Questions tagged [am-yisrael-jewish-nation]
Questions pertaining to the Jewish nation or 'Am Yisrael' - 'עם ישראל' in Hebrew
170 questions
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Halachic significance of the plurality of Jews living in Israel
I once heard that if Israel has the largest Jewish population, it has a significant effect on certain Halachot.
What are the criteria for this, and what halachot are affected? (Shmita is the one most ...
- 19.1k
6
votes
3
answers
6k
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Do Jews think that all the unbelievers would go to hell someday?
I wonder whether Judaism teaches that those unbelievers or those who are Jews but nevertheless lead a sinful life would go to hell someday when judgement time comes.
- 896
2
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1
answer
443
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What was the 'evolution' of determining who is part of the Jewish people?
Starting with Abraham and continuing till modern halacha. how has the halacha regarding who is part of the Jewish people changed? What were the causes of the change, and the reasoning, and the change ...
- 19.1k
9
votes
4
answers
1k
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Was Eisav Jewish?
Was Eisav Jewish? Eisav was born to the same father and mother as Yaakov. It may be possible to say that Yaakov was not Jewish either as it was before Matan Torah, however if Yaakov was Jewish, then ...
- 140k
7
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1
answer
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Could B'nei M'nashe have been placed with R'uven and Gad as a remedy to their separatism?
Does the following idea have any validity? Is it brought down anywhere?
When members of the tribes of R'uven and Gad approached Moshe to unwaveringly request settlement on the east bank of the Jordan,...
- 24k
7
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3
answers
695
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Comedy and Jewish Life
There are many Jews in America who publicly engage in comedy, whether as a career path or as a way of expressing themselves (blogs, art, etc.). Is there historical precedent to this? Are there any ...
- 41.9k
27
votes
6
answers
2k
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When did Avraham Avinu become Jewish
Avraham Avinu is often called "the first Jew".
When did he become Jewish. Was it when:
He recognized G-d?
G-d spoke to him for the first time?
Covenant Between The Parts?
When G-d changed his name?
...
- 44.8k
3
votes
1
answer
191
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Is one obligated to believe a fellow jew?
I seem to recall that every jew has a chezkat kashrut unless you know something would would remove it, and therefore you are obligated to believe them if they told you something (i.e. they are poor ...
- 1,914
19
votes
7
answers
4k
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Why is Judaism not Racism?
I am only asking this question to educate myself, not because I am anti-semitic or for any other hidden agenda. I do not want to turn this forum into an ugly place. I realize this question is ...
- 199
51
votes
9
answers
8k
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Can a Jew lose their Jewish Status?
Can a Jew lose their status as being a Jew by performing any action (example: performing idolatry, disavowing core beliefs, converting to another religion, etc)? Or once a person is a Jew then they ...
- 5,293
11
votes
4
answers
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Difference between Jewish and Zionist?
I was in Israel last summer (Rehovot) visiting a close friend and his wife. In one of our very long conversations with them she said, "I would say I am not Jewish, but I am a Zionist". (...
- 213
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5
answers
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Is it possible for a Gentile to convert to Judaism? [closed]
Is it possible for someone who is Gentile to convert to Judaism?
What is the prevailing belief of Jewish people on this subject?
What scripture backs up this belief?
What do prominent Jewish ...
- 1,106
10
votes
4
answers
3k
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Matrilineal Descent
I have heard that matrilineal descent (i.e. having Judaism passed down through the mother) comes from the Roman period when women were raped by Roman soldiers and the babies were then said to be ...
- 3,389
8
votes
2
answers
640
views
Purchasing from a Jew
רמבם, הלכות מתנות עניים י:ז
שמנה מעלות יש בצדקה זו למעלה מזו, מעלה גדולה שאין למעלה ממנה זה המחזיק ביד ישראל שמך ונותן לו מתנה או הלואה או עושה עמו שותפות או ממציא לו מלאכה כדי לחזק את ידו עד שלא ...
- 140k
14
votes
2
answers
563
views
Does our literature discuss invalidating a conversion because the convert would not put his/her lot with the Jewish people?
When a person is interested in converting, there are really two questions they are asked:
Are you prepared to accept the theology and observance of Judaism?
Are you prepared to accept your identity ...
- 136k
2
votes
1
answer
172
views
Confusion in Yeshayahu's Propechies..?
I was looking through Isaiah and come across these weird passages:
(2) And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they shall war one man against his brother, and a man against his friend, ...
- 139
16
votes
2
answers
1k
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Why do we say that Hashem chose us if He offered to the Torah to all the other nations first?
According to Midrash Sifri (Deuteronomy 343), Hashem first went around to all the nations and offered them the Torah before offering it to Bnei Yisroel. So why do we say in Kiddush and Birchas ...
- 33.5k
7
votes
2
answers
263
views
Shavuos as a Marriage
There is an idea (which I initially became familiar with in my misspent youth from tamei sources but subsequently have seen it mentioned in tahor one's) that Shavuos is, as it were, a marriage between ...
- 13.5k
12
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5
answers
4k
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Why does the Torah forbid interest only on loans to Jews?
Why aren't we allowed to charge a Jew interest but we're allowed to charge a non-Jew?
- 3,107
6
votes
2
answers
302
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Image of God: Equality and Discrimination
I have heard from many unreliable sources that the Torah's description of mankind as being "in the Image of God" implies some level of equal standing of all humans and therefore the expectation (...
- 24k