All Questions
39,699
questions
3
votes
1
answer
67
views
Did Rav Hutner zt'l write any seforim?
Did R' Hutner zt'l write any seforim that are available to buy? I'm not really seeing anything when searching
- 4,963
1
vote
1
answer
218
views
The Belzer Rebbe's approach to nationalism and zionism
In "The Rabbis Speak Out", the 3rd Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach is quoted (Kuntres 22 Cheshvan, p. 108) in saying that:
Zionism itself is founded on denial of G-d‟s providence, ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
132
views
Is betting on board games/chess gambling
If someone makes a bet on something like chess or a board game, (we’ll include some types of card games as well), does that count as gambling in Halacha?
Gambling (between Jews) is prohibited de-...
- 47.9k
4
votes
2
answers
341
views
Source for Haman's hat
As a little kid, I was always told that a Hamantasch is representative of Haman's three cornered hat. Is there an actual source that says Haman wore a three cornered hat or is it just Folklore?
- 24.9k
1
vote
1
answer
124
views
Running CCTV system with monitor over Shabbos
Does anyone have any sources for what the halacha is of running a home security CCTV system with the monitor on over Shabbos in a place where it is easily visible within the house? I'm specifically ...
- 2,186
-5
votes
0
answers
53
views
Is English and grammar and punctuation chukos goyim, and is it good for Yidden to have their own dialect? [closed]
Like the question says.
And it may be compared to Ladino and Yiddish. There's already Jenglish, Jewish English, like schmooze and sch- prefixing words for mockery. And there's Yinglish, Yiddishe ...
- 1,882
2
votes
0
answers
45
views
Different publishers of kovetz mefarshim
I'm wondering what the different major publishers of kovetz mefarshim on Gemara are, and if there are any pros/cons to the different editions. In general, and if known regarding Kiddushin specifically....
- 30.2k
4
votes
1
answer
92
views
Talmud Yerushalmi vs Bavli
We all know that only a Sanhedrin can vote conclusively on a halakha for the entire nation. Since the Sanhedrin was dismantled, the next best option was to listening to the hachamim of your locale. ...
- 24.9k
4
votes
0
answers
47
views
Angelic wrestling and the intergenerational transmission of rights and priestly duties
In Gen. 32:26, during Ya'aqobh's struggle with a malakh (angel/emissary), he is struck. The Ba'al ha-Turim there offers two explanations for the location that the malakh chose to strike his body. The ...
- 6,483
6
votes
3
answers
299
views
When is kedusha "over"?
As an extension of this question:
When I daven and am still davening when the shaliach tzibbur repeats shmoneh esrei, I know I am supposed to stand quietly during kedusha and continue with my ...
- 24.9k
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
Is, וישע ויט ויבו from Exodus, the only three consecutive three verse that can be intersplayed a la the 72 Letter Name from Exodus [closed]
As is known, the three verses And the Cloud rolled.. And Moses raised His Hand... And the Pillar touched down between.. from Exodus.
Are intersplayed and that's what makes up the 72 Letter Name.
Like ...
- 1,882
0
votes
0
answers
58
views
Discussing Lashon Harah with another witness
I'm surprised the Chofetz Chaim doesn't discuss this:
If me and my friend saw someone do something bad or embarrassing, are we allowed to discuss it between ourselves?
I'd appreciate your thoughts, ...
- 1,882
3
votes
1
answer
190
views
Kohanim hand symbol
When I was a kid I always heard that only kohanim are able to do the 🖖🏻 hand position on both their hands. Leaving the “b-b-but I can do this and I’m not a kohen” comments aside, what’s the deal ...
- 30.2k
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is a birthday cake celebration forbidden as a non-Jewish custom?
From what I understand the custom to celebrate a birthday with a cake adorned with candles that makes a wish on and blows out stems from a Greek ritual. As such I would like to know if any halachic ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
1
answer
153
views
Why was Yoseph sold to Ishmaelites and then Midianites, rather than Midianites and then Ishmaelites?
The following question and translations are courtesy of Studies in Bereshit by Nechama Leibowitz.
In Parshat Vayeshev, some pesukim suggest that Yoseph was sold by his brothers to Midianites, and ...
- 4,963
4
votes
2
answers
134
views
Work and Talmud Torah
The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot 4:5 records the statement that one shouldn’t make Torah study into something for worldly benefit. I was curious then, how do the haredim that do full time Torah study en ...
