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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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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Is a dead bat impure?
The Torah lists the ״עטלף״ which is generally translated to mean “a bat”, among the non kosher birds, but does that mean that it is considered a bird for every purpose, like when it comes to the laws ...
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Splitting of Power between Judges and Kings
In Dvarim 16, G-d orders the Judges to judge the nation. In the next chapter the concept of a Jewish King is introduced.
It seems like the Torah supports splitting of powers.
On the other hand,from ...
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Going to bathroom during Tefilla - can one read?
It is halacha that if one has needs (gadol) during tefilla, and can't hold it, one should go. To keep this very complex halachic discussion simple, let's just assume that we are talking about a ...
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Buying an online Seminar that is recorded by a Jew on Shabbos
There is an online seminar that is being given on Shabbos by a Jew. The recording is being made available for those that can't make it on Shabbos. What do the sources have to say about a Jew buying ...
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Why are mezuzot always mounted on the right side of the doorway?
I have read plenty regarding the debate on what direction and angle the mezuzah should be mounted. That said, I have never heard a clear explanation as to why we always mount them on the right side of ...
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Does the Gemara teach that Jews are allowed to kill gentiles but not vice versa?
The Gemara challenges: But wherever there is liability for capital punishment, this tanna teaches it; as it is taught in the first clause: With regard to bloodshed, if a gentile murders another ...
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Taggim in a Get
A Get is called a "sefer". In that case, why doesn't it require taggin (beautification marks atop the letters)?
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TV left on during Shabbat for serious reasons
The question of leaving a TV on for all of Shabbat was asked here before and was answered: No, it is against the spirit of Shabbat, plus other halachic reasons.
But what if you did it to stay abreast ...
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Can you send a Shliach to Yerushalaim for your maaser sheini?
Is there a specific requirement for the actual owner to actually eat it in Jerusalem? If yes, is a Kezayis sufficient?
Can the owner send a messenger to Jerusalem to deliver his Maaser Sheini there ...
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Which seffer is the תשובת ב׳י in Pischei Tshuvah Yoreh De'ah 112?
The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De'ah 112 sif 16 brings an opinion regarding a traveler who is stringent not to eat bread of a non-Jew should wait four mil to reach the Jewish baked bread.
Pischei Tshuva #...
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Does an older widow have to wait before re-marrying?
There is a concept that a widow should wait several months after her husband dies before she remarries in order that the paternity of any children will be obvious.
If the widow is obviously beyond ...
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Saying God is Great in Arabic - is a Jew allowed?
We all know the "aqbar" phrase. Is it permissible for a Jew to say this phrase?
The assumption is that it is ok, because it commonly said that we are talking about the same Hashem. This ...
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Is a conditional Get kosher
Is it valid if a get is given to a women with a condition say.. if you move to china within 50 years of the giving of this get the get becomes null and void from day one and anyone she remarried ...
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Men and women swimming together [duplicate]
Is there any issue with men and women swimming togther in the same swimming pool if all people are covered properly with coverups and married womens hair is covered etc? If its not allowed what are ...
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When davening Shemona Esrei, can you stop and concentrate on an earlier part you didn't concentrate on?
Say you finished Rifo'einu and didn't have Kavanah, but you already said Bareich Aleinu, can you stop and concentrate on Rifo'einu?
What about if you forgot to concentrate on the first brachos till ...
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Holy Boycotts - Permitted, recommended, obligated or forbidden?
It is a well known principle that we must make sure that the people we give tzeddakah to are definitely poor and not scammers/fraudsters (see Yoreh De'ah 251:10).
I am sure this principle is not ...
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Can old Jewish books be restored by non-Jewish experts?
Can old Jewish books be restored by non-Jewish experts?
For example, i am non-Jews have old books related to Judaism.
But it is too old. So, there is a way to restore old books in the traditional ...
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Raw pasta on Pesach
How can raw pasta be considered chametz on Pesach if it is not fit for consumption (אינו ראוי לאכילת כלב)?
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Anonymous Shaila Lines [duplicate]
As in, a method of asking a halachic question to a qualified halachic expert Rabbi, anonymously.
Is there a collection of verified, reputable "anonymous shaila lines", by country or city? If ...
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Covering the blood of the Metzora’s bird
Does the bird slaughtered for the Metzora’s purification require covering its blood?
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Conversion by presumption
This document, in the section running over page 11 onto page 12, refers to Rav Feinstein's chiddush that it is possible to 'convert' to Judaism by chazakah alone, and without a formal beit din. The ...
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Is posting Torah to the internet considered teaching gentiles Torah?
Does the prohibition of teaching Torah to gentiles encompass putting Torah out on the internet for all to see?
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Did Sanhedrin use Oral law along with Written Law
Did Sanhedrin use Oral law along with Written Law in their decisions?
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What are some halachically proper fast-day greetings?
Considering that greeting someone during the Tisha B'Av fast day is prohibited, is there a proper way according to halacha to greet somone before the day?
For example, to say "have an easy fast&...
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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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Why is the Taz's position on tefillin parsha spacing controversial?
When writing tefillin, one should ideally leave a setumah gap between the parshiyot of shema and vehaya im shamoa.
