All Questions
37,760
questions
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Numbering of Halachot in Mishneh Thora
Shalom
I am a Noahide studying publications concerning the Noahide covenant.
I have noticed that references to the Mishneh Torah by the Rambam always come with two different numbers for the Halacha, ...
user32507
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2
answers
34
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Yom Tov Birkat Hacohanhim -- where find the text about dreams?
In many mahzorim, during the yom tov birkat hakohanim, there is a paragraph related to dreams. (In English: I have dreamed a dream but I no not what it means... heal it like the dreams of ______)
I am ...
1
vote
3
answers
64
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Proper definition for an idol/idol worshiping? [closed]
What is the proper definition for an idol/idol worshiping?
I'm asking this because in Christianity, an idol can be any person or thing that consumes your thoughts, words, time, energy, or money other ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
34
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How many stones of the Luchos were there?
We know there were two sets of tablets that Moshe got. We know that each tablet was double-sided. How many actual side-by-side stones were there in each set? The pictures usually show there were two ...
- 1,177
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1
answer
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What is the first pasuk in the Torah that begins within the letter tes? [closed]
I am wondering if someone knows the first pasuk in the Torah that begins within the letter Tes? Thank you.
- 49
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0
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54
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Hot coffee on Motzoei Shabbos [closed]
How many times after Havdalah on Motzoei Shabbos, do we sit around and contemplate if 6 hours have passed since we ate the Cholent to finally sit down to a nice hot coffee, or do we still have to wait....
- 257
3
votes
1
answer
292
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Why does Rashi (most of the time) not quote sources for his commentary?
The Gemera in Meggilah 15a and Pirkei Avot 6:6 says, כל האומר דבר בשם אומרו מביא גאולה לעולם שנאמר ותאמר אסתר למלך בשם מרדכי. My question is, if quoting teachings of other people is very important (...
- 526
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3
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56
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Man's Duty in this World
According to Judaism, what is man's duty in this world, and what should man's goal in life be?
Is our goal to fulfill G0d's commandments, which will earn us a place in Olam Haba, or is our goal merely ...
- 4,307
3
votes
1
answer
85
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Can one water plants before Shacharit?
Would one be permitted to water plants or feed pets (as another example), before saying shacharit, or would it be better to say shacharit first?
- 151
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1
answer
54
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Where can I purchase ספר הבית היהודי volume 7 by Rabbi Aaron Zachai?
It is out of print and Lehmann's (the UK's main sefarim distributor) doesn't have it and can't get hold of it. I don't mind if I have to buy the whole set, but one way or another I would like to own a ...
- 3,275
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vote
1
answer
105
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Derivation of 42-Letter Name of G-d
I understand that from the first 42 letters of Breishis, it is possible to derive the 42-letter name of G-d that is indicated within the Ana Bekoach prayer. Where could find out more about the ...
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1
answer
75
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Shabbos shacharis - Shabbos and the nations
וְלֹא נְתַתּוֹ ה' אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לְגוֹיֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת
וְלֹא הִנְחַלְתּוֹ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לְעוֹבְדֵי פְסִילִים
וְגַם בִּמְנוּחָתוֹ לֹא יִשְׁכְּנוּ עֲרֵלִים
כִּי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ נְתַתּוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה, לְזֶֽרַע יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בָּם
...
- 2,967
3
votes
0
answers
102
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your Masechta to enter the world to come
I found in one of the works of the great gaon Rav Moshe Greenwald (1853-1910 Chust-Hungary, known famously for his responsa sefer ערוגת הבושם), a sefer written as his 'final will' called- הכנה דרבה (a ...
- 257
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36
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Animal offerings as philanthropic gifts when the Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash) returns?
When the Beit HaMikdash returns, and animal offerings are reinstituted, will one be able to, in accordance w/ halakha, brand his sacrifice with his (or his family's) name on it, similar to the way ...
-1
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1
answer
48
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Soul Fruit - what do we know?
Bereshit 2:9:
ויצמח יהוה אלהים מן־האדמה כל־עץ נחמד למראה וטוב למאכל ועץ החיים בתוך
הגן ועץ הדעת טוב ורע
And from the ground Hashem, God, caused to grow every tree that was pleasing
to the sight and ...
- 3,275
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1
answer
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firstborn status after the arrival of the moshiach
The Ohr Hachaim (Bamidbar 3,45) says a chiddush that seems to not have any obvious source, that לעתיד לבא (after the arrival of mashiach) the Avoda in the Beis Hamikdash will return to the firstborn! (...
