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).
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Shomronim and Halakha
Do the Baraitot brought down by Masechet Kutim and other random halachot in the Talmud that were said about "kutim" apply to the 750 remaining Samaritans in the world today (who currently live in ...
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What if someone accidentally gave an Aliya to a non-Jew?
A gabbai called someone up for an Aliya. Yaamod, Reuven ben Shimon Shlishi.
Then, it turns out that Reuven isn't Jewish (he thought he was, his mother had a reform conversion and he thought that was ...
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Replacement kesubah but the father had a name change
I heard an interesting question but didn't hear the answer. There are laws about what to do when someone loses their Kesubah. They write something new called a kesubah d'irkesa, which is a document ...
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Textual Criticism of Nach
I was recently learning Megillat Esther (as I prepare some shiurim on the topic), and was surprised to find the following comment by Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Tedeschi), in his commentary to ...
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What is the halachic boundary of modern day Jerusalem in regards to Purim
I would like to know what the halachic boundaries of Jerusalem are today in terms of where one would be obligated in the mitzvot of Shushan Purim.
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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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Mishloach Manot - why the word Manot is used specifically
What is so special about this word "Manot / Manah" that it is used for the Mitzvah of sending food to one's fellow?
What are the Halachic applications that "Manot" is used and not, say, food (besides ...
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Are relations permitted with one's wife who does not safeguard Shabbos?
One who transgresses Shabbos publicly has the status of a Gentile (Shulchan Aruch Y"D 2:5 and Shulchan Aruch Harav on it). Furthermore, Jews are forbidden from having relations with Gentiles.
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Can we use archaeology to determine halacha or mesorah?
Can archaeology be used to determine the proper halacha or mesorah in certain cases? For instance, what if we found a Sefer Torah from the times of Moshe Rabbeinu and it differed from our mesorah. ...
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How do we know that Shema is a time-based obligation and not an event-based obligation?
The time for reciting Shema is discussed in the Mishnah and various tannaic opinions are given, both for the morning Shema and for the evening Shema:
Berachot 2a
מאימתי קורין את שמע בערבין משעה ...
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Does a Ger have a Chiyuv to get an Aliya?
Inspired by the comments to my answer about (pseudo) 2nd Bar Mitzvahs.
Both the Magen Avraham in 282:18 and the Biur Halocho in 136:1:1 mention that the reason a Bar Mitzva boy has a high priority to ...
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Is Sous-vide Cooking or Roasting?
It has been discussed here previously regarding the Sous-vide method of cooking.
However I have a separate question. What type of method is halachically categorized as?
Is it Tzli or is it Bishul?
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Saying Havineinu during the rainy season
The Mishnah Berakhot 4:3 introduces the abridged Amida, known as Havineinu (due to its' opening word). The Gemara Berakhot 29a provides the text of this abridged Amida, in the name of Shmuel.
Within ...
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How to determine a trespasser's intent from a Halachic Perspective?
How do we determine a trespasser's intent from a Halachic Perspective?
The Rambam writes:
If it is clear to the house-owner that the thief who breaks in will not kill him and instead is only ...
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The Nehalel Siddur and the Rema in OC 90:23
The Nehalel Siddur is a Siddur which pictures accompanying prayer text. (Some examples of the pages in the Siddur can be seen here and here).
The Rema in Orach Chayim 90:23 says the following:
(...
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Charlie Gard's parents from a Halachic Perspective
As this question is somewhat extensive, I have divided the post into headers in order to make it easier to read and follow.
Background
Charlie Gard is a British baby who has a rare genetic disorder ...
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Can the Shaliach Tzibbur walk around while praying?
For any of the prayers other than the Amidah, are there sources that allow the prayer leader to walk around (for no special purpose) while praying?
The question is specific to the Shaliach Tzibbur, ...
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May I daven wearing headphones?
There are many paths to concentration. I have known students who doodle because it helps them focus on a lecture more effectively. Others like to listen to music while they study either to help them ...
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A bought or found stolen mitzva item
It's pretty well known that you can't fulfill a mitzvah with something that has been stolen. However, what if you buy or find something to fulfill a mitzvah that (unbeknownst to you) had been stolen ...
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Should we ask a non-Jew to wear a kippa for a burial?
Should we ask a non-Jew to wear a kippa for a burial? He likely doesn't have an obligation to do so. We often ask them in a synagogue (and this answer discusses the reasons) but what about a cemetery?
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Is one allowed to brush teeth on yom kippur with toothpaste without any water?
Is one allowed to brush teeth on Yom Kippur with toothpaste on a toothbrush without rinsing toothbrush before and without rinsing mouth after? What if its prescription which I would think probably ...
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What is the ruling for a bracha's usage being extended across different food forms?
There's a tricky halacha with brachos that I couldn't figure out.
It goes something like this: If you make a bracha on one food item without having others in mind, if more of the food item remains in ...
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May a nutrition scientist perform research on chametz as part of his job on Hol Hamo'ed Pesach?
For this question, I am interested only in the aspect of handling the chametz and "benefitting" from it on Hol Hamo'ed, not any problems, possibly of going to work. (Let's assume that if the worker ...
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Maror- common lettuce
Rav Dovid Feinstein in Kol Dodi perek 15:18 writes that the common custom is to use romaine lettuce for maror.However, he mentions that he heard that a renowned Gaon of recent times who permitted ...
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Would halacha trust a password?
Almost all security systems in the modern world rely on a shared secret (password) system of some kind. The premise is that no-one other than the account holder knows the secret, so anyone who knows ...
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How are Birchos Krias Shema blessings on Krias Shema?
