-1
votes
0answers
7 views
After biking to a client's home, is it reasonable to change my tallit katan while standing on the driveway?
I wear a T-shirt, plus a tallit katan, plus a button-down shirt, and I bike to clients' homes. Let's say I want to change into a (clean) tallit katan before entering a non-Jewish client's home.
Is it ...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
What is the most successful way to do conversion for a Gentile girl in a relationship with a Jew?
Suppose the following situation, which commonly arises. A Jewish guy starts dating a non-Jewish girl, and they both fall in love. She respects his religion and wants to convert in order to be able to ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
When should a commuter cyclist wear a tallit katan?
Getting around by bike can be a sweat-provoking task. I wear a backpack; not only my undershirt can get sweaty, but also whatever's atop it. I only own a couple of tallitot k'tanot, and I wash them by ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
kosher food ideas without refrigeration
What kosher food should I pack for a trip that will not require refrigeration? All I can think of is tuna. That would get very boring. I need more variety.
3
votes
0answers
27 views
Sheva Brachos when getting divorced
If for whatever reason it was decided that a couple would get married then right away get divorced after the week of Sheva Brachos (believe it or not this happens!) Can they indeed still make Sheva ...
2
votes
0answers
12 views
For those who say the b'racha before lighting Yom Tov candles, when do they say shehechiyanu?
I was taught to say the b'racha on lighting yom-tov candles after lighting, just like for Shabbat, but I understand that some say the b'racha first on yom tov. For those who do and say shehechiyanu ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
Mixed swimming and a 10-year-old boy
What is the Halacha regarding a ten-year-old boy and mixed swimming? May he?
This is in a small private pool.
1
vote
0answers
13 views
Is it always a good idea to say an extra Shema' if you missed one?
According to Double AA's answer on a related question, "it can't hurt" to say an extra Shema' later if you missed the Zeman (set time) for it.
While it may be true to a certain extent that saying ...
2
votes
2answers
60 views
Per my beliefs, to which should I convert: Modern Orthodox or Conservative Judaism? [duplicate]
I was born to a Jewish father and Christian mother, following all Jewish holidays, and have always identified as a Jew and nothing else. I was frequently reminded by my friends (most of whom were ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Mishna Demai 5:11: why can't you take teruma from vadai on demai?
(Lomdus alert: this question is not for beginners.)
In Maseches Demai (5:10-11) we learn that taking teruma from a vadai (=untithed produce) on demai (=possibly untithed produce) does not work, even ...
2
votes
1answer
22 views
If you've missed Zeman Kriyas Shema, what should you do?
Suppose a fellow realizes at 9:16AM that the Gra Zeman Kriyas Shema was at 9:14 and he never said Kriyas Shema yet. Is there any gain by saying it immediately even though it is past the later Zeman ...
4
votes
1answer
30 views
Does Judaism have a default rule about child custody in the case of divorce?
In many marriages in modern times, a couple will sign a prenuptial agreement that outlines what should happen if they (chas v'shalom) get divorced. Among the things commonly agreed upon in a ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
Starting Mincha right before Shekiya
According to those who pray Mincha only up to Shekiya (sunset), are you required to finish Mincha before Shekiya or just required to begin it before Shekiya? (Sources.)
3
votes
0answers
25 views
Reliance on non-Jews for removing bugs
In discussing washing salted meat according to Halachah, there is a lengthy discussion about whether and when we can rely on a non-Jew who claims to have done it.
The Tur (Y"D 69:10) says that there ...
2
votes
1answer
22 views
What is to be done with a Sefer Torah written by an apikoreis, or by a soffer of unknown apikoreis-status?
What is to be done with a Sefer Torah written by an apikoreis, or by a soffer of unknown apikoreis-status (whether it be a question of the status of the soffer who wrote it, or if it is unknown who ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Is there a limit to what you can pray for?
Must one, should one, or can one pray every little detail of life? For example, can one pray for his sports team to win? Is there a limit of what to pray for?
2
votes
0answers
40 views
Rambam held of Timtum halev?
