Questions tagged [contemporary-halacha]
Questions regarding halachot specifically relevant to the current era.
102
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Do Charedi rabbis allow Charedi Jews to change and become Modern Orthodox?
You were born into a Hareidi family, but you decide to make a change and become Modern Orthodox.
According to Charedi authorities, is it halachically allowed for a Haredi Jew to change and become ...
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0
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111
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Kosher leniencies in a place with neither hechshers nor kosher lists
I'm trying to understand whether or not there are leniencies regarding kosher certification in countries where it's uncommon. I am aware that in many parts of the world there are almost zero products ...
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Where should Halacha come from?
On the Wikipedia page for the Bach (Rabbi Yoel Sirkis), it mentions
He was also critical of those who relied solely on the Shulchan Aruch
for halachic decisions, rather than on the Talmud and the ...
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7
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1
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Tumat met on the London Underground
Apparently part of London's subway network causes problems for kohanim because it is underneath a museum that includes human remains:
Due to the Science Museum and the Underground entrance sharing ...
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Web-hosted Baby/Security Cams - tzniut?
There is a whole new world of baby cams that, for free, host the feed online for you to access anywhere. You simply create an account on their hosting site and you get access to the live camera feed ...
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1
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Locating a Encyclopedia Halachis Refuis
I am looking for the following sefer: Encyclopedia Halachis Refuis (Entry: Erech Nituach Hafichas Min).
The entry speaks about what the authorities say on surgery and hormone treatments in regard to ...
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4
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1
answer
167
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Oats for matzah - contemporary poskim
There are different opinions among the Rishonim about שבולת שועל, one of the "five grains" that can become chometz and can be used to make matzah. Some say that it is oats, and that seems to ...
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3
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Intimacy, עוֹנָה and Narcotics
One is not allowed to be drunk during intimacy with one's spouse. See, for example Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 150:13, Mishneh Torah Issurei Biya 21:12.
I also remember a long time ago seeing a very strong ...
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0
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50
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Covering a preprogrammed remote control on Shabbos
If there was a device set up before Shabbos that every hour would send an IR (infrared) signal towards an appliance such as a fireplace to either turn it on or off, would one be allowed to cover that ...
- 3,569
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2
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Is it permissible to teach Kabbalah to the public?
Is it permissible to teach Kabbalah to the general public (as opposed to only a select few sages - asking if one can do so in public would be a different question)? If so, what are the limits, rules ...
- 5,306
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Intelligent machines and their Halachic status
Given the recent advances in machine learning, such as the OpenAI GPT-3 (e.g. chatbot), it is not unreasonable to expect that artificial general intelligence (AGI) will be achieved in the foreseeable ...
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Are men allowed to refer to another man's wife by her first name?
I heard a halacha a long time ago that men are not allowed to use the first name of a married woman who is not their wife. The suggestion I heard was to refer to her as Mrs. So-and-so.
Does anyone ...
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Most comprehensive collection of responsas online
I would like to fine-tune GPT-3 to produce a chatbot similar to ChatGPT based on all authoritative halachic question-answer pairs out there. There is a corpus on Sefaria and supposedly Bar-Ilan has a ...
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According to the Tzitz Eliezer, is transgenderism actually muttar?
If I am understanding everything correctly, the Tzitz Eliezer's psak is that if a man get's a surgery that alters his genitals to that of a woman, they assume the halachic status of a woman, and are ...
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Personal Prayer - Silent or Audible
Several years ago, a sofer gave a class and said that personal prayers (prayers composed by myself) outside the synagogue must be said aloud. You can say them quietly, but the words must be audible. ...
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Why is the mitzvah of Hakhel not observed at this time?
Based on this question, I'm interested in the fact that nowadays, the mitzvah of Hakhel seems not to be observed as it was back then when the Holy Temple still stood.
Is the mitzvah of Hakhel bound to ...
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3
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1
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Should a man say a bracha if immersing in a mikvah?
