Questions tagged [words]
Questions about the definitions, meaning and use of words specific to Judaism or words that carry unique meaning in Jewish law.
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Can you please define this yeshivish term?
I was listening to someone explaining a halachic question and they kept returning to a term I could not figure out the meaning of from context "shas of the hock" (likely misspelled). It ...
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Isn’t ״צרות לבבי הרחיבו״ an oxymoron?
In Tehillim 25:17, David says:
צָר֣וֹת לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ מִ֝מְּצוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃
My deep distress increases; deliver me from my straits.
The root ״צר״ literally translates as “narrow”. Its ...
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Usage of פגרים in Parashat Lech-Lecha
In the Brit bein haBetarim (the sixth 'aliyah in Lech-Lecha), the following verse (Gen. 15:11) occurs, with a mystifying uncommon word.
וַיֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יִט עַל־הַפְּגָרִ֑ים וַיַּשֵּׁ֥ב אֹתָ֖ם אַבְרָֽם׃...
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Torah term for putting others first?
Pretty self-explanatory. Is there any Torah term or phrase that refers to the ethical act of "Putting Others First"?
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Shalom Zachar - why the name? [duplicate]
The practice of having a Shalom Zachar is throwing a kiddush soon after a male baby is born, in celebration, held by Ashkenazi Jews, and it is even codified in Shulchan Aruch.
The wikipedia page is ...
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What do Jews call the deuterocannonical books?
In theory, the Christian “Old Testament” is the same as the Jewish Bible, or at least the same texts in a different order, but in fact there are a few different versions of the Old Testament. The ...
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Origins/Information sought for the words דּוֹק and חֶלֶד, which appear in אַדִּיר וְנָאוֹר - translated as "Heaven and Earth"? (RH/YK Machzor)
I've never seen דּוֹק וָחֶלֶד before except in this prayer. Looking them up hasn't been particularly useful - I can't find a second source that defines דּוֹק as heaven (and can't find any uses in ...
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Are you allowed to make liquid nitrogen ice cream on Yom Tov
Liquid nitrogen is a liquid version of nitrogen gas and hence very cold. This ice cream involves sugar, chocolate syrup, milk --liquid nitrogen is poured in as one stirs vigorously. When all have ...
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Peshat meaning of "help against him" in Biblical Hebrew
Note, this question is NOT about interpretations and commentaries, only about the plain meaning of the verse (Peshat).
The verse says,"אֶעֱשֶׂהּ־לּוֹ עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ". In Biblical Hebrew, ...
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Was Eve created for rescue rather than assistance?
Gen.2.18 says Eve was created to be "Ezer K'Negdo": "וַיֹּאמֶר י"א לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂהּ־לּוֹ עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ׃".
I looked up the usage of עזר in the ...
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What is a Novardok "Vaad asiri kodesh"?
What is (was?) exactly a Vaad Asiri Kodesh [וועד עשירי קודש] in the context of Novardok Musarists?
Could it be a collective moment too or was it just a time for individual introspection?
Thanks!
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What is the criteria for doubling the verse "ויהי נועם" in the Tefila?
There are cases, usually after "יהי רצון" (May there be a desire), that double the verse "ויהי נעם ה' אלקינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו. ". On the other hand, ...
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How many times did Moses strike the rock?
In the Bemidbar story of Moses and Aaron striking the rock to provide water for the Israelites (Numbers 20) it is said the Moses struck the rock twice. However the Hebrew word used in my interlinear ...
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Why different signs: Nachash vs Tannin?
I would like to understand why in Sefer Shemot YHWH gives Moses the sign of turning his rod into a nachash for the elders of Israel, and later when both Moses and Aaron are in front of Pharoah, Aaron'...
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How would you explain/translate "the ways of Yisrael Saba"?
How would you explain/translate "the ways of Yisrael Saba"?
Something like 'ancient traditional values or practices'?
Is there a source for this phrase?
