Questions tagged [health-safety-shmira]
NOTE: For professional medical advice, please contact your physician.
142
questions
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79 views
Are there sources that discuss the proper role of mood-altering substances?
I am curious if there are any sources (halachic or hashkafic) that discuss the use of mood or personality altering substances. From Caffeine or Chamomile tea all the way to psychiatric medication, ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
What are usual Jewish practices and doctrine for addictive substances such as alcohol and tobacco?
I live in a community where about a fourth to half of the population is Jewish and I have many friends here that all seem to have different outlooks about addictive substances. Particularly about ...
1
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1answer
81 views
During covid-related social distancing minyan is it better for one person to get all aliyot or multiple people at a distance?
During the current covid-19 outbreak all shuls in the United States have closed and minyanim are for the most part not being conducted. The OU recently released guidance to be used when minyanim in ...
1
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1answer
95 views
Diets promoted by different Rabbis throughout history
I was curious if there was any information about the sages or other known historical Rabbis who promoted diets for physical/spiritual health.
Obviously, Kosher is Kosher but did anyone ever suggest ...
2
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3answers
107 views
Rain in Iyar - Miracle Cure?
I remember that a few years ago, it was raining in Iyar and someone (who I believe to be a talmid chacham) told me that drinking the rain in Iyar is a powerful segulah for refuahs. Today, Rosh Chodesh ...
2
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2answers
262 views
If our leadership do not take disease outbreaks seriously, are they considered responsible for deaths that follow?
As of late, there has been a controversy in various Jewish communities around the world. Certain Rabbis and certain individuals have actively circumvented the preventative measures to help stop the ...
1
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0answers
101 views
Priestly blessing with split minyan
This morning, a member of our synagogue raised an interesting question. Assume a congregation in Israel, which has to split the minyan in two in order to comply with precautionary measures due to the ...
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2answers
130 views
Rabbis giving advice which contradicts expert medical opinion
I have read many stories of great Rabbis, historically and in today's times, who have given people medical advice which was in direct contradiction to the advice given by expert medical professionals. ...
2
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0answers
116 views
Epidemics and public torah study
In the current pandemic, there seem to be diverse opinions, both of medical/government officials and of religious leaders regarding communal gatherings for religious services. For example, some shuls ...
7
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1answer
772 views
R' Akiva Eiger and the epidemic
A rav mentioned it to me that R' Akiva Eiger got an award from the Prussian king, because during an epidemic in Posen he, in accordance with the doctors and the authorities, required the strict ...
0
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0answers
339 views
What is the Torah perspective on our response to coronavirus? [duplicate]
What spiritual response does daas Torah (Rabbonim, Gedolim, etc.) suggest we should utilize in facing coronavirus?
For instance, Rav Yisroel Reisman (Ki Sisa 5780) mentioned saying פיטום הקטורת and ...
1
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1answer
112 views
How do you write an amulet
The internet has many examples of Jewish amulets. I would like to know how, step by step, amulet is written. I understand there may be different formula for different amulets but I assume the general ...
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0answers
20 views
Halachic view on the order of personal effort vs prayers
In my previous question "yaakov-preceded-his-effort-to-a-prayer" we see that Yaakov, hearing the bad news preferred to make the effort first and daven later.
It made me think: this happens to me a ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Oil in Shabbos Candles Caught Fire - What to Do?
My wife recently switched from using wax candles to oil in glass cups when lighting for Shabbat. The cups were about half water, half oil. She put some floating wicks in and lit them the way she ...
2
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4answers
269 views
Please advise me on how to avoid staying up too late at night
Despite following the sleep-hygiene advice I found on secular websites (e.g.: establish a proper sleeping schedule meaning don't stay awake too late, not using electronic devices which emit blue light,...
2
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0answers
77 views
If you're not overweight, can you still use a food scale and an app to count calories during Chol Ha'moed?
Background
During Chol Ha'moed, more food than usual is available. The relevant science suggests that, when there's a lot of food variety available in our homes, we're more likely to overeat. Still, ...
2
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2answers
88 views
Undergoing experimental surgery
Is it permitted for a patient with a terminal illness to accept a dangerous experimental surgery? (Every case is different and requires CYLOR, but I'm just curious about the two sides of the argument -...