- 257
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1
answer
47
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Eyebrow- hair removal [closed]
I have some long hairs growing out by my eyebrows, and it bothers my wife, am I able to remove them with my fingers? Same with hairs growing by my ears. or this is Lo Silbash? Appreciate it
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Why in Beresheit 2:2 (and Kidush) we switch between מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ and מִכׇּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ?
I've always had this question regarding the pasuk in Beresheit 2:2 which which we also say at kidush which says,
"וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה ...
- 526
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3
answers
137
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Hashem too holy to abide by us, yet closer to us than we can imagine - how to resolve?
It seems like, when it comes to Hashem's closeness to us, we have 2 different sides, and they go in opposite directions and I would like to know how to resolve them.
A) On the one hand, the reason why ...
- 3,275
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answer
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The Rambam Titling the Halachos of Pesach "״הלכות חמץ ומצה
I opened up the Yad today on Hilchos Pesach and was taken aback on Rambam's choice of words for the title : "״הלכות חמץ ומצה. Firstly, why is the Rambam putting the Halachos of the seder (...
- 394
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2
answers
232
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Rabbi Meir's yeshiva
We learned in the Daf (Nazir 49b also Keddushin 52b) that Rav Yehuda instructed his Talmidim not to accept into his Yeshiva any Talmid of Rav Meir because they just ask questions to annoy and confuse (...
- 257
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1
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115
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Wonder Child of Jerusalem
I grew up hearing about the story of a wonder child in Jerusalem that was born knowing כל התורה כולה. The Gedolim of that era explained that he didn't receive the flick from the angel at birth to make ...
- 257
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3
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127
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How does the olam haba of a Noahide differ from that of a Jew?
In other words, what precise reasons would motivate a gentile to convert rather than be a Noahide? I have heard that a Jew's olam haba is “better” but in what sense? What exactly is the difference?
3
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3
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245
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Source that Mishlo'ach Manot were instituted to encourage Jews in ne'emanut - to trust each-others' kashrut
A long time ago I heard a number of vertlach that the reason why the destruction of Purim was decreed on the Jews was because they were refusing to eat in each others' houses because they didn't trust ...
- 3,275
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0
answers
39
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In 1 Chronicles 4:39, Where Is Gedor At?
39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and ...
- 131
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0
answers
73
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Torah Reading for Chet Haegel, when the reader is a Levi
The Be'er Heitev in OH 428(7) brings the custom to arrange the aliyos in Parshas Ki Sisa so that the story of the Cheit Haegel is read during the Levi aliyah.
גם נוהגין לקרות ללוי פ' העגל וקורין אותה ...
- 2,967
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2
answers
456
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Asking a shaila - not looking for a psak
How does one phrase a request for a Rabbi's opinion on a halachic matter so as not to receive a psak? Are there multiple acceptable expressions?
- 487
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State of Judaism before the destruction of the first temple
Can someone recommend some good resources on delving into the state of Judaism between entry to Israel and the destruction of the first temple? Specifically, the state of the religion. What did it ...
- 3,275
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4
answers
1k
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Who was Abraham’s Mother?
I was wondering if we have any info/ sources on who Abrahams’s mother was?
It seems interesting that she was never mentioned, and doesn’t play any role in his story, or his leaving his “father’s house”...
- 151
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votes
2
answers
87
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Rest and Holiday for Gentiles
I often read that Gentiles are not to keep the Sabbath or institute any holidays for themselves. How far does it go? Rest from our work activity without refraining from doing extra activities? If I ...
- 399
12
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1
answer
433
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Order of the nations
Around 8 times in Chumash we mention the 7 nations who inhabited the land of Israel. Yet almost each time the order of the nations is changed. Is there a reason for this, do the conquests relate to ...
- 1,177
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vote
2
answers
81
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Source for saying Emes at end of Shema?
I was just learning the Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan on this topic, and one thing that seemed to be strangely taken for granted by the Mishna Berura, without any source for it that I can find, ...
- 219
3
votes
1
answer
175
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Experience Learning in the Mir Yeshiva
Is anyone on this platform a Talmid or Alumnus of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem (and learns/learned under R'Asher Arieli)? If so, I have a few questions:
It seems very much like there is no structure ...
- 394
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0
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41
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Differences between Birur and הנהגה
How do the techniques of הנהגה and בירור work in Halacha? Is the difference that the latter needs proof, and the former is based on a חזקה?