- 3,513
6
votes
3
answers
266
views
Why weren’t the descendants of Esav or Yishmael also given the Torah alongside the benei Yaakob?
As we all know, Abraham had two descendants, Yishmael and Yitschak. Yitschak also had two descendants, Esav and Yaakob; however only the children of Yaakob were the nation that was chosen for the ...
- 5,263
2
votes
1
answer
258
views
What does שכם mean
Where does the name שכם come from? What exactly does it mean? I believe that names in the tanach are symbolic of qualities of whoever is that name, so what does שכם mean in relation to the person? ...
- 1,882
3
votes
1
answer
235
views
Minhag of avoiding showing pictures of dinosaurs to babies
There is a minhag more common in Chassidic circles to refrain from showing pictures of non-kosher animals to babies. Does this apply to dinosaurs?
As far as I understand, this minhag does not apply to ...
- 384
5
votes
1
answer
645
views
Putting parents with mental issues in nursing homes
Halachically speaking, one is obligated to honor parents. My question is, if a parent happens to have a serious mental health defect (such as say Alzheimer’s syndrome), is it permissible to put them ...
- 4,963
5
votes
0
answers
100
views
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 ...
- 1,882
6
votes
2
answers
451
views
How did the Greeks make the menora-oil impure?
The Gemara in Shabbos 21b famously writes "Mai Chanukah"- what is Chanukah? The Gemara elaborates:
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary
...
- 8,790
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is Buddhism Avodah Zarah?
Is Buddhism Avodah Zarah, atheistic, or a philosophy not related to any specific brand of theism?
If it is Avodah Zarah, then one would not be able to enter a Buddhist temple, benefit from items of ...
- 806
0
votes
0
answers
126
views
Broken teffilin box
If a plastic teffilin case is broken by being chipped into different pieces, but the leather boxes as well as the leather straps are intact, do they need to put the whole teffilin in Geniza?
Or should ...
- 8,045
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can one "pickle" meat to make it kosher?
Most of the meat koshering processes that I have read say that one should salt the meat and put it on a board to let the blood drain out. Then, you rinse off the salt.
I'm wondering if the salting ...
- 47.9k
2
votes
0
answers
73
views
Did the Israelites know the future?
The Torah was revealed to Israel at a certain point in time, and recounts many significant events that happened after that point. When the Torah was revealed, did the Israelites know about these ...
- 1,882
0
votes
0
answers
88
views
Why do Jews not reach out more? [closed]
Why do Jews nowadays not go out of their way to their secular brethren and even to non-Jews to try and spread positivity? In America, I believe there it is easier because there is fewer backlash from ...
4
votes
1
answer
140
views
Who is דישון? Contradiction in 2 verses
Breishit 36:21 list דישון as the son of Se'ir, but verse 25 lists him as the son of Ana, which would make him a grandson of Se'ir. Which is it? Why the contradiction?
- 24.9k
4
votes
2
answers
96
views
Was there a double portion of Mon on Erev Yom Kippur
Was there a double portion of Mon on Erev Yom Kippur?
Sholem, UK
- 24.9k
1
vote
1
answer
227
views
Theological issues to certain brachot
According to the way many people understand the Rambam in Mishneh Torah but especially in Moreh Nevuchim, and many other Jewish Philosophers, when the Torah uses any words to describe Hashem, they are ...
CommunityBot
- 1
13
votes
2
answers
445
views
If Rome release the vessels from the Beit Hamikdash to Israel, what is the procedure?
If Rome calls up the Ministry of Tradition in Israel and says they want to return the vessels they have from the Beit Hamikdash, including the Menorah, what would be the halachic considerations for ...
- 8,790
4
votes
0
answers
43
views
Why didn't Esav wait until Yitzchak died to kill Ya'akov?
After Ya'akov got Esav's blessings, Esav says (B'reishis 27:41):
וישטם עשו את יעקב על הברכה אשר ברכו אביו ויאמר עשו בלבו יקרבו ימי אבל אבי ואהרגה את יעקב אחי
And Esav hated Ya'akov due to the ...
- 3,513
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
Latest time for morning Sh’ma
What are the opinions for the absolute LATEST time for reciting the morning Sh’ma B’dieved, not l’chatchila. Obviously there are different opinions for what is the latest or not but what are they. ...
