All Questions
39,668
questions
8
votes
1
answer
865
views
Lying to avoid embarrassment
Say a person overslept and missed Shacharis, and someone asked him what happened. Is he allowed to lie and say that he Davened somewhere else.
Say someone's caught doing something embarrassing in ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
2
answers
313
views
Did Rashi have Talmud Yerushalmi?
Rashi quotes a couple of times from Yerushalmi but doesn't seem to have had regular access to it. This being from the numerous times Rishonim ask on him from it.
- 2,103
3
votes
0
answers
56
views
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?
- 47.8k
5
votes
1
answer
757
views
Can the Sandak be a non-Jew?
This question discusses other roles a non-Jew could take in a bris but leaves the Sandak question open:
Can a non-Jewish person participate in a bris?
- 2,201
4
votes
1
answer
116
views
How can Ramban give this reason?
The Gemara in Nedarim 32a gives 3 reasons for why the Jews were put into slavery in Egypt because of Abraham (one is because he made his students fight in the war against the kings, the other is that ...
CommunityBot
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2
votes
0
answers
41
views
If Jews conquer a random new land does it become holy like Eretz Yisrael? How might this relate to kibbush yachid? And does kibbush yachid even count?
If Jews conquered New York City let's say does New York City become holy just like Eretz Yisrael?
What if a "Jewish king" declared it as a Jewish state? I'm very curious..
- 3,408
5
votes
0
answers
64
views
Can one pray with different nusach pronunciations [closed]
Can I pray with switching off between how different nusachim pronounce different words? The most obvious is example is Taf vs Saf- let’s say I’m saying Shema, am I allowed to say some words with the ...
- 2,413
5
votes
0
answers
22
views
How old was Menashe when he was Yosef's assistant?
According to the midrash Yoseph appoints Menashe over grain logs, has him subdue both Shimon and Yehudah on two separate occasions, and even sends them after his brothers to "retrieve" his ...
- 51
2
votes
1
answer
71
views
Does the Talmud talk about Autism?
BH
Does the Talmud Mention anything about Autism or the Spectrum of any of the symptoms of Autism?
- 7,723
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
Does Ramban say anything about eating and nutrition?
BH
Does Ramban say anything about nutrition and health? Heard he was a doctor, what to eat or not?
- 168
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Blessing on an Aveira?
Would one make the birchas Ha'airusin and Sheva brachos if one was mesader kiddushin for a couple that were prohibited to marry by a negative prohibition in the Torah, but where kiddushin does take ...
- 1,553
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are Samaritans viewed as adherents of Judaism?
In Judaism, particularly from an Orthodox perspective, are Samaritans seen as fellow Jews? Sometimes I see their religion referred to as 'Samaritanism', sometimes as Judaism.
Also, is it halachically ...
1
vote
1
answer
44
views
Eretz Yisroel as G-ds palace
Based on this answer, I was looking for sources that describe Eretz Yisroel as the "palace of G-d".
Are there any sources that describe Eretz Yisroel as such? As "Palace of the King&...
- 30.1k
3
votes
0
answers
61
views
Lying to prevent offense
Is one permitted to lie to a woman by saying that he's a kohen and therefore unable to marry her, thus preventing him from offending/embarrassing her about the reason he refused her? Are there ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
62
views
Shiluach haken on injured birds
The mitzvah of Shiluach Haken applies only to kosher bird species. My question is, if a bird is of a kosher species but probably Treif from an injury, does it apply in that case? Sources for this ...
- 1,780
0
votes
0
answers
56
views
Nazir benefiting from grapes/wine
If somebody vows to be a Nazir, are they still allowed to benefit from wine and grapes? Like would they be able to sell wine and grapes to non Nazir people? Or is it like milk and meat or chametz on ...
- 802
1
vote
1
answer
65
views
Parshiot names together & meaning
I'm looking for sources and mefarshim that dealt with the Parshiot names and their meanings, not only for a single Parsha name alone, but all the Parshiot names of the Torah together or of a Sefer.
...
- 1,048
2
votes
0
answers
31
views
Sefer on the chagim/moadei Hashana
Looking for a sefer that discusses the energy that's in the world at every time period throughout the Jewish calendar (so each month and each chag). Which sefer can I turn to for this info? Ideally ...
