All Questions
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Making a delayed havdallah from Motzei Shabbos on the night of Rosh HaShanah
The Biur Halacha in Siman 299 brings an interesting opinion from the Magen Avraham. If someone was fasting (and had taken on to fast for a few days) and wasn't able to make havdallah Motzei Shabbos ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
How much is an ashkenazi kesuba today
A standard Ashkenazi kesuba is a document no different to a post dated cheque; there is nothing religious or holy about it. It says that the man will pay his wife upon divorce or death the sum of 200 ...
1
vote
0answers
192 views
May a Jew own/operate a blog open to comments?
In light of recent events I would like to know if a Jew may own and operate a blog or website which is open to comments if it is found that comments can often contain lashon hara, rechilus or motzei ...
4
votes
0answers
63 views
How should parents divide wedding expenses with their child's future in-laws
Today there are many different practices that have been "adopted" (not formally though) among the various Jewish communities on how the parents of an engaged couple divide up the expenses of the ...
5
votes
1answer
45 views
Mistake in aliyah on Rosh Chodesh
On Rosh Chodesh we have four aliyos by Krias HaTorah.
Rosh Chodesh fell out on Monday and by mistake it was read by the first aliyah of Kohen the Parsha of that week. After the aliyah was finished ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Can members of Hatzalah learn how to deliver a baby?
This seems like a very simple thing. Is there anything wrong with male members of hatzalaha (a frum Jewish emergency medical organization) learning how to deliver a baby? I recently heard that ...
2
votes
2answers
303 views
Pleasure of woman at the end of relations (source in Chazal?)
I heard that it says in chazal the woman only has pleasure at the end ("gamar bia") of tashmish (relations). Is there any source/citation for this?
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Tachanun on Pesach Sheni - sources for the diffferent customs
Some say Tachanun on Pesach Sheni (14 Iyar); some do not; some do not say Tachanun on 14 & 15 Iyar.
What are the sources for these customs?
See related Why do we do anything for Pesach Sheini? ...
11
votes
1answer
175 views
Where did the sing-song chant that Jews often use while contrasting points come from?
I am having a very hard time coming up with a good way to describe the phenomenon that I am thinking of, but many people will recognize it. I am talking about the kind of singing rhythm that people ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Source for Rav Avraham Yosef's ruling on Ba'alei Teshuva
A friend mentioned, and I read the same here, that Rav Avraham Yosef and/or Rav Ovadiah Yosef ruled that Ba'alei Teshuva in Israel (with no direct masoret of their own) should adopt the Sepharadi ...
5
votes
1answer
58 views
Was Ruth beautiful?
The Tanach seems to make a big deal out of the beauty of certain women, including Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Esther, but no mention of is made regarding Ruth's appearance. This seems particularly odd ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is the expression “we do not rely on 'bar elahin'” a reference to Christianity?
The prayer Brich Shmeh from the Zohar Vayakhel 206a, which is recited during the Torah service, contains the statement ולא על בר אלהין סמיכנא. All the translations I've seen render "bar elahin" as ...
-4
votes
0answers
39 views
Why is the Torah not written in Latin? [closed]
I have searched and was told that Latin was just an interpretation of the original scriptures. If it is so, then why do so many other original articles points in a different direction.
In my opinion, ...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Eating new grains on the 17th vs the 18th of Nisan
The Shulhan 'Aruch (OC 489:10) states:
אסור לאכול חדש אף בזמן הזה בין לחם בין קלי בין כרמל עד תחלת ליל יח בניסן ובארץ ישראל עד תחלת ליל יז בניסן
"It is forbidden to eat new (grains) even ...
2
votes
0answers
143 views
Can we teach reading Hebrew without using the full names of the letters and vowels?
I've heard in Chabad and elsewhere that when teaching children to read Hebrew, one must call the letters and vowels only by their full traditional name. This is in my opinion very distracting for a ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
Will prophecy return in the time of Mashiach?
Will the there be prophets in the times of Moshiach? Will everyone have some level of prophecy in the time of Mashiach? Or is prophecy gone forever?