- 840
3
votes
0
answers
62
views
Extra cover on tefillin shel yad [duplicate]
I've noticed that a lot of protective cases for the tefillin shel yad have an extra inner cover which slides out, usually a plastic cube with one side missing and a corner cut out for the knot, ...
- 2,186
0
votes
0
answers
91
views
Is it true Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug?
Is it true the Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug before he got married to her? If yes how did he know?
That is, in this story, we read:
Rav Efraim Kitover, the Av Beit din of Brody, was once involved in a ...
- 20.4k
4
votes
0
answers
76
views
Ashkenazic Practice of the Chazan saying only certain phrases (rashei perkaim) out loud [duplicate]
What is the source of the Ashkenazic practice of the Chazzan saying only certain words out loud? That is, in your typical Artscroll siddur, there are markings for the Chazzan to raise his voice and ...
- 20.4k
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
Questions about the flood [closed]
I've been reading Parshat Noach, and I've been wondering about some things that either strike me as odd or impossible. For example, how did G-d cover the entire world with water if we know there isn't ...
- 1,882
10
votes
2
answers
269
views
Were Rivka, Rachel, and Leah monotheists prior to marrying their respective husbands?
I was wondering what the religious affiliation of Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah were prior to getting married. Did they all already acknowledge HaShem as G-d or at least subscribed to monotheism?
- 1,882
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
Kol Isha and transgender people
Does the Halachic prohibition of Kol Isha apply to transgender people? So if a woman underwent operations to present as a man, can you listen to her sing? And what about a man who visibly looks like a ...
- 47.9k
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How do people daven so quickly, and what's the support for it?
I learned that one must clearly enunciate every word of tefila. At the least this would include Shemoneh Esreh and Shema, but one might presume it includes the entire prayer service. This question ...
- 51
3
votes
1
answer
85
views
Why specifically the size of a date on Yom Kippur?
Often times a kezayis or beitza is the amount of food necessary to transgress a food related prohibition. Why is a date specifically the quantity one must eat to be liable on Yom Kippur?
Shulchan ...
- 2,226
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
Hashkiveinu Avinu Vs Hashkiveinu Hashem Elokeinu
In the bracha of Hashkiveinu, in ma'ariv, Ashkenazim (at least, all Ashkenazi communities and siddurim I've seen) start the bracha with
השכיבנו ה' אלוקינו
Whereas all Sefardi communities and ...
- 20.7k
1
vote
1
answer
204
views
Tzerei vs. Sh'va vs. Segol
Are there examples of words where pronouncing a sh'va as a tzeirei or a segol (or pronouncing a tzeirei as a sh'va or a segol or a segol as a sh'va or a tzeire) creates a different meaning? I'm ...
- 3,513
2
votes
1
answer
335
views
Folding chairs/tables on Shabbat
Is it permissible to unfold an easily foldable folding chair or table on Shabbat? Since this is easily re folded, would it still be considered under the melacha of “Boneh” or something else? If ...
- 47.2k
4
votes
1
answer
866
views
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 ...
- 8,790
2
votes
1
answer
107
views
Meaning of inscription in synagogue
On the ceiling of the main synagogue of Florence, Italy, is a Star of David with a Hebrew inscription inside it (below). It looks like mem kaf bet heh. What does it mean and why is it there?
- 6,483
2
votes
2
answers
207
views
Answering Amen on Tefilin
I understand there is a machlokes whether the mitzvah of tefilin is 2 separate mitzvos or rather one mitzvah with 2 parts. Thus, in terms of blessings, some Ashkenazim make 2 but say ‘Baruch shem kvod ...
- 47.9k
0
votes
2
answers
151
views
From Adam to Moshe Rabbeinu
I noticed interesting parallels between Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moshe.
When Hashem was angry on humans sins and wanted to punish human or humanity, we can notice different behavior from Adam to Moshe.
...
- 63
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
Age of the the Azazel goat?
I was curious, are there any opinions that say the Azazel goat should be (or shouldn’t be) of a certain age or ages? If so what, would it be a minimum age or a maximum age? And what would the age be, ...
- 840
1
vote
1
answer
44
views
What is the explanation of And don’t let the evil inclination assure your that the grave will be a place of refuge for you mean
BH
What do the main poskim and commentators explain “And don’t let the evil inclination assure your that the grave will be a place of refuge for you” mean in Pirkei Avot 4:22
- 8,790