Questions tagged [sources-mekorot]
Questions seeking sources for a given practice in general or in specific Jewish communities, alternatively seeking the location of a specific source of a teaching/idea/philosophy based on Torah writings.
318
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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1answer
175 views
Was Nebuchadnezzar's statue an image of Daniel himself?
The third chapter of Daniel brings the story of how King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue made of gold for the people of the land to worship. (Ultimately, this is the story of how Hananiah, Mishael, ...
4
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0answers
34 views
Source for preferring doing melacha which benefits sick person exclusively
I recently heard the following halacha from a talmid Chacham. He said "I remember that this is the halacha, but I do not remember the source".
If one has to do a melacha on shabbos for a choleh ...
4
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0answers
82 views
Source for Arizal’s teaching
I’m reading a book by Rabbi Shlomo Arush and he says the following: "According to our master, the Arizal, whoever wants to receive the light of Ein Sof in its entirety has to change its own nature ...
4
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0answers
133 views
Weird Weather Before Mashiach
With Harvey and Irma and the Mexican earthquakes and the recent solar eclipse, it’s often been quoted recently that there will be weird weather before Mashiach comes. This is nothing new for me - I’ve ...
4
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0answers
70 views
Reason for Ein Onshim Min HaDin
There's a concept that אין עונשים מן הדין that appears a bunch of times throughout Shas (Makkos 5b for example). It basically means we don't learn out punishments the same way we learn out obligations....
4
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0answers
101 views
Where is the source of this Midrash/Agadita in the Ein Yaakov
I saw in the הקדמת הכותב of the Ein Yaakov the following midrash/agadita cited:
בן זומה אומר מצינו פסוק כולל יותר והוא שמע ישראל וגו׳ בן ננס אומר
מצינו פסוק כולל יותר והוא ואהבת לרעך כמוך ...
4
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0answers
83 views
Vilna Gaon - Mitzvah Goreres Mitzvah
I once heard (I do not recall from who or where) that The Vilna Gaon once remarked that the way to determine if one's actions were in fact a good deed, one must look at the after effects. The Gr"a is ...
4
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0answers
63 views
Zilberman seforim
Does anybody know of seforim written by members of the Zilberman community in Yerushalayim? I'm looking primarily for halachic works about implementing the Vilna Gaon's shitahs today, but I'd be ...
4
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0answers
192 views
Reading Mishnah Torah on Hoshana Rabba
There is a minhag that many have to read in shul from a Sefer Torah the entire Chumash of Davarim on the night of Hoshanah Rabbah. What is the first makor (source) for this minhag and what is the ...
4
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0answers
149 views
Original Sources of Origin Claims of Hebrew's Pronunciations
I'm interested in finding out where the differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazic pronunciation of Hebrew come from.
On wikipedia it says:
"Leopold Zunz believed that the Ashkenazi pronunciation ...
4
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0answers
123 views
Shavuah Tov or A Gutte Vuch on Motzai Shabbos
What is the earliest reference or source for wishing Shavuah Tov or A Gutte Vuch on Motzai Shabbos?
4
votes
0answers
125 views
Convert without accepting mitzvos?
Conversion is always a hot topic, especially here in Israel. Many times conversions take place where the Ger (convert) didn't have the intention to be m'kabel (accept) the mitzvos. People scream and ...
4
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0answers
173 views
Who came up with this story?
It says in Mekor Baruch (of Rabbi Baruch Epstein)
The Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, the Netziv, was once sitting down surrounded by several high-caliber students – avrechim versed in Torah, wise, and ...
4
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0answers
78 views
Location for medrash cited by the Chizkuni
The Chizkuni in Parshas Achrei Mos 16:22 writes that the ish iti (the person who would take the goat to har azazel) would not live through the year. He cites from a medrash that the person knew he was ...
4
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0answers
104 views
Are there any responsa that encourage or require maintaining health insurance?
Are there any responsa in the literature that either encourage or require people to maintain health insurance, perhaps as a fulfillment of the obligation to guard one's health, or in line with any ...
4
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0answers
137 views
Different endings of Yishtabach
I have heard at least four nuschaos (liturgies) for the very end of Yishtabach between habocheir b'shirei zimrah (who chooses musical songs of praise) and chai/chei* haolamim (life/life-giver of the ...