- 386
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votes
1
answer
56
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Number of dead after the Golden calf
When we get a count in the Torah it is in an exact form (either literal or metaphorical) for example the tribe of Reuven had 46,500 members. An exception to this rule would seem after the golden calf, ...
- 1,177
2
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0
answers
113
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Can wearing big tefillin be seen as yuhara?
I am interested in getting 4x4 tefillin in order to have more mehudar parshiyot, but I'm worried about wearing them in a kehila where they wear smaller tefillin. I'm especially concerned about wearing ...
- 41
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2
answers
101
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Why only seven rabbinic commandments?
Traditionally, there are seven rabbinic commandments to be added to the 613 in the Torah: Hallel, Purim, Hanukkah, Eruv, washing hands, lighting Shabbat candles, and saying blessings.
But there are ...
- 18.5k
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Sefer Ginat Egoz on the lessons derived from the prohibition to light a fire on the Sabbath and from Temple-service
The Shaloh HaKadosh in Torah Shebikhtav, Sefer Vayikra, Torah Ohr, Shmini on this week's parasha (Vayakhel-Pekudei) mentions Sefer Ginat Egoz (probably written by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, since it is ...
- 4,865
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Wearing a watch with lume on Shabbos
I was not able to find anything on the subject of lume on Shabbos.
I asked my LOR. He is not familiar with it either.
Lume is a paint they use on watch dials that charges from light and then shines in ...
- 7,320
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votes
1
answer
111
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Is it true that Rabbi Moshe Dovid Valle (aka the Ramad Vali, Ramdu) said that the Jesus was a failed Mashiach ben Yosef? Please provide sources
I heard this a few times. Is it true that Rabbi Moshe Dovid Valle (aka the Ramad Vali, Ramdu) said that the Jesus was a failed Mashiach ben Yosef? If so, please provide sources.
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votes
2
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286
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Is it possible to have non-Jews who are converting (or non-Jewish relatives) over for Yom Tov?
There is a very clear halacha that one is not allowed to invite non-Jews on Yom Tov specifically. See SA OH 514, Yalkut Yosef 512. The only solution presented in the halacha is if they turn up ...
- 3,275
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0
answers
27
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Why specify both fins and scales for kashrut [duplicate]
The Gemara (not sure where) says that all fish that have scales have fins. So why then did the Torah need to also single out having fins and didn’t just say “all fish with scales are kosher”?
- 636
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votes
6
answers
3k
views
Why did God create sleep?
Is there any profound explanation why God created sleep for humans? Are there animals that don't sleep and rest by shutting down one hemisphere of the brain at a time, because that mechanism wouldn't ...
- 399
0
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1
answer
112
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Is the idea of a "philosophical zombie" compatible with Jewish thought?
Background to the question:
The "philosophical zombie" or "p-zombie" is a thought experiment describing a hypothetical being that is in every way identical to a human being, except ...
- 4,469
0
votes
1
answer
94
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Rav Ovadia Yosef's Sefer Chazon Ovadia
Does anybody know how I can access חזון עובדיה (ארבע תעניות), עמוד תמא-תמג which deals with the Kotel Ha'Maaravi (the Western Wall).
Unfortunately the sefer is not in my shul's Beit Medrash.
Thank ...
1
vote
0
answers
53
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Happiness of Purim
In Israel, many people wish each other Purim Sameach - have a happy Purim. Yet it seems those from chu"l wish Simchas Purim which translates as 'happiness of Purim. It would seem that purim ...
- 1,177
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Answering Kedushah during Chazan's repetition
When I was kid (many, many year ago), I learned multiple times that when one is praying the silent Shemoneh Esrei and the Chazzan's repetition is up to kedusha, one can answer Kadosh and Baruch kevod ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
104
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Child wants bathroom during parent's Amidah
Are there any halachic guidelines when a child tells the parent that he wants to go to bathroom during the Amidah?
This occurred to me multiple times, with my 4-year-old who can use the bathroom alone ...
- 706
0
votes
2
answers
55
views
Commentary on Rashi
Can can someone recommend a commentary on Rashi?
I am looking for a commentary that is a) Hebrew b) contains the text of the Humash and preferably Onkelos c) a clear explanation of Rashi's commentary ...
- 471
-4
votes
0
answers
122
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Could Shabbat be skipped? [duplicate]
So, countries can essentially, change local time to whatever they want. Or local date for that matter. It is Thursday night at 9:00 P.M (Shabbos starts at 6 P>M lets say). They decided, you know I ...
