All Questions
39,661
questions
3
votes
1
answer
251
views
Are we supposed to live in the matrix?
Rabbeinu Bachaya, while discussing why Hashem requires us to work so hard for our livelihood and in our service of Him says in Shaar Habitachon ch. 4:
והיה מחמלת הבורא יתעלה על האדם שהטרידו בעניני ...
- 7,152
1
vote
3
answers
273
views
Why didn't the Jews of Persia leave after Haman's decree?
After Haman's genocidal edict was sent out to all the people of the Persian kingdom why was there not a mass exodus of Jews to parts of the world not under the dominion of Achashveirosh and his law?
- 13.6k
3
votes
0
answers
85
views
(how) does מיגו still work?
A מיגו is a logical argument used multiple times throughout the Rishonim and Achronim (for example, the Sha"Ch has a very long discussion about it here: https://www.sefaria.org.il/...
- 3,303
2
votes
3
answers
472
views
How does one reconcile the fact that Avraham Avinu proselytized to non-Jews and yet Judaism is not a proselytizing religion?
I've read that Avraham Avinu proselytized to anyone he encountered, encouraging them to acknowledge HaShem as the Master of the Universe and express gratitude to Him. Yet, it is generally understood ...
- 228
1
vote
1
answer
42
views
Does this pasuk imply G-d will leave us?
Bereshit 28:15 has G-d telling Jacob that He will not forsake him until He fulfills what He promised to Abraham. Doesn’t this seem to imply G-d will leave us after that? Do any commentators say ...
- 1,740
2
votes
1
answer
49
views
הפה שאסר הוא הפה שהתיר
On Bava Metzia 3a, it talks about a concept that if a plaintiff claims Bob owes him 100 and Bob says no I don’t, nothing is done, but if Bob admits and says “I only only you 50, not 100,” (or if ...
- 1,740
1
vote
0
answers
55
views
Why are they called Chosson/kalla?
Why are newlyweds referred to as "Chosson" and "kallah" (The Torah already refers to them this way)? the definition Chosson/kalla is Son-in-law/daughter in-law. Wouldnt it seem ...
- 29
0
votes
0
answers
101
views
How is it that Yaakov Avinu was permitted to marry Zilpah, because she was the sister of Bilhah and Leah already had 4 sons?
How is it that Yaakov Avinu was permitted to marry Zilpah, because she was the sister of Bilhah and Leah already had 4 sons?
According to Bereishit Rabbah 74:13 Bilhah and Zilpah were also daughters ...
- 99
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can Jewish owned animals have tattoos?
If a Jew owns an animal, are they permitted to give that animal a tattoo? I would imagine this is permitted, but are there any opinions it is not allowed on the principle that a Jew shouldn’t do ...
- 748
2
votes
0
answers
62
views
רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת אֲדוֹן הַשָּׁלוֹם - source of this Shabbat prayer
Here is its entry in the open siddur project.
The open siddur project demonstrates that the claim that this was composed by Rabbi Joseph of Rashkow, Posen can't be true as it is found in the siddur ...
- 7,152
2
votes
2
answers
112
views
Locating this Rokeach on sefer Devarim
I have been told that the Rokeach, in his introduction to sefer Devarim, writes that
מספר משנה תורה - MiSefer Mishneh Torah shares the same gematria (1386) as סמוכים לעד לעולם עשויים באמת ויושר - They ...
- 8,592
2
votes
0
answers
39
views
Rivkah not giving water to the men traveling with Eliezer?
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, we all are familiar with the episode of Rivkah imenu offering water to Eliezer first then to the camels.
However, the Torah doesn't record Rivkah giving water to the men ...
- 1,048
1
vote
2
answers
174
views
Acoustic gramophone on Shabbat
Is it permitted to play an acoustic Gramophone on Shabbat? An acoustic gramophone is a non electric device that plays disc records by having them rotate under a point.
- 748
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
Eisav Harasha having good kibbud av vaem?
Is there a way to make sense of Eisav Harasha knowing he did 5 big aveiros in one day (including murder) and wanting to kill his brother Yackov, and also exhibiting very good kibbud av vaem? How do ...
- 599
1
vote
0
answers
67
views
Do I fulfill the Haftorah if I use the back of a Chumash to lein it? [duplicate]
Let's say I have a Chumash that has Haftarot at the back of the book. Am I yotze reading the Haftorah if I read from that?