- 47.8k
4
votes
1
answer
320
views
Halachicly sound ways to bookmark on Shabbat
I would like to know if there are any ways people are using to bookmark/highlight what they are learning on Shabbat, so they can come back to it after Shabbat to make notes etc.
Putting in a bookmark ...
- 47.8k
11
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Nudity at home?
I have read that Hashem hates public nudity, but what is the Jewish position on nudity at home in front of other family members?
Obviously, the short answer is bad, don't do it. Modesty is a ...
- 3,262
9
votes
1
answer
545
views
Scam baiting in Halacha
Some people engage in scam baiting, which is intentionally wasting time of scammers so that said scammers aren't spending their time actually scamming real victims.
Is this allowed? It involves a lot ...
- 7,202
4
votes
6
answers
161
views
אף־אני אלך עמם בקרי - what does it mean for us to treat Hashem בקרי, and visa versa?
Vayikra 26:40-41:
והתודו את־עונם ואת־עון אבתם במעלם אשר מעלו־בי ואף אשר־הלכו עמי בקרי
And they shall admit their sin, and the sin of their fathers, with
their betrayal which they betrayed against Me, ...
- 7,202
0
votes
1
answer
93
views
Where can I buy the siddur that Toldot Aharon uses?
Hi where can I buy the siddur that toldot Aharon uses? I have been trying to buy it for awhile with no luck.
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
414
views
Orientation of Haman's Sons' Beam
The Gemara in Megillah 16b here mentions that the ten sons of haman were hung simultaneously and on the same beam.
Question:
Was the beam positioned lengthwise or widthwise?
i.e Were they hanging one ...
- 30.1k
3
votes
1
answer
165
views
Was Yosef sold at age seventeen?
While the start of Vayeshev (the start of Genesis 37) sounds as though the events all take place at one time, so that Yosef was sold (verse 28) at age seventeen (as mentioned in verse 2), it's not ...
- 3,408
16
votes
1
answer
231
views
Where did the incense-altar sweeper get his broom from?
Mishna, Tamid chapter 3, in a loose translation:
Those who merited removing the ashes from the inner altar and the candelabrum would precede. They had four tools in their hands: the basket, the ...
- 8,844
3
votes
0
answers
98
views
+50
Earning money on Shabbat for permitted behavior?
If somebody gets a Heter from a rabbi or posek to do something on Shabbat that is normally forbidden for pikuach nefesh (such as being a police officer, firefighter, etc.) are they allowed to earn ...
- 802
5
votes
1
answer
68
views
Chesed and food - healthy or tasty?
When a person prepares food for someone else, as an act of chesed, should they prioritise making the food healthy, or tasty?
In case someone wants to make the case that they are not mutually ...
- 802
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
Which of the Mizvot are the most complicated to adhere to in the modern USA? [closed]
Which of the Mitzvot are the most complicated/difficult to adhere to in the modern USA?
- 1,780
1
vote
1
answer
89
views
Is it permissible to carry around an air tag or tile tracker on shabbos?
Assuming you were within an eruv would you be able to carry around a tracker? You do not turn the device on and off but it can communicate with other tracking devices as you walk.
- 47.8k
1
vote
0
answers
26
views
Were "pachim ketanim" particularly desirable utensils?
Were "pachim ketanim - small vessels" particularly desirable in the time when we were careful for tumah and taharah as the Gemara Bava Kamma (25b) says they are impervious to tumah of a zav? ...
- 13.8k
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
+100
Parameters for brov am?
What are they parameters of brov am hadras melech? is it a requirement or a hiddur? does it apply equally to men, women and children? why does it not seem to apply to zimun (preferable to split into ...
- 3,408
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Source for Bloody Fruits Story
Recall reading a story when I was younger, pretty sure in a kid's book of Midrash/Aggadah, like Our Sages Showed The Way.
Trying to find the original source, could be have some details wrong.
Someone ...
- 181
3
votes
1
answer
179
views
Parsha Terumah and Shekalim
It appears that Parsha Terumah is read on Shabbat Shekalim only if it is also Rosh Chodesh. Can someone confirm this? This will occur next year (5785). Thanks.
