Questions tagged [tzibur-community]
about the community and the individual in the community
147
questions
5
votes
1answer
118 views
Does Kabbalas Shabbos require a minyan?
Inspired by an answer here:
Does the recitation of Kabbalas Shabbos require a minyan?
I was always under the impression that we do it together by convention rather than necessity, but one could ...
0
votes
0answers
116 views
Does a Jew named after a respected historical figure need to hold himself to a higher standard of behavior?
This question may sound strange but it relates to the power of names on Judaism.
Typically, when a Jew is named after respected figures from Jewish history, it's done because we hope for our children ...
13
votes
1answer
161 views
Where can I find an online Jewish community?
I've newly created an account on this site as someone who's "lurked" or obtained information here before and found the quality of communication excellent. I moved to Montana from Los Angeles as a ...
16
votes
4answers
254 views
Who is “us” in sh'mone esre?
Most of the amida requests are said in the plural: "forgive us… heal us…". Who's "us"? I'd think it's Jews generally — but in the final benediction we ask for beneficence for "us and ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Sources from Tanach for Praying in Minyan
I’ve got a question about people praying together.
Hence from were in the Tanach, from which verse(s) or context, did the idea or concept for group/communal/collective prayer developed from? Or is ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Holding the lulav and esrog while saying hoshanos at home
When one davens at home b’yechidus, assuming he still says the hoshanos prayers every day, including hoshanah rabbah, would he hold the lulav and esrog while saying them?
3
votes
1answer
86 views
If the בעל קורא had in mind a specific person while reading the תוכחה (curses) is that considered מקלל חבירו?
The Ohr Zarua writes:
האור זרוע (שו"ת ח"א סי' קיד) כתב, ומורי הר"ר יהודה חסיד אמר לי שצריך הש"ץ [הקורא בתורה בפרשת הקללות בפ' בחוקתי ובפ' כי תבוא] להיות אהוב לציבור, שאם לא כן, כשקוראים התוכחה, ...
10
votes
1answer
154 views
Is the obligation for Gentiles to establish a system of courts communal or individual?
One of the seven laws of Noah for gentiles is to set up a system of courts.
Is the obligation to set up a system of courts a communal obligation on Gentile communities, or does every single Gentile ...
2
votes
1answer
19 views
Source that the prosperity of a community is based on the merits of the founders of the community
A Devar Torah I was reading stated that it is well known that the prosperity and success of a community is based on the merit of the people who founded that community. This is a fascinating concept. ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
Joining in with the few last words read by the Baal Koreh. Why?
I observe people in the synagogue who join in with the few last words read by the Baal Koreh for each section of the reading.
Do they achieve anything positive by this?
Is this a relic of some ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
Did the Tannaim act correctly on “Bo BaYom”?
Berachos 27b-28a records the story of “Bo BaYom,” in which Rabban Gamliel was kicked out from being the Nasi as a result of two separate incidents with Rebbi Yehoshua (Ibid. and RH 24b-25a) and one ...
2
votes
0answers
74 views
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
717 views
Who is the Veretzky Rebbe that's been coming up everywhere? [closed]
I've been seeing videos and things everywhere with this rebbe who I've never heard of before named the Veretzky Rebbe. Seems he's been popping up over the past six or so months especially, and I used ...
4
votes
1answer
118 views
What is the proper procedure for answering parts of Kedusha?
I checked 3 different Siddurim for instructions regarding how to respond to parts of the Kedusha. All are Nusach Ashkenaz
Art Scroll has inconsistent rules:
Weekday Kedusha Shacharit & Mincha
...
2
votes
3answers
56 views
Open submission journals/repositories [closed]
When one is a student at a Jewish school (or, sometimes, one with a Jewish Studies department), if they are working on a research paper about Judaism, they can often publish it for feedback and ...
8
votes
1answer
286 views
Can a female convert hold a position of communal authority over women?
"A convert may not hold a position of Jewish communal authority."
(Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Melachim 1:4)
In light of the Rambam above and the answers here, which discuss the prohibition on ...
23
votes
11answers
5k views
Is there such a thing as “too Orthodox”?
