All Questions
39,731
questions
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Studying Chumash by myself
Is it allowed to study Chumash with commentary (e.g. ArtScroll Chumash) by myself? Which aspects of Torah study are forbidden to do alone?
- 93
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votes
0
answers
30
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Rationale of Orthodox groups who remained in the Synagogue Council of America
The opposition towards Orthodox groups joining the Synagogue Council of America is well known. It remains easy to find articles explaining the opposition that were written back then in Torah or ...
- 4,963
1
vote
0
answers
40
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Regarding the lighting the menorah, what is the reason why Ashkenazim follow a Sefardic Authority and vice versa
Concerning the lighting of the Chanukah menorah, Ashkenazim follow the Rambam, who was a Sefardic authority who says, “Every member of a household should light their own Menorah.”
Sefardim observe ...
- 583
1
vote
0
answers
36
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Can a person's soul reincarnate into multiple bodies simultaneously?
Is it possible that a soul of some person, say John, reincarnates into multiple bodies but those bodies are all alive in the same period, so they are all alive in the same year, etc. or is this only ...
- 816
1
vote
0
answers
24
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Explain the water pouring ceremony of Samuel
In 1 Samuel 7:6 as part of the repentance of the nation the people draw and pour out water. Many commentators explain this as being symbolic of obeisance as if their are pouring out their hearts. My ...
- 13.6k
2
votes
2
answers
59
views
Is taking an Eshat Yefat To'ar allowed today?
The Torah provides that a Jewish soldier may, by following a specific process, take a woman captive as his wife and convert her to Judaism as an אשת יפת תואר (Devarim 21:10-14).
Is this provision ...
- 1,352
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
What to do on Sukuot if there is no sukkah?
Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to either build a sukkah or find one due to the absence of a nearby synagogue. What is the way out of this situation?
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0
answers
48
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Does the new born child also require purification along with the mother?
Is it explicitly written that the child also goes through purification along with the mother, or it is an implication and greater meaning of the Lev. 12? And is this same purification sacrifice called ...
- 319
2
votes
1
answer
213
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Soda from non-kosher restaurant
There are halachic issues with eating at non-kosher restaurants even normally kosher food for a variety of reasons.
My question is whether a Jew is allowed to get a kosher soda (e.g., Coke) at a non-...
- 914
1
vote
2
answers
56
views
Tsedaka- Extreme YOLO charity!
Hypothetically speaking, if someone wants Hashem to bless them with great wealth, would it be irresponsible for them to donate 100% of their earnings to charity? Would they end up poor?
- 11
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votes
0
answers
57
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Different Maariv 9 days in a row [duplicate]
Under what circumstances can you have 9 days in a row with no two Maarivs being exactly the same as each other? Related to Chanuka
- 361
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0
answers
27
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Is it allowed to use cone plastic megaphone in Shabbat [duplicate]
Is it allowed to use cone plastic megaphone in Shabbat? It is a cone like plastic that magnify your voice. It does not include any electrical devices. Can a child (under 13) use it? Can a Chazan use ...
- 1,209
2
votes
0
answers
23
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Does the Minhag to say Barchi Nafshi after Shabbat Mincha in winter include Shabbat Chanuka
Does the minhag (Ashkenazi Nusach Sfard) to say Barchi Nafshi after Shabbat Mincha in winter include Shabbat Chanuka? Are there any Shabbatot that the minhag is not to say Barchi Nafshi? According to ...
- 1,209
1
vote
0
answers
35
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Yaakov's thigh and the side of the altar
When Yaakov wrestled with the angel (Bereishis 32:25-26), the angel was losing the fight, and touched the hipsocket of Yaakov, making it go out of the socket. The word for hip/thigh used here is ...
- 8,864
1
vote
0
answers
23
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What does the hebrew/biblical number 57 mean? [duplicate]
I heard the hebrew number/character for 47 is 'what', but what is does the number 57 mean? Also where can I learn about the other numbers?
- 11
2
votes
0
answers
24
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Is synthetic sapphire as kasherable as the natural version?
I understand that stone may be kashered for dishware. Although expensive, natural sapphire is considered stone. The chemical formula for sapphire is corundum, aluminum oxide, doped with elements for ...
