Questions tagged [sin]

Relating to the categorization of a sinful act in Jewish Law, the examination of a sin recorded in Jewish texts, or the nature of sin in Jewish thought.

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Selling an electronic cigarette to a minor

Is it a sin to sell an electronic cigarette it to a minor? Please cite sources.
4 votes
1 answer
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What are the practical parameters of Mitzvah Haba'ah B'Aveirah?

There are a few questions which ask about whether the concern of a mitzvah which is (or whose practice is) contingent upon the existence of a sin applies in specific cases. But are there any clear cut ...
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3 votes
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(Why) did Sarah allow herself to be put in a compromising situation

Starting in Genesis 12:13 Avraham and Sarah deceive Pharaoh into thinking that Sarah was not married. It seems from the verses that Avraham and Sarah understood that if Pharaoh thought Sarah was ...
4 votes
3 answers
338 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 ...
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2 votes
2 answers
196 views

Embarrassing a Gentile

Is one allowed to embarass a Gentile? I have heard about the severity of embarrassing a jew. Leaving aside the chances of Khillul Hashem, Is there any sin regarding the embarrassment of Gentiles?
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Was Reuben's repentance accepted? If not, why not?

The midrash (Bereshit Rabba 84:19) indicates that Reuben did teshuva (repentance) for sleeping with his father's concubine Bilhah (Bereshit 35:22). However in both Yaakov's blessing (ibid 49:3-4) and ...
7 votes
1 answer
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Why should we be punished for Adam's sin? [duplicate]

My kid asked: I understand that Adam and Eve violated God's command by eating from the tree of knowledge and thus deserved punishment: as described in Genesis, Adam would have to work for his food ...
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1 answer
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Are gentiles obligated to fear Hashem (or at least fear punishment)?

As Jews we are commanded to fear Hashem and fear punishment to help us avoid sinning. See Chinuch 432 for example: ונוהגת מצוה זו בכל מקום ובכל זמן ובכל מין האדם, וזאת אחת מן המצות התמידיות על ...
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Was Adam HaRishon's eating from the Tree of Knowledge really a sin

Most of the characterizations I have seen portray eating of the Tree of Knowledge as a sin. Yet (I personally, with no validation for my surmise) would be inclined to think otherwise. My reasoning is:...
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2 votes
2 answers
407 views

Can a sinner preach to other people to stop sinning?

Can somebody who has committed a particular sin nonetheless rebuke other people for doing it? Or does he have to first stop doing the sin himself?
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How is it determined whether someone goes to Heaven or to Hell?

I was told by a Chabad rabbi that the determination of reaching Heaven or Hell (Gan Eden or Gehinnom) is done through the weighing of aveiros (sins) and mitzvos (good deeds). This was, of course, a ...
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Case of causing someone to sin?

Are there any sources that the following case would constitute causing others to sin? A person addressed a nonreligous Jew about keeping kosher, and tried to make him keep kosher. The non religious ...
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What is the Jewish belief about atonement for suicide?

Is it possible that the sin of suicide is not forgiveable because the person is no longer living and cannot perform teshuvah? Can the soul repent once it has left this world? (I did see a question ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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Can a sin be completely cleaned?

If a person does a sin, is it possible to completely clean it in the spiritual and physical worlds as it never happened and fix all the damages it caused? What are the sources that prove that? Are ...
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Teshuva for intercourse with non Jew [duplicate]

This question is different than the one people think is a duplicate because the other one doesn’t necessarily answer the questions I’m asking. If someone has intercourse with a non Jew even if he ...
2 votes
1 answer
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Is there a sin associated with driving a Jew away from observance?

I was curious if the topic has ever come up. You typically hear the argument that a Jew's observance is between them and Hashem. If they don't observe, that's obviously a personal choice and thus they ...
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2 votes
0 answers
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Can a mere thought break a commandment? [closed]

Can a mere thought break a commandment? If so, and given that we can't help our thoughts, the Sages would have given us advice on how to fight them. I could not find any such advice. Here is what I ...
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1 answer
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Why aren't there any Gay people in the Bible?

Our scriptures (the Bible and later) are full of people who sinned. Every kind of sin, including murder and sexual sins. The sinners are both from our people as well as non-Jews. Some of the sinners ...
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What does Judaism say about the Original sin?