4
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0answers
152 views
The opinion that microwaves don't need to be kashered
So I remember hearing this opinion that followed like this: "Microwaves do not need to be kashered because the means of cooking in a microwave are different than those spoken about in the Gemara."
...
4
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0answers
171 views
Choreography of Kaddish
I have seen a number of different customs of when people bow or sway or bob or whatnot during Kaddish. Some of the people I have witnessed have been very knowledgeable, and I assume they weren't just ...
4
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0answers
132 views
Jacob's Dual Names and Wives
The third Patriarch's birth name was Jacob. He is given another name, Israel, in Genesis 32. Jacob had two primary wives; Leah and Rachel.
I have heard the idea that the Rachel was the betrothed ...
4
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0answers
65 views
Source for medrash that Klal Yisroel counted the omer when they came out of Mitzraim
The sefer Tur Bareket (OC 489, also brought here) quotes a medrash that Moshe Rabbeinu told Klal Yisroel to count 50 days towards matan torah.
Do any of our readers know the exact source in the ...
4
votes
1answer
689 views
Sources forbidding a gentile from keeping the Sabbath
I have read that there is a halacha that a non-Jew may not observe Shabbat. This seems to stem from the gemara cited here and the Rambam listed here.
But the gemara only seems to be saying that a non-...
4
votes
2answers
222 views
Did the Talmudic rabbis know about America?
Is there any evidence in the ancient Sources that the Talmudic rabbis were aware of the existence of America?
4
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1answer
54 views
Source for ויראת מאלקיך because of loss of money
HaKesav VeHaKabbalah (Deuteronomy 10:12) writes:
והנה מצאנו בחמשה מקומות שדברה תורה ממצות שבין אדם לחברו שסיימה בהם ויראת מאלהיך, כמו אל תקלל חרש ויראת מאלהיך, מפני שיבה תקום ויראת מאלהיך, ולא תונו ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Is it obligatory / recommended / permitted / discouraged / forbidden to tie a red thread to a child's crib?
The comments to this question discuss tying to a red thread to a child's crib. Garvey80 claims that it is a minhag yisrael to do so, and is thus obligatory. User6591 claims that it may be forbidden, ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Are there different types of fasts from a Torah/halacha perspective?
Generally speaking, when people think about fasting in terms of Torah, they are thinking about the type of fasting associated to the 9th of Av or Yom Kippur, meaning neither eating nor drinking. This ...
3
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0answers
41 views
When answering a greeting one should top it
On a daf yomi shiur I heard that when someone is being greeted/blessed he should reply with a greater blessing.
When I heard that I thought that this was the reason why people reply shabbat shalom ...
3
votes
4answers
261 views
What happens the second you die?
What do our sources say about what happens the second you die. I’m pretty sure I heard somewhere that one’s soul comes out of their body and they float around the room. Are there any fascinating ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views
Source for Kaddish
I think this may be a very common question(but not for me). Can someone please tell me how did the text of Kaddish first compiled?
3
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0answers
57 views
Source for Higher Infant Mortality Rates in the Winter of a Leap Year?
At the shiva for my infant son, someone said that the reason we say kaparat pesha in mussaf rosh chodesh, is that to atone for the sins that cause higher rates of stillbirth, miscarriages, and infant ...
3
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0answers
44 views
Source for Tehillim as remedies to specific problems
I have this (rather low-quality) "mini-siddur" e-book that I found long time ago. Among other things, it has a page called "Directory of Tehillim", which is a table where each Tehillim is assigned a ...
3
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0answers
63 views
Source for the Arizal identifying many unmarked graves of legendary Jewish figures?
I remember learning that many of the famous gravesites in Israel- the Rambam, Dan of the 12 tribes, Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, Ruth from Megillas Ruth (not necessarily these exact ones, just giving ...
3
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0answers
84 views
Where in the writings of the Vilna Gaon does he discuss how Rashi & Tosfot each explain a Talmudic “sugiya?”
Two days ago, I asked this question in the name of the Vilna Gaon. I was informed that the answer may be [also] found in the writings of Rav Chaim Volozhin.
So, I re-phrased the question.
My ...
3
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0answers
62 views
Source that the world was created for amalek
Numerous Midrashim list different things that the world was created for the purpose of such as Klal Yisrael, Bikkurim, Torah, Challah, and Maasros all of which are called "ראשית" (first).
I remember ...
3
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0answers
61 views
What is the maximum age for Metzitza?
Part of the bris ceremony is metzitza.
