All Questions
42,079
questions
4
votes
2
answers
329
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 ...
- 48.4k
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 ...
- 135k
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 ...
- 90.9k
7
votes
2
answers
581
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 ...
- 3,824
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 ...
- 3,824
6
votes
1
answer
225
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 ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
1
answer
501
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?
- 135k
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?
- 135k
42
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 ...
- 48.4k
6
votes
2
answers
299
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 (...
- 23.9k
15
votes
2
answers
890
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 ...
- 2,893
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?
- 2,893
10
votes
2
answers
318
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?
- 2,893
49
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 ...
- 2,893
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
18
votes
5
answers
6k
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)
- 2,893
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?
- 2,893
12
votes
2
answers
15k
views
5
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 2,893
13
votes
4
answers
3k
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)?
- 2,893
7
votes
4
answers
6k
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?
- 2,893
14
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?
- 2,893
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 ...
- 2,893
7
votes
2
answers
224
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 ...
- 2,893
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?
- 2,893
3
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Are you allowed to get a haircut on Motzei Shabbos?
Is there anything wrong with getting a haircut on Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night)?
- 2,893
13
votes
4
answers
455
views
Were the people of Chelm really unintelligent? [closed]
There are many stories that are told over about the people who lived in Chelm. They all have the theme of: the people in Chelm were fairly unintelligent. Where did this come from? Is it true? It ...
- 2,893
10
votes
3
answers
836
views
Wear your tzitzis out or in? [duplicate]
There seems to be some misunderstanding/machlokes (disagreement) on how you should wear your tzitzis - with the strings sticking out or tucked in. What's the proper way?
- 2,893
20
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why doesn't the OU put DE on food packages anymore?
The OU used to put DE next to the OU symbol when a product was Dairy Equipment. Such a product can not be eaten with meat but can be eaten right afterwards (you don't need to wait the amount of time ...
- 2,893
10
votes
4
answers
172
views
Torah studies at Synagogue [closed]
How do we make studying Torah by adults a central part of our synagogue?
Steve Keleman
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Origin of a Jewish quote about fools
There is a quote about fools that I have heard, which is attributed to the Talmud. It goes as follows, "Never tell a fool he is a fool. All you'll have is an angry fool."
I know that there are a ...
- 51
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What do I do when asked to "open the Aron" or "take out the Torah"?
If I'm in synagogue and someone asks me if I can "open the Aron" or "take out the Sefer Torah," what will I be expected to do, and when?
- 48.4k
28
votes
9
answers
4k
views
Archeological proof of Exodus?
Is there empirical proof that the exodus from Egypt and related happenings (like Har Sinai etc) did in fact occur (i.e: Archeological proof)?
I believe in the Torah, but how would you prove to someone ...
- 381
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Mezzuzahs- putting them up, and saying brachot
Is there an "issur" regarding not putting up a mezuzzah? Is there such thing as having 30 days until the issue kicks in? Also, can you say the bracha each time you put one up? Or, if two different ...
- 993
3
votes
8
answers
653
views
Can you recommend an alternative outer talit bag?
I need to replace my outer talit bag - the one that most people have as a brittle, transparent, zippered bag with gold piping (e.g.). I am tired of having these bags break on me, and I don't have a ...
- 48.4k
4
votes
3
answers
731
views
How to deal with the parts of the Torah reading that are pre-empted by the congregation
Sometimes, our traditional approach to the reading includes having the congregation recite a short section of the reading aloud before the Torah reader does it, and then he follows. The most ...
- 48.4k
7
votes
2
answers
217
views
Obtaining the 7 Species in the U.S
Often on T"u BiSh'vat people like to eat members of the shiv'as haminim - the Seven Species by which the Land of Israel is praised. Some of them, such as grapes and dates, are easy enough to come ...
- 23.9k
5
votes
3
answers
416
views
Understanding Rashi's resolution of an ambiguity in Parashat Vayigash
The following is based on a question I wrote in the margin of my chumash about ten years ago.
In Yehuda's speech to the Egyptian viceroy (Yosef in disguise) at the beginning of Parashat Vayigash, he ...
- 48.4k
8
votes
3
answers
313
views
8
votes
1
answer
433
views
What went down in 1666 before Shabtai Tz'vi's apostasy?
It seems agreed upon that one or more representatives from Lvov traveled to either investigate, visit or out Shabtai Tzvi in 1666 when he was still claiming to be the mashi'ach. Immediately following ...
- 23.9k
8
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Naming your child using a dead relative's initial
Is there a Jewish tradition of naming your child using the first letter of the name of a recently deceased relative?
Lynne
2
votes
1
answer
127
views
Picking out the alephs [closed]
How can you quickly pick out all the alephs on a page of Hebrew printed text?
- 48.4k
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Orthodox Visits to Other Denomination Sanctuaries
Why is it that some people won't set foot in another's sanctuary, even if it was for a non-prayer function? Can an orthodox person be in a reform style temple sanctuary for a lecture or concert? I ...
joeyb
16
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How to advise your barber
Men: What is a succinct, clear, Halachically complete line to tell a barber what not to do when cutting your hair?
- 48.4k
15
votes
4
answers
483
views
Why did Yosef's brothers speak freely in the presence of the interpreter?
In Parashat Miketz, Yosef's brothers encounter him disguised as the viceroy of Egypt, and he accuses them of espionage, jails them for three days, and makes a demand that they know their father would ...
- 48.4k
18
votes
11
answers
9k
views
Method for practicing Torah reading
What is your method for practicing reading a Torah portion and thus memorizing the associated vowelizations and intonations? I'm looking for ideas for maximizing your effectiveness at performing a ...
- 48.4k
59
votes
21
answers
23k
views
Is Christianity Avodah Zara?
It is commonly accepted that Islam is not Avodah Zarah (idolatry) since Islam has a clear monotheistic theology with a belief in Allah that parallels our view of "kail" or Hashem. It is even ...
- 2,319
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
December greeting responses [closed]
How do you respond when greeted, during the Winter "holiday season" by a non-Jewish acquaintance with each of the following?
Happy Chanuka (in proximity to Chanuka)
Happy Chanuka (not in proximity to ...
- 48.4k
32
votes
5
answers
2k
views
When blogging/emailing/etc., do I use "God" or "G-d"?
Is there a religious problem with typing out the name: "G-o-d"?
- 135k
29
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Am I allowed to give my kid a non-Hebrew (non-Jewish?) name?
I'd seen some poster that said it's horribly wrong to ever give your kid a non-Jewish/non-Hebrew name. Is that the norm?
- 135k