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Rambam and Eliyahu Hanavi and Mosiach
Why in the Rambam when he speaks of what will happen when Mosiach comes there is no mention of Eliyahu Hanavi when in the gemara [Eiruvin 43b] it says that Eliyahu will come first like it says in the ...
7
votes
2answers
160 views
Would Adam and Chava have been permitted the tree of knowledge if they'd waited?
I've long been somewhat troubled by the episode with the tree in the garden, because it seems like it was necessary for man to acquire knowledge (how else could we enter a covenant and accept the yoke ...
0
votes
0answers
132 views
Is male and female masturbation Biblically (“miDeoraita”) prohibited?
Is male and female masturbation Biblically ("miDeoraita") prohibited? If it is, where do we learn this from? Please provide sources. Thank you.
2
votes
0answers
78 views
Have the empires of old perished?
I remember being taught when I was younger that the fact that Jews are around is a testimony to the eternity of our religion; that we survived them all and that they are no longer.
I am unaware ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Numbered breakdown of Mishnayos? [duplicate]
I'm setting up a daily learning schedule of Mishnayos. I need to find a summary of all masechtos, and how many mishnayos are in each chapter. A simple Google failed to yield any such listing.
...
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Does a Jewish idolater's pouring of non-mevushal wine make that wine forbidden to himself?
We see from this answer that wine poured by a Jew who rejects Judaism is yayin nesech. Would that cause the wine to be forbidden even to himself, or is it only forbidden to others? Would he be ...
5
votes
3answers
123 views
What's wrong with being haughty?
We find many times in tanach and chazal (eg Sota 5a) where humbleness is praised and haughtiness is condemned. I would like to understand why that is. A person can conceivably fulfill all the ...
4
votes
0answers
168 views
Naming after the Patriarchs/Matriarchs and Biblical heroes
Nowadays it is very common for Jews to name their children after the Patriarchs, Matriarchs, and Biblical heroes.
But it doesn't seem (to me) as though this was very common until well into the period ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
Responding to “that's not a Jewish name”
My ancestry is not eastern-European, and sometimes when I meet people in a Jewish setting and we introduce ourselves, I'm met with "that's not a Jewish name" (referring to my last name, mostly). I ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Renting building from a church
The question of renting a hall in a Church to use for a simcha (bar mitzvah) has been discussed. I have a similar question, however a little different.
There is a Christian church that owns a large ...
3
votes
2answers
42 views
Kitniyos or Matzah Ashira?
Ashkanazim are forbidden to eat kitniyos or matzah ashira (matzah made with fruit juices) on Pesach. If an Ashkanazi would be sick (or when dealing with an older person) and would have to eat either ...
4
votes
2answers
141 views
Sitting shiva for non-Jewish relatives?
Should one sit shiva for a non-Jewish relative? Say your mother is Jewish and your father is not, and he dies.
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Apostate Jew performing mitzvahs
It has been discussed many times on this site that a non-Jew may not observe Shabbat (in addition to various other mitzvot that are prohibited to non-Jews). We have also seen that a Jew who renounces ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Is there a concept of time in Gan Eden and the world to come?
Does Time exist in Gan Eden and the world to come. I heard that you cant get bored of these places since there's no time there. Also heard midrash that Yitchak Aviinu went to Gan Eden for 2 years ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
If a non-jew steals is he liable to the death penalty?
Stealing is a Noahide commandment. If a non-jew violates a Noahide commandment he is obligated to die. That means if he steals a penny or something he's obligated to death?
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Throwing out food with “questionable” hechsher - bal tashchis?
If one receive cooked food from a person that perhaps used ingrediants from a hechsher that one normally wouldn't eat is it bal tashchis to throw out the food?
With packaged, store-bought food it ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Ashkenazi unsure whether he or she counted the 'Omer one night
According to the Daily Halacha website:
If a person is unsure whether or not he counted a day of the Omer, and cannot determine conclusively if he had counted or if he had missed that day, he ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
Why is a utensil required when washing one's hands after bathroom use?