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Meaning of יוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית
What is the meaning and kavana for יוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית - "Maker of Bereshit" - eg. in מודים דרבנן and עלינו לשבח
? Especially, in light of the point made by Ramban in Bereshit 1:1 where the ...
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Source of the expression וכסא כבודו in עלינו
According to נוסח הגר״א the first paragraph of עלינו has "וכסא כבודו" rather than the standard "ומושב יקרו" (see מעשה רב 52). There is an interesting footnote in the סידור אשי ...
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Superfluous letters
In Vayikra 19:18, we have the famous statement "וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ".
I was curious about the leading lamed before rei-echa. According to the Ibn Ezra, it has a particular ...
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Blend words (Portmanteaus) in Torah
I came across a "portmanteau" in Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tisa 5:
בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת (from Tehillim 68:7)
Which is a combination of בָּכֵי
and שִׁירָה, as Hashem's matching of people, against ...
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Differences in meanings between similar pronouns (עָלָיו, לוֹ); likewise (יהוּ,- יו-)
Is there someone who discusses the differences between pronoun synonyms?
I'm thinking of two sets as examples, both of which occur within a few pesukim of each other in perek 5 of Shir HaShirim:
5:4 ...
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In Bereshit 1:1, does בָּרָא suggest "made out of nothing" or simply "gave a form to"?
Disclaimer: I don't know Hebrew.
In Bereshit 1:1, does בָּרָא suggest "made out of nothing" or simply "gave a form to"? I have heard it suggested that it implies "creation out ...
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Kavana for סֶּֽלָה
It is clear from this question that the word Selah isn't well understood. We have several wildly different definitions, and some of them have no associated Kavana.
This becomes a halachic problem ...
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What is the difference between and לִשְׁמֹר and לַעֲשׂוֹת?
The Mishna Avos (4:5) says
רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ אוֹמֵר, הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה עַל מְנָת לְלַמֵּד, מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד. וְהַלּוֹמֵד עַל מְנָת לַעֲשׂוֹת, מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ ...
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Does אַגְרָא (Avot 5:23) translate better as פְּרָס or שְׂכַר?
I believe (based on Rambam on Avot 1:3) that פְּרָס translates better as "a present given in grace as an unearned gift, rather than as wages", whereas שְׂכַר is more akin to what one ...
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Priestly blessing in feminine
In the standard Friday night blessing for children, the girls are blessed using the original passuk in the masculine, same as the boys.
A long time ago, I was criticised by a secular person for ...
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Why does Shulchan Aruch not use the term חלף
A knife that is used for Shechita is also called a חלף. Why doesn't the Smach and Shulchan Aruch use this word and instead use the regular term סכין שחיטה?
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Chabad Maamar Avodah definition
What is the definition or description of "mamarei avodah" and how does this differ from any other maamar? This seems to be a Chabad specific term.
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Does Arba'a Banim mean four sons or four children?
I've seen Arba'a Banim translated as alternately four sons or four children. Are there any sources for whether the word "Banim" here means sons only or whether it should specifically be ...
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Question on distinguishing similar words: שׂכל ,בין ,חכם ,ידע
How does one distinguish between שׂכל, בין, חכם, ידע?
And their respective nouns: שֶׂכֶל, בִּינָה, חָכְמָה, מַדָע, דַּעַת
When comparing the lexicons Dictionary of Classical Hebrew and HALOT I see ...
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Why is a נשר - eagle considered שקץ - a detestable thing when its symbol is used on many holy things
The word "שקץ" is described by R. Samson Rafael Hirsch as follows, "...the prohibition against eating (an eagle, or other similar birds) is termed שקץ, such eating is antithetical to ...
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Who is Achashverosh the Mede found in Daniel 9:1?
In Daniel 9:1, Darius the Mede's father is said to be someone called Achashverosh. This is obviously not to be identified with the Achashverosh in Esther, as many meforshim make clear. Is there any ...
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Difference between צריך and חייב
In the gemara (Pesachim 108a) the text reads that matzah צריך הסיבה But Not chayav. This is brought down as halacha. Is there any technical difference between saying that one "needs" to do ...
