Questions tagged [halacha]
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. // 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).
9,013
questions
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Red/White wine at the Seder
Is there any Halacha or Minhag that specifies if red or White wine should be used for the four cups of wine during the Passover seder and does it matter what you use to spill out during the 10 plagues?...
- 3,784
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Newspaper Delivery on Shabbos
Is getting a paper delivered on Shabbos allowed?
If not, what may be done with it upon delivery?
- 32.9k
13
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What's the deal with showering on yom tov?
What's the deal with showering on yom tov?
I am asking not about shabbos, but specifically about yom tov.
- 5,657
6
votes
1
answer
843
views
Starting Shabbat early during the summer
Is there an earliest time one may begin Shabbat during the summer months?
We were traveling south and stopped at a Jewish community for Shabbat. The Shul there davened Mincha friday at 6:10, then ...
- 3,784
13
votes
2
answers
831
views
Why does one need to kasher burners on a stove for passover?
I don't use separate burners for milk and meat during the year, nor do I think there's any reason to do that. So why the need to kasher burners before passover?
- 956
7
votes
1
answer
991
views
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
Is there a problem of "chukat goyim" with the bride having "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" at her wedding?
- 129k
11
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What makes something "chukat goyim?"
One of the most famous examples I have heard is that one should not even tie one's shoes like the non-Jews do in times of persecution. That seems rather excessive. What if the Jews started doing some ...
- 8,784
4
votes
4
answers
494
views
Prayer for when you are traveling
We will be taking a long trip by car that will be spread out over three days with a break for Shabbat in the middle.
What is the halacha for saying Tefilat HaDerech (Prayer for the traveler)? is it ...
- 3,784
11
votes
2
answers
745
views
Should one drink from the leader's cup after kiddush?
Inspired by the upcoming holiday of Pesach, where many minhagim seem to have each person drink from his own cup, I was wondering about the custom of drinking wine from the cup upon which kiddush is ...
- 8,784
3
votes
1
answer
970
views
Forgetting to sell some of your Chumatz before Pesach
If someone sold all the chumatz in their home before pesach, but forgot to sell any chumatz left at their place of work, are they allowed to eat the food left in their office after the holiday?
- 3,784
5
votes
2
answers
817
views
Mezuzah on a shared door
Should one put a mezuzah on a doorway that is shared with a non-Jewish (or a Jewish-but-non-mezuzah-putting) neighbor?
If yes, should/must one ask their permission first? Should/must one tell them ...
- 956
4
votes
2
answers
597
views
Praying after the time to say Shema
If you sleep past Sof Zemin Kerias Shema (the latest time to say Shema in the morning) and you are davening by yourself, do you need to make any change to your prayers?
user60
5
votes
4
answers
849
views
Make for yourself a website?
Can a site like mi.yodeya.com be used for one to fulfill our sages mandate of "Make for yourself a Rav"?
Obviously I meant this facetiously. Of course a website cannot take the place of a rav, but ...
- 15.9k
19
votes
6
answers
671
views
Is it considered stealing to look at mi.yodeya while at work?
More generally, doing personal things like phone calls, emails, etc. while on company time. How far does the "everybody does it" rationale go? I believe there is some category in halakha that accounts ...
- 8,784
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Jewish definition of a charity
I know that Jews are supposed to give 10% of their income to charity, but what constitutes a charity? I know that Shuls, Jewish schools and poor people in your community count, but what about secular ...
- 3,784
15
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Is being vegan "kosher"?
Is being a vegan completely okay according to halacha?
Even if a vegan is not eating anything traif (non-kosher), perhaps it's not truly correct because you are not following the commandments to ...
- 629
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Second day of Yom Tov outside of Israel
Can someone living outside of Israel ask a visitor from Israel to do a melacha for them on the second day of Yom Tov if the visiting Israeli is only keeping one day of Yom Tov?
- 3,784
26
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Halakhic International Date Line issues
According to halakha, where is the international date line?
More specifically, I have heard that some people say you should observe Shabbat on Sunday in Japan & New Zealand and/or on Friday in ...
- 3,850
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Doctors working on Shabbat
What are some general guidelines regarding the halakhic permissibility for Jewish doctors to work on Shabbat? I know that saving lives generally overrides Shabbat, but I am curious about less black-...
- 3,850
2
votes
1
answer
78
views
Communal commandment sources?
What are some good (preferably authoritative) sources that explain the concept and legal ramifications of mitzvos tziboriyos - obligations that fall upon the public as opposed to the individual?
I am ...
- 23.5k
15
votes
2
answers
500
views
Do our sources address "strategic loan defaults"?
In the most recent episode of NPR's Planet Money Podcast, they interviewed a real estate lawyer in Arizona who talked about the large numbers of her clients who have been asking for advice about doing ...
- 47.4k
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Attending non-frum event
Is it permissible to attend a non-frum event, such as a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah of a family member or friend?
Debbie
28
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Shaking hands with the opposite gender?
What's the story: Can a man shake hands with a woman (or vice versa) in a business setting?
- 129k
4
votes
2
answers
308
views
What if a specific avoda zara looks just like avodas Hashem?
Let us assume there is at least one conventional way to serve any given false deity.