I am under the impression that one is required to wash one's hands with a utensil (typically, the same type of cup used to wash before bread) after using the bathroom.
Firstly, what is the source of ...
6
votes
1answer
49 views
Hatoras Nedarim for wife taking her husband's Minhagim
According to Minchas Yaakov 112:2 and Darchei Teshuva 112:94, one who is always careful with Pas Yisrael and now wants to start eating Pas Paltar would have to be Matir Neder. Suppose a girl who was ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
Why is Orpah listed first?
In Rus 1:4 it says that Naomi's two sons married to Moabite women, Orpah and Rus. We know that Rus married Machlon (4:10) the older brother and Orpah, Rus's sister (Rus Rabba 2:9) married Kilyon. Why ...
11
votes
3answers
236 views
Why do plastic bags and not fuselages protect against impurity?
In a picture on this article, we see a kohen who has enclosed himself in a plastic bag so as to avoid becoming impure as a result of flying over a cemetery. Why is it that a pressurized fuselage does ...
1
vote
1answer
148 views
What is a non-Jew's purpose in life?
What does a non-Jew have to do in life? Why did God create non-Jews?
A Jews purpose in life is to learn Torah and do Mitzvos. What should a non-jew be spending his time doing?
2
votes
0answers
68 views
Is a Jew able to go hunting?
What is the Halacha in regard to whether or not a person can go hunting? What have Poskim said on this issue?
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Using water filter/purification system on Shabbos
(Being asked as a theoretical question. Obviously everyone should ask their LOR.)
There is a water filter (or purifier) that works in the following way:
The water flows into a part where there is ...
-1
votes
1answer
102 views
What's the Hebrew idiom for “what's his name” or “What's his face”
I vaguely remember some phrase used in Torah discussions such as "moni palomy" or "moni plamoni" that means "John Doe" or "What's his name" or "John Q Public". Seems like it was used in Ester, but I ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Why is the seder “beseder” (in order)?
Is there any halachic reason why we do the seder in the order that we do? It seems that many of the components of the seder are halachically mandated, but is there any halachic mandate that we do them ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Satmar Rebbe's opinion on Mechitza
Where could I find the opinion of the Satmar Rebbe (Rav Yoel) zt'l on the height and laws pertaining to the Mechitzah?
-3
votes
1answer
72 views
Seeking examples of various gematria methods [closed]
Wikipedia lists various methods of calculating gematrias.
Mispar Hechrachi (absolute value) that uses full numerical value of the twenty-two letters. Sometimes its also called Mispar ha-Panim ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
Can the descendants of a mamzer ever become full Jews?
Is there any way for the descendants of a mamzer to ever become Jews with full rights, or are they stuck with mamzerus forever? For example, if a man who is a mamzer marries a non-Jew, and then their ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views
Can a shul give an aliyah to an openly gay Jewish man when it gives aliyah to people who violate Shabbos?
In a Young Israel shul I've attended, the rabbi would not allow the gabbaim to give Jewish men an aliyah if there is reason to believe that the person is openly gay (and acts on his inclination), ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Ana B'Koach authorship and the 42 letter name of Hashem
In my Artscroll siddur it tells me that the hymn Ana B'Koach was written by the tanna, Rebbi Nechunia ben HaKana and that the first letter of each word can be used to form the 42 letter name of ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Chasam Sofer on innovation
There is a famous quote of the Chasam Sofer, in which he applies the principle stated in Mishna 'Orlah 3:9 (החדש אסור מן התורה בכל מקום) to the question of innovation within Judaism. Rather than ...
2
votes
0answers
50 views
Origin of using priestly blessing on Friday night
I know why we use Ephraim and Menashe when blessing the children on Friday nights, (see: Why Does Hashem Bless Us Like Efraim And Menashe?) but why do we use Birkat Kohanim? Is there any specific ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Writing Sefer Torah for Melech (King)
It says in the Mishnah (Sanhedrin Daf 21b):
וכותב לו ס"ת לשמו
— that a Sefer Torah should be written for the King "l'shmo". What does l'shmo in this case mean: for the "sake of the King"? ...
