Questions tagged [rabbis]
Questions about the lives and personalities of Jewish religious authorities.
570
questions
2
votes
1
answer
134
views
Lashon harah about someone who leads people astray
Is it lashon harah to publicly criticize or attack those who you perceive as misleading people/leading people astray? For example, Rabbi Natan Slifkin has a blog in which he’s publicly criticized ...
- 820
1
vote
0
answers
70
views
I don’t know if I accept my mother's conversion [closed]
My parents were married before I was born and my father had my mother convert before they got married. The place of my mother's conversion was Conservative I would say and it took my mother 2 years to ...
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
Is it possible to have prophecy and visions from the sitra achra?
BH
Is it possible the that the vision the person is receiving coming from a source of impurity or sitra achra or is this just called sitra achra and yetzer hara? Like are there levels to this that is ...
- 755
1
vote
1
answer
100
views
Identity of Rabbi in Baba Bathra 14b
Who is R. Johanan in Baba Bathra 14b? Is this Johanan ben Zakkai or
Johanan bar Napcha? And how would we know? There seem to be a mixture
of tannaitic and amoraic sources in the gemara.
Many kind ...
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
Is there a special term for a King who is also a Rabbi?
I'm looking for whether there is a specific term or a title for a King who also happens to be a Rabbi/Chief Rabbi. In other words, both the religious authority and the political authority.
Just as an ...
- 806
-2
votes
2
answers
212
views
Why do we follow matrilineal descent of Judaism when there's evidence to suggest that it used to be patrilineal? How to resolve the contradiction?
According to the contemporary scholarship, even though modern Orthodox Judaism follows matrilineal descent, there is evidence to suggest that this was a shift that occurred during the second century, ...
- 806
1
vote
0
answers
291
views
Is this idea (dictation model of Torah) by Rambam heretical/blasphemous/idolatrous?
Rabbi David Bigman in his article The Dictation Model of Torah Revelation
convincingly argues that the idea of Torah being entirely dictated to Moses, and then preserved over the generations (...
- 806
0
votes
1
answer
52
views
Hesped on satmar rov and connection to Parshas noach
Does anyone know where I could find reb hutners hesped on the satmar rav and specifically the connection he makes to the lion by Parshas noach
- 245
0
votes
1
answer
61
views
Picture of Rav Elchonon Wasserman on boat [closed]
Heard in a shiur that there’s a picture of Rav Elchonon Wasserman on a ship looking out to the sea facing Europe, after leaving America and going to Europe knowing that Hitler was in power and he ...
- 1,812
2
votes
1
answer
189
views
Position of gedolim on AI
I have heard that some gedolim have recently expressed special opposition to Artificial Intelligence (in contrast to whatever their attitudes are for internet in general). Which gedolim have spoken in ...
- 3,090
1
vote
1
answer
74
views
Why are mezuzot always mounted on the right side of the doorway?
I have read plenty regarding the debate on what direction and angle the mezuzah should be mounted. That said, I have never heard a clear explanation as to why we always mount them on the right side of ...
- 935
2
votes
0
answers
103
views
Did R Aaron Feldman and R Lichtenstein ever meet before the latter's death? [closed]
R Lichtenstein and R Feldman had a dialog in Jewish Action: https://jewishaction.com/letters/dear_reb_aharon/
I'm wondering if they ever actually followed through on their stated desire to meet, and ...
- 647
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
Who was Rambam responding to when he argued for free will against the idea that everything is pre-destined/pre-determined? Did any thinkers believe it
It is well known that Rambam advocated against the ideas that everything is pre-destined and pre-determined and that he believed in (absolute) free will for humanity. The fact that he felt that it was ...
- 806
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
fathers chair gadol hador
I was quite curious on what happens if a rabbi comes to your house and lets say your fathers chair was there and it would be nice for the rabbi to have it. If your father is not there, are u able to ...
- 105
3
votes
1
answer
81
views
Who wrote the comments published within Avnei Miluim?
The classic sefer Avnei Miluim (written by R' Aryeh Leib HaKohein) was published with many comments and annotations, although they are not credited.
I have heard various opinions on who the anonymous ...
- 7,891
3
votes
0
answers
96
views
How did Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan write so many books? [closed]
Aryeh Kaplan wrote some 50+ books in the span of a decade or so. Obviously he was remarkably talented at writing, but I'm just curious how exactly was this possible. He's often quoted as saying in the ...
1
vote
1
answer
214
views
Who is Rabbi Koryah?