The Ramban (Brachos 11b) writes that Birkas Kriyas Shema are blessings over the Mitzva of saying Shema.
What's in the text of Birkas Kriyas Shema that has to do with Shema? It talks about angels, ...
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Does Torah reading need to be repeated if you said it with an "assumed" minyan?
I'm not good with the title for this scenario:
Suppose that there where 10 men in the shul - 9 everyone knew, and the 10th no one knew. He wore a yarmulka, so everyone assumed that he was Jewish.
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Should one make a bracha on seeing geological arches, hoodoos or balanced rocks?
I am considering visiting Arches National Park in Utah. This park has several "arch" rock formations and a few hoodoos and a balanced rock.
Shulchan Aruch O.C. 228:1 states that one should make a ...
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Sigd prostration
Would prostration pose a halachic problem for a non-Ethiopian Jew who decides to participate in Sigd? Clearly the worshipers are prostrating themselves to none other than the One Jewish God.
Is the ...
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Holy Objects of a Messianic
Messianic Judaism is a heretical offshoot of Judaism which maintains that Jesus was the Mashiach which may violate the prohibition of avodah zarah (see above link). Would the tefillin or tallit* used ...
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Giving to a "mission" collection
In some religions, people accept upon themselves some kind of "mission" to do whatever act to help others. In many cases, it involves collections to send to the poor, or to 3rd world countries. The ...
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Do the laws of Ribis apply to loans of virtual currency?
If a Jew lends a player in a multiplayer online game money, and he knows without a doubt that that player is Jewish, does the prohibition of ribis apply? (After all, the only thing that changed was a ...
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Blessing on Immersing Vessels to Purify Them
A Mikvah can be used to purify humans or certain vessels which have contracted ritual impurity (Rambam Mikvaot 1 (English)).
When humans use the Mikvah to purify themselves they recite a blessing (...
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What's considered shaving?
During periods of mourning, such as Sefirat Haomer and the three weeks prior to Tisha B'av, shaving is prohibited.
What is considered shaving and what is allowed?
May you pluck out a few hairs here ...
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Badikas Chamatz in courtyards of cities today
Shulchan Aruch HaRav says:
קרקעית החצר אין צריך בדיקה לפי שעורבין ושאר עופות מצויין שם והם אוכלים כל חמץ שנופל ואפילו אם ידוע לו שיש שם בחצר ודאי חמץ אין צריך ליטלו משם בשעת בדיקת ליל י"ד ואפילו ...
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Writing the woman's name in a kasubah or get: Plonis *ben* Ploni
Instead of writing the name of the kallah (bride) Rivka bat Chaim (for example) it was written Rivka ben Chaim. In such a case what's the halacha? By a kasubah is it valid? Does it have to be written ...
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G-d's name on screen readers
People who are blind or hard-of-seeing often interact with computers using devices called "screen readers". These screen readers will read aloud the words that are written on the screen (or in the ...
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Heter for shaving during the week of Tisha B'Av for work reasons
Is there any posek who allows shaving during shavua shechal bo (the week in which Tisha B'Av falls, up to Tisha B'Av itself) if, by not shaving, one may lose his job?
R' Moshe Feinstein allows shaving ...
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When is it permissible to collect charity during prayer?
In my shul someone usually brings around the pushka (charity box) during the chazzan's repetition of shmoneh esrei. I have also heard that it is appropriate to give tzedaka during v'yivarech Dovid. ...
user2110
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Is it Tzaar Baalei Chayyim to feed a live animal to another animal?
There are many pets available today that experts recommended feeding (infrequently or at times solely) on live animals. Many reptiles (snakes, chameleons, geckos, monitors, etc.) and many fish are ...
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Can one use potential wind power to transport on Shabbos?
Would it be permitted to set a cart with a sail in a reshus hayachid with the intent that if the wind picks up, it will carry the contents 1) into a reshus harabbim, or 2) through a reshus harabbim ...
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Hacking paywalls on newsites?
Many news websites (NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post etc.) make use of paywalls which pop up after the visitor starts reading the article requiring the visitor to pay in order to ...
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Can Yom Tov candles be lit at daytime if forgotten at night?
If one were to forget to light candles on Yom Tov eve, but remembers the next morning - can s/he still fulfill his obligation to light candles during Yom Tov day with a Brocha?
(Being daytime, it ...
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Moving with magnets: what's the status in halacha?
If I move something on Shabbos with the force of a magnet, is that considered Halachicly like I move it with my hands (גופו), with my force (כוחו), indirect (גרמא), or have I done nothing?
This is ...
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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 a woman uncover her hair for the sake of employment?
I am aware of many poseqim who hold that in order to get and hold a job, it is permissible for men to remove their kippoth during the interview and their workday.
Can a woman who badly needs ...
user3342
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Halachically, do Israeli citizens own their land?
According to Israeli law, the government owns nearly all of the land, except for some privately owned land from Mandatory periods. Citizens get to rent it from the government. This is commonly known ...
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Preparing food for Yom Tov Sheni
Orach Chaim 503 says that one may not prepare from the first day of Yom Tov for the second day of Yom Tov. However, if one is going to eat even one piece of meat on the first day, they may fill up a ...
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Do reward tokens qualify halachically as money?
I give my children special slips of paper as a reward for good behavior (a "token economy"). They can collect these slips of paper and use them to "buy" rewards such as toys, treats, or fun activities....
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Death penalty for non-Jews
Murder in the Torah is punished by the death penalty, but with many conditions.
Were the rules of death penalty the same for Jews and non-Jews living in the holy land?
What were the differences?
...
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