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Meaning of animal names examples
We always say that animals were named by Adam based on their tasks or essence in life. The famous example is that the word for dog, כלב, comes from כ-לב, meaning “like a heart.” So the drash is that ...
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Glatt vs Beit Yosef Glatt [duplicate]
I’m curious what the difference in Halacha is between standard Glatt and “Beit Yosef” Glatt kosher? My understanding is the difference between Glatt and non-Glatt is the lungs, but what makes Beit ...
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Can you jinx someone?
Since I was a child it was common that when two people would say the same thing at the same time one would call out "jinx" (sometimes followed by, "you have to buy me a soda!"). ...
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Plural and Singular in Prashat VeHaya Im Shamoa [duplicate]
In the Parshat VeHa'ya Im Shamoa (the second Parshah of the Kriyat Shema), the verse begins with the plural:והיה אם שמוע תשמעו... ולמדתם אותם את בניכם And you put these words on your hearts and minds, ...
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Conflicting meanings of "Shulchan Aruch"
On the first posuk of Mishpatim, Rashi brings from Mechilta that Torah should not be conveyed as dry information, but it should be taught with its full rationale, like a שלחן ערוך, a "table set ...
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What does "אל" mean?
I am talking about the Lashon Hakodesh appelation, אל, which is often translated as "God".
What, precisely does it mean? How do we relate to a God, vs say, a King, or an Eternity, or a Lord ...
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Smoke or incense
Genesis 19:28 "and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and behold, he saw the smoke (קִיטֹ֣ר) of the land ascended like the smoke (...
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Background of the Hasagat HaRa'avad on Rambam
A few questions about the Ra'avad:
What does Hasagat mean in the context of the title of Hasagat HaRa'avad?
I have seen the term used in reference to his works "HaRa'avad BeHasagatsv" So it ...
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What is אנדרלמוסיא
It is quite clear from context that it means a type of heavenly group punishment, like a flood or a plague* where both good and bad die, l'a. It seems mainly connected with the sin of זִּמָּה/זְנוּת i....
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Jewish way to describe depleted batteries?
Is there any halachic or hashkafic issues with saying that a battery has "died"? It is a well known Torah tradition, halachically and hashkafically, for us to avoid words like this, and ...
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Why do we use the term "Bar Mitzva"?
Wouldn’t it be more correct for the phrase “Bar Mitzvah”to be “Bar Mitzvos”?
One might suggest that it refers to being a "Metzuva", but I don’t think that’s correct. If so, the phrase should ...
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Origin of the term pasuk
A verse in Tanach is referred to as a pasuk - פסוק. Where does this term come from and what is the earliest recorded usage of it to refer to a verse?
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Yaakov's thigh and the side of the altar
When Yaakov wrestled with the angel (Bereishis 32:25-26), the angel was losing the fight, and touched the hipsocket of Yaakov, making it go out of the socket. The word for hip/thigh used here is ...
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Is there a secular concept of migu [closed]
I’ve been told by lawyers that there is no concept of migu in US secular law (loosely translated as believing someone because had he wanted to lie he could have said a better lie that would not have ...
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Wise saying in the Netflix series 'Shtisel'
Some time ago, I watched the fantastic series 'Shtisel' on Netflix. I can't remember everything clearly, and unfortunately, the series is no longer available on Netflix. However, there's one scene ...
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What are the best books that teach Dikduk? [duplicate]
What are the best books to learn Dikduk? Both Lashon Hakodesh and Rabbinic/Mishnaic Hebrew.
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Does it talk about any Instances of not using sarcasm in conversation in the Talmud
Does the Talmud ever mention any caution against using sarcasm in conversation to avoid hurting another with words?
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When does one need to be careful not to incite the Satan?
The Gemara (Berachos 19a) learns out from Yeshayah 1:9-2:1, that one should not say that something bad could have happened to him, so as not to incite the Satan.
The question is: doesn’t David ...
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