Questions tagged [rabbis]
Questions about the lives and personalities of Jewish religious authorities.
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Speaking negatively about Rabbis
I vaguely recall hearing in a shi`ur once about a grave prohibition against speaking negatively about Rabbis. Unfortunately, I don't recall the shi`ur (I think it may have been by R' Eli Mansour) nor ...
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Is K-כשר kosher?
What is the kashrut authority behind the K-כשר symbol that is now used on Kirkland Signature milk sold at Costco?:
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When did weekly sermons become part of the rabbi's job?
Each year on Shabbat Hagadol (the Shabbat just prior to Pesach), our shul rabbi explains that the reason it is called "Shabbat Hagadol" is that it means "The Shabbat of the Gadol" ("The great one"). ...
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Two Rabbi Akivas?
The gemara, in Ketubot 38b, resolves a contradiction between a mishna and a baraita by postulating the existence of a second person named Rabbi Akiva. Is there any reference, outside of this ...
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Rosh Yeshiva - how? [closed]
Can anyone provide sources that delineate the path on how to become a Rosh yeshiva?
Please limit questions to sources (not opinions) based on Torah mekoros, biographies (of Roshei Yeshivas) or other ...
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Sefaria and Rabbinic Endorsements
Sefaria is a popular and novel Web site with various translations of holy texts; are any rabbinic authorities on record as endorsing or forbidding it? Translations can be subjective, it is inevitable ...
user8726
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Is it possible to overcome Yetzer Hara without the Torah? [closed]
What do our great teachers say about overcoming evil inclinations without Torah? Is it even possible? Look forward to your answers!
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Which religious texts cause some Jews to focus and worship the material gains in this life (creation) rather than to Hashem (the creator)? [closed]
Please see this article in Asbury Park Press regarding welfare fraud by rabbis.
Also, years ago when Christy was a NJ state prosecutor there was another roundup of rabbis in a New Jersey corruption ...
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Who were some of the "sages" referred to in the Mishnah?
When the Mishnah uses the term חכמים אומרים, as in the first Mishnah in Tractate Brachot, approximately how many comprised this group? Who were in this group of people? (doesn't need to be a complete ...
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How was the Nasi allowed to diminish the honor of a torah scholar?
In Horiyot 13b it recounts that Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel made a edict that, as opposed to previously where all people stood for both the Nasi and the 'Chacham', now all people should stand for the ...
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How to get an urgent answer if your local rabbi isn't reachable
I think many frum people have been in the situation of needing time-sensitive help with a halachic question, but not having access to their/any rabbi. What resources such as hotlines are available to ...
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Office of the Rishon Letzion
I am interested in knowing how and why this office came about. Was it initiated by the Jewish community or was it necessary in order to have a representative to contact the ruling government? ...
user8726
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How can Chachomim nullify my recitation of the evening Shema if I read it at a time permitted by the Torah?
The Mishnah Berurah (OC 235:30) writes:
לא יצא וכו' - דאף דמן התורה קרינן בשכבך עד הנץ משום דאיכא עדיין מקצת אנשים דגנו בההיא שעתא מ"מ היכא דלא איתנס בטלו חכמים ממנו מצות ק"ש על שאיחר כ&...
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Is it possible to lodge an appeal for a soul that has gone to Gehenom?
Unsong is a work of online serial fiction by Scott Alexander which is based heavily on Judaism. (I highly recommend it to Jews and Gentiles alike.). As I discussed in my earlier question here, the ...
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Is there any sect of Judaism that interprets both the written Torah and oral Torah literally [closed]
Is there any sect of Judaism that interprets both the written Torah and oral Torah literally?
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Source for exclusively learning/seeking Torah from someone whose face is glowing like an angel?
I remember several times coming across a text that asked something along the lines of:
"Who should one seek/learn Torah from?"
or
"How does one know whether to seek/learn Torah from a certain Rabbi?"
...
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Is there a Talmudic "score card"?
When I am learning a masechta, one thing that shocks me is the ability of those people involved in arguments to cite an authority and know his view on most any other case. So if Rabbi Yehoshua is ...
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Looking for online material by previous Chief Rabbis of the UK
I'm trying to find online material (essays, sermons, articles, etc.) to read by previous Chief Rabbis of the United Kingdom before Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. I am particularly interested in Joseph Hertz, ...
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Rav Belsky's illustration on how to lean by the seder
I remember watching one of OU's Pesach webinars a few years back where Rav Belsky was asked what is the proper way to lean at the seder. Rav Belsky answered that based off an ancient (Roman) tapestry ...
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People with defects and their role in serving
Parashat Emor teaches (Vayikra/Leviticus 21:17) something about
a kohen with a 'מום' (blemish, defect, deformity, disability, handicap) isn't allowed to serve in the Holy Temple.
But without the ...
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Cannot speak Torah while working
In Shemot Rabbah 13 Parshash Bo there's a story involving Abba Yosef. He responds to an invitation of scholarship by Avnimus with "...I can't come down because I'm a salaried worker."
I remember ...
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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 ...
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Title to use when addressing a rav
When speaking to the rav of a community, what title should one use? "Hello, Rabbi X" would surely be acceptable for someone with regular semicha, but perhaps not for a person who is referred to as "...
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Does the institution of Chabad believe that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the Mashiach or is that a subset community of Chabad?
This may seem like a silly question but I never have been able to get a straight answer from anyone.
Rabbi Schneerson is a figure of extreme controversy in that his name has been thrown around with ...
user13783
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Are there high level poskim who are easily accessible?
