regarding shmini atzeret and the sfak yom?
A person I had spoken suggested tosfos on sukkah 46B, is talking about a decree, but i'm not clear what it is regarding. What is it regarding?
Update-Background provided by Seth-
The Gemara (Succah ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Talmid that is an Avel going to a wedding of his Rebbe
I had heard once that there is a Teshuvas Ranach that says it's muter for a student that is an avel (in the year of mourning) to go to a wedding that his Rebbe is making for one his children. I ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Why is a “Nazir” not allowed to drink wine?
Why is a “Nazir” not allowed to drink wine?
If the reason is for him being sober, then why the prohibition on haircuts or the injunction against being impure?
Moreover, in the pasuk it says ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Pesik Reshe & Melacha She'en Sarich LeGufa
What is the practical differnce between: Pesik Reshe Delo Niha Le, Pesik Reshe Delo Ichpat Le, and Melecha She'en Sarich Legufa? What is an example that can prove the difference between the three?
...
6
votes
0answers
55 views
Borrowing a talis and wearing a talis katan. Say a b'racha?
The common and accepted practice among married Ashk'nazim, at least, is that they don a talis katan in the morning without saying a b'racha for the mitzva, and, later, when donning the talis gadol for ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Quail or fish in B'midbar 11:31?
In B'Midbar 11:31 it is stated:
וְרוּחַ נָסַע מֵאֵת יי וַיָּגָז שַׂלְוִים מִן־הַיָּם וַיִּטֹּשׁ עַל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה כְּדֶרֶךְ יֹום כֹּה וּכְדֶרֶךְ יֹום כֹּה סְבִיבֹות הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וּכְאַמָּתַיִם ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Taking a shower after mikveh for men - where is the Ari source that one shouldn't?
A previous question discusses whether men should avoid showering after using the Mikveh. I have heard specifically that the Ari Z"l frowned upon this. Can anyone please quote the source, if one does ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
What consititutes a “complete interruption” between talis katan and gadol?
This page references an uncited location in the Mishneh Berura and says that "[O]ne only makes separate berachos if there is a complete interuption between the talis katan and gadol. Just walking to ...
2
votes
0answers
18 views
When not a problem of lifnei iver, still mitzvah to be mafrish (seperate) from issur
Tosfos says in Shabbos Daf 3a that even when there isn't a problem of lifnei iver since the person would be able to get to the prohibited thing in another way, still there is an "issur d'rabbanan" ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Borer on Shabbos — Spilling food from a spoon with 2 foods on it
Is the following case a problem of "borer" (separating) on Shabbos?
We know there can be "borer" even when dealing with two edible foods, one food that a person does want to eat and the other that ...
3
votes
4answers
95 views
food containers - why is hechser needed? [duplicate]
I want to buy a vacuum sealer for food. The vacuum bags do not have a hechsher. Normally, I buy ziplock bags that are OU. To keep this general, I am hoping someone can elaborate on the reason and ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Can I cut my toenails consecutively? [duplicate]
Should I be careful about this issue or there is no rule regarding this?
1
vote
1answer
48 views
What date was Kibrot Hattaavah?
Are there any sources that give the date for the incident in Kibroth Hattaavah recorded in B'Midbar Chapter 11? I am trying to figure out if it happened on a particular mo'ed or any significant date.
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Eliphaz and Bildad Zophar
Iyov 42:9:
וַיֵּלְכוּ אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי וּבִלְדַּד הַשּׁוּחִי צֹפַר הַנַּעֲמָתִי וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיהֶם ה׳
In the JPS translation:
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the ...
3
votes
2answers
153 views
Was Rambam affected by Islam?
Was Rambam's philosophy affected in any way by Islamic culture or religion? If so, could that influence have influenced his interpretation of halacha?
This question is inspired by an ongoing ...
7
votes
1answer
61 views
Does an unnecessary brocho pesucha on Hallel necessitate a brocho siyuma?
We had an interesting question arise in our Shul this past Yom Yerushalayim. Our shul has a minhag of saying Hallel without a brocho in Shacharis. At one of the minyanim, the chazzan said a brocho at ...