- 601
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
Rosh Chodesh - importance in history?
In the Wikipedia article on Rosh Chodesh it says that historically it had much more importance, why did it change? Do Rabbinic sources or commentators attest to this? Is there evidence during the ...
- 748
2
votes
0
answers
78
views
Kosher flat mates. Is it a thing? [closed]
I am certain that this is very case by case and by different locations, but I am curious if it is "commonplace" to have a roommate in the frum world. I am essentially a baal teshuvah with ...
- 61
0
votes
0
answers
59
views
Can you link current events and the parsha
So I saw this post circling online. What exactly would we say about this? Is it just something “cute”, or is it like a valid method of searching for connections between current events and the parsha? ...
- 1,740
1
vote
2
answers
159
views
Star of David with cross inside [duplicate]
I will be attending a funeral of my sister in law (Christian) and brother in law (Jewish). I would like to wear a necklace with Star of David with a cross inside to the service.
Am I risking ...
user34007
5
votes
0
answers
74
views
Davening for multiple things
In Taanis 8b,
בִּימֵי רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי הֲוָה כַּפְנָא וּמוֹתָנָא,
אָמְרִי: הֵיכִי נַעֲבֵיד? נִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַתַּרְתֵּי — לָא אֶפְשָׁר
In the days of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani there ...
- 2,050
4
votes
1
answer
156
views
Why does Rambam say "gentiles marriages' are not recognized" in Melachim uMilchamot, Chapter 8, verse 3?
He mentions this as he clarifies the rules about having relations with/marrying a captive during war:
"Relations with a yefat toar are only permitted while she is in captivity as the verse states ...
- 228
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
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, ...
- 378
1
vote
0
answers
83
views
Black Israelites: who is responsible for deicide? [closed]
I am extremely interested in the answer to this but I realize this may not be the right place to ask it and would happily post it elsewhere.
When I mention Black Israelites I mean them or other groups ...
- 129
2
votes
0
answers
60
views
Proselytizing the covenant?
https://youtube.com/shorts/RuNO7R0885c?si=Fwc-02_yqnv-LfDi in this, rabbi Asher Meza of “Torah Judaism international” seems to claim that proselytization is not only allowed, but even a good thing to ...
- 748
2
votes
1
answer
74
views
Content of the various sets of Chabad books [duplicate]
I was wondering about the differences between the various sets of Chabad books by the Rebbe, for example, Likkutei sichos vs sefer hasichos vs likkutei sichos parshioyos, sefer maamorim, sefer ...
- 139
1
vote
3
answers
70
views
Yitzchok being Menachem Avel Yaakov
How come Yitzchok wasn't Menachem Avel Yaakov upon Yaakov's hearing that Yosef was deceased? We know Yitzchok knew that Yosef was alive. Nevertheless, when all of Yaakov's sons and daughters came to ...
- 599
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Pregnant woman with male fetus in a minyan?
There is a Halachic option that says if there are otherwise 9 adult (above bar mitzvah age) Jewish males, an underage (pre bar mitzvah) Jewish male can be counted to make a minyan (which normally ...
- 748
2
votes
0
answers
52
views
Meaning of Shmuel 2:22:26
עִם־חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד עִם־גִּבּוֹר תָּמִים תִּתַּמָּם׃
With a kind person, You are kind. With a person strong in innocence,
You are innocent. Shmuel 2:22:26
תָּמִים could also be translated as whole,...
- 7,152
1
vote
2
answers
122
views
What happened to King Achashverosh?
All the main characters in the story of Purim were either killed, or raised to a level of authority. additionally, it is mentioned in the megillah what happened to them (Vashti was killed, Haman and ...
- 1,103
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
What are klipos that rest on your body when you're asleep?
BH
I heard that there are klipos that rest on your body when you're asleep, and when you wake up they jump to the nails on your hands, and that’s why you need to wash your hands in the mornings.
Are ...
- 729
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Exile helped the Jews to survive
Are there any rabbinic texts arguing that exile helped the Jewish people to survive centuries of threats? In a 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' sort of way?
- 2,246
3
votes
3
answers
658
views
Why did Hagar go back?
This one has bugged me for a long time. Why would Hagar go back to a pressured existence especially when she was told that her son would become a wild man and a thief?
