All Questions
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Tattoo of an image of idolatry
According to this exhaustive article on the subject of tattooing in Halachah, there is an important opinion with many ramifications that states that one is only liable for the biblical prohibition of ...
3
votes
0answers
29 views
Why were מִישָׁאֵל and אֶלְצָפָן chosen to remove Nadav and Avihu?
There were many other people who could have been chosen to remove the dead bodies of Nadav and Avihu from the Mishkan (Vayikra 10:4). Why were מִישָׁאֵל and אֶלְצָפָן chosen for this task as opposed ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
What did Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai argue about for three years?
Eiruvin 13b records a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai that went on for three years, after which a bat kol (voice from heaven) intervened. The point of bringing this story here in the ...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Making bedikas chometz early — ossur in malacha, eating, learning?
When someone leaves their home within 30 days of Pesach without someone to be bodek it from chometz, they themselves have to be bodek it early (See Siman 436.) In the normal case of bedikas chometz ...
3
votes
0answers
76 views
Good Talmudic Grammar resource for one unfamiliar with grammar in general?
Inspired by: How to say Adonainu Moreinu VeRabeinu in Aramaic
I'd like to understand Talmudic/Aramaic Grammar a little better and am looking for a good resource that will break it down for me.
...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone of suffering?
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone (a human or an animal) of suffering? I am talking about excruciating suffering, not merely discomfort, and I am not talking about ...
3
votes
0answers
24 views
Why is the wording of these cases in the Mishna arbitrarily split?
In the משנה in בבא מציעא ב:ג there are three cases in the first part:
Finding tied birds behind a fence (גפה)
Finding tied birds behing a wall (גדר)
Finding tied birds in the pathways in the field ...
3
votes
0answers
65 views
Correcting tav/sav
If someone who usually pronounces the letter "ת" without a dagesh as "sav" is leining Torah, and he accidentally says "tav" in a place where he would normally say "sav", should the gabbai correct him? ...
3
votes
0answers
41 views
Can egg Matzo be used to make an Eruv Chatzeiros on Pesach?
Inspired by Matzah eruvin on erev Pesach
Can egg Matzo be used to make an Eruv Chatzeiros on Pesach? On Pesach, Ashkenazim do not eat egg Matzo; however, it is not Chometz. In certain instances it ...
3
votes
0answers
25 views
Shliach Tzibbur and Tashlumim for missed tefillah
The M"B in Siman 108 Sif-Katan 4 brings that someone who missed a tefillah and is now the shliach tzibbur may use the chazaras ha'shatz for his tashlumim.
(Makor in Radbaz Siman 361.)
The Radbaz ...
3
votes
0answers
30 views
How can saying vidui for a dying person substitute for his own confession?
The Mishna at Sanhedrin 6:2 says that anyone who confesses his sins before dying has a share in the World to Come. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch at 193:13 says that when visiting a sick person who is ...
3
votes
0answers
79 views
Can a born-Jew who converted out of Judaism be buried in an Orthodox Jewish cemetery?
We've discussed previously that halacha prohibits the burial of non-Jews in the same cemetery as Jews. But what about born-Jews who converted out? What about Jews who were simply atheists?
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
votes
0answers
60 views
Pretending in kiyum hamitzvot
When a woman (or, if need be, a man) lights candles for Shabbat, she covers her eyes before making the bracha to "pretend" that the candles aren't lit yet because we generally say the bracha before ...
3
votes
0answers
61 views
On what basis do we understand references to Orion and the Pleiades in Iyov?
Iyov 38:31-32 reads:
הַתְקַשֵּׁר מַעֲדַנּוֹת כִּימָה אוֹ מוֹשְׁכוֹת כְּסִיל תְּפַתֵּחַ:
. הֲתֹצִיא מַזָּרוֹת בְּעִתּוֹ וְעַיִשׁ עַל בָּנֶיהָ תַנְחֵם:
Can you tie the chains of the Pleiades ...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
Should I only make one Berachah, or should I make one on each different food?
When I was in "Pirchei" boys' youth groups as a child, at snack time I was taught to make a "Mezonos" on my cake, "Shehakol" on my drink, and "Haetz" on my sliced fruit. Then, at the end, the group ...
