All Questions
26 questions
2
votes
2
answers
112
views
What is the Halacha if I pronounced הוליכך with a patach under the כ instead of a shva?
I realize that this question may be quite specific but this is something that I am genuinely concerned about and I am beating myself up for it.
I leined this Mincha on Shabbat. In the leining, I think ...
- 621
1
vote
1
answer
162
views
How could the words עשב בשדך run together?
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:20 states:
One should put a gap between a word whose beginning [letter] is like
the end [letter] of its predecessor, for example: "b'chol l'vav'kha",
"al ...
- 1,372
2
votes
2
answers
770
views
What does ממנ”פ mean?
I've seen the acronym ממנ”פ in multiple places but I am not sure what it means.
קיצורים וראשי תיבות בעברית indicates that it means ממערכת נשימה פנימית but I am not sure if that is correct.
Here are ...
- 123
3
votes
3
answers
186
views
Resources to improve my Hebrew to learn Halachic works?
My Hebrew is solid - I am able to get around Israel - but when I learn works of Halacha (Aruch HaShulchan, Mishna Berura, Kitzur) I am not able to follow due to not knowing words and acronyms.
What is ...
- 869
6
votes
2
answers
208
views
English prayers, mix in hebrew?
Some prayers can be said in any language, and many people use the English translation in siddurim to daven directly, the question is is one allowed to mix in both hebrew and English when first ...
0
votes
1
answer
175
views
Separating Torah study from Hebrew study
I once heard there is a requirement to separate learning Hebrew from the learning of Torah; that there is an assur on doing basic Hebrew learning based on what one wants or has to study in the Torah ...
- 36
1
vote
2
answers
487
views
What is the meaning of Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5 when it uses the Hebrew phrase "כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה'"?
In Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5, Rambam quotes Isaiah 11:9 using the phrase:
כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים
This is commonly translated as, That the earth ...
- 16.7k
1
vote
0
answers
26
views
Is there a halachic requirement to teach your child to read Hebrew? [duplicate]
Is it a mitzva to teach one's child to read Hebrew? If so, it is d'orita or d'rabbanon?
- 8,383
3
votes
1
answer
334
views
Source that hearing the Megillah does not require Hebrew understanding?
While I don't recall the exact location, I remember seeing in Shulchan Aruch that one is required to hear every word of the Megillah.
I have been reading the Megillah for the congregation for several ...
- 71.5k
5
votes
1
answer
446
views
Christian praying
According to Jewish law, is it permissible for the Christian to
Pray in Hebrew
Call on G-d as Hashem, Elokim, Adonai in prayer
Who accept Torah/Tanakh as beneficial even when translated
Note: I am ...
- 75
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the difference between a Ger Toshav, a Ben Noach, an Akum and a Nochri?
These terms get used a lot in referring to gentiles. What are the precise differences, if any, between these different categories? Just for clarity, Akum is an abbreviation of the phrase 'Eved ...
- 16.7k
5
votes
2
answers
705
views
Evolved minimal Hebrew pronunciation in halacha
Inspired by comments on this question: Say a person travels from place to place where there are certain traditional havarot (pronunciations) such that what were likely originally distinct sounds, are ...
- 17.9k
0
votes
1
answer
276
views
ד mi yodeya (the pronunciation)?
The gemara (Brachoth 13b) records that one is supposed to draw out the ד of "אחד" in the first verse of the Shema:
.תניא: סומכוס אומר: כל המאריך באחד מאריכין לו ימיו ושנותיו
אמר רב אחא בר ...
- 17.9k
4
votes
2
answers
369
views
Studying the Written Torah in English
In terms of fulfilling the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah, when studying the Written Torah, must one learn the translation in tandem with the Hebrew words? Or is it sufficient to understand the meaning, ...
- 847
-1
votes
1
answer
327
views
Should we say Leelou Nishmat ou Leelou Nishmata for a deceased woman? [closed]
Should we say Leelou Nishmat or Leelou Nishmata for a deceased woman?
I heard a Rabbi saying Leelou Nishmata but it seems quite uncommon. What should we say?
- 1,550
3
votes
1
answer
377
views
How is one allowed to say the word "Hashem"?
There's a famous Taz (quoted in Kitzur 6:3) which says that one isn't allowed to say the name of Hashem in foreign languages (So saying/writing B-ga or G-d in vain would be forbidden).
Why would ...
- 40.8k
6
votes
2
answers
223
views
The word 'Halakhah'
When and under what circumstances did the word "halakhah" (also spelled "halacha", "halachah" or, in Hebrew, הלכה) come to mean Jewish law?
- 7,532
-1
votes
2
answers
723
views
What do "Batél Beshishim Lechatechila" and " Mevatél Issur Lechatechila" mean?
What do "Batél Beshishim Lechatechila" and "Mevatél Issur Lechatechila" mean?
- 157
5
votes
3
answers
878
views
Gentiles praying in Hebrew
Can a gentile pray in hebrew, and recite the Psalms?
I am a Noahide (Chassidic Gentile) who is interested in going through the conversion process to Reform Judaism. Is it okay for me to pray the ...
- 51
11
votes
4
answers
908
views
Pronunciation of "Two"s in Hebrew
Thomas O. Lambdin calls out the words שְנַיִם and שְתַּיִם as exceptions to "shewa as the initial vowel in a word is always vocalized," i.e. it is "shtayim" and "shnayim". That's a secular expert's ...
- 141
-2
votes
2
answers
266
views
Ve-dibarta BAM? or bam?
Would saying "ve-dibarta BAM!!!" (with the letter A pronounced like Apple) help me to discharge my obligation when reciting kriat shema, or would it be better that I say "bam" instead? (the letter A ...
- 6,059
-3
votes
1
answer
273
views
Permissibility of speaking foreign languages?
(Inspired by this comment).
Does halacha permit Jews to speak languages other than Hebrew? Bedieved? Lechatchilah?
- 6,059
1
vote
1
answer
352
views
Aramaic sections of davening in Hebrew
From the answers I received to this question, the reason we still say some sections of davening (prayer) in Aramaic seems to be that it is historically a Jewish language, and using it unifies all Jews....
- 2,495
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What does "prohibited l’chatchila" mean?
To me the phrase prohibited l’chatchila seems a bit confusing. Can someone explain what this means in plain and simple english?
(context: someone says "action X is prohibited l’chatchila")
- 38.8k
7
votes
1
answer
124
views
Parshat Zachor - Do you need to understand or just hear
The responsibility of reading Zachor is in order to remember to wipe out Amalek. Therefore we read it annually.
Does someone who hears the words of Zachor, but does not understand them, still ...
- 33.5k
7
votes
2
answers
806
views
Davening not in Hebrew
Isn't it better to daven in your first language rather than davening in Hebrew and only knowing part of what you're sayig?
- 3,107