-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 ...
5
votes
2answers
249 views
Wine made/handled by non-religious Jews
Assume for the purposes of the question that all circumstances are the same as if the wine had been made/handled by non-Jews. I don't want answers regarding whether it is Mevushal or whether Mevushal ...
9
votes
2answers
385 views
Daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man
Is a Kohen allowed to marry a woman who is the daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man?
6
votes
1answer
527 views
Heter for not Covering Hair
Is there any Shut sefer or other that permits a women not covering her hair NOT the Aruch Hashulchan saying it is not Ervah but allowing a women to go out in modern times with their Hair uncovered?
4
votes
0answers
52 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
Should one living in Israel leave?
The Torah commands us, ‘Venishmartem meod lenafshotechem' ['You shall take care exceedingly of your lives' — Deut. 4:15).
It seems anyone living in Israel is in grave danger due to the recent ...
6
votes
4answers
936 views
Kosher Electric Shavers
Which electric shavers are halakhically acceptable for shaving a man's beard?
0
votes
1answer
37 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, ...
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, ...
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
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
238 views
14
votes
9answers
289 views
SE Challenge: Halachot in which rulings range from permissible to Torah violation?
Inspired by my previous question regarding heating up soup on Shabbat, I present a challenge to the Judaism StackExchange community --
List halachot which have halachic decisions ranging from ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Hagales celim in “tzir”
When one wants to make celim (vessels) Kosher by purging non-Kosher absorbed tastes from it, one method is hagaleh, which normally is done with water. The Rema says in SA OC Siman 452:5 that b'dieved ...
5
votes
4answers
191 views
Amalekim's disguise as Canaanites in Chukas
Rashi (in parshas Chukas perek 21 pasuk 1) says that Amalek attacked the Jews, and that the pasuk calls them Canaanites because the Amaleikim had learned the Canaanite language (so the Jews would pray ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
What is the Purpose of Punishments in the Afterlife?
What is the purpose of punishments in the afterlife (Gehinom, kaf hakela, gilgulim, etc.)? Are all of them for cleaning up the person from the consequences of his bad deeds and therefore for his ...
5
votes
1answer
62 views
Aharon's and Miriam's Yahrtzeit
The Book of Numbers spans almost the entire 40 year period in the desert, documenting numerous events that occurred to the Jews as they wandered. I count only 5 dates mentioned in the text (listed in ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Why is semicha specifically to ordain a Rabbi to give psak?
Was the original process of semicha merely intended to provide reliable decisors of halacha only?
Nowadays can a Rav get semicha in Tanach or Talmud (for example)? Since, perhaps, these days the ...
3
votes
1answer
123 views
Importance of learning grammar
What are the traditional Jewish opinions about the importance of learning and speaking Hebrew with proper grammar (dikduk)?
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Does one mourn during the days following Shavuot?
We say the four verses starting "Yehi Shem" (instead of Tachanun) after Shavuot because of the bringing of the Korbanot. Does this have any impact on mourning after Shavuot?
7
votes
1answer
58 views
Mezuzah on a Two-Room Bathroom
This question is a bit complicated:
Let's say I have a two-room bathroom. The first room is a room with sinks and mirrors and the second room has the actual toilets. The first room and second room are ...
5
votes
1answer
241 views
What is the appropriate response of someone outside Israel during a war?
During a war or large scale military operation what are some of the best things for a person living in chutz l'arertz to do? Is saying tehillim and doing extra chesed enough? Should a person run to ...
2
votes
2answers
180 views
Why “hayom yom rishon”, not “echad”?
Rabbi Menachem Greenblatt (St. Louis, Missouri) mentioned at s'uda sh'lishis (Shabas parashas "Ki Setze" 5772) that the correct name for Sunday is echad b(a?)shabas, as is written in k'suvos and ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Postmortem organ donation in halacha
I know we generally accord respect to our dead, which includes not mangling their bodies. On the other hand, obviously saving lives is more important than, well, almost anything, including respect for ...
6
votes
1answer
32 views
Why reverse Mishle verses' order?
When putting the Torah scroll back in its cabinet, we — at least most Ashk'nazim — say (among other things) "עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר. דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views
Is there a special significance of 4 directions as opposed to 6?
According to halacha, when a person says the word "echad" (אחד) in Shema:
בדלי"ת צריך להאריך יותר כדי שיעור שיחשוב שהקב"ה יחיד בעולמו ומושל בד' רוחות העולם
[One should] draw out the dale more ...
6
votes
2answers
349 views
How were Achiman, Sheshai and Talmai “Sons of Giants”?
In Bamidbar 13:22, the Torah tells us that the spies saw Achiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the sons of Giants. Rashi tells us they were the descendants of Shamchazai and Azael, angels who fell from heaven ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Preparing a dish on Shabbos by night for the day time (in regards to Borer)
It says in SA OC Siman 321 Sif 19 in the Rema that normally it's ossur to peel garlic or onions however that's only to leave them to eat at a later time. However if it's being done to eat right away ...
3
votes
2answers
115 views
Is it a popular notion that a Jew should “have at least three children…”?
I have heard it said, "Every Jew must have at least three children (though more is preferable). Two to replace the parents when they die, and at least one more to make up for those lost in the ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
Amira Lakum: say you can't say?
One is not allowed to tell a non-Jew to do a melacha on shabbas, but one can hint and say "it is cold in here", hoping he will realize and shut the air conditioner.
Is one allowed to explain to the ...
0
votes
3answers
138 views
Why did God reveal himself only before there were recording devices?
Inspired by this:
For most of what's written in Tanakh, the only evidence that we have of its truth is Tanakh itself. Since many people are skeptical of a book with no independent sources backing up ...
3
votes
1answer
115 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 ...
5
votes
5answers
199 views
Learning Medieval Arabic
Anyone know of a good book to learn Arabic in order to unlock the Moreh Nevuchim and other seforim?
2
votes
1answer
171 views
What is a person's consciousness in the next world?
I have heard in the name of the baalei mussar that the same consciousness you have in this world carries through to the next. In other words the same "I" that you relate to in this world remains the ...
1
vote
1answer
202 views
Was the Hebrew Alphabet also given with the Tablets and Law?
My research for my answer to Which alphabet were the original Torah scrolls in? gave me an idea--Since the Early Alphabetic alphabet is also called Sinaitic, and the timing seems about right, maybe ...
1
vote
0answers
52 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
...
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 ...
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
49 views
What is the source of the expression המבין יבין?
The Forward writer Philologos in his most recent column claimed that the earliest uses of the expression והמבין יבין are found in the Ra'avad and in the Radak. Based on the fact that both these ...
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 ...
-4
votes
2answers
86 views
What is the view of Judaism or majority Jews towards Islam? [closed]
Islam claim to know Abrahamic religion or Judaism, whatever it is, better than Jews themselves. What is the view of the majority Jews in this matter? (I hope this fits the site guidelines)
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Is there a tikkun to say/do when your relationship is in danger?
Has anyone come across a tikkun for a spouse during a separation?
2
votes
0answers
36 views
Fruits and Vegetables Prepared With Treif Utensils
Can I eat e.g. a watermelon cut with a treif (non-kosher) knife on a treif cutting board and stored in a treif container?
15
votes
2answers
307 views
Jews under Charlemagne
Jews under Charlemagne in the 8th century and the Carolingian emperors were accredited food providers in addition to providing wine for Christian mass. I am looking for halachic responses to these ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Flying on Shabbos
Would I be able to get on a direct flight that leaves Friday afternoon and lands on Motzei Shabbos?
How would this be different from getting on a boat before Shabbos and getting off the boat at your ...
