All Questions
39,634
questions
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Is replacing a jamb that had a mezuzah obligates to bless again for the mezuzah
A person that replaces jambs with new ones. On the old one there was a mezuzah that many years ago he blessed for putting the mezuzah. When placing the mezuzah back on the new jamb should he bless ...
- 1,105
3
votes
1
answer
49
views
Is there any interest in eating a baked donut on Chanuka?
A person who for health reasons avoids eating fried foods. Can he make the minhag (custom) to eat a donut baked in the oven without oil on Chanuka?
- 1,105
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
Were there prophets, in and out of Israel, who were not recorded in the Tanakh? [duplicate]
Were there prophets, in and out of Israel, who were not recorded in the Tanakh? Have other sources determined the identities of some of them? Please cite the sources, if any. Thanks in advance.
- 129
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Winnow of piles with objects that just fell
If there is a pile (say of leaves), and somebody drops an object into it on Shabbat, are they allowed to throw it into the wind so they can retrieve the object they just dropped? Does the prohibition ...
- 734
3
votes
1
answer
99
views
Reciting/singing Aḥeinu outside of the formal prayer setting and origin of tune
Where, when and why did the prayer Aheinu begin to be recited outside of the liturgical context? It seems that it originated as and was restricted to being recited after reading from the Torah, ...
- 6,403
2
votes
2
answers
422
views
Is one punished for sinful thoughts?
Is one punished for sinful thoughts brought upon by one's yetzer hara? Please give sources, thanks in advance.
- 129
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
Bitachon when collecting tzedakah
In the Chavos Halevavos chapter on Bitachon, we are comparing an alchemist to someone who has trust in Hashem. Its writes:
והשמיני שבעל הכימיה איננו מתעכב בשום מקום מיראתו שמא יתגלה סודו. והבוטח ...
- 379
5
votes
0
answers
64
views
An ancient text arguing that an assembly with no opposition should be dissolved
In Benjamin Aryeh Hakohen Weiss's "Even Yekarah” (Choshen Mishpat, sec. 20) it refers to an ancient gentile text which specifies that when the state government has no minority/opposition members, ...
- 2,246
3
votes
0
answers
62
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
65
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
2
votes
1
answer
121
views
Lashon harah about someone who leads people astray
Is it lashon harah to publicly criticize or attack those who you perceive as misleading people/leading people astray? For example, Rabbi Natan Slifkin has a blog in which he’s publicly criticized ...
- 734
4
votes
0
answers
43
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 ...
- 6,403
-1
votes
0
answers
40
views
Patrilineal ancestors who lived in multiple lands of different nuschaot
A Jew who knows his patrilineal ancestry back to Abraham, but his patrilineal ancestors lived in lands of these nuschaot:
Nusah Adot Hamizrah (1st Century AEC to 11th Century AEC)
Catalan rite (11th ...
2
votes
0
answers
29
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
2
votes
0
answers
34
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 ...
- 81
0
votes
0
answers
30
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
4
votes
1
answer
686
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 ...
- 1,948
1
vote
0
answers
46
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 ...
- 1,948
0
votes
0
answers
53
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?
- 20.6k
3
votes
0
answers
84
views
Further sources and exploration of the Neshomo as data
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 ...
- 1,948
5
votes
1
answer
726
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?
- 305
5
votes
2
answers
298
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.
3
votes
2
answers
168
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 ...
- 415
2
votes
0
answers
38
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..
5
votes
0
answers
61
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 ...
- 1,730
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
67
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?
- 629
0
votes
0
answers
38
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?
- 629
1
vote
0
answers
35
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 ...
- 1,543
3
votes
0
answers
54
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?
- 629
0
votes
0
answers
123
views
Partnership minyan with a niddah?
Do rabbis who allow for women to lead certain prayers or read from the Torah during partnership Minyanim allow one to be B’dieved if they heard it from women who’re in their Niddah state, if they ...
- 734
3
votes
0
answers
58
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
1
vote
1
answer
42
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&...
- 8,512
0
votes
0
answers
53
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 ...
- 734
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 ...
- 21
4
votes
1
answer
49
views
Milchemes mitzvah in Shoftim according to Rambam
According to the Rambam that you need a Melech for a milchemes mitzvah, how does the Rambam understand all the milchamos in the book of Shoftim?
- 247
4
votes
1
answer
316
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 ...
- 7,047
3
votes
1
answer
59
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 ...
- 734
2
votes
0
answers
24
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
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
177
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.
1
vote
1
answer
88
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?
- 1,226
1
vote
0
answers
125
views
+50
Putting oneself in doubt, when it comes to a Mitzvah Derabanan
The Mishnah Berurah (46 S”K 31) brings an opinion - which is how the SA Harav rules - that in a case where one is afraid that he might miss the time of Shema by the time the Tzibur reaches the place ...
- 121
3
votes
0
answers
79
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 ...
- 31
-1
votes
0
answers
50
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?
8
votes
1
answer
533
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 ...
- 7,047
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 ...
- 3,273
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 ...
- 734