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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chapstick/vaseline on shabbos
How should one deal with chapped lips on shabbos? Is it considered refuah?
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Sacrificing one's life for another's
Is it permissible to sacrifice one's own life to save another?
There are many noble examples that come to mind, such as donating your heart to save a child or throwing yourself on a grenade. Is this ...
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What is the b'racha for tortillas?
Is a Tortillah considered lechem (bread), pas habab'knisin (cake/cracker/pie which assumes the status of bread AIUI when one "makes it a seudah"), or is it a stam mezunos? I haven't seen it explicitly ...
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Teaching Written Torah to Christians
There is an idea mentioned by the Rambam, but not in the Mishneh Torah as I recall, that it is permissible to teach Wrtitten Torah to Christians because they accept it as Divine and don't study it in ...
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Patents in Halacha?
If someone invents something new (and unique), does Judaism recognize that he has ownership over the invention [for x years]?
- 38.5k
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Fins and Scales
I once heard that if a fish has fins it's enough - and you don't need to find out if it had scales.
Is this true?
What is the source?
Why did the Torah write fins and scales, if fins is enough of an ...
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Lechem Mishneh by the Third Shabbos Meal
Is one required to have Lechem Mishneh by the Third Shabbos Meal?
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Jewish Sunrise and Sunset
How can one calculate Jewish sunrise and sunset? I'm not necessarily asking for a formula. Just wondering if there's a difference between Halachik rise/set and what the world considers [e.g. science] ...
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Mi.ShAino.Yodeya [closed]
Which halachah [hint:Choshen Mishpat] applies to "mi sh'aino yodeya"?
(I ran across this last night researching another question)
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Meggilas Rus - Leket, Shikcha, and Peah
When Rus went out into the field to pick up the Shikcha (dropped or forgotten crops which must be left for the poor), Boaz sees her great piety and tells his servants to drop more on purpose so that ...
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Is live video a halachic substitute for physical presence?
If you are in a room with cameras in it, is it like the people looking through those cameras are in the room?
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Loshon HaRa and the down vote
The laws of Loshon HaRa apply whether it is the spoken word, written word, or even gestures. While I'm inclined to think it is permitted (and have done so on select occasions) how would you ...
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Kibud Av v'Ach?
As I understand it there is an obligation (See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 240:22) to honor an older brother similar to that of honoring one's father. Since the obligation to honor one's father can have ...
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Ma'aseh Rav-the Rabbi did such and such
Often times in the course of halachic discussions it will be related that a certain Rav did such and such. When do such accounts have halachic significance? How do we safeguard against inaccurate/...
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Getting benefit from a church
I recently heard that one is forbidden to get any benefit from a church (or any other place of worship other then a shul). They went on to say that the prohibation included while giving directions "...
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Last time for Kiddush Levanah
How can I calculate the last possible time to say Kiddush Levanah for a given month?
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Secular Concerts in a Shul?
Here's a softball. :)
Does the Seridei Eish, HaRav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg zt"l permit the performance of a secular concert in a synagogue?
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Making seltzer/soda water on Shabbat or Yom Tov
Can a person make seltzer on shobbos or yom tov with something like sodastream?
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Siblings marrying siblings
Can two siblings in one family marry two siblings of another family?
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Are you allowed to save a non-Jew's life on shabbos?
Is a Jew allowed to violate shabbos to save a non-Jew's life?
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Going to classical music concert
Is it permitted for Bnei Torah to go to a classical music concert?
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Can a Kohen Marry a Woman with a Non-Jewish Father?
Is a Kohen allowed to marry a woman who is the daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man?
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Davening for someone to end a painful life
Are you allowed to daven for a person to die because he is in a lot of pain?
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Must I separate challah from pre-made dough?
If I buy ready-made bread dough or pizza dough, do I have to separate challah from it?
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What to do if Shabbat candles go out
What should a lady do if, after kindling the candles, a gust of wind blows them out, or they tip over and are extinguished?
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Davening not in Hebrew
Isn't it better to daven in your first language rather than davening in Hebrew and only knowing part of what you're sayig?
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Music on lag baomer
Are you allowed to listen to music the night of lag baomer or do you have to wait untill the day?
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How to do Shnayim Mikra when the Aramaic Targum has multiple alternate wordings?
What should one do when saying שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום if one comes upon a verse where the Targum (Aramaic translation) has two alternative wordings? I would just say the verse in Targum twice (or four ...
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Sign Language During Davening
Would one be allowed to use fingerspelling to communicate during pesukei d'zimrah (or other parts of davening where one is not allowed to talk)?
Would it make any difference if one was hearing-...
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When is a Minhag no longer a Minhag?
It can be all too easy for people to underestimate the halachic significance of minhagim (traditions/customs). While there are, as I understand it, a variety of halachic issues/differences of opinions,...
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Trimming Toenails in sequence
As a follow up to the question "Rules for Cutting Nails" it occurred to me that while we spoke about the idea of not trimming one's nails in sequence (as well as discussing the relevancy of lenient ...
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Dew distinct from water among the shiva mashkim
The seven mashkim are blood, water, milk, honey, wine, oil, and dew. What is the difference between water and dew? Isn't dew a type of water?
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Commencing Shabbos: Shkiya behind a mountain
It is common practice nowadays for Shuls to publish the zmanim (times) to begin Shabbos (the Sabbath) and other activities. These times, it would seem, are based upon standard calculations of sunrise ...
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Chazekes Kashrus - Permitted or Required to rely on it?
Is the concept of "chazekes kashrus" (presumption of being acceptable), particularly with respect to the kashrus of food, a reshus (permission) or a chiyuv (obligation)?
I.e. are we required to rely ...
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Pesach Sheini and Karet
On a related question Jeremy noted that the punishment for failing to observe the positive command of bringing a Korban Pesach is Karet, spiritual excision. If one did not bring the Korban Pesach on ...
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Why is there Pesach Sheini - The Second Passover?
What is the primary/basic reason why one has a second chance to bring the Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) on Pesach Sheni (a month after Passover)? Other mitzvos, such as hearing the shofar or ...
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Issues with starting work before Shacharis
What are the halachic issues/opinions/options regarding starting work early, i.e. before one is allowed or practically able to daven Shachris?
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Are "dog tags" Begged Isha? Can men wear them?
Is a man allowed to wear a "dog tag" type of thing? Is it beged eesha?
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Deleting files containing G-d's Name / taking the host device into the bathroom
Is there any issue regarding deleting electronic files with G-d's Name in them?
Also, is there any issue with taking such a device into the bathroom?
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Is it required to knock on doors before entering?
Do we have to knock on people's doors before entering?
- 4,501
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Why dosn't he get Kasher Zamam
Why in the case of Lo Matzti Libitcha Bisolen in Makkot does a husband only get Makkot and pay shouldn't he get Kasher Zamam and be killed just like what would have happened to his wife.
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Waking up in the middle of the night
If one wakes up in the middle of the night to relieve oneself, what is the proper procedure regarding washing and the brachos of asher yatzar and hamapil?
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Ba'al HaBayis accepting Shabbos early
What is the halachic implication when the Ba'al HaBayis ("Man of the House"), as an individual and not the entire community, accepts Shabbos (Sabbath) early? Are his wife and children automatically ...
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