Questions tagged [priorities]
Questions about which action takes priority in a specific case, usually when only one thing can be done.
125
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Which witness testifies about a blasphemer?
In Rambam Hilchos Avodas Kochavim Perek 2 halacha 8 it says that if someone curses the name of God, the court examines the witnesses as to what they heard. The "great one" (Rambam's words) of all the ...
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How to "honor thy father and mother" when publicly addressing a parent's sexism?
In a discussion on a social media website, one of my parents has expressed a opinion I consider sexist. Feminist principle dictates that I publicly express my disapproval of this, and post a response ...
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Bathroom or shema if you only have time for one?
If you wake up 5 minutes before sof zman kryat shema and you have to use the bathroom.
Going to the bathroom when necessary is deorayasa (Shulchan Aruch 3:17) and so is saying the shema. Also there ...
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Melacha vs breaking a fast on Yom Kippur
If a person is in a life threatening situation and can be saved by either doing a melacha or eating/drinking on Yom Kippur, what should he do?
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Why do we say ha-motzi before al achilat matzah instead of after?
I was taught that it's important not to make an interruption between a b'racha and its fulfillment, such that we don't say anything between making motzi and eating the bread. To me the b'racha is "...
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What's the order of importance of Honorees under a Chuppa?
Under a Chupah, a Baal Simcha (in today's times) has a number of Honors (כיבודים) to give out. Here's a list of them (possibly not complete):
מסדר קידושין
2 עדים (witnesses)
קריאת כתובה (reading of ...
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Are there sources that permit or prohibit co-ed learning of self-defense?
Learning self-defense in a co-ed environment could be considered prevention of problems that could lead to pikuach nefesh (danger to life). Prohibiting a co-ed environment could be considered placing ...
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Consistency vs. Forgiveness
Both as a responsible parent and as a Jew, I want to be consistent with my children. As a parent, in order to teach them that the rules are the rules and give them a sense of predictability to rely ...
- 57.9k
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What can I skip after Amida in Shacharit?
I have very little time for shacharit, because I have to go to work. The minyan in the city where I live is very late. So I try to daven everything before the Amida and the Amida itself with a Tzibur, ...
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Should Jepthah have sacrificed his daughter?
Jepthah made a vow that whatever came out of his house first would be sacrificed to the LORD. (This is actually pretty strange; what other object in his house can get out by itself?)
Nevertheless, ...
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Better for a kohen to daven in a minyan with one other kohen or no kohanim at all?
Say a kohen has an option of davening in one minyan where there is no kohanim at all in order that they should have bircas kohanim. Or he could daven in a minyan where there is at least one other ...
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When to light the Shamash when lighting Menorah?
When lighting my Menora, saying the relevant Brachot, and lighting the Shamash, what order should I follow?
I think the best way is:
1. Shamash
2. Brachot
3. Chanukah-Lights
But someone said, the ...
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Ladies first or men first?
Bereshit 31:17 reads:
וַיָּקָם יַעֲקֹב וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת נָשָׁיו עַל
הַגְּמַלִּים׃
So Jacob rose, and he lifted up his sons and his wives upon the
camels.
Rashi:
את בניו ואת ...
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Should I say shmei or shmeh?
Some Ashkenazim are medakdek to pronounce their Aramaic "correctly". And they know that there is a mapik heh in Amein Yehei ShemeiH Rabba. Thus,
יְהֵא שְׁמֵ*הּ* רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי ...
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Why are the Shabbat additions to Pesukei D'zimra added before the every-day parts?
In the Pesukei D'zimra of Shabbat, why are the Shabbat-specific portions added before most of the every-day portions? Shouldn't they be said after according to the rule: Tadir V'she'eino Tadir, Tadir ...
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Is it better to daven in a Minyan throughout the week or on Shabbos?
Imagine someone had two job offers:
You would have to live more than walking distance away from Shul. However, you could drive to Shul during the week (let's say that it's too expensive to live ...
