All Questions
39,690
questions
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Choosing a minhag basing in ancestry
A Jew who does not descend from any mixed marriage must analyze his patrilineal ancestry back to roughly which year of the Common Era to find out his family's traditional minhag, taking into account ...
0
votes
1
answer
39
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Why did Yehuda/Shelah need Yibum with Tamar? She had a Chazaka
Why did Yehuda/Shelah have to Yibum, after all Tamar already has 2 of her husbands die, and even though we pasken chazakah happens after three times we pasken you only need 2 times for a danger?
- 700
2
votes
0
answers
40
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Gematria of Person's Name
Kol Hator states that a person has multiple gematrios that are important to him, such as one's name, one's name plus father's name, name plus father's and mother's name, etc, etc.
My question is, ...
- 2,138
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0
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32
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What happened to Torah she be al peh in the generations before Yoshiyahu HaMelech?
I get the impression from learning about Yoshiyahu HaMelech that the country as a whole almost entirely forgot about the Torah altogether in the previous generations, until he discovered the Sefer ...
- 2,138
0
votes
2
answers
238
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Religious origin of Yiddish expression
My father used to say "Nem di oygn in di hent," literally "Take your eyes in your hands." This was meant as a warning to be careful. I wonder if there is a religious source for ...
4
votes
5
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207
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Let's Kill Hitler
There is a popular moral question - if you had access to a time machine that was capable of allowing you to do so, should you go back in time and kill Hitler when he was a child, before he had a ...
- 7,202
3
votes
2
answers
1k
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What was the name of Yiftach's (Jephthah's) daughter?
Do we have any sources for the name of Yiftach/Jephthah's daughter in Shoftim?
- 24.9k
0
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0
answers
29
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Neshama Transfer
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan writes in his essay Immortality and the Soul that the Neshomo is effectively the data of our "memories, thought patterns and personality traits" and discusses the idea of ...
- 2,138
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votes
1
answer
45
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Cleaning clothes before Passover?
Does one have to clean all their dirty clothes before Pesach (on the principle of being careful to washout all the chametz from their house)? What is the general Halakha for your clothing collections (...
- 2,216
3
votes
3
answers
229
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Why are some royal mothers omitted from scripture?
One of the differences between the account of the Davidic kings and the non-Davidic kings in scripture is the inclusion of mothers for most of the Davidic kings. None of the non-Davidic kings have ...
CommunityBot
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3
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Any hope for people who say, "I will sin then repent, sin then repent"?
One who says, ‘I will sin, then repent; I will sin, then repent’ is not permitted to repent.
(Masechet Yoma 85b)
What happens to somebody who says to himself, "I will sin then repent, sin then ...
- 383
4
votes
0
answers
190
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+50
Photo restoration and Halacha
According to Halacha Is it permissible to post a tzniut picture of a women on a restoration page for people to colourise the picture? Does it depend on if the woman consents, doesn’t consent, or is ...
- 820
1
vote
1
answer
58
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Modern/ legible edition of Chik’kei Lev
Is anyone aware of a modern edition, or transcription, of Rabbi Chaim Palaggi’s responsa Chik’kei Lev? The only edition I can find on Otzar and on HebrewBooks is a scan that’s barely legible. And it ...
- 2,133
2
votes
1
answer
69
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Kabbalah/chasiduss explanation of theodicy
Are there any kabbalistic or hasidic explanations given to the question of theodicy? Beyond “rational”/philosophical explanations, are there any mystical reasons given to why bad things happen? If so, ...
- 230
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2
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172
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What is the connection between Pharaoh's butler's cups and Arba Kosos?
The Daas Zekeinim (Shemos 12:8) writes
ד"א כנגד ד' כוסות שאמר שר המשקים ליוסף - Yet another interpretation
about why we drink four cups of wine on the night of the seder. It is
a reminder of the ...
- 13.8k
1
vote
0
answers
37
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What daf and exact quote is this talking about in the Rashash
BH
The Rashash on the Tosfot daf 7B dibur hamaskil VeIbait Eima brings support from a different Gemara somewhere in Brachot. What’s the exact source and lashon of this? Like where is it? In my Gemara ...
- 755
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1
answer
52
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Respecting parents
I believe the two sources for the mitzvah of respecting one's parents stem from these two verses:
Honor your father and mother. Shemos 20:12
You should fear your mother and father. Vayikra 19:3
My ...
- 475
1
vote
1
answer
1k
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How does a Jewish community recognize a Jewish person they hadn't seen ever before?
Let's say there is a Jewish community where everybody knows each other, for example in a city. Let's say a new Jewish person arrives and manifests their will to get integrated with them. Nobody knows ...
- 2,341
1
vote
0
answers
45
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Asking for a zimmun
Why are there various different ways of reciting zimmun before birkat hamazon — why isn't there one set formula?
- 2,138
0
votes
0
answers
49
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Sources for Halachic opinions influenced by kabbalah
Is there a source (like a book, website, etc.) that has a list of halachic opinions/rulings based on kabbalah and/or the Zohar? I’m asking because I am looking more into Halachic methodology and I ...
- 820
1
vote
2
answers
181
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Talking to other people inside a bracha
A bracha always starts and/or ends with ברוך אתה ה'. However, in a few selected brachos, we also talk to other people in the second person in the middle of the bracha.
Examples:
The bracha in a ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
76
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Chanukah: The Hellenistic Jews defaming the Beis HaMikdash
The Baal HaMaor on Avodah Zahara 52b writes a somewhat radical interpretation on the Chanukah-story. He explains that the people that entered the Beis HaMikdash, and thus impurifying the Beis ...
- 8,780
2
votes
0
answers
37
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Menorah Placement [closed]
I am living in a college dorm where we are not allowed to have open flames in our dorm. However, we are allowed to have flames in our floor lounge (with no windows). Should I light my Chanukah candles ...
- 21
6
votes
2
answers
151
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Halachic aspects of relocating an established minyan
Are there any halachic implications of relocating an established minyan?
Here is a specific example that might help clarify my question: Suppose there is a small community that normally has Shabbat ...
- 47.9k
3
votes
1
answer
62
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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
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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
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2
votes
1
answer
130
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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
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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
122
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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 ...
- 2,138
-5
votes
0
answers
48
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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 ...
- 1,850
2
votes
0
answers
38
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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
85
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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
45
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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
45
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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 ...
- 1,850
0
votes
0
answers
58
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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, ...
- 1,850
3
votes
1
answer
182
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
2
votes
0
answers
44
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Seeing the Chazzan during Amidah repetition
When davening Shemoneh Esrei, does one have to be able to see the Chazzan during the repetition. I don’t mean looking at the Chazzan, I mean the Chazzan being visible to you. Does anybody hold like ...
- 820
3
votes
1
answer
151
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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
132
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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 ...
- 3,503
6
votes
3
answers
260
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
256
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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? ...
- 1,850
3
votes
1
answer
234
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 ...
- 383
5
votes
1
answer
637
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
98
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 ...
- 1,850
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Groom entrance song [closed]
I'm getting married soon, bezrat HaShem. But I need suggestions for a song to play when I approach the chuppa. I'm British Sefardi (daati), she's Israeli Ethiopian (Beta Yisrael), I'd like something ...
6
votes
2
answers
444
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
...
- 8,780
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