Questions tagged [rabbis]
Questions about the lives and personalities of Jewish religious authorities.
493
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What was the Rabbinic position toward the armed revolts against the Romans?
"...Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: Why are these three oaths needed? One, so that the Jews should not ascend to Eretz Yisrael as a wall. And another one, that the Holy One, Blessed be He, ...
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1answer
120 views
Why is Rebbi Meir frequently quoted as “he used to say” in the Talmud?
If one has taken a 'swim' in the Talmud, it would become apparent that Rebbi Meir is often cited as "he used to say". I cannot express with certainty that it is a completely unusual ...
1
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1answer
68 views
Is there a connection between Smicha for korbanot and Smicha for rabbis?
Is there any connection with the semichah when a person is about to offer a korban to the semicha of becoming a rabbi?
5
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2answers
105 views
Rabbi Avraham Hachozeh and his book
A friend of mine is looking for information on a rabbi he saw mentioned in the book "Chochmat Hanefesh" by Rabbi Elazar of Worms (most famous for his "Sefer Haroke'ach"). In the ...
1
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2answers
65 views
Does the Midrash show any examples of adjectives attached to Rabbi when addressing a Rabbi?
Are there any historic examples, such as in the Midrash, that show someone addressing a Rabbi with an adjective such as
רַבִּי הַטּוֹב?
2
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0answers
58 views
13 ways in which the Torah is trampled
I've found a reference in a book to a medieval Italian document which refers to "the 13 ways in which the Torah is trampled and profaned". Can anyone tell me more about these 13 ways?
7
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0answers
92 views
Picture of the Chacham Tzvi
In the book "Hachassidut" by Rabbi Ahron Marcus there's a drawing of the Chacham Tzvi:
This seems to be based on this painting or this one.
In all three, he's drawn pointing at his bookmark,...
2
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3answers
413 views
What does שליט"א stand for?
I thought that שליט"א came from the Aramaic word שליט (Ruler). But a Rabbi I told this to, pointed out that שליט"א is always written as with " , in the Middle so each the letters must ...
1
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1answer
102 views
Shlomo Yosef Zevin a Rav at 9 years old
Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, according to here was given smicha by the Aruch HaShulchan. Assuming that the Aruch HaShulchan ordained Rabbi Zevin at the very end of his life, Rabbi Zevin would have been ...
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0answers
29 views
R' Meir, posek of “the Beardlings” regiment
In "A Treasury of Jewish Folklore" there's an English translation of a story that seems to be a fictional account of a former soldier who was part of Berek Yoselevitz's Jewish regiment in ...
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0answers
49 views
Why did latter Rabbis study Torah in solitude?
From the Talmudic discourse, it appears that there's a special merit of learning Torah in Beis Midrash especially in Chavrutah or with students.
However, I recognize an emerging pattern of the latter ...
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99 views
Nittel Nacht in Israel
Do Gedolim in Israel not learn on Nittel Nacht? The Nitei Gavriel (3:1) writes
בארץ ישראל יש אומרים שאין לחוש לניטל אכן רוב הגדולים חשו לזה גם בא"י
-- Some say it doesn't apply in Israel, but ...
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1answer
152 views
Where do Israeli nationalist Orthodox movements derive their Halacha?
This isn't a question regarding Israeli politics or issues like that. This question is purely about where these groups (Groups which followed Meir Kahane or similar voices) developed or derived their ...
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0answers
90 views
What does it mean “to be proficient in Shas and Poskim” as said about Talmidi Chachamim? [closed]
One constantly reads in biographies about Gedolim or at a friend's siyum HaShas that mention how the talmid chacham or guy is a bucky and a maeivin in Shas and poskim. See example in this Wikipedia ...
3
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2answers
298 views
Yose b. Yoezer and Yose b. Yohanan received from them. Who does “them” refer to?
Avot 1:2-4:
שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה....
אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אִישׁ סוֹכוֹ קִבֵּל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק...
יוֹסֵי בֶן יוֹעֶזֶר אִישׁ צְרֵדָה וְיוֹסֵי בֶן יוֹחָנָן אִישׁ ...
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1answer
77 views
R' Yohanan's behavior to make women bear kids in his resemblance
To support my previous question ("biblical-genetics-understanding-childs-resemblance-to-his-parents" here's a Talmudic passage (Berakhot.20a):
רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֲוָה רְגִיל דַּהֲוָה קָא ...
0
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2answers
112 views
Who is “your teacher”?
