Questions tagged [rabbis]
Questions about the lives and personalities of Jewish religious authorities.
4
votes
4answers
115 views
Which Rabbis in the Talmud were placed under cherem?
Which Rabbis in the Talmud were placed under cherem (excommunication)? We know about Rabbi Eliezer Bava Metzia 59b and Rabbi Akavia ben Mahalal’el [Eduyyot 7b, but see discussion there]. Anybody ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
The World As Known to The Hebrews (Sons of Japhet, Ham and Shem) [duplicate]
Would you be so kind and tell me how accurate this map is? Especially, I'd like to know views from Rabbis. I also appreciate other views.
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Is everyone who dies in his 50s Chayav Kares?
I've come across a bunch of great Rabbanim: Poskim, Mekubalim and Tzadikim who passed away within their 50s.
The Gemara in Moed Katan 28a says:
אמר רבה: [מיתה] מחמשים ועד ששים שנה זו היא מיתת כרת....
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Personal Attributes, Influence and Importance of Japhet Among Noah's Sons [closed]
Would you be so kind and provide brief, yet details information about personal attributes, influence and importance of Japhet, commonly agreed among Jews and also Hebrews, perhaps if possible by ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Mussar work by Chacham Ovadia
Did, Maran HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef Ztk"l write any Ethical(mussar) work during his lifetime? And if he did, do we have it online in english?
-1
votes
1answer
36 views
Different types of roles
There are a lot of different titles in Judaism
Are they rabbis and what do you need to have the title of
Posek
Mekubal
Gaon
Shochet
Sofer
Hazzan
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Pre-requisites for S'micha [duplicate]
What are the pre-requisites for getting a shmicha? Does he need to master only halacha or is gemara also compulsory? Is it different from rabbi to rabbi or does it depend on minhagim?
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Rabbinic ordination to students
I was wondering,
What gives a rabbi the power to ordinate another rabbi? Can any Rabbi give smicha?
0
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0answers
35 views
Gedoley Israel's views on the army service in Israel
There are many Haredim who refuse to join the Army.
What are the opinions of Contemporary Gedolei Israel on Bachurei Yeshivot to join the Israeli army?
-1
votes
0answers
15 views
Difference in Hebrew of Rabbi's [duplicate]
We can see that some rabbi's have different way of writing sefarim. For example, Rav Kook's writing, people say that his hebrew is very much different and we need a teacher for his books.
Why do ...
-1
votes
1answer
32 views
Difference in Hebrew of Rabbis [closed]
We can see that some rabbis have different way of writing sefarim. For example, Rav Kook's writing, people say that his Hebrew is very much different and we need a teacher for his books.
Why do ...
4
votes
2answers
296 views
What is the proper way to reproach a rav?
Unfortunately, there are many shuls where the majority of people talk during the service. Even more unfortunate, is that some of the people who do the most talking are primary synagogue officers with ...
3
votes
2answers
36 views
Talmid Chacham Standing for Talmid Chacham
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 244:1) discusses standing up out of respect for a talmid chacham-
מצות עשה לקום מפני כל חכם אפי' אינו זקן אלא יניק וחכים ואפי' אינו רבו
Must a talmid chacham stand ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Is there anything wrong with correcting your Rabbi in front of other people?
If your Rabbi tells you something about Torah and you know that he is incorrect, and this has happened in the past and the Rabbi admitted his mistake, are you then allowed to correct the Rabbi if a ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
Website of Stories of Gedolim
Do we have any website on the net that have inspirational stories from the lives of contemporary gedolim?
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What's the difference between Sanhedrin and Kenesset Hagedola?
What is the difference between Sanhedrin and Kenesset Hagedola?
1
vote
0answers
33 views
How many rabbis are in the Talmud? [duplicate]
I am looking for an actual count of rabbis mentioned by name in the Talmud/Midrash Rabbah/Zohar. I recall reading "more than 1,000" somewhere. Has anybody produced a count?
