Questions tagged [halacha]
Jewish law. Specifically, the legal process beginning with the written Torah and continuing through the Mishna, Talmud, and the legal codes (e.g., Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch). // NOTE: Like Wikipedia, this site makes no guarantee of validity, and does not offer professional (particularly rabbinic) advice. Treat information from this site like it came from a crowd of your friends.
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Are you allowed to paint a sukkah?
Many people build sukkahs out of untreated 2x4s. While I understand the aesthetics of leaving them raw and unpainted, emphasizing that it is a temporary structure, is there any reason why you should ...
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Outdoor prayer facing rainbow
Berakhot 59a
אמר רבי אלכסנדרי אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי הרואה את הקשת בענן צריך שיפול על פניו שנאמר כמראה הקשת אשר יהיה בענן וגו׳ ואראה ואפל על פני לייטי עלה במערבא משום דמחזי כמאן דסגיד לקשתא אבל ברוכי ...
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What’s the source of not asking a question to a person that might not know the answer, so that they won't get embarrassed
BH
Someone told me that you shouldn’t ask a question to someone who won't know the answer to what you're asking. What’s the source of this?
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Tri Maschu תרי משהו - Shach and Taz [closed]
I am trying to find a definition to the principle תרי משהו. I am totally confused by what I have read. Could someone explain this principle to me?
Thanks!
Shkoyach!!!!
Shana Tova!
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Praying in this condition
Some times, like just after waking-up, men have an erection. But what if one just woke up and wants to say the Mode Ani, must he wait for it to pass or can he say it as is? Would it be disrespectful ...
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Baruch hu ubaruch shemo - why omitted sometimes?
Why is "Baruch hu ubaruch shemo" omitted during the reciting of certain brachot such as meggilah and shofar?
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Insincere (Erev Yom Kippur) mechila
There are those who say that even if someone was only moichel Erev Yom Kippur because he was a pushover or embarrassed not to, the story is over. Once the aggrieving party was told that he has ...
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Is there a difference in minhag when it comes to tzitzit thickness on the tallit katan?I like the thick look, but what does that say to others?
As the title mentions, I prefer the look of thick tzitzit to thin, although I'm considering medium. But, is there a meaning or assumed minhag associated with the thickness of tzitzit on the tallit ...
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Mourner’s Kaddish at Minchah [closed]
Due to my medical work I am unable to say Kaddish for my parent at Minchah. I understand that I should say Kaddish at least once a day. What is the source for this? Besides using a proxy and practical ...
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Mourner that misses Kaddish
A mourner who is having an operation, or travelling, or any other reason that makes it impossible for him to say Kaddish at a particular Tefila. Is there anything the mourner should do to make up for ...
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When does someone become an orphan?
At what age is someone considered an orphan when his/her parent(s) die? For example, what if a 90 year old's parents die. Does he have the status of an orphan? What about a 20 year old?
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May I shop at a church-owned thrift store? [closed]
May I shop at a thrift store owned by a church, such as the Salvation Army Family Store?
What if the only other thrift store is half an hour away?
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Using Zephaniah 3:8 as a pangram
Would usage of Zephaniah 3:8 solely as a pangram – it being the only option with both finals and cantillation – constitute shemos, and therefore require genizah?
לָכֵ֤ן חַכּוּ־לִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה ...
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Percentage of SA halacha per Mitzva breakdown?
Is there a study or depiction (similar to the visualisations at Sefaria, although doesn't have to be a visualisation) that takes the whole of the Shulchan Aruch and traces every single halacha back ...
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Performing for a mixed concert
One finds orthodox performers who sing for mixed-gender audiences (eg recently)
However, one also finds achronim who call this assur.
I'm curious for a bit more explanation of the sources/reasonings ...
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Why don't we wear techeilet [duplicate]
Why don't we apply the rule of
ספק דאורייתא לחומרה to techeilet?
If there are rabbanim who hold it is the real techelet, and there is compelling evidence that we now know what techeilet is, why doesn'...
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Glazed China and Kashering [closed]
I recently kashered my kitchen and was wondering why modern glazed ceramic china had to be replaced, since the glaze eliminates the porousness of the china. When I ask people at shul, everyone says it ...
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Biological sample from the ancient dead
Is there any halachic justification, or permission, to take a biological sample from a dead person in an ancient site? For example, in Israel there are many archeological digs which sometimes result ...
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Pergola - Kosher scach?
This pergola was originally put up a around 2 weeks before Sukkos 5783. The shade that this makes is at least 50/50 (if not more.)
So several questions:
Is this kosher scach by itself? If yes, what ...
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Define pas for pas yisroel
There is the whole discussion of pas with regard to whether it needs to be baked by a Jew... Yoreh deah siman 112.
How do we define bread? I know it must contain one of the 5 grains(sif aleph). Does ...
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Who is בה"י referenced by the Ba'er Hetev on Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah?
The Ba'er Hetev on Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah refers to an authority named בה"י:
לפרקים. וזהו ל' יום. בה''י ועיין בבאר הגולה מה שהביא בשם מהרי''ל
Who is that?
Thanks.
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Why are we allowed to make unlimited prayer in any language at a time where we are not allowed to answer amen?
According to (at least) Rav Ovadiah Yosef (based on his understanding of Maran in Shulchan Aruch), one is not allowed to answer amen (except first 5 of Kaddish), baruch Hu u'varuch Shemo, or the ...
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Backroom, minyan and shul
I read somewhere that people who daven in the backroom of a shul (i.e. a hallway or on the balcony) are not יוצא davening with a tzibur, unless there happens to be a minyan in that room with them. ...
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Is it permissible to use an anime drawing as a profile picture online if the character depicted in the drawing is of the opposite gender?