There is an injunction that you may not give a halakhic opinion in the presence of "your teacher". The Talmud says:
The sons of Aaron died only because they issued a halakhic ruling before ...
2
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1answer
118 views
Gezerah D'Rabbah in the Beit Hamikdash?
Rabbah publicized a Gezerah (command / decree) that Lulav and Shofar should not be used on Shabbat because of a fear someone may violate the Melacha of Hotzaah.
I heard that there was another case ...
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0answers
84 views
Did Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi learn the Angel of Death's personal name?
I recently heard that when Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi was in Paradise he learned the personal name of the Angel of Death/Satan. Can anyone provide a source for this claim?
In Ketubot 77b it is written:
&...
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1answer
72 views
Did Ezra abrogate the Mosaic Law in Num. xviii. 21,(according to Yeb. 86b, Ḥul. 131b)?
According to http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/636-abrogation-of-laws
The ancient rabbis claimed authority, not only to make new provisions and to establish institutions as a "hedge&...
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2answers
120 views
Rabbinical Hebrew English Dictionary
Are there any existing dictionaries that focus on Rabbinical Hebrew. The way Geonim, Rishonim, Achrei Achronim Wrote their Commentaries, Tshuvas, etc... I'm trying to learn more but sometimes having ...
1
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1answer
74 views
What does Chaplaincy mean [closed]
I found that abroad (out of Israel) there is an intense usage of the word Chaplaincy. Does it mean Rabbanut in Hebrew? Are there Rabbis that call themselves Chaplaincy? Does this word come from ...
2
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1answer
120 views
How Seforim know hidden knowledge?
One often encounters statements quoted from Rabbinical personalities or written in Seforim that they should have no apparent way of knowing. Thousands of examples could likely be given if one were to ...
5
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1answer
125 views
Why does Rabbi Akiva and his rebbi react to situations differently?
The gemara in Taanis 21a brings a story about Nachum Ish Gamzu that explains why he was called "Ish Gamzu", because he would always say "Gam Zu L'tovah" (This too is for the best).
It is also known ...
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1answer
85 views
What was the relationship between R' Azriel Hildesheimer and R' Samson Raphael Hirsch and how do they differ? [closed]
They were contemporaries and similar in many ways.
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0answers
68 views
Help trying to find the lifespan of an ancient rabbi
Zohar (Vayikra 10a) quotes a sefer by R. Hamnunab [Hanunah] Sabah, a sage of Second Beit HaMikdash times. Thing is, I can't pin-point the lifespan. Can someone help me with this? Toda.
3
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0answers
52 views
Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Shimeon in Mishna
In Mishna, it's current to find that "Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Shimeon say", e.g. in Rosh Hashana, Yoma, Shkalim, etc. Sometimes it's Eliezer instead of Eleazar, but it's not probably because they were ...
1
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1answer
97 views
Diets promoted by different Rabbis throughout history
I was curious if there was any information about the sages or other known historical Rabbis who promoted diets for physical/spiritual health.
Obviously, Kosher is Kosher but did anyone ever suggest ...
2
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1answer
77 views
Lashon Hara in the Gemara
The Gemara sometimes relates anecdotes of Amoraim and presents them in a negative light by including details which would seemingly classify as Lashon Hara in any other context. For instance,
"רַב ...
3
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1answer
410 views
Pri Chadash and Coffee
I have read that the Pri Chadash writes somewhere that “one cannot attain presence of mind without the aid of coffee.”?
Does anyone know where this was written?
3
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2answers
200 views
Rabbi who killed children?
I recall of a story where a Rabbi during the time of the Tosafists who personally killed many Jewish children in order to save them being raised in the Christian faith.
Anyone know source?
...
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0answers
30 views
Are there sources which cite art as being an extension of spiritual practice in Jewish tradition?
I understand this question may be interpreted as being slightly generalized but I'm asking for sources which cite the religious/spiritual nature of art in Jewish practice.
Obviously, statues of ...
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3answers
83 views
What's the point of learning [duplicate]
What's the point of learning Torah?
Torah Shbksav & Shbalpeh.
What's the point of any Sefer other than the classics? (Tanach, mishnayos, Shas, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Medresh)?
Is it for our ...
0
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1answer
70 views
What does “mazik the rabim” mean?
The Va’ad HaRabbonim of Greater Cleveland has issued a statement about the COVID-19 virus that contains the following paragraph:
Additionally, anyone who was exposed to someone who tested positive ...
