All Questions
96 questions
4
votes
1
answer
660
views
How would a person become a rabbi around 1 CE?
Given the general illiteracy, the lack of public libraries, the high cost of Torah copies and writing materials, how would a person become a rabbi in 1 CE?
Given the costs and reading/writing ...
- 28.4k
4
votes
1
answer
126
views
Did the Arizal's daughter marry the son of R' Yosef Karo?
Is there any source [historical, academic, mystical] that the Arizal's daughter married the son of R' Yosef Karo, author of Shulchan Aruch?
I see this mentioned in this article (unsourced), and ...
- 11.9k
2
votes
2
answers
279
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.
- 48.6k
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
When did Negiah become part of Halakha [duplicate]
שלום
I am trying to find out around what time Negiah was implemented into Halakha.
In no way I am not trying to disrespect Halakha, I am only trying to understand it in a deeper way.
- 11
11
votes
5
answers
674
views
Examples of Rabbis who had strong disagreements and were amicable
I'm looking for examples of Rabbis who had a serious disagreement and were nevertheless very kind and thoughtful towards each other.
The main reason I'm asking for examples is to illustrate what a ...
- 5,019
6
votes
2
answers
329
views
Who was the first ordained rabbi to live in the USA?
Who was the first ordained rabbi to live in the USA? What was his position?
- 73.9k
-2
votes
2
answers
403
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, ...
- 338
6
votes
3
answers
597
views
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. ...
- 9,590
1
vote
3
answers
345
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 ...
- 71
4
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Does the name Rami (רמי) have a meaning based in Judaism? If so, what is it?
Does the name Rami (רמי), as used by figures in the Talmud such as Rami bar Papa and Rami bar Chama, have a meaning based in Judaism? If so, what is it?
If רמ means high or exalted, does רמי mean my ...
6
votes
1
answer
781
views
Why did Rabbis stay away from Amei Haaretz?
The Gemara tells Torah scholars not to mix with Amei Haaretz, eat with them, et cetera. The Gemara's concern was that the Torah scholars would learn from the bad ways of the Amei Haaretz.
Yet, for the ...
0
votes
0
answers
98
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 ...
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Where does "probeh" come from?
Every time recently that I've heard of an Orthodox congregation conducting a search for a rabbi, the stage at which the rabbi visits the community for a Shabbat and auditions for the position is ...
4
votes
3
answers
716
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, ...
- 28.4k
12
votes
3
answers
416
views
Under whom did these Rabbis study?
In an effort to trace back Rabbi-to-student transmission of tradition, I've run into some dead ends, and I'm hoping the community can offer some leads. Under whom did the following Rabbis study?
...
- 9,564
3
votes
6
answers
2k
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 ...
- 99
3
votes
1
answer
311
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/...
- 28.4k
1
vote
0
answers
75
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.
- 4,148
4
votes
1
answer
246
views
What was a Rabbi Elector in Lithuania?
In doing genealogical research I found records for family members from Lithuania whose profession was listed as "Rabbi Elector".
What was this profession?
Was it a legitimate part of Judaism, or ...
- 28.4k
56
votes
28
answers
5k
views
About what were rabbis ahead of the times?
I have heard claims that experts in the world of Torah were significantly ahead of their counterparts in the world of natural science (or mathematics, or psychology, or…) in that they knew X (...
- 28.4k
1
vote
1
answer
220
views
Why specifically did Rav Moshe Feinstein serve as rabbi in Ohio for a while, per his visa? [closed]
Rabbi Feinstein's family write (beginning to Igros vol. 8) that Rabbi Feinstein had a relative in Ohio who arranged for a pulpit opening, which led to Rabbi Feinstein entering the US on a religious-...
- 34.5k
23
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is this the Chofetz Chaim? [closed]
What is the story behind this picture being known as the image of the great Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan(Chafetz Chaim)? Is it him in fact? Where does it come from?
The only true picture (that I am aware ...
- 8,117
15
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a Chief Rabbi of the United States?
Is there currently or has there ever been historically a Chief Rabbi of the United States? If not, why not?
- 2,080
22
votes
9
answers
1k
views
G'dolim or Rabbis Owning Pets
Are there any g'dolim (or rabbis of major influence) - past or present - who are known to have owned pets/kept animals for non-agricultural purposes?
- 42.7k
15
votes
5
answers
852
views
Who is the voice of Tosafoth?
Tosafoth were the sons-in-law, grandchildren, and students of Rashi (and their students), and "they" wrote a commentary on the Talmud that is often at odds with Rashi's earlier commentary. Sometimes ...