DISCLAIMER: I am not Jewish nor am I a follower of Judaism. I have read the Torah, prophets and writings with Rashi commentary, also have read some of the Midrash, and read/watch some of today's ...
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1 answer
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Are those below age 20 forgiven more easily?

Are those who are below 20, forgiven by Hashem more easily than others? The Gemmorah in Shabbat 89b says: "דל עשרין דלא ענשת עלייהו" - Subtract the first twenty years of his life. [One is not ...
6 votes
2 answers
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Was it right for David to hang Saul's descendants for their father's sin?

In II Samuel chapter 21, David orders the hanging of seven males from Saul's issue (at the request of the Gibeonites) for Saul's wiping out of Nob. When I read this chapter, I was confused. We know ...
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1 answer
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Is there a Jewish theology equivalent to Calvinism?

I have a question that may seem odd, but bear with me. Basically, I'm wondering whether there's any Jewish theology analogous to Calvinist Christianity. I am NOT wondering about the salvation/...
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Is saying Shutup to a fellow Jew a sin?

If someone says something to offend you, can you just reply with a “Shutup!”, or will this be considered as hurting one’s feelings? This is a serious question. If it is a sin how else can you let ...
12 votes
2 answers
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Aveira Lishma: Is it permissible to make a decision that contradicts Halacha because it is for the greater good?

The gemara in brachos 10a says that Chizkiyahu made the decision not to have children as he saw that his kids would be negative influences on the Jewish people. Then, Yeshayahu tells him that is not ...
4 votes
2 answers
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Is a nocturnal emission (Keri) a sin?

Is a nocturnal emission, also known as keri, a sin? If it happens to you at night, is teshuvah necessary?
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2 answers
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In Judaism, is there a view which is similar to the Original Sin of Christianity? [closed]

First, I would like to describe a little bit of my background. I'm not Jewish, and I'm not a Christian. Currently, I'm in a debate with some Christian members in a Christian forum with our mother ...
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When can I attend service (Shabbat) after seminal emission? [closed]

Unmarried, 22 year old Jewish man here. I've been consciously trying to get myself rid of masturbation for a year now. I started to take precautions and I take this fight very seriously now. I put a ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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If somebody is over 60 and does an aveirah for which the punishment is misah biyedei shamayim, what happens?

I was learning today's Tanya (יג תמוז, beginning of אגרת התשובה פרק ד) I have a question based on the following part: כשעבר עבירה שחייבים עליה כרת, הי׳ מת ממש קודם חמשים שנה A violator of a sin ...
2 votes
0 answers
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Murder in Eretz Yisrael

The Gemara in Yoma (85a) argues that murder is more chamur than chilul Shabbos because it "contaminates the land and drives away the Shechina" ושפיכות דמים מטמא את הארץ וגורם לשכינה שתסתלק ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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Contradiction in Chelkas Yoav regarding lifnei iver when the aveira is done by oness

The Chelkas Yoav (vol.1:1) says that when a katan (minor) eats a forbidden food his enjoyment of the food is considered an aveira. The reason that he is not punished is since he is unresponsible for ...
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2 answers
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Which is a more severe aveira, murder or chilul (desecrating) Shabbos?

Which is a more severe aveira, murder or chilul (desecrating) Shabbos? On the one hand we know that murder is Yeheraig V'al yaavor (one of the 3 capital crimes for which one must give up his life). ...
1 vote
1 answer
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Death over sins & idolatry for gentiles?

As we know there are certain sins a Jew cannot commit like murder or idol worship. A Jew should rather die than commit these sins. Does this apply to gentiles as well?
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1 answer
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Ramban - Every sin deserves more suffering than Iyov received

Where does the Ramban say that in reality we deserve more suffering than Iyov received for every sin we do and it is only because of Hashem's incredible mercy that we don't get anywhere near what we ...
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2 votes
0 answers
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Does Hashem create a Michshol?

There is a Jewish law forbidding putting a michshol, a stumbling block, in front of a blind person. This is extended also to mean that one should not lead others into sin, including providing the ...
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10 votes
1 answer
341 views

Is there a status of Tinok Shenishba for non-Jews?