2
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1answer
1k views
Are the claims of this rabbi regarding the Messiah considered credible by Jews [closed]
So, I just saw a news article purporting that Rabbi Yaakov Zissholtz, labelled by the article as Israel's "top rabbi", claims to know members of the Thirty Six Tzaddikim as well as the Messiah, and ...
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0answers
143 views
What blessing would one have said on seeing Einstein for example?
The Oruch Hashulchan O Ch 224, 6 says
הרואה חכם מחכמי ישראל שגדול בתורה מברך: "ברוך אתה ה' אלהינו מלך העולם
שחלק מחכמתו ליריאיו,
Someone who sees a Jewish Torah sage makes the blessing “ ...
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0answers
36 views
Sources on revoking or annulling rabbinic semichah [duplicate]
I’m looking for sources discussing whether or not rabbinic semichah can be revoked (and if it can, on what grounds), plus sources - especially responsa - which deal with specific cases. The main one I’...
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1answer
95 views
In case of Halachic doubt should one ask a Rabbi or assume anything will work? [duplicate]
Following comments on my other question "how-an-open-succah-oriented":
Let's imagine one is facing a new Halachic reality he never heard of: he always built Succah on his 5th-floor balcony and then ...
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2answers
192 views
Empirical evidence of Sages' intellectual superiority
Throughout ages, our Sages engaged in Halachic, scientific and philosophical arguments between themselves and with other nations' philosophers.
We hold that the truthfulness of Talmudic discussions ...
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4answers
2k views
How did Gdoley Israel react to the landing on the Moon?
IMHO, landing on the Moon did/could seriously undermine the bases of the Jewish religious view about the nature of the celestial bodies.
How did Gdoley Israel react/deal with the landing on Moon (and ...
4
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1answer
189 views
What Rabbis originally supported and opposed Rambam's 13 principles and why?
I heard the when Rambam presented his 13 principles the opinions divided pretty sharply between the Sefardic Rabbis that openly supported it and the Ashkenazi (Rabaney Tzarfat) that opposed it for ...
2
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1answer
160 views
Is one allowed to publicize stories about Rabbis without asking them first?
THe approach of learning Halochos or Middos or behaviors from observing Tzaddikim's behavior alone is very common in our literature and is even rooted in Gemmorah (Brochos 62):
תניא אמר רבי עקיבא פעם ...
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1answer
52 views
Why let the Sages stay anonymous in arguments?
This bothers me a lot - the idea of using anonymous "Chachamim" in arguments. I don't understand why is it important or useful to hide their names.
The Mishnah uses it extensively and makes it very ...
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0answers
127 views
List of establishing rabbis for each set of minhagim [closed]
I am a baal teshuva who is becoming orthodox and wondering what customs to hold. Is there a list of important rabbis who set minhagim (ie ashkenazi, sephardi yekki, chabad, notable subgroups, etc) and ...
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1answer
98 views
Chofetz Chaim's Advice to Son
A Rav mentioned that Chofetz Chaim told his son (a Rav) to appoint leaders of the community to take care of the chesed needs in order to address more global issues - noting that he himself writes ...
2
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1answer
92 views
How many kids did the Tannaim and Amoraim have?
The Gemmorah (Yevomos 62b) brings a statement by R'Yehoshua:
...דתניא: רבי יהושע אומר נשא אדם אשה בילדותו ישא אשה בזקנותו היו לו בנים בילדותו יהיו לו בנים בזקנותו שנא' (קהלת יא, ו): "בבקר זרע את ...
3
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2answers
118 views
Talmudic sages of Davidic descent
Which (individual) sages of Talmud were said to be traced back to King David? IIRC, R. Hillel was one (?). Are there others? Sources are welcome.
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0answers
59 views
Who are the “Sages of Israel” in Pesochim 94b
In Pesochim 94b, the Gemora brings the Braisa D'Mazolos 1:6 which relates an argument between the "Sages of Israel" and the "Sages of the nations," as follows:
תנו רבנן חכמי ישראל אומרים גלגל קבוע ...
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2answers
155 views
Did Rabbis speculate on the future of Judaism? [closed]
As we all know, Judaism is a flexible, human-driven (human Rabbis I mean), masses-friendly religion. While the basic premises remain intact, the Halachic norms change - things that were widely ...
1
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1answer
70 views
What is the proper way to address someone with s'micha who doesn't work as a rabbi?
If a person received semicha (rabbinical certification) from a yeshiva upon successful completion of the necessary curriculum, but is a lay person, for instance, a businessman ,rather than a ...