8
votes
1answer
72 views
Should there be a mezuzah on a room that has baby diapers?
If there is a general purpose room (like a bedroom) wherein a child's soiled diapers are often disposed of, does that room take on the status of tashmish she'aino shel kavod - a room who's use is not ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
Holocaust Responsa of Rav Ephraim Oshry
Due to the poor health of Lithuania's last Chief Rabbi, Rav Avraham Shapiro, and due to his death in 1943, many of the residents of Kovno Ghetto addressed their questions to Rav Shapiro's student, Rav ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
Talking in shul
Most pasken according to the Shulchan Arukh that mundane talk in shul during tefilot is forbidden.
With some exceptions: Is mundane speech allowed in shul?.
Is there anywhere a halachic point of view ...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Why would somebody become a nazir?
B'midbar chapter 6 explains the laws of one who vows to become a nazir, but I've long been puzzled by why one would do this. (Our most famous nazir was commanded in this; Shimshon didn't make that ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Is it permissable to use an umbrella on Shabbat?
Is it permissable to use an umbrella on Shabbat, assuming you're inside an Eruv, so there's no issue of carrying?
If it is not permissible, then why is it prohibited?
Follow-up question: What about ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
Does torah study refine one's character?
I have met some torah scholars who appear to be learning quite a bit, yet their character traits appear to be in the lacking.
Is torah study supposed to refine one's character? If so, how can we ...
-1
votes
1answer
105 views
why was technology withheld for so long from man
Why did God withhold the discovery of modern technology from man until recently?
what is the reason for this and why does this reason not apply in our era?
(according to the shaar bitachon ch.3 God ...
3
votes
3answers
57 views
How to say mizonos first on an ice cream cone
Normally when faced with eating two foods where one takes a "mizonos" blessing for grain products, and another takes an all-encompassing "shehakol" blessing, we try to eat the mizonos food first. How ...
2
votes
0answers
25 views
Why do we get “so did they do” for the commandment of expelling tamei people in Parashat Naso?
Parashat Naso, in Numbers 5:1-3, presents a commandment to "send from the camp" anyone who is tamei due to either tzara'at or a zav-type discharage. After that, we have Verse 4, affirming that the ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Why did God take 7 days to create the world?
Generally we assume that God is omnipotent, and could have created the world in a single day\act, so He must have had a reason to organize creation into 7 days. Why?
In other words:
Why didn't God ...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Who were the Rambam's students?
Someone recently asked me whether the Rambam had any students. In addition to the Rambam's son and the student for whom he wrote the Moreh Nevuchim, I could think of only one other student. (רבינו ...
2
votes
1answer
44 views
Do we embarrass someone in cheirem?
Let's suppose that someone in a community has been put in cheirem, for whatever reason. This would generally ban him from the community shul. Should this person show up in the community shul, however, ...
1
vote
2answers
114 views
How do we know that homosexual relations is a sin?
I recently heard that the Ibn Ezra brings down a minority opinion that the pasukim talking about "laying with a man as you would a woman" are actually talking about androgynous people. The Ibn Ezra ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Gemarah on Baal Teshuva
In Sefer Chasidim, the author compares Baal Teshuva's to Tzadikim. I have heard that there is a Gemarah that does the same and was wondering if someone could cite that Gemarah.
-2
votes
1answer
77 views
What allowed Jews to change the way they pronounced words?
The way we pronounce words has changed over many years and we now have many different customs. Many of the changes derive from Jews moving to different geographic locations and adopting similar ...
2
votes
0answers
27 views
Sofek in Bircas HaTorah — why not say all of the brachas?
The M"B brings in the beginning of Siman 47 from the Shagas Aryeh (Siman 24-25) that if one is in sofek (doubt) if they said Bircas HaTorah then they should go back and say the bracha however only the ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
Not making a wedding on the first 3 days of a month
I've heard there is a custom (practiced in various kehillas, I heard Belz is one of them) to not make a wedding on the first 3 days of a month (meaning alef, beis, or gimmel of a particular month.) ...