There is a famous story of the Rambam in the name of R' Chaim Brisker:
"When the Rambam visited Yemen, he met a certain gaon of the geonim of the time. And after the Rambam returned home, this ...
2
votes
1answer
30 views
What is the basis for the ruling that adding to a tent is permissible on Shabbath?
The Gemara in 'Eruving 102a quotes Rav as telling Rav Huna that in order to provide shade for his flock in the daytime on Shabbath yet roll back the cover in the evening for ventilation, all he has to ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Where does the tune for birkat hamazon come from?
It's hard to describe who's tune this is and I can only refer to it as the 'commonly used' or 'popular' tune for birkat hamazon. I seems like it is compiled of many unrelated tunes. At times there are ...
3
votes
0answers
15 views
Making a neder however not specifying verbally
If someone wants to make a prohibition on himself from eating apples and has some apples in front of him and uses a loshon of "konem" in his neder and says "these apples" then they become ossur. What ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
Starting a bracha in the middle of Bircas Krias Shema, what to do?
One is not allowed to say certain brachas in the middle of bircas krias shema (even "between perakim" -- between certain parts of Bircas Krias Shema.) For example Asher Yatzer, or the bracha on a ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
Bitahhon vs. Hishtadlut
In discussing the six constant mitzvot, Jewish Pathways mentions that:
"To achieve results, [one must] invest effort. But the
materials, circumstances, and ultimate result are all provided by ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Who is Tzippor?
Parashat Balak indirectly refers to Tzippor five times (by introducing Balak as "ben Tzippor"). I don't believe Rashi brings down any background regarding Tzippor. If there is little known about ...
6
votes
2answers
47 views
A child's tendency to skip words corrected/prompted by an instructor
When I am helping my young child say Birkat Hamazon or other prayers, I sometimes correct her pronunciation of a word or prompt her when she forgets what the next word is. In these situations, she ...
-2
votes
1answer
43 views
freed slaves owe their redeemer (jews owe HaShem)
if freed slaves owe their redeemer (jews owe HaShem)
how do we look on america freeing slaves
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Premixed Gatorade and Powerade aren't cheap. I'd rather buy something powdered or concentrated. What's kosher?
I'm sick today; I think it might be (mild) gastroenteritis. DuPont et al. write that "the most important form of therapy consists of fluid combined with electrolytes", citing the CDC.
I'd rather use ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Was Achashverosh drunk throughout the Megillah?
Achashverosh has almost no agency in Megillah. He basically walks around signing whatever anyone tells him to sign and making edicts out of anger. Was he totally schnockered from the half year of ...
-5
votes
0answers
34 views
Are Jews and Palestinian Arabs blood brothers? [duplicate]
There is this study that shows that Jews and Palestinians are blood brothers. If this study is correct and their DNA is almost the same, could a Palestinian Arab became a Jew? I mean if they are ...
7
votes
3answers
126 views
Why do men or boys have to cover their hair, but not unmarried women?
Whatever the reasons for covering hair (e.g. fear of heaven), they seem to equally apply to men and women. So why don't unmarried women have to cover their hair?
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Is instigating a crime through careless choices of words a violation of Lifnei 'Iver?
I would like to look at the scope of Lifnei 'Iver -- the commandment to not put a stumbling block before the blind (Lev. 19:14). Specifically, I would like to know how one is punished for the sin -- ...
-3
votes
1answer
43 views
First mention about Jews in the literature? [closed]
Do anybody know in which document in the literature (except Bible and Torah) was the first mention about Jews?
3
votes
1answer
37 views
Shouldn't the order of dayenu be reversed?
The order of the verses in Dayenu, one of the songs sung during the Pesach Seder has always troubled me. It seems to me that they should be in reverse order. For example, the first verse says
...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
What is the correct wine for kiddush in accordance with all the poskim.?
I have heard of mevushal not being used for kiddush. Now most wine labels indicate whether the wine is mevushal. But are there other things to be concerned about?
The following are halakhic concerns ...
