Questions tagged [chazal]
early rabbinic sages
71 questions
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Did Chazal ever divorce?
I'm wondering, out of pure interest, if we know of any Tannaim, Amoraim, Savoraim, Geonim or Rishonim who divorced their wives?
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Where do we learn out that Nimrod tried to make himself into a deity?
I've always vaguely remembered the conventional story of Nimrod declaring himself a god and Avraham challenging him to change the course of the sun, etc. But after doing some active digging, it seems ...
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Sleep Paralysis in Torah?
My friend recently mentioned to me that he has sleep paralysis and I was wondering what the Torah has to say about it:
Why does it happen according to the Torah?
How does one stop it from happening ...
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Is there a Jewish principle: "To sleep on a big decision"?
In Anglo society, there is the principle to "sleep on" a big decision before pulling the trigger on it. (Be it a large purchase, a business deal, or other substantial decision in work or ...
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Why connecting Information and Verses
There is a Pasuk in Shmot 24:12 that says:
I will give you the stone tablets, the Law and the commandments, which I have written to instruct them.
The Gemara in Berachot 5a explains that the tablets ...
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A list of quotes from ChaZaL about astronomy
I am learning some rudimentary astronomy at the moment. I am limiting myself to phenomena that can be observed with the naked eye. My aim is to get a complete understanding of the motion of the seven ...
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How can Chazal identify chukim as mitzvos that aren't readily understandable if the nations will be positively impressed by them?
Devarim 4:6 reads as follows:
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם כִּי הִוא חׇכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן אֵת כׇּל הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה וְאָמְרוּ רַק עַם חָכָם וְנָבוֹן הַגּוֹי ...
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Why did the Israelites only begin complaining about the Torah approx a year after its receipt?
Chazal explicate Bamidbar 11:5 & 10 that Israel was complaining about how onerous the Torah was.
This episode occurred toward the end of the second month of the second year of their leaving Egypt (...
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If Israel traveled in the same formation as they camped then what does it mean that they broke camp consecutively of one another?
Rashi (Bamidbar 10:25) quotes a disagreement whether Israel traveled as a line or a square:
מאסף לכל המחנות – תלמוד ירושלמי (ירושלמי ערובין ה':א'): לפי שהיה שבטו של דן מרובה באוכלוסין היה נוסע ...
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Number of occurrences of the names of tannaim in various books
Does anyone happen to know of a place where someone has counted the occurrences of the names of the Tannaim in the different books of rabbinic literature (e.g. Mishnah, Tosefta, Sifra, Sifrei etc.)?
I'...
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If the rakia is a physical dome, why doesn't it cause tumat ohel on the entire world?
Ohalot (chapter 9) discusses that a corpse without a cover projects tumat meit (impurity imparted by a corpse) up to the rakia (firmament).
Example:
הָיְתָה פְחוּתָה וּפְקוּקָה בְקַשׁ אוֹ אֲפוּצָה, ...
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What is the firmament?
In Genesis 1:6-8 the firmament and its creation are mentioned for the first time:
And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.' ...
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Chazal empty barrels make the most noise
As far as i know there is a mamer chazal for empty barrels make the most noise. can any one help me find it
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"Adam needs kavod to live" - source
I've heard the idea that humans need kavod to live being quoted as a maimer chazal from the Gemara but I'm not sure where it comes from, does anyone know of something similar?
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Mishenichnas Adar: only for second month?
In a Jewish leap year like 5784, we have two Adars (Adar I & Adar II). While the famous Memra of Chazal tells us to increase simcha in Adar, this would presumably only apply in the month of which ...
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כִּי יִקַּח אִישׁ אִשָּׁה—what does it mean (kiddushin or nisuin)?
Jewish marriage occurs in two distinct stages, each with its own halachic implication.
Chazal term the first kiddushin and the latter nisuin.
Biblically they're termed eirusin and likuchin, ...
