All Questions
39,058
questions
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In the 1000 CE - 1500 CE Northwestern Europe, were Jewish households mainly nuclear families or were they multi-generational houses & households?
I recall reading somewhere that Northwestern European Jews had a custom/minhag to live close to each other in multi-generational households because it offered more protection and security and benefits ...
- 555
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Is there anything wrong with an unmarried man learning hilchos niddah?
Does a man need to be married to learn hilchos niddah? Part of a halacha chabura that's learning the halachos of nidah
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
276
views
Do Aravot grow berries?
I know that Hadasim can grow berries, but what about the accepted specie of Aravot. Does it grow berries at some point?
I have heard the dvar Torah about fruit (smell/taste), but that only works if ...
- 859
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
Alternate responses to priestly blessing
Please explain the response to the priestly blessing that starts "כן יהי רצון" but adds b’zchut Avraham, then b’zchut Yitzchak and finally b’zchut Ya’akov
When did this tradition begin, what ...
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
How did Nissan stay in the spring before the exodus?
B”H
Nowadays, since the exodus, we have the Beis Din occasionally add a leap month to keep Nissan in Chodosh haaviv, or at least rely on the set calendar.
What did people do in the beginning of ...
2
votes
1
answer
46
views
Can a court retroactively annul a vow that was already annulled by the father/husband?
If a woman made a vow and violated it, and it was later annulled by her father/husband, can the court now annul the vow retroactively if it finds an opening, thereby exempting her from being liable?
- 3,125
1
vote
1
answer
67
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Source for a Chatat offering on behalf of deceased father and alive son
I think this is a gemara, but I'm not sure where. I heard that you can still bring a chatat that had been separated already on behalf of a father and son who both did the same sin, but then the father ...
1
vote
1
answer
119
views
Eating garlic on Shabbat Yom Tov Evening
There is a Minhag (custom) of eating garlic on Shabbat evening. Is this minhag also valid on Shabbat Yom Tov?
- 985
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0
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29
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Birkat Habanim (Blessing of the sons) on Shabbat Yom Tov, Shabbat Rosh Hashana and Shabbat Yom Kippur
Those who bless their sons in Birkat Habanim, every Sabbath evening when returning from synagogue. Should the father bless his sons on Shabbat on that falls on Yom Tov falls? and how will he behave ...
- 985
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0
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37
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Eating Apples and saying Chakal Tapuhin in Shabbat Yom Tov or Rosh Hashana
There is a custom to eat apples on Shabbat, as well as saying (Hakal Tapuchin) "apple field Kaddishin". On Shabbat that falls on Yom Tov, as well as on Shabbat that falls on Rosh Hashanah, ...
- 985
1
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0
answers
36
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Change of words in Lecha Dodi in Yom Tov versus Shabbat
In the last stanza in Lecha Dodi, Ashkenazi Nusach Sfard, say on a regular Shabbat - "Gam BeRina", whereas on Yom Tov that falls in Shabbat we say "Gam BeSimcha". What is the ...
- 985
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
How does the Torah reading cycle work in Reform and Conservative communities?
I’ve noticed that Kriyat Ha-Torah works differently in Reform and Conservative synagogues. The aliyot are shorter. I heard that this is because they work on a three year cycle, rather than an annual ...
- 18.3k
0
votes
0
answers
86
views
What do honorifics represent?
What is the custom for adding a honorific after a deceased person's name? For example we say for [Avraham Avinu - alav hashalom. While the ari has zecher tzadik livracha. Does one signify more of a ...
- 1,017
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
What does Judaism say about paranoia ticks?
If someone has a paranoia tick (for example they feel they must flip the light switch 3 times when turning it on or something bad will happen), what does Judaism say about this? Is anything like this ...
- 1,086
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votes
0
answers
27
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What is the meaning of the phrase בִּזְכוּת תְּפִלַּת (רַב) רַבִּים?
I know this is only in sefard. But I am curious since I have heard two different options for the meaning of this line. The first is "in the merit of the prayer of many" and the second is in ...
5
votes
2
answers
763
views
Are you allowed to paint a sukkah?
Many people build sukkahs out of untreated 2x4s. While I understand the aesthetics of leaving them raw and unpainted, emphasizing that it is a temporary structure, is there any reason why you should ...
- 5,235
0
votes
1
answer
55
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Curses in the gemara
Should we be worried about the various curses of the chachamim of the gemara? Does this effect practil halacha in any way?
For example, one who bows toward a rainbow, one who prays mincha close to ...