- 8,117
3
votes
1
answer
153
views
The Identity of R' Elazar ben Chananyah
Recently, I found that there are some academics that identify the Tanna Rabbi Elazar ben Chananyah with Elazar ben Chananyah, one of the rebel leaders during the Great Revolt.
Prof. Ephraim Urbach in &...
- 5,212
1
vote
0
answers
44
views
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, ...
- 28k
4
votes
1
answer
188
views
Seeking text of a notice published by the Malbim
Someone told the following story today (or something like the following story. I may be remembering it incorrectly to some extent). He said he had gotten it from a book called Em Habanim S'mecha, ...
- 28.4k
24
votes
8
answers
19k
views
Why did nobody succeed the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
The late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt"l had no successor as the rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. Why is this? Was it simply because he had no children? If so, why was nobody else ...
- 77
1
vote
2
answers
87
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?
- 1,428
66
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Did any Achronim comment on the American Revolutionary or Civil Wars?
I've heard that for instance, in the 1800s, the American rabbis in the South were pro-slavery, and the American rabbis in the North opposed to it. But what were the views towards America of the more-...
- 28.4k
8
votes
2
answers
346
views
Unique signature of the Chida
The Chida has a very unique signature.
What is the significance of this signature (if any)?
Is it in any way related to the seven kabbalistic seals?
Are there other similarly unusual signatures by ...
- 28.4k
1
vote
1
answer
104
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
90
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.
- 187
0
votes
0
answers
42
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
765
views
Was Marcus Jastrow an apikores? [closed]
During Yeshiva I remember some bochrim made a point of not putting the Jastrow dictionary on top of sefarim, and would often talk about how it does not have kedusha because it was written by an ...
- 73.9k
2
votes
1
answer
87
views
Any suggestions for documentaries/videos related to the stories of the sages?
I was curious if anyone would know of some good video resources related to learning about the various Jewish sages of our history. They can be biographical or they can be related to the philosophies ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
1
answer
365
views
Is there any mention from our sages of blessed memory of Alexander The Great building a big metal wall in Central Asia to keep Gog and Magog at bay?
Is there anything that our Sages, of blessed memory, say about Alexander the Great building a big metal wall in Central Asia to prevent Gog and Magog from invading the greater part of the world? The ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
539
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 ...
- 721
-1
votes
2
answers
510
views
Were/are there any gedolim that do not wear a hat of some kind?
It seems like almost major rebbeim/poskim do/did ear some sort of additional head covering (black hat, streimel, cap, etc) for davening. If the practice is that universal among gedolim, that might ...
- 34.7k
8
votes
3
answers
658
views
Semicha (ordination) by Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal
I have never met anyone or heard of anyone that has received Semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal. Did Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky ever give anyone Semicha? If the answer is ...
- 54k
16
votes
2
answers
687
views
Were there any sages who supported the Zealots during the siege of Jerusalem?
In Gittin 56a-b, we read how the sages warned the Zealots (a.k.a. the Biryonim) to not wage war with the Romans who were holding Jerusalem under siege, but that the Biryonim set fire to the store ...
- 54k
2
votes
1
answer
130
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
8
votes
2
answers
375
views
What financial arrangement did Rambam have with his jeweler brother?
I was taught in yeshiva that as a young man, Rambam just studied Torah and was supported by his brother, who was a jewel merchant. Then his brother died at sea, so Rambam became a physician.
Some ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
327
views
What does the Canonization of Tanach mean?
Following "did-the-men-of-the-great-assembly-canonize-tanach" (please read for all the related sources):
To recap: before the canonization there were many man-made books, incl. Meggilot, Nevi'im, ...
- 16.7k
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
15
votes
1
answer
482
views
Napoléon's Sanhedrin
In 1806, Napoléon Bonaparte convened a synod of French rabbinim (mainly Alsatiens and Bordelais) to ascertain halachic opinions on a set of questions. What is the halachic standing of this synod's ...
- 12.2k
3
votes
1
answer
192
views
A prominent Mamzer Rabbi example?
Mishnah in Horayos 3,8 says:
מַמְזֵר תַּלְמִיד חָכָם קוֹדֵם לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל עַם הָאָרֶץ:
(the scholar mamzer takes precedence over the ignorant high priest.)
Do we have a practical example of ...
- 20.2k
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reb Moshe Feinstein in the New York Times
Reb Moshe Feinstein was once interviewed by the New York Times where he answered questions like how does Klal Yisroel know who is a Gadol? Does anyone know when it was, and does anyone know where I ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
2
answers
278
views
List of titles before different Rabbis
It is customary to put many honorific titles before most modern day Rabbis (I've even seen seforim that write Harav Hagaon etc. etc. So-And-So). Many times one sees long lines of adjactives praising ...
- 1,489