3
votes
0answers
40 views
Becoming Deaf and Mute
It was my understanding that the halakha differentiates between a person who cannot hear and one who can neither speak nor hear, despite the fact that the Hebrew word חרש is used for both (cf, for ...
3
votes
0answers
66 views
Do other Chasidic communities follow Shulchan Aruch HaRav?
The Maggid of Mezeritch told the Baal HaTanya to put together a Shulchan Aruch for Chasidim. The result is the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, which is used as a final authority for halacha in Chabad ...
3
votes
0answers
68 views
Strike chest in “S'lach lanu” on Shabas?
Suppose someone is praying maariv, shacharis, or mincha on Shabas, starts the weekday amida's blessings, and then realizes, amid those weekday blessings, that he should be saying the amida of Shabas. ...
3
votes
0answers
57 views
Why all the repetition in Ⅰ M'lachim 6?
Ⅰ M'lachim, chapter 6, describes part of the building of the first bes hamikdash. What follows is a rough translation in line with the commentaries.
First, though, note that the structure was divided ...
3
votes
0answers
74 views
How to respond to a non-Jew who asks to shovel your snow on shabbos?
If a non-Jew asks if he may shovel your snow on shabbos what is the proper halachic response? Does it make a difference if he is asking to do this for pay (not previously arranged before shabbos)?
3
votes
0answers
51 views
Selling land to Gentile to build Church
In YD Siman 151 it discusses the things that one is allowed and not allowed to sell to a gentile (for reasons that they might be used for Avodah Zara -- idol worship). I didn't see the following ...
3
votes
0answers
72 views
Ashkanazim paskening like Rema
Was it always a straightforward presumption ("davar pashut") that in general the Ashkanazim should decide Halachic questions ("pasken") in accordance with the Rema over the Machaber/Beis Yosef (when ...
3
votes
0answers
67 views
Scheduling a USPS Pickup for Shabbos
So it turns out that the USPS has a feature where you can ask them to come and pickup a package. So you go online to their site, enter your information, choose a date for the pickup, and tell them ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
When does trash become muktsa on Shabbos?
My granddaughters will go the candy-man in shul on Shabbos, unwrap their lolly-pops, and hand me their wrappers. If I understand muktsa to mean something which has no purpose for me on Shabbos, then ...
3
votes
0answers
47 views
Understanding the servants' hard/soft hearts
In Parshas Bo (10:1) we read that God hardened the hearts of Pharaoh's servants - כִּי אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאֶת לֵב עֲבָדָיו. The Ohr HaChaim explains that this is so that the servants ...
3
votes
0answers
52 views
Understanding hachnasas orchim
Is hachnasas orchim (welcoming guests) a mitzvah (either of biblical or rabbinic origin)? If not why is it considered more important than greeting the divine presence (bereshis 18:3 Rashi)? Does it ...
3
votes
0answers
96 views
Would time travel be assur/mutar?
Inspired by this question which the author states is not a question of issur/heter. Assuming time travel is possible (to the future or past) is there any reason it should be assur?
3
votes
0answers
60 views
What happens to the soul when dozing for a minute or ten?
Tradition tells us the soul leaves the body when sleeping. Is the same true when drowsing in a chair, which is usually not a deep sleep and you are still aware of background noise?
3
votes
0answers
115 views
If my kavanah is towards the Islamic idea of God, am I yotzei?
I have been reading through the various questions about Islam and its relationship to Judaism, and about the Rambam's view that Islam is a monotheistic religion and not idolatry and I am wondering: If ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
אלקים בגימטריא הטבע and not טבע?
There's a oft quoted saying that "אלקים בגימטריא הטבע." Why is it הטבע and not טבע? Isn't it "cheating" to add the extra "ה"?
3
votes
0answers
65 views
Sources for supporting a married couple
The way I understand, it has become common in recent times for the parents of the girl, to offer a monthly stipend for a period of time after marriage. Is there a source for doing this?
3
votes
0answers
62 views
Which kings stay in bed to the third hour of the day?
It says in the Gemara that we can say Shma until the third hour since that's when kings get up.
What kings are we talking about? Jewish kings weren't around until much later, so Sof Zman Krias Shema ...