- 40.1k
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Parent dying overseas - visit now or attend funeral?
A person lives far away from a dying parent and cannot afford more than one visit. What do the halachic sources say about when they should visit? Should they visit the parent immediately and miss the ...
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What is the holiness status of a Siddur
The Shulhan Aruch (Y"D 282) tells us that one should stack certain books in a certain order (e.g. Humash on top of a Sefer Navi). What is the Din of a Siddur for this purpose?
My friend told me he ...
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Do you have a say in the order of the food you eat?
As a kid I learned that if you have foods with different brachos in front of you, you should make the bracha on the more important food first, like say mezonos over haetz. My question is how far do we ...
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Not eating before Tisha B'Av -- Better to eat after Shkiah but before nightfall or wait until Tisha B'Av
Someone for whatever reason was not able to eat Erev Tisha B'Av. It came shkia (sunset) and finally he was able to find time or the ability to eat. Is it better for him to eat then during Bein ...
- 15.8k
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Arrived late for maariv. How to daven?
I arrived late for the last minyan for Maariv. Should I
A) Pray the amida with the community and lose the proximity of "geula" to "tefilla"
but gain the "tefilla betzibbur" or
B) Pray in order, ...
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2
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Blessing on a food or a drink first?
If someone has in front of them a food and drink that the bracha (blessing) of both is shehakol which one should he make a blessing on first? Assuming that he doesn't prefer one over the other. Is ...
- 15.8k
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199
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Two people but only one kidney
if there are two patients about to die of kidney failure and there is only one kidney available, does the halacha have a way to choose who gets the kidney? (such as lottery)
(assuming both cases are ...
- 20.8k
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Extent of financial consideration before having children
Are there financial considerations that a couple must take before having a child or children i.e. should one have children 'at any cost' or is this not a consideration.
If yes, would these financial ...
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Is it always a good idea to say an extra Shema' if you missed one?
According to Double AA's answer on a related question, "it can't hurt" to say an extra Shema' later if you missed the Zeman (set time) for it.
While it may be true to a certain extent that saying ...
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Newcomers Overwhelmed by Myriad Halachas
Some people, especially Baal Teshuvas who drastically change their lives to being fully observant may find it somewhat overwhelming to observe the minimum halachas in being an orthodox jew (such as ...
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Would a replacement kohen gadol be anointed on yom kippur?
Here is what I know:
When a kohen gadol dies we replace him. In fact we've got a replacement kohen gadol waiting in the wings on yom kippur just in case
Any kohen who becomes kohen gadol gets ...
user2110
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Can we teach reading Hebrew without using the full names of the letters and vowels?
I've heard in Chabad and elsewhere that when teaching children to read Hebrew, one must call the letters and vowels only by their full traditional name. This is in my opinion very distracting for a ...
user2709
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Catching Up When Saying Tachanun M/Th
On Mondays and Thursdays I often fall very behind during tachanun. I see two options — I can start with the congregation after having listened with proper intent during chazarat hashatz, or I can ...
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Is the observance of Jewish law/tradition "all or nothing"?
Sometimes my job gets in the way of my observance of Jewish holidays. I often need to work on Saturdays or late on Fridays, inhibiting my ability to attend synagogue on Shabbat. Sometimes I am ...
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Which comes first, borei nefashot, or me'en shalosh?
Which berachah acharonah should one say first: borei nefashot, or me'en shalosh?
(Please cite your sources.)
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Waiting to reveal Kosher issue in order to get to the root of the problem
Suppose a Mashgiach realizes that a store is selling Treif meat, however is unsure as to the source of the problem. If he announces immediately that this store is selling something not Kosher he may ...
- 138k
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Urgency of resuming relations after niddah
What is the urgency of a husband and wife resuming relations after the niddah period? Where is the line drawn between conflicts that warrant pushing off relations, and those that do not warrant it? ...