0
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2answers
140 views
Tzitzis and Teeth?
Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits, author of the Halachically Speaking series, is coming out with a book on Teeth and Dentistry in Halacha. In the flyer advertising the book (pdf link), there is a list of ...
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0answers
96 views
Is there a tefilah/segulah requesting that bowel and intestine should work?
My brother-in-law is critically ill in ICU and some of his organs have stopped working.
My sister whatsapped me this morning:
"Intestines not working. Abdomen so Swollen. Cannot take in any feeds. ...
2
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5answers
362 views
Why there was no railing on the 5m high Mizbeach?
While looking at drawings of the Temple's Altar, I was impressed by its dimensions: up to 5m (16ft) high and 15m (100ft) wide. Here's a pretty truthful depiction (courtesy of WIKI) that gives an idea ...
0
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0answers
82 views
Have there been notable Rabbinical opinions on hemp derived CBD oil for personal health?
Marijuana politics is getting complicated in the west with more and more countries legalizing the stuff for both medicinal and personal use.
My question has less to do with Marijuana and more to do ...
2
votes
2answers
78 views
Halachic difference between a medicine and a supplement?
Dietary supplements are a huge industry right now. Many people are taking a variety of vitamins, nutrients, and herbs in the same way they would take a prescription from a doctor.
The problem with ...
5
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1answer
123 views
Why “מַה שֶּׁשָּׁתִינוּ יִהְיֶה לִרְפוּאָה”?
Some Sephardim have this toward the end of the after-meal prayer:
מַה שֶּׁאָכַלְנוּ יִהְיֶה לְשָׂבְעָה וּמַה שֶּׁשָּׁתִינוּ יִהְיֶה לִרְפוּאָה
In my own, loose translation:
May what we ate be ...
3
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0answers
42 views
Vaccinating and religious exemption [duplicate]
Unfortunately, there is a measles outbreak in some east coast cities where some parents refused to vaccinate their children claiming religious exemption.
Since the situation has been declared an ...
0
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2answers
127 views
If meat is proven carcinogenic - would it be permissible to eat meat?
Based on research by many parties, including the World Health Organization, it appears that some processed (and red) meats are (or may be) carcinogenic. For example, in this article on the WHO's ...
3
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1answer
138 views
Would popping pimples be considered “etching” the flesh in the sense that it can sometimes leave scarring?
I was curious if there was a decision which relates to pimples specifically.
Pimple popping and skin care have become a major topic on many parts of the internet. You typically see people using ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Can you kill person A to protect yourself from B?
So it's really difficult to think of a practical example of this, but imagine there were some scenario in which, G-d forbid, you needed to kill a non-guilty party in self-defense. If one were in this ...
3
votes
1answer
180 views
How did the Cohanim walk around the Mizbeach?
I'm finding it very difficult indeed to understand how the Cohanim walked around the Mizbeach on a ledge which was only one Amoh wide but was also six Amos above the floor... Seems to me that they'd ...
-2
votes
2answers
190 views
Why are junk foods, which are poor for your health, certified kosher?
Why do rabbis allow hechsherim on junk food and other foods which are clearly bad for you health? Many products are clearly not good for you such as soda pop, baked goods with trans fats, food with ...
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2answers
61 views
Releasing terrorists in exchange for remains of past victims
What would be a halachik justification for mediating a deal involving releasing terrorists, who may well murder more victims, in exchange for remains of past victims?
Related: Why is the head of the ...
5
votes
2answers
545 views
What level of danger is required for HaGomel?
The Gemara says that four have to say Hagomel:
One who went overseas
One who went into a desert.
One who was [deathly] ill.
One who was in prison [on a capital crime].
To what level of danger must ...
5
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0answers
56 views
Does one say this prayer for medical procedures on a procedure that gives guidance rather than help?
Shulchan Aruch (OC 230:4, as explained by Magen Avraham ibid. :6) paskens that when one undergoes a medical procedure he should say the following prayer:
יהי רצון מלפניך ה׳ אלקי שיהא עסק זה לי ...
4
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1answer
71 views
Why do we refer to HaShem as a Rofei Chinam?