Let us also assume that there is a prohibition against serving false deities in the manner that they are ...
- 23.5k
10
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Is there a problem with women wearing red clothing?
I've heard that red clothing is forbidden for women to wear because it's immodest. Some recent psych research confirmed that men are more attracted to women in red. So that means it's prohibited, ...
- 129k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are women exempt from Tachanun and discouraged from saying it?
My brother heard from someone that she heard that women are exempt from saying Tachanun and therefore discouraged from saying it. Is this so? If so, why? Do you know sources for this?
UPDATE: I ...
- 47.4k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why still keep two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel?
Why do we continue to keep two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel? The reason for two days was revelant during the temple era as we needed two witnesses to see the new moon. But today, with no Temple ...
- 3,784
3
votes
1
answer
204
views
Searching for Chumatz before Passavor
If someone is going to be away for Passover, how many days before Passover can one search his home for Chumatz?
- 3,784
13
votes
1
answer
617
views
Does a cholent bag/aluminum foil take away the need to tovel the pot?
If no food touches it, does it need to be toveled (immersed in mikvah)?
- 973
4
votes
2
answers
823
views
What are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model?
Aside from seeming obviously inappropriate for a good Jewish boy/girl, what are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model? Are there any distinctions with regard to men/women?
- 973
11
votes
2
answers
291
views
Leaning on things during prayer?
It says in Shulchan Aruch that one may not lean on anything while reciting sh'mona esre. (OC 94:8) The Mishna B'rura defines "leaning" as placing one's weight on another object such that if the object ...
- 23.5k
4
votes
2
answers
969
views
Is there a minimum amount of dough to separate challah without a bracha?
I saw on this website http://www.secretofchallah.com/50708/When-to-separate-challah#opinions that one should not separate challah if using less than 8.5 cups or about 2 lbs. I know there are various ...
- 973
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Lifting a handkerchief before signing the Ketubah?
I know at a Jewish wedding, just before the Ketubah is signed, the groom picks up a handkerchief in front of everyone. I remember this has something to do with "kinyan chalifin"; could someone please ...
- 129k
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Eating your own (kosher) food in a non-kosher restaurant?
This was brought to mind by this question:
What are the rules about joining your co-workers (or the like) for a meal in a non-kosher restaurant, but bringing your own food? Is it prohibited as mar'is ...
- 89.8k
7
votes
2
answers
544
views
A restroom in a formerly-kosher eatery vs. one in a never-kosher eatery: which is preferable?
Say I'm on the road traveling, and I need to use a restroom. Which of the following two restrooms is preferable?
One in a restaurant that used to be kosher, but is now non-kosher.
One in a restaurant ...
- 3,784
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Turning off a stove on Shabbat
Can one turn off a stove on Shabbat? I recently heard that Rav Tendler does in fact hold this, and that it was followed in the home of Rav Feinstein.
The reasoning had something to do with gas being ...
- 3,784
6
votes
1
answer
469
views
Moving muktza garbage cans?
Help! It's Shabbos and the wind is blowing my garbage cans halfway down the block! I know they're muktza, so I can't move them. What can I do?
- 129k
15
votes
2
answers
830
views
Am I allowed to count people?
Where did the practice of not counting people come from? People count not-one, not-two, not-three etc. What is wrong with counting one, two, three etc? This is often found when counting to see if ...
- 2,853
6
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Which hechsheirim are reliable?
There are so many hechsheirim (Kosher certifications) out there.
How is an individual supposed to find out which hechsheirim to rely on, and which not to?
- 2,853
10
votes
2
answers
275
views
Give ma'aser on money that you didn't make yet?
Can I give ma'aser on money that I didn't earn yet but I know I will be earning in the future?
- 2,853
47
votes
7
answers
4k
views
May I use my neighbor's Wi-Fi without asking permission?
My neighbor has never set up password protection on his wireless router. If I wanted, I could wirelessly connect to his high-speed Internet service.
May I use his Internet service without asking him ...
- 2,853
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
18
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Fish eaten with milk?
Is there any halachik problem with eating fish and milk together? (A classic example is a bagel with lox and cream cheese)
- 2,853
12
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Tzitzis while exercising?
Does one need to wear tzitzis while exercising? Isn't it disrespectful to the tzitzis to make them all sweaty?
- 2,853
12
votes
2
answers
14k
views
5
votes
2
answers
873
views
Is Basar Shenisaleim Min Ha'ayin still a problem?
There is a concept in halacha called Basar Shenisaleim Min Ha'ayin (meat that was hidden from the eye). Basically in the olden days, if a non-jew were to deliver meat and there was no siman (sign) on ...
- 2,853
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Does Ma'aser need to be given on gifts?
If I receive a monetary gift, do I need to give ma'aser on it? What about if I receive a gift that is an object (as opposed to money)?
- 2,853
7
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Does soda need a hechsher?
I have noticed that many cans of pepsi don't have a hechsher (kosher symbol) on them. Do they need one?
- 2,853
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do photocopies of torah need to be put in shaimos?
Do photocopied sheets (such as chumash or gemara) need to be put in sheimos or can they be thrown straight into the garbage?
- 2,853