If someone is brought up as a non-Jew even though he is Jewish he is considered a Tinok shenishba bein hanochrim and is an unwitting transgressor, not held accountable for his actions. Would he same ...
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2 votes
1 answer
933 views

What are the consequences of homosexuality?

We all know that homosexual intercourse is forbidden in Judaism (directly from Torah). But that it also has consequences in the spiritual world as everything in the physical realm has its ...
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1 answer
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Does one commit a sin by contemplating to do a sin? [Not referring to UNCLEAN thoughts]

(ספר שערי תשובה (שער ג' אות מא ** ( ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם (במדבר טו הזהרנו בזה שלא לחשוב לעשות עבירה וכל דבר פשע וחטא Shaarei Teshuvah [Gates of Repentance] Gate 3:41 [loosely ...
-1 votes
1 answer
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Is someone permitted to force another person to do an Aveira by threatening him with death?

Is someone permitted to force another person to do an aveira (sin) by threat of death, [If the person doing the forcing does not actually intend to carry out his threat]? If not, why not? Since the ...
7 votes
1 answer
460 views

what is the source that a parent carries the sins of their children when the children are minors?

As a child I learned that a minor is not culpable for his or her sins and that any negative effect from those sins is borne by the parent (I don't recall if it was specifically the father). I would ...
1 vote
3 answers
393 views

Difference between sins of Saul and sins of David?

Two of the most prominent Kings of Israel in the Scripture are Saul and David. These two men are given the most attention in 1 and 2 Samuel. David and Saul are foils of one another. Saul was rejected ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Gehinnom; the place where the confrontation with one's own sins helps to purify this person?

I have a question about Gehinnam/Gehinnom which is often pictured as a big washing machine, a place for purification, a purgatory. But once I came across a teaching/scripture describing that at this ...
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1 vote
2 answers
936 views

Pre Marital relations and wasted seed

Do pre-marital relations count as wasted semen after intercourse? What does Halacha say about this situation? It would obviously be a sin but would it count as wasted seed if ejaculation occurred ...
1 vote
1 answer
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Does חֵטְא וְעָוֹן include violating positive commandments

Do the words commonly mentioned in scripture E.g exedos 34,6 ֶפֶַשע חֵטְא וְעָוֹן specifically refer to negative commandments that one transgresses or do they include not performing positive ...
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Is one exempt from asking forgiveness for a sin against another if the result of that apology could lead to greater consequences for the community?

To get to the specifics: A Jew sinned against someone but that person may not actually be aware of it. (Lets use the example that you stole from his shop and he never noticed) In the scenario I'm ...
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0 votes
0 answers
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When it comes to desecrating Hashem's names, is printing Hashem's names on paper electronically equal to writing the name by hand on parchment? [duplicate]

Jewish law takes extreme precaution when writing out Hashem's name. We famously have locations for placing old Siddurs and texts in order to keep Hashem's name and word in places of sanctity. When ...
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5 votes
0 answers
378 views

is there any redemption for a gentile who breaks any of the 7 Noahide laws

If a gentile breaks any of the 7 laws of Noah, are they doomed? Is there any way for them to redeem themselves, or is their fate sealed? Does it depend on which laws they break and how often they ...
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10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is alcohol not prohibited?

I came across a post on Mi Yodea about the Torah approach to alcohol and a lot of it seems pretty negative. For example, Brachot 40a - 'grapes cause sorrow to the world', Yoma 76 - wine is called יין ...
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1 vote
3 answers
569 views

Can one reach the point where he can no longer do teshuvah?

If someone caused pain to multiple people or caused irreversible damage, can he possibly be in a situation where he can no longer do teshuvah? If so, what does hashem want from him at this juncture?
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Which sins are specifically punished with earthquake?

There were/are earthquakes in many countries in the world in the past few days. If earthquake is a form punishment from Hashem, then which sins are punished by such? I/We can use the answer to ...
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0 votes
3 answers
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What is the worst aveirah? [closed]

"Worst" is subjective so a broad overview and several inputs would be appreciated Worst can mean: The sin that brings about the greatest punishment (already mentioned); the sins that most distance ...
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