I often have Halachic questions that upon approaching local Orthodox rabbonim, I don't feel comfortable with their psak. I know enough to know that they don't have a complete grasp of halacha but I ...
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Why were different pronunciations allowed in the first place? [duplicate]
The following question might be a duplicate of How could different pronunciations arise when we are obligated to pronounce the Shema precisely?
Why did our Rabbonim however many hundreds of years ...
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Referring to a rav with multiple sefarim
I've noticed that some rabbanim are referred to by the titles of multiple books. For example, R' Jair Bacharach (Wermeiser Rov between 1699-1702) is referred to both by the name of his shu"t, Chavot ...
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Who is HaRam in Tosafos
I've seen הר"ם quoted in Tosafos in a few places. One example is Kiddushin 50a, Tosfos ד"ה היה לו. I always assumed it was Rabbeinu Meir, the son in law of Rashi, whose sons are the famous ...
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Which Rabbi was this?
I remember reading a journal article about a modern orthodox rabbi in late 19th century America who held the position that rabbis need to try to find lenient halachik rulings to make the lives of ...
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Gedolim with difficult beginnings
Although we all know the story of the Netziv, does anyone know any other stories of relatively famous Jewish personalizes who had a difficult time learning Torah in the beginning? I remember hearing ...
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Teacher of the Pnei Yehoshua
What was the name of the rav/teacher of HoRav Ya'akov Yehoshua ben Tzvi, author of the Pnei Yehoshua?
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Finding a Rav for a woman [duplicate]
How do I, a woman, go about finding a personal Rav (in Israel)? I see that you have addressed the question for men but not for women. We don't have the same opportunities for meeting Rabbanim as do ...
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What was the ultimate fate of Rabbi Elisha ben Abuyah (Acher)?
Unsong is a work of online serial fiction by Scott Alexander which is based heavily on Judaism. (I highly recommend it to Jews and Gentiles alike.) In this chapter of Unsong, the archangel Uriel ...
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Talmudic personages and their occupations
One question I have been researching is on the Jewish attitude towards secular occupations to complement Torah learning. There is even a statement in the Talmud about how it is preferable to flay ...
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Is there any mention by our sages of blessed memory of great centers of Jewish learning in Central Asia?
Is there any mention by our sages of blessed memory of great centers of Jewish learning in Central Asia: Iran Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, ...
user13336
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Is the Kabbalah as the Rabbis have it today the same Kabbalah as Moshe had?
According to Aruch Hashulchan seen here siff 8 , it was given at Sinai to Moshe.
But is Kabbalah today the same as back then? (I hope this question is not unclear)
Is the Kabbalah as the Rabbis have ...
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Is there any mention by our sages of blessed memory of Jews living in Central Asia? [closed]
Is there any mention by our sages of blessed memory of Jews living in Central Asia: Iran Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, ...
user13336
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Where does the knowledge of the kabbalah come from?
All the knowledge in the kabbalah.Where does it come from?
Is it parts of the talmud?
From the Torah?
People who have been in heaven?
Personal revelation?
Where and how did they receive this ...
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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 ...
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Why can't we uncensor all editions of Sefer Vayikra?
I heard according to our sages of blessed memory that certain editions of Sefer Vayikra were censored in Europe, because it says in Sefer Vayikra when the end comes Edom (The West/Christianity) will ...
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How to find a chavrusa for a difficult topic
How would one go about finding a rabbi/rav with whom to have a chavrusa if one is picky and has specific needs -- i.e., for someone with particular qualities, or who is highly learned in a niche area? ...
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"Kosher"switch, is it really kosher? [duplicate]
So I am wondering if it is acceptable or not, breaking shabbes or not, and I want to see what the Big rabbonim have to say about the "Kosher"switch.
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Respecting People because of their Money
A friend told me that his Rabbi told him that we have to respect people with a lot of money because God has blessed them.
Is this written anywhere?
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Paradise is within us?
I heard Rabbi David Wolpe say in a debate something like:
The Talmud says 'You assume that the sages are in paradise but it is not so. In fact, paradise is in the sages.'
Could someone tell me more ...
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Which Raban Gamliel was in the first mishnah of masechet berakhot?
Who was this Raban Gamliel in the first mishnah of masechet berakhot?
Raban Gamliel I?
Raban Gamliel II?
Raban Gamliel III?
Are there some books who could help me to find the historic part of the ...
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Who was Rav Moshe Margolis's Rav?
I'm currently making a Mesorah chart (I know there are some out there, I just wanted to do it myself). I've gotten all the way back to the Vilna Gaon's Rav, Rav Moshe Margolis, but I can't find any ...
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How does one interested in converting to Orthodox Judaism connect with an Orthodox community and find a conversion Rabbi?
I know that one needs to be in an Orthodox community in order to be immersed in the culture, practice and devotion of Jewish life. How does one connect with such a community? Does one find a ...
user2411
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Rabbi "shopping"
Is there any explicit halachah against going to different rabbanim to find the most lenient one for a specific shaylah?
I know it says in pirkei avos "asei l'cho rav", but what if you don't have a ...
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What gives rabbis permission to alter the reading of a Biblical verse?
There are several places in the Talmud, where rabbis alter the reading of a Biblical verse to teach something. an example of this is:
Berakhot 64a (Sefaria):
אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי חנינא תלמידי ...
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Shofar and Lulav on Shabbos - how can Rabbinical decree override Deorayso
The gezaira of Raba is that when Purim Sukkos or Rosh hashana fall out on shabbos we do not blow shofar or shake lulav or read the meggila.
Why? Because we are worried that he may not know what to ...
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