- 1,017
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
I've got a friend who's not holding with yiddishkeit at the moment, as he's gone through a difficult life [closed]
Should I convince him when he eats out to try and eat vegan.
Or is this counterintuitive, as he will feel that I'm trying to be mekarev him.
- 1,382
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2
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185
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Why was Avshalom riding a donkey into battle?
In the battle between Avshalom's army and David's forces Avshalom is riding a donkey which runs away when Avshalom is caught by his hair in a tree.
וַיִּקָּרֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם לִפְנֵי עַבְדֵי דָוִד ...
- 13.5k
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0
answers
56
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What is the white powder that covers the Lulav
I bought Lulav and it is covered with white powder. What is this powder? Is it something that relates to the kosher of the Lulav?
- 985
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1
answer
37
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5 fingers correlating to the five senses
Someone was trying to explain to me how the five fingers are connected to the five senses... without much success. Is there a reputable source for this?
- 1,017
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0
answers
41
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Tri Maschu תרי משהו - Shach and Taz [closed]
I am trying to find a definition to the principle תרי משהו. I am totally confused by what I have read. Could someone explain this principle to me?
Thanks!
Shkoyach!!!!
Shana Tova!
- 43
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1
answer
73
views
Midrash about eshet potifar
I heard in a shiur a midrash that the friends of Eshet Potiphar didn’t believe how beautiful a Jew like Joseph was, so she brought all her friends in a room, sat them in a circle and gave them knives ...
- 1,086
1
vote
0
answers
36
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Why did Yoav quote the pasuk of Amalek by Edom?
The Gemara (Bava Basra 21b) says that Yoav misread the passuk Deuteronomy 25:19 "Eradicate the memory of Amalek" as "Eradicate the males of Amalek" and thus only killed the males ...
- 154
1
vote
1
answer
98
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Did Rash"i hold like the Gr"a or like Rabbeinu Tam?
NOTE: Most of these time calculations assume the day is either the autumnal or vernal equinox, where there are 12 hours of sunlight and therefore Neitz is at 6:00 AM and Gra's shkiah is 6:00 PM
There ...
- 154
0
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1
answer
56
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Why does כרת וערירי (Excision and Childlessness) come after "death at the hand of Heaven"?
While davening from the Machzor, I noticed this seemingly strange anomaly. At the end in the text of the Al Chet prayer it says, "וְעַל חֲטָאִים שֶׁאָֽנוּ חַיָּבִים עֲלֵיהֶם כָּרֵת וַעֲרִירִי - ...
- 573
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0
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53
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Was Migdal bavel a rocket ship? [duplicate]
I seem to remember hearing somewhile ago that the tower of bavel was a rocket. What is the source that migdal bavel was a "rocket"; or some thing that would fly up to the sky instead of the ...
- 1,017
3
votes
0
answers
61
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Should you always avoid embarrassing people?
Following up on a recent question here, if someone asks you a question in a large group setting and mispronounces a word, how should you pronounce that word in your answer? If you pronounce it right, ...
- 19.9k
1
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0
answers
39
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Is it possible to kasher black stainless steel sinks?
Is it possible to kasher a "black stainless steel" sink?
I mean not one that is painted but one that is made with black metal coating, like jewelry.
Example
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What’s the source of not asking a question to a person that might not know the answer, so that they won't get embarrassed
BH
Someone told me that you shouldn’t ask a question to someone who won't know the answer to what you're asking. What’s the source of this?
- 381
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0
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69
views
Is there a source for this story of the seven brothers?
This is part of the story:
"There were once seven brothers, the sons of one woman, in the city of Tzippori. They were wealthy, but one day they went to a certain city in the land of India. They ...
3
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0
answers
80
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Reconiciling Statements Rav Kook made about other Religions
The introduction to the book "Abraham Isaac Kook - The Lights of Penitence, Lights of Holiness, The Moral Principles, Essays, Letters, and Poems", states that Rav Kook was positive toward ...
- 265
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1
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79
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Are there online sources for learning Te’amim of Tehillim?
Are there any online sources for learning how to read the Sephardi Te’amim of Tehillim? While I can find recordings, I can’t find any list or descriptions of the exceptions and such—for example, when ...
- 133
4
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1
answer
207
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The Satan and his limitations on Yom Kippur?
The Gemara in Nedarim 32b famously writes:
״הַשָּׂטָן״ בְּחוּשְׁבָּנֵיהּ תְּלָת מְאָה וְשִׁיתִּין וְאַרְבְּעָה
The letters of the term "HaSatan" ("The Satan") is 364 in numerical ...