Shulchan Aruch (OC 230:4, as explained by Magen Avraham ibid. :6) paskens that when one undergoes a medical procedure he should say the following prayer:
יהי רצון מלפניך ה׳ אלקי שיהא עסק זה לי ...
2
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1answer
168 views
Air purifier with LED sensor on Shabbat
Would one be allowed to use an air purifier with an LED smell indicator sensor on Shabbat if bringing in odors near the purifier with outside food or other odorous things could or most surely would ...
4
votes
1answer
169 views
Non-Jews touching Jews For Medical Care in an Emergency [duplicate]
I come from a family of female nurses (Christian.) Would it be allowed for them to give aid or help to the Orthodox community in an emergency since hand shaking is not allowed - we would not want to ...
2
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0answers
47 views
Health blessing
where does it say in Gemara (I remember it was in the gemara) that the main blessing we get from HaShem is health, because w/o it we can't enjoy the other blessings?
0
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1answer
117 views
Looking for a kosher hot plate for Shabbos and Yom Tov
Does anyone know of a kosher hot plate that can be safely left on for the duration of Shabbos, Yom Tov, or a 3 day Shabbos and Yom Tov and will not become a fire hazard?
Every product should be and ...
-1
votes
1answer
296 views
What is the Hebrew pasuk for “your body is a temple”
What is the Hebrew pasuk for "your body is a temple"/your body is G-D's resting and is holy it needs to be nourished, etc.?
I am not sure exactly what the phrase is in English but I know its ...
1
vote
1answer
102 views
The only mitsva is to get better for person in severe psychiatric episode [closed]
Let's say that someone ch''v suffers from a severe psychiatric disorder, which can alter judgment and reality testing, e. g. Schizoaffective disorder (elements of schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder)...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
How to deal with back pain [closed]
Part of the deal with leaning over sefarim for three sedarim necessarily results in painful shoulder knots or other forms of back pain. What do you all recommend for coping with such symptoms, or how ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
Could vomit be meaty or milky?
Despite the probable prohibition of eating vomit (see this related question), would it take on the status of its prior-eaten state i.e. milky, meaty or non-kosher (for mixes of milky and meaty)?
1
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0answers
600 views
Masturbating to stop prostate cancer
In Judaism it is forbidden to masturbate (link).
This article brings two studies; one suggesting that masturbation can cause prostate cancer and another suggesting that it can help prevent it.
In ...
2
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1answer
133 views
Hemorrhoids on Shabbos
What are the Halachos about one with Hemorroids on Shabbos?
Is he allowed to use the bathroom/wipe, as this might cause him to bleed?
0
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1answer
133 views
Priests and leprosy
According to Leviticus 13, priests were to examine potential cases of leprosy.
Wouldn't the process of examination put the priest in danger of contracting leprosy himself?
Did the priests take ...
3
votes
1answer
529 views
Hormonal manipulation: Taharas hamishpacha vs. the woman's health
I know* it is quite common among observant Jewish couples to use hormonal methods to prolong, shorten, and/or reschedule the woman's cycle to make taharas hamichpacha timing align better with ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Must one use a separate grill for meat and fish?
As there is a prohibition of mixing meat with fish because of sakana ("danger"), I assume that if one has a small grill, one cannot grill meat and then grill fish (or vice versa) without cleaning the ...
1
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0answers
294 views
Is deer antler velvet kosher?
Is deer antler velvet kosher? I'm referring to this:
http://www.esupplements.com/products/dvx-pro-liquid/?mobile=1
Or this:
http://www.esupplements.com/products/deer-antler-velvet-pro/?mobile=1
I ...
1
vote
3answers
285 views
Are there any halachic issues involved with using jscreen?
jscreen.org is an organization that provides genetic testing for Jews to help potential spouses better know if their children might have the potential to develop different diseases.
The issue is that ...
0
votes
2answers
175 views
Do sefardim need to get genetic testing?
Some ashkenazim carry genes that could lead their children to develop Tay-Sachs disease. For this reason many ashkenazim get genetic testing - I believe that this is dictated by halacha.
Do sephardim ...
4
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0answers
212 views
Is there a bias against marijuana in the orthodox community?
Note: I'm not trying to promote marijuana. I strongly dislike marijuana and cigarettes and I would never use nor recommend either. I'm concerned about health and the awareness of the dangers of drugs.
...