Basically as the title says. The anime drawing wouldn't contain anything lewd or suggestive, but is simply a regular anime picture, but the character depicted in the drawing is of the opposite gender ...
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Is a Shofar Muktzeh on the second day of Rosh Hashanah this year?
Does the Shofar have the Din of a כלי שמלאכתו לאיסור on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, when the first day is Shabbos, being that it is so during twilight of the second day?
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Who is responsible for accidental theft caused by a false claim?
There's a public pantry in one's office that has a shared refrigerator. Someone opens the fridge and sees a container of milk that is usually not there. He asks a co-worker if he can use it and he ...
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Royal convert, still royal?
What is the situation with royal converts, i.e., converts who come from royal blood or are of royal relatives? Are they still royal? Do we have to stand for them as with any royal, do we not have to ...
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Touching the water in the washing cup before Netilat Yadayim
If one, while getting ready to perform Netilat Yadayim, accidentally touches the water in the washing cup, is one still allowed to use that water for Netilat Yadayim, or does that person need to fill ...
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Why can’t a lady blow Shofar for a man?
If the Mitzvah is to hear the sound of the Shofar - not to blow it - then why can’t a man fulfill his obligation by hearing from a lady’s blowing, if the דין שומע כעונה doesn’t apply here?
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Do sephardim have different halachas for serving cholent from a blech on shabbos?
I always learned that it's forbidden to, for example, stir cholent while it's still on the blech/hot plate on shabbos, or to serve it straight from the blech/hot plate. Rather, one must remove the pot ...
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What's the source of Gerut Lechumra and what is it
BH
I heard there is a concept called Gerut Lechumra. What does this mean and what are the sources of this in Shulchan Aruch, Rambam and Gemara?
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Is Panentheism considered heretical?
(Closely related to this post, but I think it is still a bit different)
Panentheism: A doctrine that the universe subsists within Gcd, but that Gcd nevertheless transcends or has some existence ...
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Can one say the name of Hashem in a song [duplicate]
If one holds that we say Hashems name while saying a praise like in shabbat zemirot how does that appky to an Isreali song where some singers say The Name outright? If the song is meant for a praise ...
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The shlock -- halachic considerations
Let's say you bought or built your own shlock (rain cover) for your sukkah.
What halachic concerns are there about operating it on Shabbos/Yom Tov?
Might there be problems of boneh (building)? If the ...
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Is the use of beads as a meditation tool acceptable if they aren't an item of idolatry?
Beads have a history of use in different religions. They also have a general use in human society as a whole detached from religion.
One simple example of the nonreligious version is the Greek ...
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Why are gentiles forbidden from keeping Shabbat if Adam and Even are considered to have lit the first Havdalah candles?
Judaism forbids gentiles from keeping Shabbat. It's one of the activities which is unique to Jews and their relationship to Hashem.
To contrast this, we have the Noahide laws which were given to the ...
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Weapons in the Beis Hamikdash
Would it be permitted for one to enter the Bais Hamikdash carrying a weapon (for example, a gun)? Would it make a difference if it were open vs. concealed carry?
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Fireworks on Yom Tov
Happy coming New Year all!
I recently pondered whether igniting fireworks using an existing flame on yom tov would be permissible given that fireworks are “universally appreciated.” Given that I’ve ...
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Does an ice machine need tevilah?
I know different things need to be dipped in a mikva.
Theoreticaly, does an ice machine need to be dipped in the mikvah (when its ice maker is built from stainless steel)?
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Evidence for how peyot were 'worn' in ancient times?
Nowadays, peyot are 'worn' by some religious Jews as long extensions on the sides of the head. Often they are stylised into curls/locks. From what I understand, this was popularised by the chassidic ...
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Where do peyos start
So my question is where should the top of the Peyot start.
Do they start from the height of where your eyebrows are, top of ear etc.
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Is mezonot jealous of kiddush? [duplicate]
Should we cover plates of crackers and rogelach in a shul kiddush?
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What constitutes a destructive act on Shabbat?
I first read in Mishnah Torah, Shabbat the following:
should a person kindle a fire with a destructive intent, he is not liable, for he is causing ruin.
This surprised me, so I researched some more ...
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Throwing out bread or Challah
In todays generation when there is leftover bread or Challah we often discard it. As bread is the food for life there are those that either feed it to the birds, make kugel, breadcrumbs, etc. instead ...
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Mayim shelanu history?
The water used to bake Matzah must be mayim shelanu—water that had been drawn in the evening and left to cool overnight. What is the halachic background for this requirement?
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Distilled water on Sabbath
Is it allowed to make distilled water on the Sabbath, i.e. to begin before the Sabbath and let the machine continue to work even after nightfall?
The distiller works by boiling water and then ...
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Should someone who isn't 100% certain of God's existence be considered a kofer?
I was told by two respected Roshai Yeshiva that one who isn't certain of God's existence (an agnostic) is not deemed to be a kofer (denier of His existence) as long as he thinks that His existence is ...
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Is it a sin to invest in say a company run by a Rasha
Let’s say you invest in a billion dollar company and you find out they make guns that are used to kill innocent people, is this a sin to keep investing
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Apparent contradiction in the Rosh Hashanah menu/diet
On the one hand, on Rosh Hashanah we don’t eat sour/bitter foods, on the other hand we eat foods that have a negative connotation (see Orach Chaim 583:1) and apply them to our enemies - so why can’t ...
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Can a woman who commits adultery do teshuva and return to her husband?
Suppose a married woman goes her own way and leaves (but not divorces) her husband. She engages in sexual relationships with other men.
But after a year, she realizes the error of her ways and does ...
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