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Evidence for murex being techelet [duplicate]
As a disclaimer, the Sugyot regarding Techelet are not something I have in depth researched but I am in the camp that it has been found from murex. My question is, what evidence exists in Talmud or ...
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Historical references for non-halachic conversion
As of late much ado has been made about in the Torah world about the non-halachic conversion crisis. This is especially controversial in Israel due to halachic problems with gentiles owning land there....
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40 days before the formation of the fetus
I know chazel say 40 days before the formation of a fetus a bas Kol goes out and says "bas ploni lploni" I was wondering in the language of the bas Kol, why does it say "bas ploni ...
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Rishonim & Chazal on Bereishit as allegory/metaphorical
I know the Rambam stays Maaseh Bereishit is largely allegory. I wanted to know if there are other Rishonim Geonim and/or Chazal sources that are similar or agreeing with the Rambam.
Sometimes people ...
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Is there any evidence that Chazal knew what caused eclipses?
Many ancient cultures believed that eclipses are caused by things other than syzygy. The Egyptians had Apophis. The Hindus had Rahu. (The interested reader can see more here.)
In light (ha) of the ...
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What is the minimum amount of Torah knowledge to not be considered an am Haaretz?
Rebbi Yehudah held bad things come into the world on account of amei haaretz. What is the minimum amount of Torah one would have to know to not be considered an am haaretz? Who would this apply to if ...
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Why did Chazal list so many manna-related miracles?
The miracle of manna, as described in the Torah, seems to be great enough in and of itself.
Nevertheless, Chazal seemingly go out of their way to bring more and more, miracles upon miracles, about ...
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Structure and Rhyme of early songs
I was hoping someone could help me. I am trying to understand the structure and rhythm of Teffilos and Piyutim written by chazal or early Rishonim. understanding the zemiros of shabbos and other songs....
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How did the Tannaim/Amoraim learn Tanach?
Where the question is coming from:
An absolute essential requirement for any Tanna/Amora would be to have the whole of Tanach at their fingertips. Maybe not photographically memorized, but they should ...
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Sefer on Chazal, Geonim and Later Acharonim
I currently own the Artscroll books The Rishonim and The Early Acharonim by Rabbi Goldwurm. They have a few features on Rabbonim of the ages that I really appreciate:
Anecdotal information about each ...
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Why do we refer to Chazal as a monolithic group?
In discussions of Torah, halacha, etc., people often say, "According to Chazal..." as though all the thousands of rabbis of an 800-year period spoke with one voice. But you almost never hear people ...
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Is there a connection between "מקום מים רעים" and "מקום מים יפים"?
In Avot D'Rabbi Nathan 14:6 it says:
"כשיצאו מלפניו הוא אמר אלך לדמסית למקום יפה ומים יפים ונאים והם אמרו נלך ליבנה למקום שתלמידי חכמים מרובים אוהבים את התורה הוא שהלך לדמסית למקום יפה ומים יפים ...
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Is there a place in Gemarra or Chazal that describes or recommends using Memory Palaces?
I have read that a number of ancient philosophers, western and eastern, describe the use of Memory Palaces as an aid to memory.
Is there also a place in Chazal with such a recommendation or ...
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"Observing without judging" -- is there a Jewish basis for this concept?
I have bumped into a concept attributed to the philosopher J. Krishnamurti:
"observing without evaluating is the highest form of human
intelligence"
The idea under this is to avoid judging ...
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What's a good quote from Chazal to use as a constant reminder? [closed]
I am looking for some of Mi Yodeya's favorite quotes from Mishna, Gemara, works of Chazal, etc. that can be used as constant reminders to always be doing the right thing and trying to grow.
I am aware ...
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Chazal on pronounciation (according to Koren)
In his introduction to the Koren siddur, Eliyahu Koren claims:
A window thou shalt make to the ark,” says God to Noah, and our
sages took this also to mean that the correct pronunciation of the
words ...
