All Questions
38,254
questions
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Attending non-frum event
Is it permissible to attend a non-frum event, such as a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah of a family member or friend?
Debbie
28
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Shaking hands with the opposite gender?
What's the story: Can a man shake hands with a woman (or vice versa) in a business setting?
- 129k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to pray in public places?
If you're stuck in a public place (e.g. airport, mall) and need to daven (pray) -- usually it's Mincha, right before sunset: what's the best way to do it?
- 129k
29
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why do people frequently change tunes toward the end of Lecha Dodi?
Frequently, perhaps even most of the time, I've noticed that the chazan (prayer leader) for Kabalat Shabbat switches tunes for the last four verses of Lecha Dodi. Is there any reason for this, or are ...
- 47.4k
3
votes
2
answers
212
views
Rashi's unusual phrasing of the four sons
At the end of Parashat Bo (Exodus 13:14), Rashi enumerates the Four Sons of the Passover Seder:
דברה תורה כנגד ארבעה בנים, רשע ושאינו יודע לשאול והשואל דרך סתומה והשואל דרך חכמה
The Torah ...
- 47.4k
4
votes
2
answers
308
views
What if a specific avoda zara looks just like avodas Hashem?
Let us assume there is at least one conventional way to serve any given false deity.
Let us also assume that there is a prohibition against serving false deities in the manner that they are ...
- 23.5k
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Best practices for praying in public with talit and tefilin
I just learned that a flight out of New York was diverted because a flight attendant saw a passenger putting on tefilin and freaked out, thinking that he was strapping on bombs.
So, do you have any ...
- 47.4k
6
votes
1
answer
304
views
Must I warn people about an untrustworthy restaurant?
What is my obligation to warn fellow kosher observant people about a Restraurant that is claiming to be "Glatt" Kosher, when in fact it has no Rabbinic Supervision at all and the owner's religious ...
- 3,784
7
votes
1
answer
695
views
Question about a 'Jewish proverb'
A [secular Jewish] Facebook friend posted the following as his status: "Commit a sin twice and it will not seem a crime. - Jewish proverb."
I am unsure about what he thinks this means, and more ...
- 71
10
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Is there a problem with women wearing red clothing?
I've heard that red clothing is forbidden for women to wear because it's immodest. Some recent psych research confirmed that men are more attracted to women in red. So that means it's prohibited, ...
- 129k
3
votes
3
answers
660
views
Do you have to close the window if someone's cold?
The LinkedIn FrumNetwork user that I recently corresponded with about the wisdom of the crowd brought up an interesting bit of conventional wisdom that she claims is at least partly apocryphal:
For ...
- 47.4k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are women exempt from Tachanun and discouraged from saying it?
My brother heard from someone that she heard that women are exempt from saying Tachanun and therefore discouraged from saying it. Is this so? If so, why? Do you know sources for this?
UPDATE: I ...
- 47.4k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why still keep two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel?
Why do we continue to keep two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel? The reason for two days was revelant during the temple era as we needed two witnesses to see the new moon. But today, with no Temple ...
- 3,784
7
votes
5
answers
490
views
"Moshe cried out" - really?
In Parashat Va-eira, Pharaoh, plagued with frogs, asks Moshe and Aharon to "entreat" God to remove the plague and says that he'll respond by releasing the Israelites. Moshe agrees, and then ...
- 47.4k
3
votes
1
answer
204
views
Searching for Chumatz before Passavor
If someone is going to be away for Passover, how many days before Passover can one search his home for Chumatz?
- 3,784
4
votes
4
answers
563
views
Breakfast cereal brachot
Is there a reliable on-line source for finding the brerachot for commercially prepared breakfast cereals?
- 3,029
13
votes
1
answer
618
views
Does a cholent bag/aluminum foil take away the need to tovel the pot?
If no food touches it, does it need to be toveled (immersed in mikvah)?
- 973
8
votes
3
answers
311
views
Why do we stand when we do toward the end of Tachanun?
In the Tachanun prayer, it's traditional to sit for most of the core of Tachanun, but then to stand three words into the last paragraph, between "Va-anachnu lo neida'" and "ma na'aseh" ("And we won't ...
- 47.4k
4
votes
2
answers
823
views
What are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model?
Aside from seeming obviously inappropriate for a good Jewish boy/girl, what are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model? Are there any distinctions with regard to men/women?
- 973
3
votes
3
answers
475
views
Which is better, lying or saying lashon hara?
Inspired by Shmeryl's frequenting of McDonalds, I have a similar question about lashon hara.
Let's say Shmeryl is coming to visit you from out-of-town on shabbat, and has no problem with doing so ...
- 8,784
11
votes
2
answers
291
views
Leaning on things during prayer?
It says in Shulchan Aruch that one may not lean on anything while reciting sh'mona esre. (OC 94:8) The Mishna B'rura defines "leaning" as placing one's weight on another object such that if the object ...
- 23.5k
4
votes
2
answers
383
views
How is it possible for a pot of meat to become pareve? [closed]
I was recently posed the following puzzle:
You have a pot of meat. You put in milk. It becomes pareve. How can this be?
Any ideas on how this is possible?
- 47.4k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Different traditions in Hebrew pronunciation [closed]
The theme of Hebrew pronunciation is one that facinates me and, as such, I want to get some feedback on some issues I've been thinking about for years. I have already discussed some of these issues ...
- 41.3k
4
votes
2
answers
969
views
Is there a minimum amount of dough to separate challah without a bracha?
I saw on this website http://www.secretofchallah.com/50708/When-to-separate-challah#opinions that one should not separate challah if using less than 8.5 cups or about 2 lbs. I know there are various ...