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
Who are the Elders in the beginning of Avot
The Pirkei Avot 1:1 says
משֶׁה קִבֵּל תּוֹרָה מִסִּינַי, וּמְסָרָהּ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ
לִזְקֵנִים, וּזְקֵנִים לִנְבִיאִים,
וּנְבִיאִים מְסָרוּהָ לְאַנְשֵׁי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה.
...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
English Translations of Major Yechezkel/Ezekiel Commentaries
Shalom!
I have been looking for some time and I cannot seem to find any resources in English. Are there any translations (into English) of the Yechezkel/Ezekiel commentaries of the following rabbis?
...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
Story of Megaddalela, rabbi tells man to marry woman of ill-repute
I once read a story in the Talmud about a woman of ill-repute named Megaddalela, whom a rabbi told a man to marry. I used it for a research project and can no longer find the original source. And I do ...
1
vote
1answer
117 views
What was the name of the Arizal's mother? [closed]
Can someone please tell me the name of the Arizal's mother, preferably with a source.
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Sources for Bar Kochba being a prominent Torah scholar
Following my previous question on Moshiach's qualities, I stumbled upon my lack of understanding of Bar Kochba's Toranic qualities.
I tried to look up on WIKI and other sites, but I couldn't find any ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
How would the Rabbis handle a Jew who presents as having psychic or supernatural abilities?
I was curious if a precedent has been set for how the Rabbis would handle an individual who presents as having supernatural abilities which are forbidden in Torah.
Let no one be found among you who ...
8
votes
3answers
137 views
Are there unresolved ‘tekus’ in the Talmud later resolved in responsum?
Often in the Talmud questions are asked which do not yield a result. These non-answers are called ‘teku’ (תיקו).
Frequently, the questions which are left with teku are those which are far-fetched.
...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
Since when “Gdol Hador” refers to a scholar as opposed to a Tzadik?
Gemmorah Psochim 49b:
"תנו רבנן לעולם ימכור אדם כל מה שיש לו וישא בת תלמיד חכם;
לא מצא בת תלמיד חכם ישא בת גדולי הדור,
לא מצא בת גדולי הדור ישא בת ראשי כנסיות וכו'"
Rashi:
"גדולי הדור - ...
2
votes
3answers
95 views
What does it mean “someone knows Kol Torah Kulah”?
What constitutes as Kol Torah Kulah? I hear people saying this all the time, that this Rabbi knows "Kol Torah Kulah".
8
votes
1answer
91 views
Why does Rabba bar Mari in the Talmud quote Ben Sira as a part of “the Writings” when it is not in the Ketuvim section of the Tanakh?
As revealed in the answer here, in Bava Kama 92b, Rava asks Rabba bar Mari for the source of a popular saying, and Rabba bar Mari answers with five different sources for it. The third verse, which is ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
What does the Torah think of Pangea?
What does Torah literature say about Pangaea?
Is it considered be legitimate? Are there sources which lean either way?
4
votes
1answer
680 views
Let the young ones speak first?
I remember reading that, in the Sanhedrin, the most junior rabbis were encouraged to speak first, so that they would not be swayed or intimidated by the more senior ones. Is this true and what is the ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Where can I find this Rabbi’s seforim?
I can't seem to find several of Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits’ seforim. For example T'nai Bi'N'suin u'V'Get. Does anyone know a store in NYC or which delivers to the US which has his books? Particularly the ...
3
votes
0answers
83 views
“A time to act for Hashem” and doing whatever you want
Who under what circumstances has the right to declare that a violation of halacha is in order because "it is a time to act for Hashem"?
I have by now a few times seen this posuk from Tehillim used as ...
3
votes
0answers
33 views
“Rabbi Shopping” - how often and for what can one change his Rabbi
The other question "rabbi-shopping" asks about asking a single question to two Rabbis.
This question addresses the possibility of changing the personal ruling Rabbi time to time. Assuming a person ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
Audio or video of Rabbi Michel Ber Weismandl zt”l
(related)
Rabbi Michel Ber Weismandl zt"l, saved many people during the holocaust, but also was a noted Torah scholar genius. They published some of his work after his death. However, does anyone ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Citing ancestors: why the Sages said Halachot in their name?