- 373
2
votes
1
answer
46
views
What's the reason why Yosef HaTzadik had to go through slavery?
Just a question out of curiosity: What's the reason why Yosef had to go through slavery? What do the sages/scholars say?
- 347
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votes
0
answers
71
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Nudity before the menorah?
There are certain things which Halacha prohibits to do in front of certain things because of Kedushah. You can’t for example be naked or have sex in front of an exposed visible sefer or mezuzah. You ...
- 914
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0
answers
34
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Was Yaakov's kidushin to Leah valid?
It says in Masechet Bava Batra 123a:
אָמַר לָהּ מִינַּסְבַתְּ לִי אָמְרָה לֵיהּ אִין מִיהוּ אַבָא רַמָאָה הוּא וְְלאֹ יָכְלַתְּ לֵיהּ אָמַר לָהּ מַאי רַמָּאוּתֵיהּ אֲמָרָהּ לֵיהּ אִית לִי אַחְתָּא ...
- 910
1
vote
1
answer
31
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The minhag to read chapter 119 in Tehilim in Chanuka (Temney Api)
I heard that there is a minhag to read Chapter 119 in Tehilim (Psalms) every Chanuka Evening (Temney Api the name of the chapter). I also heard that each evening there are 4 letters of the chapter to ...
- 1,209
2
votes
0
answers
66
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Are we missing the point in the idea of a bashert?
There are several sources which say that our spouse is predetermined from when/before we are born. I remember hearing a Rav say once that there are many people who we could be equally happy with as ...
- 2,296
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
Repetitiveness and the reason for the way of reading the Torah on Hanukkah
Why is it during Hanukkah that the reading of the Torah (according to the Ashkenazi Nusach Sfard) is repeated again on Shlishi? Was it not possible to add other verses? And why is the reading ...
- 1,209
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
Reusing cotton wool wicks during Hanukkah
One who lights Hanukkah candles with oil and cotton wool wicks. Is it allowed to use yesterday's wicks again for the same candle or for another candle? There is no difference in the quality of light ...
- 1,209
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
Using a nail file on Shabbat
According to Halacha, is one allowed to file their nails with a nail file on Shabbat? Would this fit into a specific melacha that is prohibited? Source for this would be appreciated
- 914
1
vote
0
answers
23
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Why do we say berachot on hanukah if it’s post-Torah [duplicate]
Since Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah, why do we say bercahot with hashem’s name, especially lehadlik ner which includes “asher kiddishanu bemitzvotav”. If hanukah is not part of the ...
- 11
5
votes
3
answers
123
views
What is the origin of Al Ha Nissim for Hanukka?
Whence Al Ha Nissim that we say on Hanukka? Who wrote it? When? When did it enter the siddur? Has the wording changed over time?
- 7,946
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answers
39
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Chanukah greetings proper form
why is the greeting for Hanukah
חג אורים שמח "chag urim samach"
And not חג אורות?
- 29
-4
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0
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87
views
Does boofing meth on Yom Kippur violate the fast?
It is neither eating nor drinking.
On the other hand you are "ingesting" a substance albeit from the other end.
2
votes
1
answer
51
views
The Rokeach and the Chanukah candle
Rabbi Daniel Glatstein (The Light And The Splendor, p. 336-337) quotes the Rokeach, Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Worms and mentions the following parable:
When a new building is complete, the first ...
- 8,864
2
votes
1
answer
44
views
Do messianic prophecies have to occur immediately or can they all be fulfilled over a longer period of time before and after his arrival?
We have a wide swath of prophecies and information regarding the messianic age and the events which are to happen both prior and during mashiach.
My question is whether the timelines of such events ...
- 983
1
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0
answers
200
views
Is a non-Jew permitted to light a menorah? [closed]
Is it ok/respectful for a non-Jew to light the menorah?
- 111
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votes
1
answer
138
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Are there also strong admonitions against the wealthy in the Jewish Bible?
In Christianity, there are several passages containing warnings or even threats directed at wealthy individuals, cautioning them about the state of their souls. For instance:
Mark 10:24:
But Jesus ...
