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.
364
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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What is the source for Beis Din's obligation to enforce mitzvos
The Gemarra in Kesubos 86a and Chullin 132b teaches the following:
במצות עשה כגון שאומרין לו עשה סוכה ואינו עושה לולב ואינו עושה מכין אותו עד שתצא נפשו
With regard to positive mitzvot, for ...
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0answers
124 views
The 62 Years of Darius/Cyrus, and the 62 Weeks of Daniel
Has ancient or medieval Jewish tradition, spanning from the Talmud to the Shulchan Aruch, ever connected these two passages from the Book of Daniel ?
Daniel 5:30-6:1 That very night, Belshazzar, the ...
4
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0answers
63 views
Knife Becoming Unusable By Threatening Someone With It
I have heard that if a knife is used (even for pretend) to threaten someone it is treif to use unless Neitza is done to it (being stabbed in the ground 10 times). Does anybody know of a source for ...
4
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2answers
241 views
What is a source for this idea in Sefer HaYashar?
The following passage settled with me in an interesting way. Although the statements recorded are themselves quite eye opening, I am unfamiliar with such an idea at large.
In that sense was the ...
4
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33 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 ...
4
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0answers
120 views
Birkas Hachodesh when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat and Sunday
On Shabbat Mevarchim, Birkas Hachodesh, a prayer announcing when the Rosh Chodesh will be, is said after Kriat Hatorah before Mussaf, containing the following line (with some variations depending on ...
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0answers
37 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 ...
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887 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
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0answers
119 views
The Pach Shemen and the Sotah
I remember hearing during a shiur on Neiros Shabbos and Chanukah...shalom bayis/Shabbos trumping pirsumei nisah/Chanukah, etc.
There was one source which said that the pach shemen was actually ...
4
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0answers
91 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 ...
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167 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
117 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....
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109 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
86 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 ...
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0answers
69 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 ...
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246 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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138 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
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0answers
138 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
81 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 ...
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0answers
110 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 ...
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0answers
147 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 ...
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163 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
182 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
135 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 ...
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1answer
92 views
Yishmael’s burial site
Are there any Torah sources that indicate where Yishmael (ben Avraham) is buried?
I have not found anything that mentions his place of burial
4
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1answer
62 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
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1answer
147 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, ...
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0answers
125 views
Custom of two people not clothing someone together
Probably a common occurrence is when putting clothes on a baby, both parents will try to do it together to make it easier (one puts on the shirt, one puts on the pants, etc.). Someone recently told me ...
3
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0answers
61 views
Must seforim be printed with margins?
I have heard that there is a halacha that seforim must be printed with margins, so that scholars will be able to write notes on their learning.
Is there any source for this?
If this is not in fact ...
3
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0answers
113 views
Where is the rest of Rabbi Shmuel Belkin's manuscript of The Midrash of Philo?
I am currently researching Philo of Alexandria, also known as Philon (פילון) or Yedidyah HaKohen of Alexandria.
There is a book that was prepared in manuscript by Rabbi Shmuel (Samuel) Belkin, z”l, ...
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0answers
103 views
Source for story about a murdering son-in-law whose family was swallowed alive
I stumbled upon a really random story in the middle of a sefer on the Azharos of Rav Shlomo ibn Gabirol. The author says he heard it from his father. Since he was discussing the prohibition of murder, ...
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36 views
Looking for a source on the city of Gilad
Some time ago I heard a Dvar Torah (which I brought here) by someone who stated, among other things, that the city of Gilad used to be, at least from the time of the sale of Yosef until it was ...
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59 views
Where does Ramchal's idea of circulating calendar come from?
I am in search of any source preceding Derech Hashem, 4:7:6 (Sefaria Translation):
חגיגת החגים הזמניים: ואולם מלבד הקידוש הזה הנשער במדריגותיו כפי מדריגת קדושת הימים יש עוד ענינים פרטיים מיוחדים לכל ...
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0answers
26 views
Source for the menorah represents the wisdoms of the world?
This blog post claims that the Meiri along with other Rishonim taught that the Menorah ,mentioned in Behalotecha represents the 7 wisdoms of the world.
Quoted here:
The Meiri and other Rishonim say ...
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0answers
48 views
Where is the first time that Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov are referred to as ספרי אמ"ת?
The books of Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov are often referred as ספרי אמ"ת. Where is the first source making this reference?
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91 views
Source for Arizal Marital Advice
Rav Ezriel Tauber's To Become One (p.46) quotes a story about the Arizal who told a husband, "This is your tikun, the way you can repair a fault in your spiritual self. In a previous existence the ...
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45 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
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0answers
61 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 ...
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52 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 ...
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0answers
84 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 ...
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95 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 ...
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0answers
67 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 ...
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0answers
75 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 ...
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0answers
22 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
54 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
90 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
153 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
84 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
36 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 ...