When my family started attending the local synagogue we stuck out like a sore thumb. We moved from a Jewish area of Toronto to a small town with one Synagogue.
I cover Everything, my husband was the ...
5
votes
0answers
149 views
When to sit down when davening
During Shabbat morning davening, we recite Psalm 136 and my siddur has the following instruction, "Most congregations recite the following psalm while standing". So I make sure to stand and then begin ...
2
votes
0answers
40 views
Can I say the Amidah out loud if it helps my kavanah? [duplicate]
If I am davening at home and it would not be disruptive to others, is there any reason I might be permitted to say the Amidah out loud--for example, if it helped me with my concentration or ...
3
votes
1answer
186 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
Answering kedusha differently to the kehilla?
If one is praying a nusach which is different to the nusach that the shul is using, is it wrong to answer according to your own nusach?
2
votes
1answer
63 views
Weakened punishment if done for the nation
I'm looking for sources where we see someone had a lesser punishment or no punishment at all because the act the did although punishable, was done for the nation (klal yisroal).
I heard a shiur where ...
1
vote
0answers
161 views
Tichel wearer moves to Sheitel covered community
If a woman who is custom to covering by means of Tichel/Mitpachat moves to a community in which it is custom for women to wear Sheitels, should she switch to Sheitels? If she attends a synagogue in ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Should one use the holiday/shabbat greetings that are common in his neighborhood or can he/she stick with his custom?
Sefardim say Shabbat Shallom and Chag Samayach; Ashkenazim say Gut Shabbos and Gut Yontif.
May one keep his own greetings when living in a community that is predominately of a different descent (for ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Is every member of the community responsible for making his own eiruv tavshilin?
An eiruv tavshilin is made before Yom Tov in order to allow for cooking for Shabbat on Yom Tov.
However, once I told someone I was worried I had not made my eiruv tavshilin correctly, and the person ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
If you come early to a minyan factory and catch the previous minyan's torah reading, are you yotzeh? [duplicate]
If you come early to your minyan in a minyan factory for shachrit and you're able to hear the entire torah reading from beginning to end, do you have to stick around for YOUR minyan's torah reading ...
2
votes
0answers
18 views
Shnayim Mikrah V'Echad Targum [duplicate]
If one is behind in his reading of Shnayim Mikrah , but isn't in the middle of a Parsha , may he skip to the current week's to be with the Tzibbur? ( sources are appreciated )
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Torah reading on shabbos and going out to finish davening
There have been times on Shabbos that I have been still davening when the tzibbur starts Krias Hatorah. Is it halachically correct to go outside of the place where they're reading to a more quiet ...
6
votes
0answers
68 views
Why, in Yom Kippour and RH davening, when we say Tefilas responsively, does sometimes the baal Tefila go first, sometimes the congregation?
Why, in Yom Kippour and RH davening, when we say Tefilas responsively, does sometimes the baal Tefila go first, sometimes the congregation? For example, Shema Koilanu, aveenu Malkainu, the Baal tefila ...
4
votes
0answers
65 views
What do/can/should you do if you daven Succos Hallel slower than the tzibur, and why?
If you daven Hallel on Succos slower than the shaliach tzibur, what do you do when everyone else gets to the parts that involve oral responses and/or shaking the lulav? Is it better to join in with ...
10
votes
1answer
260 views
On what authority do Lubavitchers not skip when late to shacharis?
The Rav's Shulchan Aruch, OC 52, clearly states that, because saying amida (sh'mone esre) with a congregation is so important, one who arrives late to a congregational shacharis service should skip ...
2
votes
1answer
131 views
If I daven amida very slowly what do I do when the shatz reaches Kedusha?
I strive to synchronize my tefila with the tzibur on Shema and the beginning of Shmoneh Esra.
However, I daven quite slowly (metoch nesyon kavana) and I am almost always somewhere in the middle when ...
3
votes
3answers
255 views
Where can one find frum friends?
I am a baal teshuvah for over 3 years; all of my friends are secular. After becoming religious I lost a lot of the interests that my secular friends are into and hence have not much in common with ...