- 443
2
votes
2
answers
112
views
Psychology behind sinning
Here’s a simple mashal- if you’re told that if you drive you’re car really fast you’ll guaranteed die, you’ll 100% not drive your car really fast.
But when it comes to religion, we’re told that we’ll ...
- 1,740
3
votes
1
answer
92
views
Is it permitted to have an American Flag on a flagpole with an Eagle on top in a Synagogue?
American Flag on pole, topped with an Eagle.
Is this permitted in the Synagogue?
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
96
views
Prohibition of meat and fish
Is the prohibition against consuming meat and fish together considered d’rabbanan, minhag, or some other category? The main reason I ask is because the status of it binding can affect whether one is ...
- 748
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Yaaleh VeYavo during/after early Maariv on Rosh Chodesh
When you daven Maariv early (right after plag hamincha) on Rosh Chodesh, it seems you shouldn't say Yaaleh VeYavo.
Why is this, since it's still day time and hence still Rosh Chodesh?
If you then eat ...
- 2,146
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Obligation to pray in minyan in less than 1km (distance) or 18 min (time)
A Jew who lives less than 1 kilometer (walking) or less than 18 minutes (driving) from a minyan is obligated to pray in that minyan. What do these halachos look like if the Jew needs to travel more ...
1
vote
0
answers
96
views
Normative Shabbat prohibitions in Jewish Renewal
The Shabbat restrictions are normative in Jewish Renewal? If yes, what are the leniences in comparison with Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism?
1
vote
1
answer
51
views
Volume of Korban Todah
It’s well known that the Korban Todah must be accompanied by 40 ‘loaves’ of bread product, 10 each of four types of bread including 10 matzot.
Can someone tell me, in modern terminology, the volume (...
- 197
2
votes
0
answers
83
views
Nora alila al bnei adam
I am digging into finding info on the concept of 'Nora alila al bnei adam'.
There seems to be a gemara out there that is connected to this topic and how it somehow relates to the sin of the golden ...
- 884
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
The search for invariants
In an interview, French Jewish intellectual Jacques Attali claimed that modern science is partly based on Jewish tradition because like talmudic discussions, it is based on the "search for ...
- 131
2
votes
1
answer
499
views
First-born in a case of two wives
In the beginning of parshas כי תצא (Devarim 21:15-17), the Torah commands that in a case of one man having two wives who both bear him sons - that the first-born, even if it is from the wife he loves ...
- 220
0
votes
0
answers
40
views
Who decided our method/style of prayer?
I noticed recently we have very many different ways in which we emphasize our prayers. They range from the standard where the congregation recites the entire prayer and the chazzan repeats the last ...
- 1,553
1
vote
0
answers
155
views
Teshuvah between Individuals
There are two categories of sin in Jewish thought:
Sins against God: Ritual infractions, such as breaking the Sabbath or eating non-kosher food.
Sins against other people: Acts such as theft or ...
- 61
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
Daven b'arichus [duplicate]
I know that in Chabad yeshivas/communities a lot of peoples are davening longer (b'arichus): They are beginning hodu with the minyan and during tefila stopping to concentrate on the word and the ...
- 111
5
votes
1
answer
77
views
Extended Amidah or answering chazzan
Assuming one isn’t the 10th member of a minyan and is just a face in the crowd, if you have the option of praying a very slow and meaningful Amidah, but then you’ll end when the Chazan is already well ...
- 1,740
1
vote
0
answers
34
views
What roles did Yossei/Joseph I as governor and the house of David play in assisting Judas Maccabee and the rebels against the Seleucid empire? [closed]
Shalom, during the second century BCE, Seleucid ruled over Judea, and the Maccabees led a revolt against the imposition of Hellenism. They sought to restore Jewish independence and worship under the ...
- 169
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Rav Elchonon Wasserman's parable on living without bread and air
In Kovetz Maamarim (p. 130, sv. "Eretz Yisrael"), Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt"l explains the need to "breath the air of Torah". He says that for two thousand years, we endured ...
- 8,592
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
Choir in synagogues
Following the churban, were there any shuls that continued implementing a Choir after we were exiled? If so does the choir therefore have to be leviim?
- 97
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
What do colors represent in Chassidus and Kabbalah
BH
Is there a more deeper explanation to colors in Chassidus and Kabbalah?
Like hidden meanings of different colors or more higher explanation of them in Seder hishtalshelut or in the spiritual levels?...
- 729