Questions tagged [health-safety-shmira]

NOTE: For professional medical advice, please contact your physician.

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Does Ramban say anything about eating and nutrition?

BH Does Ramban say anything about nutrition and health? Heard he was a doctor, what to eat or not?
David 's user avatar
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If you're not overweight, can you still weigh yourself during Chol Ha'moed?

Background On Chol Ha'moed, melacha is sometimes, but not always, permitted. During Chol Ha'moed, more food may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of ...
tealhill supports Monica's user avatar
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Using pre-cut floss on Shabbos, if the floss is likely to shred

Please imagine: You floss daily, and your gums never bleed. You've pre-cut a good length of floss before Shabbos. However: Every time you floss, the floss shreds. In such a case, are you allowed ...
unforgettableidSupportsMonica's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
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How does one remove a curse and/or a magical spell that's been placed upon a person/land/lineage/etc? What is the process like?

The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in סימן קסו - שלא לנחש לעונן ולכשף says that one can go to a non-Jew if they are suffering from an ailment caused by magic, which means that there must be a way to rid ...
setszu's user avatar
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613 Mitzvot corresponding to the 248 and 365 body parts [duplicate]

Where can I find a chart or list in English of each mitzvah and which body part the mitzvah corresponds to including bones and organs?
Jonathan Eshaghian's user avatar
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Are we forbidden from striving to develop biotech that can make us immortal since that would essentially be like biting off from the Tree of Life?

In the recent years, there has been a lot of talk and investment in the biotech space regarding life extension, with some saying that the eventual goal is to make us live forever. However, to strive ...
setszu's user avatar
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Taking care of the body

I heard that the Gaon of Vilna wrote the following: normally, suffering comes to atone for past sins. But, when a person puts himself in a dangerous situation and suffers an accident due to this, this ...
Renan Suchmacher's user avatar
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List of resources for halachot concerning celiac disease

A friend has recently been diagnosed with celiac disease. This is where individuals develop intolerance to gluten, present in foods such as wheat, rye and barley. This will impact a number of halachic ...
bondonk's user avatar
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If it is time for set prayer, and one can only either pray or exercise, what comes first?

If one only has the strength or will-power or interest to do one thing, which should it be: Pray (e.g., Shacharis, Mincha or Maariv) or exercise? For instance, say one comes home from work late one ...
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Donating body parts of a corpse

Is a family member or oneself allowed to donate body parts in case of someone's death? Is this comparable to the donations of kidneys of healthy people, which seems to be allowed? What if the body ...
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Does using kidney beans in cholent run a risk of toxicity [closed]

I've seen various sources on the internet discuss the toxicity of raw kidney beans and how slow cooking is not sufficient or could even be counter productive. (See https://www.fda.gov/media/83271/...
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Why does the Torah explicitly endorse the use of lead, a carcinogenic metal, in regards to Tevilah?

In Parshas מטות, the Torah describes 6 different metals which require Tevilah (Bamidbar 31:22), one of them being lead. (Gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, & lead.) It is learned out that all metals ...
Moshe's user avatar
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May one get an electric tattoo for blood pressure monitoring?

Researchers have recently found a way to measure blood pressure via graphene e-tattoos on the skin. Would one be Halachically allowed to get such a tattoo, or would this fall under the category of ...
Moshe's user avatar
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Hand expressing mother's milk on שבת to upkeep supply

The Shulchan Aruch או"ח סימן שכח סעיף לד ו-לה rules that a woman is not allow to hand express milk into a vessel in order to feed an infant from it. She is allowed to hand express into the ...
Yoreinu's user avatar
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How far should we go to accommodate health sensitivities?

This recent article reports about a woman thrown off a flight because she requested that no nuts be served to anybody on the plane, because her severe allergy even to smelling nuts could cause her to ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
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Corona "parties" for children

Background Particularly throughout this present omicron wave, people have floated the idea of having childrens' "corona parties". In such a 'party' parents invite previously uninfected ...
bondonk's user avatar
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Is there a Halachic book on regular fasting?

I’d like to take on regular fasting for health reasons. My Rav permits this. He also permits it to weaken desire. But there are so many contradictory opinions that are hard to reconcile in the ...
Kenny Xiong's user avatar
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Am I obligated to say "bless you" (or its equivalent) after someone sneezes?

The Midrash Pirkei D'Rebbi Eliezer (54) writes המופת הרביעי, מיום שנברא העולם לא היה אדם חולה, אלא בכל מקום שהיה אדם אם בדרך אם בשוק ועטש היתה נפשו יוצאה מנחיריו ומת, עד שבא יעקב אבינו ובקש רחמים על ...
NJM's user avatar
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Does Judaism say if you are fat you should have a diet?

Does Judaism say if you are fat you should have a diet? Moderator's Note: As with all content on Mi Yodeya, if this question is practically relevant to you, please don't rely directly on any ...
Henda Brahem's user avatar
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Is it a mitzvah to excercise? [duplicate]

Are there any sources that say it's a mitzvah to exercise- i.e., to walk around the block to keep up your health?
Mordechai's user avatar
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Vaccines using aborted fetal cells

A friend of mine informed me that a few coronavirus vaccines might have used aborted fetal cells during development and/or production. What I have found by so far is that these cells were grown in ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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Non-medical N95 / KN95 / FFP2 masks, beards, shaving, Chol Ha'moed, and the Omer

Background information There's no longer a shortage of non-medical N95 / FFP2 masks. Anyone who wants enhanced protection against COVID can now get some. Despite some rumors to the contrary, these ...
unforgettableidSupportsMonica's user avatar
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1 answer
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How often should one go to the dentist? [closed]

The Ketzos Hashulchan 126:3 discusses issues with teeth becoming a concern of protecting one's health. Do Poskim today suggest the frequency one must visit the dentist to preemptively protect one's ...
NJM's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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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,‎ ...
ak0000's user avatar
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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 ...
kewardicle's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
180 views

If you take a COVID "smell test" every day, do you say a blessing on the scent?

Background Some experts recommend that everyone test their own sense of smell once daily. This can help to screen for the novel coronavirus disease. This is because COVID often (but not always) ...
Dani's user avatar
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2 votes
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What physical/health factors disqualify an otherwise qualified bechor from pidyon haben?

If a first-born son meets the qualifications for pidyon ha'ben (first born of his mother, born naturally, parents are both Yisroel), what physical health issues would "disqualify" the bechor ...
Benjamin G's user avatar
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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 ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
98 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 ...
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2 votes
3 answers
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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 ...
JewishMale's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
356 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 ...
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1 vote
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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 ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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2 answers
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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. ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
124 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 ...
Loewian's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
885 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 ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
459 views

Who is counted in an "outdoor minyan" defined? How should the minyan be run?

An outdoor minyan is one possible attempt to deal with a public health instruction aimed at preventing spreading infections, such as keeping 6 feet from another person and avoiding indoor gatherings. ...
Yehuda W's user avatar
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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 ...
NJM's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
166 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 ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
23 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 ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
499 views

The minimum amount of food one must eat on Shabbos

What is the minimum food a person needs to eat on the Sabbath? (I have an interest in water fasting. This means consuming nothing but water, for days or weeks on end. The power of the fast depends ...
michael's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
2k 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 ...
Jake's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
344 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,...
Ilja's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
124 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 may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of food variety available in our homes, we're more likely to overeat. ...
tealhill supports Monica's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
103 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 -...
NJM's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
211 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 ...
Menachem's user avatar
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1 vote
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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. ...
Berry Mink's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
996 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 ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
146 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 ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
112 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 ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
157 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 ...
msh210's user avatar
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