3
votes
0answers
141 views
Minhag not to learn Torah on the night of Nitel (Who and where)
This related question explains what this minhag is and a couple of reasons for it.
I was wondering to what extent is this minhag practiced today apart from Chabad (see Hayom Yom - 17 Tevet)...do all ...
3
votes
0answers
67 views
Famine in Egypt
Question: How can there be a famine in egypt?
Parshas Miketz and Vayigash discuss a famine in Egypt and the world. Rashi's comments to Eikev 11:10 that the Nile's annual flooding was critical for ...
3
votes
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Best practices for long-distance Nihum Aveilim and Kavod HaMeith
What are some best practices for people who learn from afar of the passing of an individual (not immediate family) and who want show their respects to the deceased and the surviving family?
If they ...
3
votes
0answers
131 views
Children of Converts and Specific halachos
The Pri Megadim in OC Siman 156 Ashel Avraham Sif-Katan 2 writes that a child that was conceived in kedusha (sanctity) and born in kedusha to a mother and father that had both converted (i.e. these 2 ...
3
votes
0answers
54 views
A shorter person with a normal sized tallis katan
A theoretical question: If a young person (a boy for example that is 13 yrs old) that happens to be very short (not because of any physical disability) wears a normal size tallis katan it will be very ...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
“Yichud L'Olam” in Hilchos Muktzeh
In Hilchos Muktzeh we find there is an idea that even a rock ("evan") one can be m'yached (set aside) for a certain purpose allowing one to move it around on Shabbos (See SA OC Siman 308 Sif 22.) ...
3
votes
0answers
47 views
Is there a sourced edition of Tz'enah Ur'enah?
Tz'enah Ur'enah looks like a worthwhile collection of midrashim -- insightful, accessible, and physically easy to read (this last is why I'm less likely to curl up with my Sefer Ha-Aggadah for an ...
3
votes
0answers
85 views
Why is the total count of Noah's life 950 years when the year of the flood took a full year cycle?
The Posuk says that Noah was 600 years when he went into the Teivah (Bereshit 7:6,11). Rashi (Bereshit 8:14) and the rest of the Mefarshim say that the flood took an entire year to complete. The Posuk ...
3
votes
0answers
73 views
Could one today be blessed with the wisdom of Solomon and love of David?
I am a Muslim, And I would like to know what the Jewish perspective is about attaining the wisdom of Solomon (may peace and blessings be upon him) and the love for G_d of David (may peace and ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
What did mikdash workers eat?
Groups of Jews not from shevet Levi would work in the bes hamikdash, a week at a time. Their primary responsibility was attendance: being present when korb'nos tzibur, public offerings, were brought. ...
3
votes
0answers
39 views
Hataras Nedarim for 12 yr old boy
When a boy reaches 12 years old, his nedarim (vows) are considered to be binding. However, I don't believe I've ever seen a 12 year old boy make Hataras Nedarim on Erev Rosh HaShanah. Is there a ...
3
votes
0answers
22 views
Shemonei Esrei regarding the seasons in Divine Might
Every time I pray the Amidah, I get very hesitant regarding what season is appropriate for me to pray. I live in the southern hemisphere in a tropical climate. Therefore, we have one season dry and ...
3
votes
0answers
111 views
Maimonides on Circumcision
These are not questions about circumcision. They are about what Maimonides said about the practice.
I would to know if the following things do, or do not, in fact represent things Maimonides said ...
3
votes
0answers
88 views
A Mashal of HaShem as a crazy king and Moshe as His weak-kneed friend?
The Gemara (Ber. 32a) quotes R' El'azar that when HaShem wanted to destroy Bnei Yisrael and Moshe intervened, it is comparable to a king who beat his son terribly, and the king's friend was at his ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
What is the reason for the lights lit on the desk of the prayer leader?
What is the reason for the candles or lights lit on the desk of the chazzan (prayer leader)?
In a shul today I saw candles lit on a table at least 6 feet from the reader. Does that fulfill the ...
3
votes
0answers
60 views
Berachah LeVatalah (blessing in vain) retroactively
Can a Berachah be made LeVatalah retroactively?
What if you eat something that is spoiled, not realizing it until a bite or two in? You would not make a Berachah on spoiled food. But if you did, ...