I have been reading up on Midrash Rabbah Bereshit 19:3 concerning Adam's location whilst Chava is speaking to the snake.
When it says that Adam had previously had sex with Chava and was now sleeping, ...
- 263
0
votes
0
answers
84
views
Which famous Rabbi had lifelong stomach pain?
I recently heard a shiur that quoted a famous rabbi (I think an Acharon) who talked about having stomach pain every day of his life, and studying torah was the only thing that gave him any joy. Does ...
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
Story source: rabbi sweeping streets, take pride in your work?
I once heard a story that when a European gadol first came to America he had to take a job as a street sweeper and "nobody ever swept the streets as well as he did." The message of the story ...
- 1,538
3
votes
2
answers
167
views
What does it mean when you read a certain Rabbi said in the name of another Rabbi?
I'm a Roman Catholic wading through the Midrash of Tehillim. What does it mean when you read a certain Rabbi said in the name of another Rabbi?
3
votes
0
answers
74
views
Rabbi Yaakov of Krozh's book
Rabbi Yitzchak Hertzog zt"l in his short essay (in Hebrew) "למידותיו של חזקיהו מלך יהודה" (On the Traits of Chizkiyahu King of Yehudah), published in the Sinai Jubilee Volume, pp. 27-28 ...
- 24.9k
1
vote
3
answers
194
views
LOR Questions family planning
One of the most common questions Rabbis tend to get is about contraception. Specifically a discussion about family planning, and how long one can use contraception for. Before the man has fulfilled ...
- 2,181
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
Usage of אמר מר and גופא [duplicate]
The Gemora sometimes wants to discuss a side point from a previous text. It will introduce this as אמר מר or גופא for example the first page of Brachos says: אֲמַר מָר: ״מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים ...
- 2,181
4
votes
0
answers
90
views
Shiurim by Rav Dovid Feinstein Zt"l
Does anyone know where I can find recorded shiurim by Rav Dovid Feinstein?
- 404
0
votes
1
answer
180
views
In specifics what oral tradition did the Sadducees believe in
Judaism today took the view of the Pharsies and not the Sadducees, do we know what the Sadducees believed in?
What we know- they reject some sort of oral tradition. Yet according to the sources (the ...
- 2,181
1
vote
3
answers
296
views
Sources regarding the Mesorah of the explanations/details of the Torah
It's difficult for me to accept that laws that I see written in a modern day Halacha sefer really originate from what G-d Told Moshe thousands of years ago. This is because there is so much time in ...
- 153
1
vote
0
answers
95
views
Does Hashem have authority over the decisions of the Rabbis?
Shalom Rabbi,
I am seeking assistance with a question that arose during my Torah study.
In this Gemara, a Torah scholar named Aher spoke to a child with a stutter. The man Aher thought the child ...
- 11
7
votes
3
answers
499
views
Who is "Mar" ("The Master") in the Bavli?
Throughout the Bavli, but (based on a Sefaria search) never in the Mishnah, the Tosefta, or the Yerushalmi, we find the phrase "amar Mar" (אמר מר) without any other identifier (in contrast ...
1
vote
0
answers
192
views
Did Solomon worship pagan idols?
1 Kings 11:5-7 indicate that Solomon sought after the pagan gods. The Gemara states that these verses don't mean that Solomon himself worshipped idols, but rather that his wives did.
Is there any ...
- 249
1
vote
2
answers
208
views
Evidence for the divine inspiration of the Torah
What evidence is there that the Torah was divinely inspired? Historical evidence, prophecies, etc, for example.
Further reading on this topic would be appreciated.
- 249
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Who was Nasi and who was Av Bais Din?
The third zug was Shimon ben Shetach and Yehuda ben Tabai. Wondering who from these two sages was the Nasi and who was the Av Bais Din?
- 591
2
votes
3
answers
158
views
Is it wrong to have bad thoughts if you feel bad about them?
What is the sentiment on having bad unholy thoughts though I know they are wrong and feeling bad about them. For example if I interact with say a street sweeper and think 'I am superior to you' though ...
- 97
2
votes
0
answers
30
views
Are the stories in the Midrashim and Targumim meant to be historical? [duplicate]
The Midrashim and Targumim contain stories meant to further elaborate on the accounts in the Hebrew Bible. Are these stories meant to be historically accurate?
Further reading on this issue would be ...
- 249
1
vote
1
answer
160
views
Shimush in Hilchos Niddah
Which Rabbanim or Bottei Horaah offer shimush in Hilchos Niddah?