- 97.3k
3
votes
0
answers
86
views
Why were Jews allowed to commit incest?
Amram married Yokheved, his aunt, Yitzkhak married Rivkah, his cousin, Yehudah married his daughter-in-law, etc. Why were they allowed to commit incest even though it is prohibited in the Torah. And ...
- 41
5
votes
1
answer
144
views
The Gemara (Sukkah 25b) mentions "taking your mind off your worries." Do any commentators elaborate on exactly how to do that?
The Gemara (Sukkah 25b) mentions that an avel (mourner) is obligated in the mitzvah of Sukkah. One might have thought that since someone who is mitzta'er (in pain) is exempt from the mitzvah, that an ...
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-1
votes
0
answers
51
views
How does Judaism define "sin"?
How does Judaism define "sin"? Is it possible to sin without reference to a law?
[Gen 4:7 NASB95] [7] "If you do well, will not [your countenance] be lifted up? And if you do not do ...
- 1,226
-3
votes
0
answers
40
views
What role does Rabbinic Judaism attribute to the functions of the conscience vs Torah?
In Judaism, is Adam and Eve's partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge intended to explain the origin of the conscience?
[Gen 3:5 NASB95] [5] "For God knows that in the day you eat ...
- 1,226
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
Are there tallit gadol without fringes?
All the traditional tallits I have seen have fringes on the sides. Are there tallits without such fringe? How traditional are they?
3
votes
0
answers
59
views
Should we be careful not to mispunctuate prayers?
There are a few times that we ten to (from personal experience) punctuate parts of songs/ piyutim/ prayers wrong.
For example, in Modeh Ani people tend to punctuate as follows:
שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה ...
- 3,408
4
votes
0
answers
43
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 ...
- 802
2
votes
1
answer
85
views
Hilchos Shabbat shiurim recommendation
Does the community here have any recommendations for podcasts, blogspots, shiurim apps/websites etc. that cover Hilchos Shabbat? Particularly I’m looking for something that is English, understandable ...
- 377
1
vote
1
answer
71
views
The Sh’ma in kabbalah and chasiduss
Are there any kabbalistic and Hasidic interpretations or meanings given to the Sh’ma? If so, what are they? Preferably both kabbalah and chasiduss references
- 700
9
votes
5
answers
3k
views
9
votes
1
answer
163
views
Connection between Yovel and Shavuos?
Both Yovel and Shavuos are the fiftieth after a cycle of 7 sets of 7 (7 Shmittas, each 7 years/ 7 weeks each 7 days) and both are after “Shabbos” - we start counting the Omer “after Shabbos”, so ...
- 1,780
4
votes
2
answers
178
views
Why are the enemies of the Jewish people called "Amalek"?
Throughout history many enemies have stood up to attack and destroy the Jewish people, (most recently the Crusades, Holocaust etc) and they are colloquially referred to as "Amalek".
...
- 24.8k
3
votes
2
answers
205
views
What is the Torah position on home schooling vs. institutionalised education?
Is there a preference, in Torah/Talmud/traditional sources, between sending a child to a large (Jewish traditional) school, vs. the parents (assuming they are frum, and have the time and resources), ...
- 1,780
8
votes
1
answer
162
views
Strange that Rachel held onto Lavan's idols and did not throw them out
Why was Rachel holding onto Lavan's idols for a few days? Since she was trying to prevent Lavan from doing Avodah Zara she should have thrown them out immediately!
- 7,202
5
votes
3
answers
267
views
May a woman be appointed as CEO of a Jewish company or principal of a Jewish school
רמב"ם פרק א' מהלכות מלכים הלכה ה
אין מעמידין אשה במלכות שנאמר עליך מלך ולא מלכה, וכן כל משימות
שבישראל אין ממנים בהם אלא איש.
A woman cannot be appointed to royalty... and so too with any
...
- 47.8k
3
votes
1
answer
71
views
I'm looking for a very specific Birkat Hamazon tune
As the title says, I'm looking for a Birkat Hamazon tune that I know through my family but have never heard from anyone else. I've heard it on a record from the Brandeis-Bardin Institute from the ...
