Questions tagged [contemporary-halacha]
Questions regarding halachot specifically relevant to the current era.
19
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Can you take food into the bathroom?
Is one allowed to take food into the bathroom? I heard that the prohibition is only on the type of bathroom used years ago.
SK1
14
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2
answers
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Smart thermostat on Shabbos - what to do?
I read an article recently regarding a person who went to a hotel and realized after Shabbos began that all the rooms were controlled by smart thermostats. A smart thermostat detects when one is in ...
- 140k
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4
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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&...
- 3,024
6
votes
1
answer
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Retroactive psak and conversions
B"H
I constantly read about Orthodox conversions which are retroactively nullified by the Israeli Rabbanut, sometimes affecting multiple generations. I am not writing this question to express nor ...
- 19.8k
3
votes
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 saw a comment a long time ago in a halacha sefer ...
- 9,920
2
votes
2
answers
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What are the parameters of shomer pesaim Hashem?
While the Torah forbids one to place himself into a situation of danger, some degree of slightly risky behavior is allowable under the concept of shomer pesaim Hashem. Are the parameters of this ...
user17319
1
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0
answers
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Entering a Catholic or Protestant church [duplicate]
According to Jewish Law, is one allowed to enter a Catholic or Protestant church?
- 6,935
11
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3
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Sefaria and Rabbinic Endorsements
Sefaria is a popular Web site with various translations of holy texts. Are any rabbinic authorities on record as endorsing or forbidding it?
Translations can be subjective. It is inevitable that one's ...
user8726
9
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2
answers
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May one celebrate April Fool's Day?
Many people in the world celebrate and play pranks on each other on April 1.
Is it halachically permissible to play pranks on people or in any kind celebrate April Fool's Day?
- 1,809
5
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1
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Torah songs, and earworms, in the bathroom
It's forbidden to think about Torah in the bathroom. Is it permissible to think about a song whose lyrics are Torah? If not, what about an earworm (stuck song) that you just can't get rid of?
- 34.3k
4
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How did Gdoley Israel react to the landing on the Moon?
IMHO, landing on the Moon did/could seriously undermine the bases of the Jewish religious view about the nature of the celestial bodies.
How did Gdoley Israel react/deal with the landing on Moon (and ...
- 26k
3
votes
0
answers
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Ethics in video games: stealing
I'd like to ask a few questions on ethics in video games, starting with:
Is it allowed to steal from other players in an online video game?
To keep it simple, stick to games that specifically enable ...
- 9,920
3
votes
2
answers
437
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Buying from non-Jews, or selling to non-Jews, within three days of their holidays
Yoreh De'ah 148:1 says, in part:
שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים לִפְנֵי חַגָּם שֶׁל גּוֹיִים עוֹבְדֵי אֱלִילִים אָסוּר לִקַּח מֵהֶם וְלִמְכֹּר לָהֶם דָּבָר הַמִּתְקַיֵּם. וּמֻתָּר לִמְכֹּר לָהֶם דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ ...
2
votes
2
answers
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Is one allowed to sleep in a room/house where there are images of JC and other avodah zarah?
Is a Jew permitted to sleep in a room/house where there are idolatrous images on the walls, such as JC, etc.? What about non-Jews?
- 1,195
2
votes
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 ...
- 959
2
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2
answers
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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 ...
- 3,462
2
votes
2
answers
701
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Is it permissible to teach Kabbalah to all Jews?
Is it permissible to teach Kabbalah to the general public (all Jewish students, as opposed to only a select few sages - note: I do not mean to ask "is it ok to teach it in public", the exact ...
- 9,920
1
vote
1
answer
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Ben Ish Chai against taking photos of females?
I heard that the Ben Ish Chai was very against having women in photos, so much so that a woman would even be taken out of Gan Eden a hundred years after her photo was taken if someone looks at it. Is ...
- 329
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1
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Eating with non jews
Is there any prohibition in jews and non jews sitting at the same table and eating kosher food together at a jewish? wedding? Thank you.
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