The Gemmorah sets a rule - while saying a Halachah one should mention its [original] source (Megillah 16a):
"אמר רבי אלעזר א"ר חנינא כל האומר דבר בשם אומרו מביא גאולה לעולם שנאמר ותאמר אסתר למלך ...
6
votes
1answer
120 views
Does one have to be Jewish to be a rabbi
In terms of what we call semicha today, does one have to be Jewish to receive or hold it? Is it simply an indicator of learning (like an academic degree) which could be reached by anyone?
Knowing ...
7
votes
1answer
105 views
Do prominent Rabbis have a list of problems to resolve?
In science, every scientist, such as a mathematician, a physicist or a biologist, has a list of unsolved problems he tries to solve in his lifetime.
Judaism is full of untouched / unsolved / ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Who were the leaders of the Jewish religion between Ezra and the 1st Zugot?
Who were the leaders of the Jewish religion between Ezra and the 1st Zugot ?
Do we have a list for that ?
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Do the Talmudic disputes prove absence of ruled Halachah (הלכה פסוקה)
This is a serious question about our understanding of the development of the current Halachah.
When I started my Teshuvah some 30 years ago, I was told that the Sages knew the Whole Torah and their ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
If rishonim/acharonim frequently make mistakes in their zeal to critique others, can we still justify a belief in their singular devotion to truth?
I was always taught that the great Torah scholars were as near-perfect human beings as could possibly be, particularly in their scholarly abilities, but perhaps even more so in their character traits ...
0
votes
0answers
62 views
Honoring female Rabbis - sources [duplicate]
Sorry I'm stuck with this topic...
I am looking for sources on various Halakhot of honoring female Rabbis (knowledgeable women that tech Judaism). My basic assumption is that as many rule that כיבוד ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Who is R' Yisrael in Reishis Chochmah, Shaar Hamitzvos, and how much of שער המצוות is from him?
In The Sefer Raishis Chochmah (written by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas - 16th century), There is a perek (chapter) called פרק המצוות - The Chapter of the Mitzvos.
After his introduction to the perek ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
The will of the Maharsham
Does anyone know where to find the tzavvah of the Maharsham?
It has been refenced a bunch of times as being a proof that the Maharsham wore techeiles since he asked to be buried with techeiles in his ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Maharam Discussing the Rosh
Is there a list of teshuvot (or other documents) in which the Maharam discusses his student the Rosh?
0
votes
2answers
95 views
Proving you are a kohen
When you ask a rabbi to perform a life-cycle ceremony, he will frequently ask for proof that you are Jewish (birth certificates, ketubot, certificates from other rabbis, etc.) But do you ever have to ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Sages that questioned the existence of Hashem
While I'm sure there are individuals that perhaps struggled with their belief in Hashem and His "existence" were there ever any great chachamim (sages) from the throughout the generations that perhaps ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
Earning semichah with just a test
What if someone does know a lot of halachah and wanted to earn semichah and become a posek? Are there any good semichah programs which will award semichah with just a test (as opposed to a additional ...
5
votes
1answer
622 views
What is the process called to become a Rabbi?
For example, Minister's become ordained in Christianity. What is the process and the actual act of becoming a Rabbi called in Judaism?
-2
votes
1answer
113 views
Is there an online archive with quality photos of gedolim? [closed]
I'm personally and currently looking for images of Rabbis Shlomo Carlebach & Shlomo Twerski. But I know in the future I'll probably want more for others i.e. R' Wolbe.
A Google search might ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Living teachers of the Slabodka approach
The Alter of Slabodka died in 1927. Suppose someone today wanted to learn the unique "Slabodka approach" as embodied and taught by the Alter. Are there any remaining students of the Alter alive today (...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Did the Ba'al Shem Tov actually exist?
In my high school Jewish history class, we learnt of the idea that the Ba'al Shem Tov might have not even existed. I have also heard this "dispute" from another rabbi recently.
Is there any ...