I’m looking for a more formal program where you can sign up and there’s a schedule, testing certification etc.
Or, a private Rav who ...
- 11
4
votes
1
answer
116
views
Who was Rabbi Matzliach of the Upper Galilee?
In this question, it is brought that three halachic responsa by the Rif, originally written in Arabic, were translated for the Ramah of Fano into Hebrew. The Ramah stated that the translation was done ...
- 24.9k
1
vote
1
answer
63
views
Source for Rava's first name
According to Wikipedia and Encyclopedia.com, Rava's real first name was Abba and "Rava" is a portmanteau of R' Abba. However, both claims are sourceless (Encyclopedia.com refers to Eruvin ...
- 24.9k
0
votes
1
answer
124
views
Was the Talmud written with diacritcs?
This might sound like a strange question, but was the Talmud written with diacritics? The MT today is written with critical marks that were added in the middle of the first millennium. But the Talmud ...
- 249
1
vote
2
answers
95
views
Rabbinical testing in Volozhin
I heard once (can't remember where) that in Volozhin, the students preferred to be tested for the rabbinate by Reb Chaim of Brisk and not the Netziv, because the Netziv didn't give very hard tests. In ...
- 24.9k
3
votes
0
answers
55
views
The qualifiers given by the Meiri
Following this post, quoting several qualifierss given by the Meiri to the Rabanim whose opinions he reports, I am interested to know if we have an exhaustive list, because some of are not reported in ...
- 22.7k
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
Biography of Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchak (Yishai) Chassidah [closed]
Author of the Jewish Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities - Ishei Tanakh.
I am having great difficulty finding any information on the Rav. Is he alive? Does he have other works? Any shiurim/books on ...
- 1,489
4
votes
3
answers
540
views
What were the first rabbinic reactions to the rise of Islam?
Practically, all Jewish second-Temple diaspora in the 7th and 8th centuries fell under the rule of Islam. How did rabbis respond to the new sister religion? Did they attribute any special qualities, ...
- 25.7k
0
votes
0
answers
100
views
Community of R' Menachem Elon
Rabbi Menachem Elon is described all over the web as an "Orthodox Rabbi." However, while he seems to be very respected in the academic world, I have been unable to find a single record of R' ...
- 221
8
votes
0
answers
132
views
What is the reason behind the Meiri intentionally replacing the names of Rabbis?
The Meiri in his writings gives each Rabbi whom he quotes an alternative name, based on the main contribution that particular rabbinic authority made. Why does he do so, for it seems he goes against ...
- 479
3
votes
1
answer
233
views
What's the story behind the Sages killing Rav Acha Bar Yaakov?
Bava Kamma 40a:
Rav Acha Bar Yaakov is a great man.
Bava Basra 14a:
"רַב הוּנָא כְּתַב שִׁבְעִין סִפְרֵי דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא וְלָא אִיתְרְמִי לֵיהּ אֶלָּא חַד
רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב כְּתַב חַד ...
- 479
0
votes
1
answer
619
views
R' Elazar Shach's polemic against Chabad [closed]
There are numerous reports that the late R. Elazar Shach fought a bitter battle against Chabad, even using harsh language in his campaign. If these reports are true, I wonder why this rabbi was so ...
user19234
3
votes
1
answer
246
views
Church fathers and the Rabbis
I’m wondering if there is any evidence in Jewish writings of correspondence/the mentioning of church fathers. I would assume that the interactions would have happened in the time of the late tanaaim/...
- 370
1
vote
0
answers
70
views
Do Medieval Rabbis speak about the Black Plague?
I was wondering if any Rabbis in the Medieval times wrote anything about the Black Plague.
- 2,525
2
votes
0
answers
113
views
Rabbinical authority (2)
Part 2 of the question: Rabbinical Authority:
I am delving into the concept of the rabbinical authority based on the following pasuk "If a case is too baffling for you to decide, be it a ...
- 8,780
3
votes
0
answers
206
views
Rabbinical authority
I am delving into the concept of the rabbinical authority based on the following pasuk
"If a case is too baffling for you to decide, be it a controversy over
homicide, civil law, or assault—...
- 8,780
1
vote
1
answer
124
views
Did Rabbi Yehudah ben Bateira not come for the Regel?
The gemara in Pesachim 3b brings a story in which Rabbi Yehudah ben Bateira discovers that an Aramean non-Jew is eating from the Korban Pesach in Yerushalayim. He tricks him into outing him to the ...
- 24.9k