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Did the Torah Sages discuss evolution
Are there examples in chazal of the sages discussing the phenomena of micro-evolution (or macro), i.e. adaptive changes in creatures.
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Iyov and his place in Jewish history
When one refers to the Gemara in Bava Basra 15 there are numerous suggestions as to when Iyov lived. Opinions range from it being only a parable and that he never truly existed, to living during the ...
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Who was Methuselah?
Who was Methuselah?
The Torah tells us not much about him. What does the Talmud and the Rabbis say about Methuselah?
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Chazal and Medrash Tanchumah
I was reading A Time to Laugh; A Time to Listen by Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland. On page 116 he brings down a Chazal (Medrash Tanchumah, Toldos 18) which says, "You make a small opening like one made by the ...
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Midah Keneged Midah in the Punishment of an Entire Tzibur [i.e, Covid-19]
I was recently reading a controversial article on The Lakewood Scoop claiming that Coronavirus (Covid-19) is a punishment for the fact that we expelled anti-vaxxers from our Yeshivos and Mosdos ...
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Why is "marriage effective contingent upon the approval of the Sages"?
In Gittin 33a, Kesuvos 3a we learn that Rabbanan have the power to uproot a kiddushin because:
כל דמקדש אדעתא דרבנן מקדש ואפקעינהו רבנן לקידושין מיניה
When a man betroths a woman, he does so under ...
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Why is it not called a דבר שאינו מדעת?
Why is it called a דבר שאינו מתכיון. Since twice in Gemara Shabbos Rashi understanding and explaining to us what forgetting is when one leaves a rock on top of a barrel says this first on Shabbos 125b ...
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Is there a statement of Chazal about being connected even when apart?
Does anyone know a statement of Chazal that has something to do with the idea that “even though we are apart we are still connected”?
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Rambam and Chazal
In his letter to Chachmei Luniel, Rambam says that the belief in astrology was a minority view in chazal and we should not follow it.
...it is not proper to abandon matters of reason that have ...
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Did Rav Papa issue a halachic ruling in order to benefit financially?
In the Gemara Shab. 140b Rav Papa is recorded saying that one who drinks wine while able to drink beer violates “ba’al tashchit”. Maharsh”a comments that Rav Papa’s disapproval of consuming wine ...
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Egalitarian references in Chazal
I'm trying to find references in Chazal to the principle that people are judged/rewarded based on the choices they make, regardless of their specific role in society. For example, I believe I have ...
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Can Chazal be wrong? [duplicate]
I understand that a later ruling can't contradict an earlier one, but does that mean that Chazal are infallible, the way Catholics believe the Pope is infallible? And if so, where's the line? Who was ...
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Why are observant Jews so reluctant to admit that Chazal could ever make mistakes? [closed]
I have great respect for many of our sages of blessed memory, but there seems to be a tendency among Jews to refuse to admit the possibility that they could have ever made mistakes. I have been ...
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Are we allowed to assume that a Rabbi may have not thought of something?
Sometimes in reading a difficult Rishon or Acharon, you come across a statement which seems limited and difficult to understand. Sometimes it's what seems to be an answer to a question which skims ...
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How similar were Rabbinic mandated lashes to Torah mandated lashes?
There are many laws regarding the administering of lashes for a person who transgressed a Torah law that carried such a penalty.
To name a few:
39 lashes are the maximum number of lashes given (...
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The Jewish View on a Person's Physical Appearance? [duplicate]
In my experience Judaism doesn’t place any importance at all in a persons appearance, wether they are attractive or not. Does anywhere in TaNaCh or Chazal even discuss this topic? (That appearance isn’...
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Tehiat Hametim - when is this first alluded? [duplicate]
Where in Torah is the first allusion regarding tehiat hametim (revival of the dead)? Please provide sources from Chazal to explain the allusion.
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Disconnection from Hashem? [duplicate]
What does Chazal say about one’s constant disconnect from Hashem, even though they keep the mitzvot? What tips do they give about how to regain a connection to hashem in times when you feel ...
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