I was told that after a certain age (of the boy) it is not done (meaning an adult who gets a bris does not get metzitza).
Is this true?
What is the age?
Source ...
3
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0answers
21 views
Was it a sin for Yitzchak to swear to Avimelech
The Midrash rebukes Avraham for swearing to Avimelech and making a covenant (Genesis 21:23-32):
אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתָּה נָתַתָּ שֶׁבַע כְּבָשׂוֹת בְּלִי רְצוֹנִי, חַיֶּיךָ ...
3
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0answers
30 views
Connection between the akeidah and bikkurim
Some of the akeidah selichos, particularly for days 4 and 5 of teshuvah (Artscroll Minhag Lita), contain references to the mitzvah of bikkurim. Are there any other sources that draw this comparison ...
3
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0answers
51 views
Do idolaters pray to God?
A long time ago I read that our Sources say, "It is forbidden to disturb an idolater praying to his idols because, although he does not know it, he is praying to God." Is this accurate and what is the ...
3
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0answers
81 views
Why is Baruch-Hu-Uvaruch-Shmo answered only in the brachos after the Haftorah, but not in the bracha before?
As far as I recall, the minhag in all Ashkenaz shuls which I have ever attended, was not to answer Baruch-Hu-Uvaruch-Shmo to the name of Hashem in the Bracha which is said before the Haftorah, but in ...
3
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0answers
110 views
Who originally speculated that the Orchos Tzaddikim's author was a woman?
I recall hearing (as well as saw from this link) that it has been speculated that the author of the Orchos Tzaddikim was a woman.
Did someone originally posit this idea, or is it a rumor that has ...
3
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0answers
72 views
Origin of the term “pilpul” as a method of Talmudic study
What is the source for referring to the known method of Talmudic study a "pilpul"? When did this usage begin?
3
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0answers
33 views
When were the decrees against the boys made?
In Parshat Sh'mot (Ex 1:15) Par'oh decrees that the boy children of the Hebrews should be killed.
When was that moment in relation to the timeline of events in Egypt (the death of Yosef, the ...
3
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0answers
160 views
Yom Kippur Segulah Question
Does anyone know of a Source for Pesicha for Neilah being a segulah for Parnassah? Its something I have heard said is there a source anyone can send me to it would be appreciated?
3
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0answers
115 views
Is there a list of the 365 sinews?
The 248 positive commandments are compared to the 248 bones (Zohar 1:170b). Chazal provide a list of these 248 bones (Oholos 1:8).
The 365 negative commandments are compared to the 365 sinews (Zohar ...
3
votes
0answers
39 views
What is the source for “asi aseh v'dachi lo sa'aseh”?
Throughout Shas we have a concept of "asi aseh v'dachi lo sa'aseh," that a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment (ex. Beitzah 8a, Yevamos 84a, etc.). What is the source for this ...
3
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0answers
93 views
When did the Ma Nishtana start being called the Four Questions?
In the Mishnah Pesachim 10:4, we are first taught of the obligation to ask the Ma Nishtana question/s at the Pesach Seder. This consists of an opening question:
?מה נשתנה הלילה הזה מכל הלילות/How is ...
3
votes
0answers
137 views
Is there a source in Torah that a soul chooses his parents before being born?
Many years ago, I read in a Jewish book that a soul chooses his parents before being born, but I cannot remember the name of the book. Is there an authentic Torah source that confirms this? Thank ...
3
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0answers
99 views
Is the number of Jews killed during the Babylonian exile according to Gittin literally true?
Since the only authoritative sources of information, in this case, seem to be the Jewish Scriptures, can you help understand them?
... in this valley Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard killed ...
3
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0answers
84 views
Why do some siddurim switch the order of the angels?
I've noticed that in some siddurim in the prayer "El Adon" the last line has the order of the angels switched; that is, they say:
"seraphim, chayot, v'ophanei hakodesh"
instead of
"seraphim, ...
3
votes
0answers
61 views
Talmud source that the righteous can create worlds with their words
Looking for a source in the talmud which says that the righteous can create worlds with their words - I saw this and I can't remember in which tractate/where exactly, google isn't helping.
3
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0answers
50 views
Shamor and Zachor beyond Shabbat
Much is written about the relationship of Shamor and Zachor in relation to Shabbat but Shamor and Zachor are also used for Pesach (at least the first day) - Shmot 13:3
Moses said to the people, "...