- 27.3k
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0
answers
48
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Why can't we look at Birkat Kohanim if the Kohanim are covered by a tallit?
The Peninei Halacha writes (here) that:
He should not look at the Kohanim or at anything else, so as not to distract his thoughts from the berachah (Shulchan Aruch 128:23; Mishnah Berurah 89).
The ...
- 10k
2
votes
0
answers
62
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How to make Hadassim grow more leaves? [closed]
B"H
My Hadassim (chut Hamakif AAA) grew roots.
For the first 1+year, the main one grew 3 leaves and the off-shoots (from where the leaves fell off) grew one leaf staggered up each twig.
Now for 1+...
1
vote
2
answers
366
views
Is this Jewish Neoplatonic idea heresy?
Context:
I've noticed before that whenever I post anything about Neoplatonism in a Jewish context, such posts usually tend to get downvoted to oblivion, and in general, such views are not very well ...
- 555
2
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1
answer
368
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Why didn't David ask God what to do when Avshalom rebelled
During the conflict between David and Shaul, David inquired of God (perhaps via the urim v'tummim) as to how to behave (where he should go, what he should do etc.). However, when his son Avshalom ...
- 13.5k
2
votes
1
answer
31
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Is Chushai to blame for the deaths in Avshalom's rebellion?
In 2 Shmuel 17 Ahitophel counsels Avshalom to immediately pursue David with 12,000 soldiers and predicts that they will be able to kill David without having to kill David's men.
At David's behest, ...
- 13.5k
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0
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20
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When does G-d desiring a person to "return and live" apply?
In the machzor there are many variations on a theme that G-d does not desire the death of the wicked, but really wants them to do teshuva and live. For example,
For your praise is just as your name. ...
- 2,096
2
votes
0
answers
47
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Insincere (Erev Yom Kippur) mechila
There are those who say that even if someone was only moichel Erev Yom Kippur because he was a pushover or embarrassed not to, the story is over. Once the aggrieving party was told that he has ...
- 4,499
0
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1
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62
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How to understand the Union of Zeir Anpin and Malchut in Assiya
BH
I understand the world goes through a process of Seder hishtalshelut.
So how to understand the union of ZA and Malchut in the world of Assiya?
And how does this happen through the Tzimtzum?
- 381
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0
answers
17
views
When did Akedat (Binding of Isaac) Issac occur [duplicate]
I heard that one of the reasons that we read "Akedat Issac" in Rosh Hashana is since it happened at the same day. On the other hand, I heard that it occurred on Yom Kippur (day of Atonement)....
- 985
1
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0
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61
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Why do we say "shel Yom HaKippurim" for Yom Kippur candlelighting but "shel Yom Tov" for all other Yom Tovim?
I recognize that Yom Kippur is special, VERY special. But Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot aren't exactly chopped liver, as the saying goes. And it is no more difficult to say "shel Rosh ...
- 459
2
votes
1
answer
62
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Different names for man
What is the difference between the Hebrew words 'adam', 'ish' and 'enosh'? In Genesis, the word adam is used until the woman is brought to him and then he calls her 'Ishah' and refers to himself as '...
- 125
2
votes
3
answers
273
views
+50
Did early biblical figures like Isaac abstain from intimate relations until marriage?
In biblical accounts, several figures, such as Isaac, are noted to have married at a relatively older age compared to today's standards. Isaac, for instance, married at the age of 40. Given the ...
- 90
0
votes
0
answers
61
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Why is not Yom Kippur is kept from the Mazikim
It is written that Satan has no control on this day (Yom Kippur), so why, unlike the Seder Night, we say a regular Kriyat Shema on the bed? Moreover, in the Machzorim there are additional Psalms ...
- 985
0
votes
0
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67
views
Does eating a lot a day before Yom Kippur align with the fast and health restrictions [closed]
The Gmara in Yoma (81:2) brings the verse in parashat Amor and explains that the verse comes to teach that there is a mitzvah to eat on the eve of Yom Kippur. Does eating a lot before fasting lead to ...
- 985
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
Why adding the first verse to Ashrei Yoshvei Beitecha
The Mizmor Ashrei Yoshvei Beitecha is mostly based on the 145 chapter in Psalms. The first two verses begin in the 84:5 chapter and the last verse of the 144 chapter. It is understood that apparently ...
- 985
3
votes
1
answer
481
views
Wine on Erev Yom Kippur
Are there any sources saying that one should drink wine on Erev Yom Kippur, it being considered a Yom Tov?
(I’ve heard in chabad that Chassidim used to show up to Kol Nidrei drunk, as “a drunk cannot ...
- 91