All Questions
37,769
questions
4
votes
13
answers
326
views
Shnayim Ve'esrim - mi yodeya?
Who knows twenty-two?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
- 47.3k
2
votes
2
answers
277
views
Variant vowelizations in Selichot
The repeated paragraph in Selichot that introduces the Thirteen Attributes includes the phrase "increasingly grants pardon to careless sinners and foregiveness to willful ones" (Artscroll Siddur ...
- 47.3k
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do Israeli silver gifts (e.g. kiddush cups) need to be dunked in the mikva?
People get these nice Israeli silver gifts like kiddush cups or fountains -- do they need to be dunked in the mikva?
- 128k
13
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Electric Appliances and Mikva
Do electric appliances need to be dunked (toveled) in a mikva?
Obviously, if the parts that touch the food are removable (e.g. an electric mixer's bowl and blade, or a blender's carafe, or the ...
- 128k
10
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Why do the Sifrei Eme"s (i.e. Job, Proverbs, Psalms) have cantillation marks?
Why do the Sifrei Eme"s (i.e. Job, Proverbs, Psalms) have cantillation marks?
Are they read to a tune or is it just punctuation for personal usage?
Have they ever been read publicly with the tune?
(...
- 23.4k
2
votes
11
answers
592
views
Echad Ve'esrim - mi yodeya?
Who knows twenty-one?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
- 47.3k
4
votes
3
answers
522
views
Intentional Shilu'ach Hakan
Can one fairly be judged as a "bad person" or a naval bir'shus haTorah (see bottom) if he actively seeks out opportunities for shilu'ach hakan gratuitously (i.e. does not make use of the young birds)?
...
- 23.4k
11
votes
4
answers
24k
views
Rules for Cutting Nails
My question about nail-cutting is whether each of the following is halacha, minhag, or old-wives' tales.
Not cutting both fingernails and toenails on the same day.
Not cutting nails at night (is this ...
- 5,647
13
votes
2
answers
966
views
Non-Jew's marriage obligation
Does a non-Jew have an obligation to get married like the Jew does?
6
votes
15
answers
215
views
Esrim - mi yodeya?
Who knows twenty?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
- 47.3k
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Posek vs. Rabbi?
It seems to me obvious that certain sheilos are best dealt with by only the leading Rabbanim. At the same time colloquially we often say a Rabbi has "paskened" a sheilah when the answer is fairly ...
- 13.2k
2
votes
2
answers
180
views
Choices before birth
Before we are born, do we pick who our parents, guides, and rebbaim in life will be?
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
malacha from child
is one allowed to ask a child to do a malacha of shabbos? does your answer also apply to a non-Jew?
21
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Returning after driving someone to the hospital on Shabbat
If a man needs to be brought to the hospital on Shabbat due to a life threatening situation, another man may bring him there even by violating biblical Shabbat prohibitions (e.g. driving a car). Which ...
6
votes
5
answers
620
views
Is it Gezel Sheinah for a teacher to wake up a student in class?
Yes, it's a little tongue-in-cheek, but it occurred to me while reading the question on stealing a parents tuition by skipping, and I think that there is a real benefit in the question.
Is it Gezel ...
- 13.2k
4
votes
1
answer
158
views
Shavuos, why celebrate?
The original Matan Torah — meaning, when we celebrate Shavuos — is the time when we mistakenly thereafter served the Golden Calf. Why would we celebrate that day? It is equivalent to celebrating after ...
- 32.9k
3
votes
8
answers
145
views
Tish'a Asar - mi yodeya?
Who knows nineteen?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
- 47.3k
13
votes
5
answers
255
views
Sefiras Haomer Counting Direction
When we count the Sefiras Haomer, why do we count up and not down?
- 32.9k
1
vote
3
answers
264
views
What to daven when coming into minyan during Shema
Where are you supposed to start at when you come into shachrit during shema on a regular week day?
leon sada
7
votes
3
answers
422
views
Reaching kedusha during silent shemone esre
When the chazzan starts kedusha in chazarat hashatz while you're davening, are you supposed to answer the chant, continue in your tefilla, or just not say anything?
leon sada
16
votes
5
answers
1k
views
What is the status of a pull-apart challah for "lechem mishneh"?
On Shabbat, we're supposed to begin the meals with two whole loaves - "Lechem Mishneh." According to Shmirat Shabbat KeHilchato as quoted in the article linked above, "If two loaves bake together in ...
- 47.3k
6
votes
2
answers
130
views
Advance notice of the day of the Omer?
If I say, "Tonight will be the X night of the Omer", why is that considered as I've already counted? If I say, "G-d is blessed for creating the fruit of the tree", don't I still need to make the ...
- 3,784
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is Yom HaAtzma'ut a Chag?
Is Yom Ha-Atzma'ut (Israeli Independance Day) considered a Chag (Jewish Holiday)? I have been to three types of Shuls (Synagogues) on this day:
Those that have added the saying of Hallel but without ...