Should a man say a bracha, according to halachic sources, when immersing in a mikvah? (since there is no obligation on him).
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Can a kohen have a child by IVF with a divorce. What is the status of the child?
Is there any workaround avialable for thousands of kohanim who want to have children but are older singles and can't get married because of the high percentage of divorcees in the female population ...
7
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4
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992
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Is it achievable to keep all of Halacha?
There is a principle that the Torah doesn't ask us to do anything that is unreasonable/unachievable (see here). Surely that means that we don't have any excuse to say "this is too much for me&...
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Tallis Gadol during Kabbalas Shabbos (Minhag Ashkenaz?)
What is the Ashkenazi minhag as regards wearing a tallis gadol during Kabbalas Shabbos (i.e. the ceremony/liturgy of welcoming in Shabbos on Friday evening)? Should it be worn, or not?
Thanks to ...
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Non-Halachic Marriages, Mamzerim, and Baalei Teshuva
Many returnees to Judaism were born out of reform or conservative marriages. In the case of such a person, assuming their parents were not learned in Torah whatsoever, but whose mother is Jewish and ...
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1
answer
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Kedusha status of modern seforim
The Rama in Y"D 271:7 writes "יש אומרים שיש לכתוב בקולמוס של קנה ולא בנוצה", and the Taz there (s"k 8) says that regarding the kedusha status of printed seforim this process of a ...
- 833
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Reasons to permit milking cows on shabbos
I was listening to a history class on the Chazon Ish, and it discussed his strong opinion that it is forbidden to milk cows in a beneficial way on Shabbos. Either it has to be done through a non-Jew, ...
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Is it technically possible to rely on a heter from a rabbi you have never met?
This is probably a stupid question, but I was wondering if it's possible to rely on a controversial heter that's not generally accepted.
For example Rav Messas was matir for married women uncovering ...
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1
answer
128
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Is a secular court decision considered stealing in 7 laws of noach?
BH
There's a couple of slightly related questions
How do you handle possible Shabbat issues when receiving a jury summons?
Is trying to get out of jury duty permitted halachically?
Regarding secular ...
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answer
242
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Is fair-made lemonade kosher?
I was at a fair the other day and there was a stand selling lemonade with just pressed lemons and cane sugar water. The stand was also making deep fried dougnuts and cold brew coffee.
Does the ...
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2
answers
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Does hearing the megillah over the internet fulfill the mitzvah?
Does hearing the megillah read over the internet fulfill the mitzvah? This is not the first year of Covid restrictions, surely it was considered in 2020 or 2021.
I would imagine this is similar to ...
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Using a newly created 3D printed object on Shabbos
If a 3D printer automatically started a new job on Shabbos or was already printing when Shabbos started and the print job finishes on Shabbos, may one peel off the object from the hot bed on Shabbos ...
- 3,569
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2
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Corona "parties" for children
Background
Particularly throughout this present omicron wave, people have floated the idea of having childrens' "corona parties". In such a 'party' parents invite previously uninfected ...
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2
answers
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Contemporary views on the Rambam's diet guide
People say that some of Rambam's laws on health are inaccurate in today's era, because of the body change throughout the generations, and that today some foods are good while they used to be bad and ...
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2
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Is acting stringently so that "he shall be blessed" an authentic mechanism?
Many times in Halachic literature I have come across the formula in which one can follow the law more stringently than is necessary, and for that he will be blessed (תבא עליו ברכה). Does this ...
- 420
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93
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Downloading a Currently Public Resource
Is it permissible to download a resource that is currently available publicly and freely from the internet without permission from the one who posted it and/or the one who hosts the website?
For ...
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2
answers
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Judaism position on Mishmeret HaTzniut
What is the Judaism's position on establishing a Va'ad Mishmeret HaTzniut, a private organisation which enforces tzniut rules in a specific community/town. At times they may use intimidation or ...
- 731
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2
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How do you define Jewish music?
I am a music teacher and many students request that I teach either Jewish music or classsical music.
