All Questions
Tagged with mesorah-tradition history
30 questions
4
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2
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Why do we have many teachings from Hillel and Shammai, but very few of earlier zugot?
We venerate our previous generations, and have a principle of yeridat hadorot. Therefore I would imagine that the Torah of Samaya and Avtalyon, for example, would be pure gold for us, and threaded ...
- 14.7k
1
vote
1
answer
141
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Preservation of the text
I read in an article that "rabbinic literature" states there was a preserved copy of a guarded text in the second temple, I was hoping someone could let me know where I can find this text, ...
- 760
1
vote
1
answer
256
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Rabbi Yosef Maman and the Bukharian Jews
According to Wikipedia, Rabbi Yosef Maman, a Shad"ar who came to Bukhara in the late 18th century, discovered that the Bukharian Jews believed they were descendants of the Ten Tribes and used the ...
- 28.4k
3
votes
4
answers
750
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Transition from "Temple Judaism" to "Rabbinic Judaism"
In reference to this comment on the Worldbuilding.SE question, "What educational resources could help someone who knows they will time travel to the future?":
There is little resemblance between ...
- 366
2
votes
2
answers
214
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History of Kabbalah
Has anyone attempted to write a historical sketch of the history of the shalsheles HaKabbalah (which, in this instance, I use to refer to Toras HaSod)? In other words, what was megale to Moshe Rabbenu,...
- 4,707
7
votes
4
answers
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When the Torah was almost lost and one (or several) Rabbis saved it?
I heard several times from numerous sources, that there were times in history (during the 1st and the 2nd Temples) when the Torah (incl. Oral) was almost completely lost and just one Rabbi (or a ...
- 28k
2
votes
0
answers
126
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Why did the Savoraim only emend certain parts of the Talmud?
I remember learning that Savoraim added certain parts to the Talmud- ex: the beginning of Kiddushin (2a-3a) & parts of Bava Metzia.
(feel free to add additional examples)
Any idea why they ...
- 12.2k
6
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0
answers
185
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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. ...
- 19.2k
3
votes
0
answers
101
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At what point does a Jew going against tradition establish a legitimate extension to that tradition?
This question is in reference to tzitzit knots but it can really apply to any Jewish tradition which comes in "flavors" so to speak.
Tzitzit are an interesting article because they tend to come in a ...
user15672
3
votes
1
answer
624
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Ancient Jewish Essene texts and history
Recently when I visited Israel my family had a wonderful experience seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls and learning about Jewish life in the desert. When I grew up I had so little knowledge of this. I have 2 ...
- 387
5
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2
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435
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Mesorah (Tradition) of Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews have a famous, longstanding affinity for Rambam. Before the time of Rambam, which rabbis were the most influential in Yemen? E.g. Rav Saadya Gaon, local rabbis, etc.
Please provide ...
- 36k
1
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0
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56
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Is there a historical, cultural, traditional, or scriptural explanation for the prevalence of Jews in the comedy business? [duplicate]
If you took the general demographic data for the U.S. and compared it to the demographics of professional comics and comedians in the U.S., I think you'd find that Jews are disproportionately ...
- 2,110
2
votes
1
answer
242
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Tracing the Tradition of HaRaM"A (Moshe Isserles)
In tracing the tradition of HaRav Shimshon Rafa'el Hirsch, I arrived at the famed RaM"A (Rav Moshe Isserles) with help from the beloved MY community. As Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen mentions having done in ...
- 7,532
5
votes
1
answer
190
views
Tracing the Tradition of HaRav Shimshon Rafa'el Hirsch
I'm not sure if this is the proper forum for such an investigation; but, I'll pose the question and find out. I'm trying to trace the tradition received by HaRav Shimshon Rafa'el Hirsch through the ...
- 7,532
12
votes
2
answers
627
views
Is it possible for mesorah to be discovered?
Suppose there was a previously unknown collection of midrash or sayings or halachah or commentary that was discovered in an archaeological excavation and is hundreds or thousands of years old.
...
- 4,550
5
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2
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281
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How did the mesorah for techeles get lost?
It seems odd that something like the tradition for techeles could have been lost. It seems unlikely that Jews just stopped using techeles at some point and then immediately forgot. Are there no ...
- 311
7
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2
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2k
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Hammurabi in Jewish sources
The Hammurabi code is one of the oldest preserved codes of law dating back to 1772 BCE. This is roughly the time after the flood (-2105BCE), the tower of Bavel (1765BCE) and the Patriarchs.
Although ...
- 10.5k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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What is the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah?
I've heard many things about this "Great Assembly," mostly about how they established davening (prayers). However, there appears to be a lack of specific information about this institution. So:
Who ...
- 10.7k
23
votes
9
answers
37k
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Has the Torah been changed over the ages?
It is quite a famous argument from Muslims for authenticity of the Quran that the previous Holy Books (Bible and Torah) sent by God have been corrupted or changed by their followers and that Quran is ...
- 365
2
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0
answers
243
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When was the modern manuscript for the Torah agreed upon?
(This question is also asked here on history.SE for a different perspective.)
Considering that variations have occurred in the Torah's text over time (I think the Gemara may mention events where a ...
- 593
6
votes
7
answers
1k
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Rishonim/Achronim time period differentiation
When was the end of the Rishonim time period and the start of the achronim time period? Who, what, why, and how did this come about? What caused this abrupt change in deemed mental and halachot ...
user3306
12
votes
2
answers
558
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Rabbinic speculations on history
Sometimes in the Rabbinic literature traditions are related about what happened in history, with multiple different opinions. For example, there was a historical development in the script used by ...
- 2,020
6
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3
answers
597
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How do I know if a midrash is accepted?
I have found many different types of midrashic works. Some are, as far as I can tell, accepted as being authoritative. Meaning they were written (compiled?) by the sages in roughly the Talmudic era. ...
user2110
4
votes
2
answers
338
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How did the Oral Torah survive the years after Joshua died?
In the Book of Judges 2:10 it says that after the death of Joshua and his generation, "there arose another generation after them, who knew not Hashem nor the deed which He had done for Israel." ...
- 16.3k
12
votes
5
answers
942
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Looking for information on the Savoraim
I am looking for more information on the Savoraim such as a list of who they were, what they wrote outside of comments/amendments in the talmud, meaning do they have responsa, ethical or halachik ...
user2110
3
votes
2
answers
394
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Was the Hebrew Alphabet also given with the Tablets and Law?
My research for my answer to Which alphabet were the original Torah scrolls in? gave me an idea--Since the Early Alphabetic alphabet is also called Sinaitic, and the timing seems about right, maybe ...
- 2,208
5
votes
1
answer
470
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Qumran - Proof or Genizah for Errors?
The comment and the ensuing thread quoted at the bottom of this question make me wonder what, exactly, was buried at Qumran.
Were the items buried there actually used at some point and later placed ...
- 41.9k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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What is the Real Alter Rebbe Ksav?
There is a tradition that the Alter Rebbe (R' Shneur Zalman of Liadi) innovated a new Ksav (not the one in the Shulchan Aruch Harav) and taught it to sofrim who passed it on from teacher to student.
...
- 40.8k
14
votes
3
answers
1k
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Eldad HaDani's Lasting Influence - Is there any?
Eldad HaDani is (apparently) considered today to have been a fraud. According to this Wikipedia article, he was a traveler who told stories of his place of origin, which he claimed was a sovereign ...
- 41.9k
15
votes
5
answers
787
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The authenticity of rabbinic literature
I am studying the history of various branches of Judaism. I understand the position of rabbinic Judaism that parts of the laws were oral and not written. But this alone would not justify the ...
- 1,077