- 3,784
7
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Live Vs. Recorded Music during the Omer
What are Halachik reasons that some Poskim allow recorded music during the Omer, but others forbid all music?
- 3,784
7
votes
3
answers
666
views
Can you turn your back to the Aron HaKodesh?
I'm quite certain that it is mentioned in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one should not turn one's back to the Aron HaKodesh (ark which holds the Torah Scrolls).
Can anyone tell me where this is ...
- 13.2k
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Mizmor l'David (Psalms 23) at Shalosh Suedos
There is a common minhag (custom) to sing Mizmor l'David at Seudah Shlishis, the third Sabbath meal. It is common to sing this song three times in a row and I was asked this Shabbos by a friend why ...
- 13.2k
10
votes
5
answers
730
views
Lag BaOmer - Why Celebrate on the Yohrtzeit of a Tzadik?
Lag Baomer celebrates the yohrtzeit of a tzadik. Why is that cause for celebration?
- 32.9k
6
votes
3
answers
296
views
Shavuos Versus Simchas Torah
What is the difference between Shavuos and Simchas Torah if they are both fundamentally celebrations of the Torah?
- 32.9k
0
votes
3
answers
92
views
The story of the rabbis in the haggada-mizva of afikoman
In the hagadah, did the rabbanim who stayed up all night get the miztva of afikoman?
-4
votes
1
answer
151
views
-3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can you judge someone by the clothing he or she wears? [closed]
Can you judge someone by the clothing he or she wears? Even if you can, should you?
6
votes
1
answer
513
views
What is the law for a Goel Hadam (Avenger of Blood) outside of the Land of Israel?
The halacha is you can only build a city of refuge in Israel. What if someone killed by accident outside of Israel. Can the relative of the guy who was killed go after and try to kill the murderer who ...
- 1,395
3
votes
14
answers
284
views
Shemona Asar - mi yodeya?
Who knows eighteen?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. After about one business day, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
- 47.3k
6
votes
4
answers
201
views
Ditch school: stealing?
If your parents pay for you to go to school and you ditch, is that stealing?
- 1,375
5
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What in the world is a shtender? [closed]
Who made up the name shtender, and who started using the term?
- 1,375
10
votes
2
answers
339
views
Is this site for Children? [closed]
A father asked me if this site is appropriate for children considering the fact that oftentimes incorrect answers are being posted. Children are very impressionable and as Chazal tell us, Shabeshtah, ...
- 15.9k
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Trop (cantillation) for leining
Who created the trop (cantillation) for leining? Is it a Mesorah from when the Torah was written?
- 3,069
7
votes
1
answer
225
views
An accidental killer who needs to leave the city of refuge
It says in makos that a person who kills accidentally goes to a city of refuge. So if a person who killed accidentally is in a city of refuge and the whole city is on fire or an enemy is attacking the ...
- 3,069
5
votes
1
answer
864
views
36 hidden tzadikim
Are there really 36 hidden tzadikim? What level are they on (tana, amora, etc.)?
- 1,375
2
votes
4
answers
786
views
Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil
Who wrote Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil? Is it minhag Yisrael?
- 1,375
-3
votes
3
answers
289
views
Why did Hashem make some non-Kosher animals look like Kosher ones?
Why did Hashem make animals like the pig, camel, etc. that have one exact character trait of kosher animals and then write in the Torah that they aren't kosher? If He's trying to trick us, shouldn't ...
- 1,375
4
votes
3
answers
220
views
Is Mi Yodeya helpful? [closed]
Does anyone here feel that this site is helpful? I do, but is it Bitul Torah? Because you could always go look up the answer in a sefer and get more schar (reward).
kimbo
3
votes
2
answers
464
views
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it o.k. to watch "American Idol" during the Omer and the Three Weeks?
Many Poskim who permit listening of music year-round prohibit it during the Omer and the Three Weeks. Is it ok to watch American Idol during these periods of time, according to the opinions who permit ...
kimbo
-3
votes
2
answers
333
views
Why say Hashem wrote the torah? [closed]
Why do people say Hashem wrote the torah, shouldn't it be He created it, made it, edited it, etc?
- 1,375
3
votes
1
answer
207
views
Is it permissible to work at a tzaar-baalei-chayyim store?
Are you allowed to work at a store (pet shop, for example) that does tzaar-baalei-chayyim to the animals it has there?
- 1,375
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Will marriages continue when mashiach comes?
If you are married to a girl and mashaich comes, wil you be married to her in the world to come or you start all over?!?
- 1,395
8
votes
2
answers
350
views
Technology during Days of Moshiach
When Moshisch comes (Biezras Hashem) will there be technology like, computers, cars, electricity, etc?
- 1,375
4
votes
2
answers
265
views
when do you say amen
Can you say amen to a bracha if you hear the last part, see a gesture of ending, or is it only if you hear all of the brachah.
- 1,375
4
votes
1
answer
119
views
was paroh the same paroh during the 210 years
Was Paroh at the start the same as the one when it says "there arose a new king" (Exodus 1: 8)? How many parohs were there during the 210 years.
- 1,375