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Stacking Jewish books in order of holiness
Assume I have the following books and no room to store them standing up. Being a good Jew, you know that the holier books go on top of those of lesser holiness. Here are 10 books: 1) Gemara Kesubos;...
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Will a "lower" Berachah made MiSafek exempt a different food that requires that Berachah (and vice versa)?
Let's say you aren't sure which Berachah to make on a food before you eat it. Generally the rule of thumb is that you make the most specific Berachah that you know will capture the essence of that ...
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Who is greater than whom?
From the fact that Levi was in Bavel, Rav derived that R' Efes passed away.
He derived it like this:
After Rebbi passed away, R' Efes took over Rebbi's position. Rav Chanina was equal (or greater) ...
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Can you attend a sporting event on a minor fast day?
This year the tenth of Teves falls on a Sunday, which happens to also be an NFL game day. Is it permissible or discouraged to attend such a sporting event during the fast?
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If you can only choose one which way should you learn, bekiyus or beiyun?
If you can only choose one, which way should you learn, bekiyus (learning quickly on a more superficial level to cover ground) or beiyun (slower, more in depth study)?
As a reminder, answers on this ...
user2110
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Why is Leah last in the order of the matriarchs?
When we list the Matriarchs in prayers (such as the Amidah in the version including the matriarchs, or in the traditional blessing for one's daughters on Friday night), we say them in the order: Sarah,...
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Blessing: who gets first?
A father who wants to bless his family, whom should he bless first? His wife? His oldest son? His oldest child? The oldest among his sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law? The cohanim? ...
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Is a Ger first or almost last for assistance?
The Pri Megadim in OC Siman 156 Ashel Avraham Sif-Katan 2 (it's a long piece) cites from the Rambam in Hilchos De'as Perek 6 Halacha 4 that the Mitzvah of Ahavas HaGer (loving a convert) is really 2 ...
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boreh pri hagafen and hamotzi during the week
On Shabbat and holidays, we say kiddush before hamotzi (I think because hamotzi would normally cover the wine? Is that right?). During the week, what is the proper procedure? Is it to say hagafen and ...
- 24.5k
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Onah and Sukkos?
Does the Mitzvah of sleeping in the Sukkah supersede the mitzvah of Onah? (one would think not, as it is a chov to someone else.) If not, is one supposed to fulfill mitzvas Onah and then retire to the ...
- 2,130
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Learning secular topics for parnassah
Assuming that one should only learn secular topics for the purpose of parnassah (making a living), to what extent may one learn those topics? Is it only permitted to learn enough to get a job that ...
- 24.5k
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Why remove tfilin before talis?
I've heard why we put on the talis before tfilin (tadir or maylin bakodesh), but why take it off in the reverse order?
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146
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Hierarchy in ברכות השחר?
Of course there is a set order in the Siddur, but is there a hierarchy in ברכות השחר? If, for example, someone did not wash his hands or use the bathroom when he woke up, can he say Elokai Neshamah or ...
- 41.3k
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Is Chayecha Kodmin a Chiyuv or a right
If one is presented with a case of either save himself or his friend, he is permitted to save himself. Does he have to?
I saw this thread which set my mind going, are the usual airplane guidelines ...
- 149
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258
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Supporting new charities
There are myriad charities out there.
If a community has multiple Shuls, schools, Mikvaoth, food pantries, and גמ"חs, and new entities open up fulfilling the same role(s), and the new entities' ...
- 41.3k
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What are the sources of Jewish law?
What are the sources for the Jewish law or "Halacha"? Is there any priority among these sources? In common practice, when a law is described, is the citation given form the main sources or derived ...
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907
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Does one need to perform a delayed brit milah at the first possible time?
If a baby is sick on the 8th day, the brit is pushed off until the baby is healthy. Once the mohel and doctor determine that the baby is healthy, does the brit need to be performed right away (on that ...
- 10.9k