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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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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?
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
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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)?
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
- 993
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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 ...
- 135k
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
- 135k
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2
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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 ...
- 2,893
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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?
- 2,893
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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?
- 2,893
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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 ...
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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)
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Tzitzis while exercising?
Does one need to wear tzitzis while exercising? Isn't it disrespectful to the tzitzis to make them all sweaty?
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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 ...
- 2,893
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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)?
- 2,893
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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?
- 2,893
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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?
- 2,893
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Is it permissible to open soda cans on shabbos?
What is the halacha regarding opening soda cans on shabbos?
I have heard that according to the ones who hold that you can open it, if I would ask that person to open it for me, I would need him to ...
- 2,893
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Is it better to wear wool tzitzis?
Is it better halachikally (according to jewish law) to have the beged (garment) of your tzitzis to be made from wool as opposed to cotton? Is it a chumrah?
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Are you allowed to get a haircut on Motzei Shabbos?
Is there anything wrong with getting a haircut on Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night)?
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Mezzuzahs- putting them up, and saying brachot
Is there an "issur" regarding not putting up a mezuzzah? Is there such thing as having 30 days until the issue kicks in? Also, can you say the bracha each time you put one up? Or, if two different ...
- 993
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How to advise your barber
Men: What is a succinct, clear, Halachically complete line to tell a barber what not to do when cutting your hair?
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Is Christianity Avodah Zara?
It is commonly accepted that Islam is not Avodah Zarah (idolatry) since Islam has a clear monotheistic theology with a belief in Allah that parallels our view of "kail" or Hashem. It is even ...
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Third blessing on the second night of Channukah
If someone didn't light Channukah lights on the first night, does he/she then say the third blessing (Sh'hecheyunu) on the next night?
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Puzzles on Shabbat
Is it permitted to put together puzzles on Shabbat with children?
Does it matter what kind of puzzle it is (jigsaw vs. fit the piece in the wooden hole)?
Does it matter if there are words on the ...
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Priority of Davening with a Minyan
Is it better to Daven [pray] with a earlier large minyan or better to wait to daven later with a much smaller minyan where I will be needed as the tenth?
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Chanukiah location
What it the ideal place to put a chanukiah for lighting? Is it better to put it in the window, outside or inside? Does it depend on where you live?
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