- 973
7
votes
1
answer
450
views
Why would a product be "only for cooking and pureeing"?
A recent OU kashrut alert that I found on Kashrut.com says:
Kirkland Nature's Three Berries: Rader Farms, Inc.: This product bears a Half-Moon K symbol and should be used only for cooking and ...
- 47.4k
4
votes
2
answers
318
views
May I discuss my friend's unabashed un-Halachic behavior?
Suppose Shmeryl regularly and unabashedly eats at McDonald's (not the Kosher one in Israel!), or engages in some other unambiguously un-Halachic behavior. Shmeryl doesn't believe that there's anything ...
- 47.4k
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Lifting a handkerchief before signing the Ketubah?
I know at a Jewish wedding, just before the Ketubah is signed, the groom picks up a handkerchief in front of everyone. I remember this has something to do with "kinyan chalifin"; could someone please ...
- 129k
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Eating your own (kosher) food in a non-kosher restaurant?
This was brought to mind by this question:
What are the rules about joining your co-workers (or the like) for a meal in a non-kosher restaurant, but bringing your own food? Is it prohibited as mar'is ...
- 89.8k
7
votes
2
answers
544
views
A restroom in a formerly-kosher eatery vs. one in a never-kosher eatery: which is preferable?
Say I'm on the road traveling, and I need to use a restroom. Which of the following two restrooms is preferable?
One in a restaurant that used to be kosher, but is now non-kosher.
One in a restaurant ...
- 3,784
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Turning off a stove on Shabbat
Can one turn off a stove on Shabbat? I recently heard that Rav Tendler does in fact hold this, and that it was followed in the home of Rav Feinstein.
The reasoning had something to do with gas being ...
- 3,784
6
votes
1
answer
212
views
Two types of preventative enactment?
I believe this is a strictly academic question. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Many of the restrictions enacted by the Rabbis (as opposed to those extrapolated from the Torah) were done so in order to ...
- 23.5k
6
votes
1
answer
470
views
Moving muktza garbage cans?
Help! It's Shabbos and the wind is blowing my garbage cans halfway down the block! I know they're muktza, so I can't move them. What can I do?
- 129k
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Hebrew letters Hey-Yud-Dalet after a name
I'd seen some stuff written about a man, with the Hebrew הי"ד (Hey-Yud-quotes-Dalet) after his name. What does that mean?
- 129k
40
votes
27
answers
2k
views
Experience-based advice for focusing and slowing down prayers?
I tend to daven (pray) without sufficient focus and very quickly. In particular, I find that most of the time that I'm praying, my mind is on things other than the words that I'm saying. And, not that ...
- 47.4k
6
votes
2
answers
279
views
Image of God: Equality and Discrimination
I have heard from many unreliable sources that the Torah's description of mankind as being "in the Image of God" implies some level of equal standing of all humans and therefore the expectation (...
- 23.5k
15
votes
2
answers
830
views
Am I allowed to count people?
Where did the practice of not counting people come from? People count not-one, not-two, not-three etc. What is wrong with counting one, two, three etc? This is often found when counting to see if ...
- 2,853
6
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Which hechsheirim are reliable?
There are so many hechsheirim (Kosher certifications) out there.
How is an individual supposed to find out which hechsheirim to rely on, and which not to?
- 2,853
10
votes
2
answers
275
views
Give ma'aser on money that you didn't make yet?
Can I give ma'aser on money that I didn't earn yet but I know I will be earning in the future?
- 2,853
47
votes
7
answers
4k
views
May I use my neighbor's Wi-Fi without asking permission?
My neighbor has never set up password protection on his wireless router. If I wanted, I could wirelessly connect to his high-speed Internet service.
May I use his Internet service without asking him ...
- 2,853
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
18
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Fish eaten with milk?
Is there any halachik problem with eating fish and milk together? (A classic example is a bagel with lox and cream cheese)
- 2,853
12
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Tzitzis while exercising?
Does one need to wear tzitzis while exercising? Isn't it disrespectful to the tzitzis to make them all sweaty?
- 2,853
12
votes
2
answers
14k
views
5
votes
2
answers
874
views
Is Basar Shenisaleim Min Ha'ayin still a problem?
There is a concept in halacha called Basar Shenisaleim Min Ha'ayin (meat that was hidden from the eye). Basically in the olden days, if a non-jew were to deliver meat and there was no siman (sign) on ...
- 2,853
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Does Ma'aser need to be given on gifts?
If I receive a monetary gift, do I need to give ma'aser on it? What about if I receive a gift that is an object (as opposed to money)?
- 2,853
7
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Does soda need a hechsher?
I have noticed that many cans of pepsi don't have a hechsher (kosher symbol) on them. Do they need one?
- 2,853
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do photocopies of torah need to be put in shaimos?
Do photocopied sheets (such as chumash or gemara) need to be put in sheimos or can they be thrown straight into the garbage?
- 2,853
10
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is it permissible to open soda cans on shabbos?
What is the halacha regarding opening soda cans on shabbos?
I have heard that according to the ones who hold that you can open it, if I would ask that person to open it for me, I would need him to ...
- 2,853
7
votes
2
answers
197
views
Chanuka - what was the real miracle?
Was the miracle the fact that they found the oil? Was it that the oil lasted all 8 days? Was it that they won the war over the mighty greeks?
From the fact that we light menorah, it seems that the ...
- 2,853
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it better to wear wool tzitzis?
Is it better halachikally (according to jewish law) to have the beged (garment) of your tzitzis to be made from wool as opposed to cotton? Is it a chumrah?
- 2,853