All Questions
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
4 views
Does Genesis 2:4 say there was only one day of creation?
Right after it says all the different parts of the world and sky being created on six separate days and rest on the seventh, it says, "These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they ...
9
votes
3answers
96 views
Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues?
Why did Moshe and Aaron need to use a staff in initiating the plagues?
Such as in שמות פרק ז פסוק יט:
יט. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל מֵימֵי ...
6
votes
0answers
53 views
Can one trust the Kashrut of Alcoholic Beverages in bars?
Kosher Organizations, like the CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council, supply lists of alcohol recommended for purchase and consumption.
May one purchase these alcoholic beverages from a bar (where the ...
2
votes
0answers
19 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(the market value increased.)
If the value of the gold bar increased in value rapidly at the time of the theft.
(the loss of the investment ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Are Kol Ishah and seeing a woman's exposed hair Isurim DeRabbanan according to the Shulhan 'Aruch?
According to the Shulhan 'Aruch (Even Ha'Ezer 21:1), it is:
ואסור לשמוע קול ערוה או לראות שערה. והמתכוין לאחד מאלו הדברים, מכין אותו מכת מרדות. ואלו הדברים אסורים גם בחייבי לאוין.
Forbidden ...
3
votes
0answers
19 views
Doctor's mistake and homicide
The mishnah in Makkos (beginning of 2nd chapter) teaches that if the person inadvertently killed someone through performing a mitzvah, the murder is exempt from the punishment of exile, which I ...
7
votes
0answers
45 views
Satmar Derech Halimud
I was curious as to what the Derech Halimud (learning style) is for Satmar Chassidim. I understand that the general Chassidish Derech (Chassidic style) is one that moves at a quicker pace with not as ...
4
votes
1answer
40 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
173 views
Why are people going back to paskining like the Rambam?
I have heard personally (and seen in chat) people (who are not Teimanim [for whom there is a tradition to rule like the Rambam]) ruling like the Rambam. I have heard that he has the authentic ...
6
votes
1answer
87 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
26 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?
5
votes
2answers
48 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 ...
8
votes
0answers
107 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
39 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 ...
10
votes
3answers
184 views
Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?
Rabbis such as Abudraham have explained a woman's exemption from positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot shehazman grama) in terms of a woman's ongoing and preliminary role in supporting her ...
4
votes
3answers
212 views
2
votes
0answers
40 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?
5
votes
1answer
63 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, ...
2
votes
2answers
239 views
Attending a relative's non-Jewish wedding in a non-Jewish place of worship?
Could somebody attend his non-Jewish relatives' wedding ceremony if they are held, let's say, in a church or a Buddhist temple?
3
votes
1answer
51 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Is there an inyan to eat Cheesecake on Shavuos?
I know everybody does it, and I know there is an inyan to eat dairy, but is there an inyan specifically for eating cheesecake on Shavuos? And if so, where does it come from?
9
votes
1answer
119 views
Prounciation - IM vs YIM? with ים ending
I've read that ידים is to be pronounced ya- DAI - im, yet שמים is to be pronounced sha-MAI-yim.
Both end the same, but are pronounced differently. (This was from a text purporting to teach "Biblical ...
12
votes
3answers
198 views
May a Jewish cemetery refuse a body?
Based on a recent news item wherein cemeteries have been refusing to inter the body of one of the (alleged) Boston bombers, I am curious whether a Jewish cemetery's operators are allowed to refuse to ...
4
votes
2answers
58 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
45 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
632 views
Powdered Milk - Chalav Yisroel
I have a child with a milk allergy. He will be undergoing a "baked milk" food challenge shortly. For this I need to bake him muffins with powdered milk.
I have found several brands of kosher powdered ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Why do some Jewish groups wear a uniform?
My impression of male Chareidi Jews is that they only ever wear a white shirt with a black suit shoes and hat, no tie. I also get the impression that particular other (possibly Chassidic) groups have ...
2
votes
2answers
85 views
Does a synagogue have the right to dispose of objects abandoned there?
A particular synagogue has large numbers of abandoned tallesim and tefilin in the drawers in the chapel.
Does the synagogue have the right to dispose of objects abandoned there?
Does the law change ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
118 views
Rushing through the end of הלל
Why is it that everywhere I ever davened, when saying הלל
, after "...אנא ידוד", people speed through "...ברוך הבא" and especially by יהללוך.
Why is this? Is it some Halacha? Segula?
Its not like ...
3
votes
3answers
190 views
Riddle: Aruch Hashulchan. Chanukah story missing a word [closed]
A reading of the Aruch Hashulchan's description of the Miracle of Chanukah shows that there is a word he didn't use. What is it and why ?
8
votes
2answers
192 views
Why has the Mishnah Berurah become the Authoritative Halachik Work instead of the Aruch haShulchan?
Hirhurim just had a post about this topic, where he discussed some reasons that people should follow the aruch haShulchan. Yet in many circles, people just follow the Mishna Berura and rarely even ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Source in the Aruch HaShulchan to not motzi (exempt) others with after-bracha on mezonot foods
The Aruch HaShulchan has an opinion on whether one person can motzi (exempt) a crowd with a bracha acharona (after-bracha) on mezonot foods. It is along the lines of it is better not to have one ...
6
votes
1answer
111 views
Why is the Aruch Hashulchan on Even Haezer incomplete?
The Aruch Hashulchan is written on the whole Shulchan Aruch, and even has sections on Halacha that is not currently applicable (Aruch Hashulchan Ha'asid). Yet he never finished Even Haezer.
Why?
1
vote
1answer
69 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
94 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
107 views
What's “chosen” about Jews?
Jews are commonly referred to as "the chosen people". I've heard it comes from Exodus 19:5 ("וִהְיִיתֶם לִי סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים", "ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples", JPS). ...
1
vote
1answer
82 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
51 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
74 views
Shouldn't the flood have ended on the 18th of Cheshvan?
Inspired by this question: New date at sunset: question on Sifse Chachamim
The Torah tells us that the Flood started the 17th of Cheshvan (Bereshit 7:11) and concluded the 27th of Cheshvan (Bereshit ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
An Arched Tzuras Hapesach
A fundamental element of an eruv is the tzuras hapesach, which is defined here as, "[a] doorway opening. The construction of two doorposts and an overhead lintel." Can one make a tzuras hapesach ...
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 ...
9
votes
4answers
158 views
General understanding of Kri and Ktiv
A number of questions regarding the 'kri and ktiv'
What is the source (talmudic or otherwise) for this concept?
Why is it necessary; meaning why could we not adduce whatever concept is being taught ...
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 ...
10
votes
5answers
249 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Does a rapist have any parental rights to a child conceived from the rape?
An interesting question was asked regarding whether the child conceived by a kidnapper and his victim, and who is still held by the kidnapper, is also considered kidnapped. I think that a more basic ...
3
votes
1answer
59 views
Going to lectures with overhead projector on shabbat
Is attending public lectures (and looking at the screen) permissible on the Sabbat? Information from a computer is projected onto a movie screen and the lecturer may be using a microphone. The ...
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 ...
