All Questions
37 questions
8
votes
3
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2k
views
Seeking Sources on the Russian Decree Regarding Jewish Dress Code
I am currently studying the later version of the Sefer “Daas Moshe VYisroel” and came across an interesting point in Rabbi Binyomin Rabinowitz's approbation letter. It states:
"הנה מנהג חבישת פאה ...
- 2,252
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Does the Torah prohibit men from shaking women hands? [duplicate]
My friend is devoutly Jewish and when he met my family, he shaked hands with all members of my family, accept for my mother and sister, claiming that both Judaism and the Torah prohibit men from ...
1
vote
1
answer
182
views
Who is Matrona which asked Reb Yossi many questions?
The Medrash in last week Parsha says מטרונא שאלה את רבי יוסי בן חלפתא אמרה ליה למה יצא עשו תחלה if we search for Reb Yossi with maternya there are a number of questions which she asked. Jastrow says ...
- 2,252
2
votes
1
answer
299
views
Yaavetz regarding the story with Yehudis not happening on Chanuka
Rabbi Yaakov Emden writes in his מור וקציעה seen here, in last paragraph of the second column, that the story of Yehudis had nothing to do with Chanuka and actually happened during the first exile.
...
- 34.1k
1
vote
3
answers
3k
views
Was there a tradition that Jewish girls desired to be the mother of the messiah?
Are there any Jewish historical traditions that young Jewish girls often hoped and desired to be the mother of the messiah?
For this question, I am interested in the historical time period of the 1st ...
- 593
2
votes
1
answer
189
views
Was Hakhel performed in separation of men and women?
Mitzvat Hakhel requires the presence of men, women, and children in the Azara (135x135 Ama incl. 4 Lishachot), with a tremendous density (for 600K grown-up men it's around 4M people per 4,000 sq.m.), ...
- 28k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
Sotah 8:7 says that for obligatory wars all go out to fight, "even a bridegroom from his chamber and a bride from her canopy". Historically, was this in fact our practice? Did women participate in ...
- 57k
8
votes
1
answer
240
views
Who are "the women who twist yarn by the moon"?
Sotah 6:1 talks about when a man who hears about his wife violating his warning divorces her rather than invoking the sotah test:
Someone who warned his wife [against being secluded with a certain ...
- 57k
9
votes
1
answer
161
views
poetical works authored by women?
Are there any examples of songs, poems, piyyutim or kinnot from the time of the first temple until the 1700's (c.e.) which were authored by women and were adopted by traditional/orthodox communities.
...
- 15.3k
2
votes
0
answers
161
views
How were women rewarded for not worshiping the Golden Calf?
The Leviim were rewarded for not participating in the Egel (golden calf) by replacing the Bechorim (firstborn) as the workers in the Mishkan.
But the women also did not participate in the calf.
What ...
- 1,287
1
vote
1
answer
102
views
First time things other then gold was used as jewelry for woman,
In the Bible I know of gold jewelry for woman
But what are the first precious stones, semiprecious stones, or diamonds used as jewelry for woman (I know stones were used for the kohen gadol)
I am ...
- 7,614
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Proverbs 8:22-31. Woman Wisdom personified or actual being?
In Proverbs 8:22-31, a figure known as "Woman Wisdom" is described as being present when G-d was creating the world. Obviously, "Woman Wisdom" serves as a great personification to teach about the ...
1
vote
1
answer
125
views
What powers and responsibilities do wives of Jewish kings have in relation to the public?
It is known that a Jewish king has to be male, as quoted by an answer to this question.
What halachik powers did the queen (i.e. wife of the king) have within the kingdom?
Also, what historical ...
- 1,358
3
votes
2
answers
835
views
How can we say women can't receive s'micha when they already have?
The topic of s'micha is a touchy subject in general due to the fact that the s'micha we have now is a rather diminished form in comparison to the s'micha of the Bible or Talmud.
The institution of ...
- 11.8k
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can a woman be a zadik? [closed]
Can a woman be a zadik? Who of the matriarchs would be considered a zaikai if women can be. Thank you.
- 31
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there an obligation for men and women to sit separately at a simcha?
Rav Binyamin Kamentzky, whom I recently saw, told me that until about 30 - 25 years ago, it was very common for men and women to sit together at weddings, Bar Mitzvah and other seudei mitzvah run by "...
- 71.5k
2
votes
1
answer
502
views
Instances where women wore tefillin [duplicate]
Up to (and including) the period of the Rishonim, are there multiple documented instances of Jewish women wearing tefillin?
Edit: As discovered by another user on this website, there is another ...
- 189
1
vote
2
answers
261
views
Historic, variant wording for birkat hamazon for women?
The Mishna Berura (halachot birchat hamazon, siman 187) mentions a variant wording of the birkat hamazon that is said by women. Precisely what is this wording and when was it used and when was it ...