4
votes
0answers
54 views
Verbs or Nouns in the Amidah
In the second brakhah of the amidah, מחיה is vocalized with a segol under the yud in some siddurim--making it a present-tense verb (1); and with a tzere in other siddurim--making it a noun in ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Siman 32, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch: Untranslated
I was looking through the Metsudah translation of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch when I stumbled upon Siman 32. The entire Siman was written in Hebrew, with no English translation. As far as I can tell, ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Do we know of any niggunim that date back to the Beit Hamikdash? [duplicate]
I have heard that some niggunim date back to the times of the Beit Hamikdash and I cant remember which ones! What I do remember is that they used (what we would call) a 4/4 time signature and ...
-4
votes
1answer
67 views
Why is wearing a hijab or turbans not common for Israeli jews? [closed]
Why is wearing a hijab (for women) or turbans or other towel on the head (for men) not common for Israeli Jews if the weather conditions are similar as in other countries in the region?
I mean, a ...
4
votes
1answer
42 views
Why did Miriam die in the desert?
We are told why Moshe and Aharon passed away in the desert (Bamidbar 20:12), but we are not told why Miriam died.
According to Rashi (Bamidbar 1:49, 26:64), only the men who were counted in the ...
0
votes
2answers
73 views
Why aren't we Mahmir (stringent) with just Mikvah when ruling leniently on a technicality in Niddah cases?
I know from experience and some introductory study of the laws of Niddah that rabbis typically try to find leniencies wherever possible in issues of family purity. In many instances, a Posek will rely ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Why is the word שמך vocalized differently in different places?
Gen 32:29 says:
וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ...
Thy name shall be called no more Yaakov...
But in 30 it says:
וַיִּשְׁאַל יַעֲקֹב, וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה-נָּא ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Which is the height considered 3 tefachim for not “praying in height”? (30cm?)
Recently we had to make a synagogue for one day at a hall, and we used a scaffold for the Shaliach tzibbur to be well heard by all the public.
The Scaffold was 1m x 1.5m, and I don't remember the ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Kedusha after Tefila
Today, in our Shul (in Shaharit) a man walked in a little late and I guess he didn't have enough time to catch up to our Minyan. After Tefila, he asked the Gabbai if he could say his own Shemona Esre, ...
1
vote
0answers
46 views
Hair covering in photos [duplicate]
Another question asks whether pictures of erva are erva. My question assumes, for the sake of argument, that they are, and asks: May a married woman show photos of herself with her hair uncovered that ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Who did “וַיֹּצִאֵנוּ” in Num. 20:16?
Chukas 20:16:
וַנִּצְעַק אֶל ה׳ וַיִּשְׁמַע קֹלֵנוּ וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָךְ וַיֹּצִאֵנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם…
In translation:
and we called out to God, and he heard our voice, and he sent ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
A woman's singing voice when there are other singing voices
There is a famous Teshuva of the Sridei Aish, Rabbi Yaakov Yechiel Weinberg, that permits one to hear kol isha (a women's singing voice) when there are other people singing.
Where is this Teshuva ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
A practical guide to Jewish neighborhoods and communities in Israel
Can anyone recommend a guide to Jewish neighborhoods and communities in Israel that includes information on as many as possible among the following categories?
good for families with young children
...
2
votes
0answers
19 views
Re-planting on Shabbath
If a plant was uprooted, is it considered a Melachah of planting to re-soil it on Shabbath? The simplest example would probably be that a child pulled a plant out of its pot on, or immediately ...
5
votes
0answers
51 views
BT emailing non-observant family
A given person is ba'al teshuva. Though s/he is now Shabbat observant, his/her immediate and extended family is not.
Can/should this individual write an email to his/her family (who live in Israel) ...
4
votes
2answers
47 views
Difference between חֵטְא and עֲבֵרָה
Is there a difference between a חֵטְא (cheit) and an עֲבֵרָה (aveira)? I translate both of those words as "sin." Maybe they signify a different level of magnitude? Or maybe one word is simply ...
3
votes
2answers
87 views
Leaving work in time for Shabbat
Candle-lighting time in my city starts 5 mins after I technically finish work, but it takes me about 15 minutes to drive home from work - sometimes longer if the traffic is bad. Is this a violation of ...