- 153
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Mixed gender seating for entertainment
There is a Heter some Poskim (such as rabbi Moshe feinstein), give to sit in public transportation next to someone of the opposite gender. My question is, what is the Halacha about sitting next to ...
- 914
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Can we put less oil in Shamash of the Hanukiya
Those who light with oil, can they put an amount of oil in the Shamash so that it will light less than 30 minutes? (The other candles will of course be light for at least 30 minutes)
- 1,209
4
votes
0
answers
63
views
Comparison of different hashkafas
I'm curious whether anyone has published a (reasonably unbiased) comparison of different major hashkafas and the key differences between them. Has anyone come across such a thing?
To clarify: I'm ...
- 2,296
2
votes
0
answers
63
views
Buying seforim online
Is there a problem with buying seforim from a (non-Jewish) online seller, such as Amazon? eg. do we need to worry about how they have treated the seforim (eg. thrown the packages around)? If there ...
- 2,296
2
votes
1
answer
401
views
Does everyone end up with their 'soulmate'/bashert?
I ask this in all respect because there are people who end up not having a romantic partner or spouse in their life. Yet, there is an assertion that HaShem has designated for each individual a ...
- 347
2
votes
4
answers
227
views
Star coming from Jacob?
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, And a scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all ...
- 914
4
votes
2
answers
445
views
Do angels still manifest themselves as humans and appear to us unknowingly?
Do angels still manifest themselves as humans and appear to us without us knowing? Do the rabbinic sources have something to say about this?
- 347
2
votes
0
answers
79
views
How to interpret statements of Rabbonim on the nature of reality
I know that some people tend to take more or less everything that a Rav says as the absolute truth, but throughout the ages, different Rabbonim have expressed a variety of opinions, which can, in many ...
- 2,296
4
votes
0
answers
59
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Relativistic Zmanim [duplicate]
Physicists have conclusively proven that if a spaceship leaves Earth and travels fast enough, then turns around and comes back, a person in the spaceship experiences a much shorter time than people on ...
- 2,296
2
votes
1
answer
75
views
Are there some humans in history who are an exception to the idea of free will?
We all talk about the idea that God has an ultimate plan and that we are all existing within that plan.
That said, humans have free will as we are judged by our actions due to this free will.
My ...
- 983
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0
answers
45
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Are only Jews the sons of Israel? [closed]
Is being a son of Israel limited only to those whose mothers are known to be Jewish?
Is one no longer a son of Israel if he is cut from the nation? If not, is there then a possibility of return after ...
- 85
3
votes
0
answers
86
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Why is the "eilah" tree so special?
After the battle for Dinah, Yaakov Avinu tells those with him to bury their idols under the "eilah" tree.
Bereishis (35:4) - וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר אֲשֶׁר ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
2
answers
60
views
Chasam Sofer Biography
Does anybody have any recommendations for a Biography about the Chasam Sofer? I'm really interested in learning more about him and the events in his life that may have influenced his writings.
- 71
2
votes
1
answer
54
views
Does someone get punished for unknowingly committing a sin or unknowingly hurting a person?
Does someone get punished for unknowingly committing a sin or unknowingly hurting a person? Please provide sources, thanks.
- 347
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votes
1
answer
94
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Pidyon Peter chamor on c section born donkeys
Does the mitzvah of Pidyon Peter Chamor (redeeming the firstborn donkey), apply if the donkey was born through C section (caesarean section)? Or does the Halakha not consider that is birth for the ...
- 914
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Choosing a minhag based on ancestry
To roughly which year does a Jew, who does not descend from any mixed marriage, need to analyze his patrilineal ancestry to find out the minhag of your family?
Also taking into account that many ...
3
votes
2
answers
214
views
Why did Yehuda/Shelah need Yibum with Tamar? She had a Chazaka
Why did Yehuda/Shelah have to Yibum, after all Tamar already has 2 of her husbands die, and even though we pasken chazakah happens after three times we pasken you only need 2 times for a danger?
- 141
2
votes
1
answer
75
views
What happened to Torah she be al peh in the generations before Yoshiyahu HaMelech?
I get the impression from learning about Yoshiyahu HaMelech that the country as a whole almost entirely forgot about the Torah altogether in the previous generations, until he discovered the Sefer ...
- 2,296