- 8,383
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Who was the wife of Levi (according to Sefer HaYashar)?
What was the name of Levi's wife?
I am specifically looking for the answer which is given in Sefer HaYashar, but I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know who Sefer HaYashar says the wife of Levi is?
- 21
8
votes
1
answer
612
views
How was the tomb of the matriarchs determined?
Apparently there is a "tomb of the Matriarchs" in Tiberias which is purported to house several nashim tzidkaniot. I'd like to know how it was determined that those women were buried in that place.
7
votes
2
answers
449
views
What was the name of Tzipora's mother?
What was the name of Tzipora's mother (Moses's mother-in-law)?
There are a lot of wives mentioned in the Torah, but the names of some aren't mentioned even though they are important. So I was curious ...
- 71
8
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Are there any female kabbalists?
Are there currently or have there been historically orthodox female kabbalists? If not is this a quirk of history or is there a specific reason?
- 3,893
14
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Rashi's Daughters wearing Tefillin
There is a commonly held "tradition" that Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin.
One highly educated rabbi/professor has publicly stated that he's spent 35 years searching for a source but to no avail.
...
- 41.9k
5
votes
2
answers
807
views
When and why did women change to ritually bathing in the Evening?
Do you happen to have any ideas, or any sources, detailing why women first became required to bathe in the evening as in current practise, as opposed to the recorded biblical requirement to wash ...
- 123
2
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Biblical significance of face veil
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. A related question about the rule was asked here, and i was asked to ask a separate question on Biblical history of the same.
Was such a ...
- 2,013
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How were girls educated during the Talmudic era?
According to the Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society's article on Judaism:
Owing to the primacy of ritual in traditional Judaism, instruction of children focused on the ...
- 1,017
-8
votes
3
answers
6k
views
When did the switch to matrilineal descent occur?
Does anyone know when the switch the matrilineal descent took place? I've seen other information about the potential impetus, but when did it become so? Was there even a switch?
- 2,799
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Ululating in Jewish culture
In ancient times, Jews living in Israel ululated if I am not mistaken. Is this practiced by Ashkenazi or Sephardic Jews today? Which other Jewish communities ululate? Ethiopians, Mizrahis, etc?
Are ...
- 2,179
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What was daily life like for Jewish women living in al-Andalus in the 10th/11th centuries?
The emir of Al-Andalus (approximately the Iberian peninsula) declared himself a new caliph, breaking off from the caliphate in the east, circa 950 CE. I have read that the next couple hundred years ...
- 57k
9
votes
2
answers
391
views
When did Achashverosh stop rounding up fair maidens?
So first Achashverosh was married to Vashti. Then no more Vashti. Then he's rounding up all the fair maidens in the land to um, "meet" them, one per night, but they're still stuck in one of his royal ...
- 136k
5
votes
2
answers
386
views
What is the story of Yehudit which takes place during the Chanukkah Story?
I have heard many varying and conflicting stories about Yehudit and her effect on the war with the Greeks at Chanukkah time and was wondering if anyone has sources for her story and what it truly is.
...
- 7,448
9
votes
1
answer
474
views
Chamisha Asar B'Av - when did the Minhag stop?
The Gemara Taanis 31. says אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כחמשה עשר באב וכיוה"כ שבהן בנות ירושלים יוצאות ... וחולות בכרמים ומה היו אומרות בחור שא נא עיניך וראה מה אתה בורר לך אל תתן ...
- 140k
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Moshe's divorcing Tzipora
Moshe refrained from marital relations with Tzipora for almost forty years, so as to be able to receive prophecy at any moment (Shabas 87:1). 1. Did he divorce her? 2. If not, why not?
- 73.9k
14
votes
3
answers
717
views
Disparity between male and female pronunciation of Cholam
In many Yeshivish communities in the US, the male segment of the population vocalizes the cholam as "oi," while their female counterparts vocalize it as a long "o". How did this come about? Does the ...
- 21.2k
10
votes
2
answers
594
views
Teffilin and women
Rashi's daughters are popularly described as having worn Teffilin, but apparently there is no such source, just a popular urban legend in Jewish circles. Are there any women described in Rabbinic ...
- 33.5k
25
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What is the original halachic source for a woman covering her collarbones out of modesty (tznius)?
Many contemporary instructions on women's modesty (tznius) say that necklines have to be high enough to cover the collarbones.
I can certainly accept that if this is the communal standard, it should ...
- 136k
5
votes
2
answers
161
views
Does the rebbetzin (rabbi's wife) have a special seat in the ezras nashim (women's side of the synagogue)?
Usually the rabbi gets a special seat. I'd seen the Pnei Yehoshua's contract in Berlin 200+ years ago specify a special seat for his wife as well, but is anyone aware of shuls today that do that?
- 136k