What makes classical music appropriate ? What is considered Jewish music ?
Many famous chassidic ...
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1
answer
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Hilchos Barech Aleinu in the Summer
Where does the Shulchan Aruch discuss if someone mistakenly asked for rain in in Barech Aleinu instead of saying "Vesein Beracha" and what is his ruling?
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Shiurim in depth on Basar VeChalav and Ta'aruvos
Does anyone have any recommendations for in depth Shiurim on Hilchos Basar VeChalav and Ta'aruvos in Shulchan Aruch.
I am looking for a shiur which will go through the Shluchan Aruch, Shach, Taz and ...
- 731
5
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2
answers
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Viewing idols in an art museum
If one goes to an art or history museum that has a room that showcases the idols of ancient people, may one view them?
I heard quoted from Rabbi Moshe Stav (a rebbe in Eretz Yisrael) that you can go ...
- 571
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0
answers
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Digital piracy of difficult to acquire products
The following discusses copying an item that is being sold by its creator (https://torah.org/learning/honesty-class64/)
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ztl said that it’s not permitted to copy any item that is ...
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1
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Is it permissible to peel open a contact lens blister on Shabbos? Does wearing the contact as a bandage to shield the cornea change the rule?
Soft Contact Lenses are a polymer lenses that are worn on the surface of the eye as alternative to prescription glasses and less commonly as a bandage (protect the surface of the eye, the "cornea&...
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Questions on Psak Halacha [duplicate]
If one is learning Halacha and comes across a machlokes between recent Poskim (post Mishna Berura eg is one allowed to make a tea in a Kli Shelishi) can one decide by himself to be meikel if the logic ...
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Purchasing mp3 files from ebay
Wondering if anyone knows the halacha regarding purchasing mp3 files from ebay which may be potential copyright violations?
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answer
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Calling the Police on a fellow Jew in the United States [duplicate]
Is it halachically permissible for a Jew to call the police on a fellow Jew if a person is threatened with imminent violence in the United States. I know there is an issue with informing on a fellow ...
- 137
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1
answer
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Cooking meat on Shabbat using Kinetic energy, or non-conventional ways
Putting all jokes (and Purim Torah) aside, a person successfully demonstrated cooking both steak and chicken using a machine that slaps the meat continuously (video here). Albeit they claimed it ...
- 3,569
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2
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If there is no longer any Avodah Zarah, why do we need to follow the relevant halachah?
If it is accepted that Avodah Zarah has effectively ceased to exist, as suggested elsewhere on this site, why do we need to follow any of the relevant halachah, that applies to social relationships ...
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2
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Do we withdraw our hands from bread?
The Shulchan Aruch 177:2 rules that one who removes the bread from the table must make a new beracha on whatever he eats for the rest of the meal:
ודברים הבאים לאחר סעודה קודם ברכת המזון שהיה מנהג ...
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Why aren't Shabbat Lamps muktzeh?
I have been trying to research why kosher lamps / Shabbat lamps are not considered muktzeh. I've read the rabbinic approval that comes with the lamp, as well as any teshuvot I can find on the topic; ...
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(Auto)paying for chametz on Pesach [duplicate]
My understanding is that one only acquires movable objects, such as food items, by moving them physically (e.g. lifting or pulling them; or by acquiring them along with land; or via chalipin exchange, ...
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Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa
The newer edition of Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa seems to contain both volumes of the older edition. However, it says Chelek Aleph on it. Is there a Chelek Beis and/or whats meant to be in it?
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3
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1
answer
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Is it assur to have a mattress that has wool and linen in it?
I have been looking into natural mattresses without polyurethane in them, and some have a latex layer and one of the layers is wool.
I know that there is an issur to wear shatnez garments, but what if ...
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1
answer
240
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Shiurim of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits
Does anyone have the shiurim of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits which he gives in his Kollel(not his daily Mishna Berura Shiur)? There are only a few on the Jerusalem Kollel website.
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