12
votes
5answers
204 views
Why can't we distribute mitzvah obligations around the community?
How do we know from the Torah that it would not be sufficient just to have some people doing davening, others doing negel vasser, others doing tzitzit, others doing hachnosas kallah, others doing ...
6
votes
1answer
142 views
Can a mistaken extra Mincha count for Ma'ariv?
This M.Y. answer states that one can daven Mincha until the stars appear. This answer states that it is also the earliest time to daven Ma'ariv.
Someone enters a shul which gets a late start on ...
19
votes
2answers
412 views
School closing - At what point must the parents be told?
Yeshiva A or Bais Yaakov A has serious financial problems. They are doing all they can to stay viable, however unless a big donor steps forward they will be forced to close. If the school tells the ...
1
vote
0answers
65 views
Is it permissible to learn out loud while the tzibbur is davening?
In my local shul during mincha/maariv a daf yomi chabura learns out loud during davening in the same beis medrash as the rest of the tzibbur.
Do they have a right to do so? The problem is that I can'...
0
votes
0answers
107 views
Is one able to make two siyums in two different places
We have divided the 60 mishnayot of shas for a rebbis yahrzeit among talmidim on two continents.
Let us say thirty on each. Since they all cannot attend one siyum can one make two. Although by the ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
saying aleinu with a minyon obligation
My Rabbi said that it is a halachah to interrupt (most places) in prayer to say aleinu together with a minyon. What is the source for this?
4
votes
1answer
97 views
How to start שחרית at the עמוד if one's already said ישתבח
Seemingly, if one is ahead of the congregation and reaches "Yishtabach", he should recite it. Now, suppose he does so, and then the fellow in charge of getting people to lead the services comes over ...
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Can a Yachid follow his own opinion in a Tzibbur?
The Gemara in Yevamos (13b) says that there is a prohibition to make "Agudos Agudos", different groups of people following different rulings.
However, the Gemara says that this is forbidden only if ...
9
votes
0answers
97 views
What's wrong with singing together? [duplicate]
I once saw a sign in a synagogue which announced a change in their custom. Originally, everyone would sing Kel Adon on Shabbat shacharit together. Now, each stanza is quietly recited by the ...
13
votes
4answers
5k views
Does a Jewish grandmother (mother's side) really get one accepted as a Jew? [duplicate]
My grandmother (mother's side) is 100% Jewish and even living in Israel. As far as I know, that makes, me a Jew, too. But it feels a little bit strange to say that I am Jewish just because my ...
0
votes
1answer
180 views
Where in US can someone go for sanctuary to repent for their intermarriage?
If a Jew is married to a non-Jew and wants to escape the marriage and repent, does the Jewish community (in the United States) provide a sanctuary that will facilitate the escape from the marriage and ...
1
vote
0answers
59 views
Source for guest bed in Sedom as a parable for education
Shalom has quoted R. Yakov Kaminetsky as saying:
R' Yaakov Kaminetsky pointed to the Gemara about the "guest bed" in Sodom, where if you were too short they stretched you; too tall, they cut off ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
Is there a communal responsibility to ensure that its Torah scholars are dressed and groomed appropriately?
The Gemara in Mesekes Shabbos 114a teaches that a Torah scholar should not go out in stained or patched clothing, suggesting that one who goes out with a stain is subject to the "penalty of death." ...
5
votes
1answer
379 views
Can one be counted in a minyan if one has already davened?
Can one be counted in a minyan if one is present for Minchah/Ma’ariv but has already davened Minchah?
Related question: Should I alter my schedule to daven Minchah with a minyan?
4
votes
0answers
118 views
Should I alter my schedule to daven Minchah with a minyan?
Is it better to wait to daven Minchah K’tanah if there’s a chance one could be finished working before sunset? Or is it okay to daven Minchah Gedolah and join the minyan for Ma’ariv, even though one ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
Do I have to worry about “Maris Ayin” if my kashrut standards are different than the majority of a community?
Let's say I like to eat at "Deliware" (I borrowed this name from a place in Port Jervis, NY). The place is kosher with a reliable hechsher.
I visit the town, and I know nothing about the community's ...