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 32:36 holds that this should be done following the opinion ...
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Can two people who are asexual get married?
The situation is a couple where both the man and woman are not interested in consummating the marriage, but they want to get married because they are in love and they want the companionship. How would ...
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A medicinal drink turning into a pleasure drink mid-guzzle
I am not, to my knowledge, thirsty, but I need to take a pill with water, so I do so without a beracha (see Shulchan Aruch OC 204:7). As I swallow the pill, I realise that I am enjoying the water, and ...
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What are some Resources for Learning About Zmanim?
I'm interested in learning more about Zmanim, specifically, the different calculations involved and how to determine these times. I understand that the calculation of Zmanim can be complex, changing ...
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listening to music for a siyum during the 9 days
I saw that Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef said that one can listen to music for a siyum during the 3 weeks. I was curious if this also applies to the 9 days and maybe even the week of Tisha Be'Av. I want ...
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The sections of the camp of B'nei Yisrael as a reference to the Temple Mount
The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Beis HaBechirah, chapter 7, halacha 11) writes:"
The [encampment of the Jewish people] in the desert [ was divided into] three areas:
the camp of Israel, which was ...
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Is it considered listening to loshon hora to look at a biography of a Jewish person on Wikipedia? [duplicate]
Is this considered listening to loshon hora? Let’s say a celebrity happens to be Jewish and Wikipedia has a page about them. Is it mutar to read it if it has negative things said?
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Can one order clothing before the 9 days if it will be delivered during the 9 days?
Of course, the clothing would not be worn until after the 9 days.
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Halachically speaking, are painted Egyptian sunk-reliefs that are carved into walls (the outline of a 2D painting) considered to be 2D or 3D (See Ex.)
According to this answer on Judaism StackExchange regarding different rules for what kind of art is allowed, it states that:
There are differences between representation in relief (3 dimensions) and ...
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Cursing in G-d’s name
The Gemara (Bava Kamma 93a) says that the reason why Sarah passed away before Avraham was because she told him: “may G-d judge between us”.
The Gemara learns from there that it is forbidden to call ...
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Tefilin and other prayer articles in a bathhouse
Is one allowed to bring Tefilin into a bathhouse or dressing room if he isn’t wearing them?
If not, what if he entered the dressing room while wearing them (which is allowed - OC 45:2), may he leave ...
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Minimum measure for שריטה/גדידה
I was learning about cutting/scratching. This is a pagan practice of cutting oneself in mourning, and is forbidden in the Torah.
The halachot for this are in משנה תורה, הלכות עבודה זרה וחוקות הגויים ...
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Are captives allowed to attempt escape?
It is written into halacha that we are not allowed to assist captives to escape, lest we encourage captors to be harsher with their victims, and watch them more closely. See SA YD 252:5 for example.
...
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Can one enter a church to pray at the kever of Elisha Hanovi
To get to the tziyun of Elisha ben Shefot in Haifa, one has to enter a church.
Is one allowed to do so or does one have to pray outside the walls of the church?
According to most of the opinions ...
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Mirror in Shul?
Is a mirror allowed in shul if it is hanging on a wall that no one faces when they daven?
It feels wrong to me, but I cannot find a source stating that it is explicitly forbidden since no one is ...
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Why no brocho on geirushin?
B"H
Brochos are said before doing (almost?) all mitzvos, specifically those connected with a specific action.
Before getting engaged to a woman there is a brocho.
It is a mitzvah that if one is ...
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Sitting or standing during _Kedusha deSidrah_
The common minhag is to sit during kedusha deSidrah in the morning but stand during its recitation motzei Shabbos.
It seems the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim in siman 132 does not bring the position in ...
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Product recommendation: A "Starter" Responsa Set
I'd like a recommendation as to a set of responsa (shailos & teshuvos) that would be manageable for a "beginner," i.e., someone who after several years of hard work can generally make ...
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Can a Jew visit the main attractions in Rome
Can a Jew visit the main attractions in Rome? Including the Vatican, the Vatican museums, the Pantheon, St Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. It's a two-part question, first of all, are these ...
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Scanning pages of an out of print sefer for a friend [closed]
If someone is finding it hard to get hold of an out of print sefer, and it is prohibitively expensive to get it on a special order, would their friend, who owns the sefer, be allowed to scan the pages/...
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Do the Jews still send a scapegoat once a year to the wilderness?
Do the Jews still send scapegoats bearing the sins of the Jewish people to the wilderness once a year as commanded in Leviticus 16:22?
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Saying berachot "in your heart"?
It seems that l'chatchila one should say berachot out loud to fulfill one's obligation (see for example Shulchan Aruch here). The stipulation of the SA is that if the blessing is inaudible, one is ...
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What is the actual reason why nakedness prevents us from learning/speaking torah
This may seem like a simple question, But what is the actual reason for why nakedness or seeing someone else naked prevents us from learning and thinking about sacred things.
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18 minute matzah cutoff
Having learned some of the sources for baking matzah (OH 453-461, more or less), I discovered something that surprised me.
The time for how long it takes to (possibly) become chametz is given as a ...
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