All Questions
39,699
questions
3
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0
answers
82
views
May acheinu be said without a minyan?
May the prayer of אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל be said without a minyan?
- 454
1
vote
1
answer
77
views
What is the Correct Translation of Leviticus 19:18?
I realize there are debates about whether how this commandment should be interpreted. My question is about how it should be translated. My Hebrew is far from fluent, so can someone help me understand ...
- 335
4
votes
0
answers
49
views
Parallel between the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 princes of Ishmael?
Genesis 35:22
ויהי בשכן ישראל בארץ ההוא וילך ראובן וישכב את בלהה פילגש אביו וישמע
ישראל ויהיו בני יעקב שנים עשר
And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went
and lay with ...
- 6,483
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Playing jenga on Shabbat
Is it permissible to play the game Jenga on Shabbat? I could see an issue of building, but it would be intentionally disassembled. This is all of course in doors, so there would be no issues of ...
- 840
8
votes
2
answers
272
views
Is it disrespectful to have a raffle where the prize is a Sefer Torah?
I recently came across an advertorial on thelakewoodscoop.com regarding a Shul that is having a raffle where one can win a Sefer Torah. The first comment was:
"Is it just me or is using a Sefer ...
- 47.9k
2
votes
3
answers
208
views
Chanukah and Purim as two friends: insight of the Shaloh
The Shaloh HaKadosh in Aseret HaDibrot, Yoma, Derekh Chayim famously writes that:
וחנוכה ופורים הם שני רעים - Chanukah and Purim are like two friends (my own translation)
What exactly does this ...
- 30.2k
2
votes
0
answers
30
views
Are there time parameters for when 10 people have to combine for Shemone Esrei?
Say you have a minyan, and when the Chazzan starts Shemone Esrei, 8 of the others are up to that point and begin as well, but the others aren’t yet up to Shemone Esrei. Is that a problem for the 9 ...
- 830
3
votes
1
answer
88
views
Can one Daven with the 'wrong' pronunciation?
Can one Daven (as the chazan or by himself) using a different pronunciation of letters / vowels than his minhag?
For example, pronouncing a תּ and a ת (with and without a dagesh) the same, instead of ...
- 91
4
votes
1
answer
706
views
Is a Jewish Queen allowable?
The Torah gives us halachos of a king, but I'm curious whether anyone discusses whether it is halachically acceptable to have a female reigning monarch - a queen, and if there was one, whether she ...
- 4,963
3
votes
0
answers
38
views
Friday night kiddush in shule - is this a bracha l'vatalla?
For those shules that have the minhag to make Kiddush in shule on Friday night - why is this not a bracha l'vatalla?
Yes, I am aware that the Gemara mentions this was done in the shules in those days ...
- 91
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
does adverse possession law in NY govern over halacha [closed]
my neighbors fence is sticking in to my lot 2ft and hes claiming adverse possession since he living there for over 30 years and the first 15 years he lived there my house was owned by a non jew and ...
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
182
views
Question about Binyamin being named "Ben Oni" in Vayishlach
Vayishlach (35:18) says that Rachel named Binyamin "Ben-Oni" (according to Rashi "son of my pain"). Is this meant to be suggestive of a double meaning in that Binyamin was actually ...
- 63
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Democratically elected leader vs King
I've heard that a number of different opinions suggest that a king is not the ideal situation, but that the Torah gives us halachos of monarchy because that's what people often want. At the time that ...
- 2,186
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
315
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.
- 2,133
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?
- 47.9k
5
votes
1
answer
760
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?
- 2,226
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
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
43
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..
- 3,513
5
votes
0
answers
65
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
75
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
41
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
1
vote
1
answer
45
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&...
- 30.2k
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
64
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 ...
- 1,882
0
votes
0
answers
60
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 ...
- 840
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
4
votes
1
answer
322
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 ...
- 47.9k
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
551
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
94
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 ...
- 30.2k
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 ...
- 3,513
16
votes
1
answer
232
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
104
views
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 ...
- 840
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 ...
- 840
1
vote
1
answer
93
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?
- 1,882
1
vote
1
answer
94
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.
- 47.9k
1
vote
0
answers
30
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
165
views
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 ...
- 3,513
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
180
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.
- 97.4k
3
votes
0
answers
89
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
145
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
-1
votes
0
answers
52
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 ...
- 1,225
-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 ...
- 1,225
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?
