All Questions
39,042
questions
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I've got a friend who's not holding with yiddishkeit at the moment, as he's gone through a difficult life
Should I convince him when he eats out to try and eat vegan.
Or is this counterintuitive, as he will feel that I'm trying to be mekarev him.
- 1,382
1
vote
1
answer
42
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Why was Avshalom riding a donkey into battle?
In the battle between Avshalom's army and David's forces Avshalom is riding a donkey which runs away when Avshalom is caught by his hair in a tree.
וַיִּקָּרֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם לִפְנֵי עַבְדֵי דָוִד ...
- 13.5k
1
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0
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30
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What is the white powder that covers the Lulav
I bought Lulav and it is covered with white powder. What is this powder? Is it something that relates to the kosher of the Lulav?
- 965
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1
answer
32
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5 fingers correlating to the five senses
Someone was trying to explain to me how the five fingers are connected to the five senses... without much success. Is there a reputable source for this?
- 999
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0
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31
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Tri Maschu תרי משהו - Shach and Taz [closed]
I am trying to find a definition to the principle תרי משהו. I am totally confused by what I have read. Could someone explain this principle to me?
Thanks!
Shkoyach!!!!
Shana Tova!
- 43
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1
answer
63
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Midrash about eshet potifar
I heard in a shiur a midrash that the friends of Eshet Potiphar didn’t believe how beautiful a Jew like Joseph was, so she brought all her friends in a room, sat them in a circle and gave them knives ...
- 1,076
1
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0
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29
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Why did Yoav quote the pasuk of Amalek by Edom?
The Gemara (Bava Basra 21b) says that Yoav misread the passuk Deuteronomy 25:19 "Eradicate the memory of Amalek" as "Eradicate the males of Amalek" and thus only killed the males ...
- 154
1
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1
answer
89
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Did Rash"i hold like the Gr"a or like Rabbeinu Tam?
NOTE: Most of these time calculations assume the day is either the autumnal or vernal equinox, where there are 12 hours of sunlight and therefore Neitz is at 6:00 AM and Gra's shkiah is 6:00 PM
There ...
- 154
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1
answer
45
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Why does כרת וערירי (Excision and Childlessness) come after "death at the hand of Heaven"?
While davening from the Machzor, I noticed this seemingly strange anomaly. At the end in the text of the Al Chet prayer it says, "וְעַל חֲטָאִים שֶׁאָֽנוּ חַיָּבִים עֲלֵיהֶם כָּרֵת וַעֲרִירִי - ...
- 573
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0
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51
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Was Migdal bavel a rocket ship? [duplicate]
I seem to remember hearing somewhile ago that the tower of bavel was a rocket. What is the source that migdal bavel was a "rocket"; or some thing that would fly up to the sky instead of the ...
- 999
3
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0
answers
55
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Should you always avoid embarrassing people?
Following up on a recent question here, if someone asks you a question in a large group setting and mispronounces a word, how should you pronounce that word in your answer? If you pronounce it right, ...
- 19.9k
1
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0
answers
32
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Is it possible to kasher black stainless steel sinks?
Is it possible to kasher a "black stainless steel" sink?
I mean not one that is painted but one that is made with black metal coating, like jewelry.
Example
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
997
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What’s the source of not asking a question to a person that might not know the answer, so that they won't get embarrassed
BH
Someone told me that you shouldn’t ask a question to someone who won't know the answer to what you're asking. What’s the source of this?
- 381
1
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0
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63
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Is there a source for this story of the seven brothers?
This is part of the story:
"There were once seven brothers, the sons of one woman, in the city of Tzippori. They were wealthy, but one day they went to a certain city in the land of India. They ...
3
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0
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67
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Reconiciling Statements Rav Kook made about other Religions
The introduction to the book "Abraham Isaac Kook - The Lights of Penitence, Lights of Holiness, The Moral Principles, Essays, Letters, and Poems", states that Rav Kook was positive toward ...
- 265
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1
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69
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Are there online sources for learning Te’amim of Tehillim?
Are there any online sources for learning how to read the Sephardi Te’amim of Tehillim? While I can find recordings, I can’t find any list or descriptions of the exceptions and such—for example, when ...
- 133
4
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1
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204
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The Satan and his limitations on Yom Kippur?
The Gemara in Nedarim 32b famously writes:
״הַשָּׂטָן״ בְּחוּשְׁבָּנֵיהּ תְּלָת מְאָה וְשִׁיתִּין וְאַרְבְּעָה
The letters of the term "HaSatan" ("The Satan") is 364 in numerical ...
- 27.3k
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0
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44
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Why can't we look at Birkat Kohanim if the Kohanim are covered by a tallit?
The Peninei Halacha writes (here) that:
He should not look at the Kohanim or at anything else, so as not to distract his thoughts from the berachah (Shulchan Aruch 128:23; Mishnah Berurah 89).
The ...
- 10k
2
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0
answers
57
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How to make Hadassim grow more leaves? [closed]
B"H
My Hadassim (chut Hamakif AAA) grew roots.
For the first 1+year, the main one grew 3 leaves and the off-shoots (from where the leaves fell off) grew one leaf staggered up each twig.
Now for 1+...
1
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0
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200
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Is this Jewish Neoplatonic idea heresy?
Context:
I've noticed before that whenever I post anything about Neoplatonism in a Jewish context, such posts usually tend to get downvoted to oblivion, and in general, such views are not very well ...
- 541
2
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1
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364
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Why didn't David ask God what to do when Avshalom rebelled
During the conflict between David and Shaul, David inquired of God (perhaps via the urim v'tummim) as to how to behave (where he should go, what he should do etc.). However, when his son Avshalom ...
- 13.5k
2
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1
answer
31
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Is Chushai to blame for the deaths in Avshalom's rebellion?
In 2 Shmuel 17 Ahitophel counsels Avshalom to immediately pursue David with 12,000 soldiers and predicts that they will be able to kill David without having to kill David's men.
At David's behest, ...
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0
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0
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20
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When does G-d desiring a person to "return and live" apply?
In the machzor there are many variations on a theme that G-d does not desire the death of the wicked, but really wants them to do teshuva and live. For example,
For your praise is just as your name. ...
- 2,096
2
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0
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46
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Insincere (Erev Yom Kippur) mechila
There are those who say that even if someone was only moichel Erev Yom Kippur because he was a pushover or embarrassed not to, the story is over. Once the aggrieving party was told that he has ...
- 4,489
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1
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61
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How to understand the Union of Zeir Anpin and Malchut in Assiya
BH
I understand the world goes through a process of Seder hishtalshelut.
So how to understand the union of ZA and Malchut in the world of Assiya?
And how does this happen through the Tzimtzum?
- 381
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0
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17
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When did Akedat (Binding of Isaac) Issac occur [duplicate]
I heard that one of the reasons that we read "Akedat Issac" in Rosh Hashana is since it happened at the same day. On the other hand, I heard that it occurred on Yom Kippur (day of Atonement)....
- 965
1
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0
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60
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Why do we say "shel Yom HaKippurim" for Yom Kippur candlelighting but "shel Yom Tov" for all other Yom Tovim?
I recognize that Yom Kippur is special, VERY special. But Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot aren't exactly chopped liver, as the saying goes. And it is no more difficult to say "shel Rosh ...
- 459
2
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1
answer
53
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Different names for man
What is the difference between the Hebrew words 'adam', 'ish' and 'enosh'? In Genesis, the word adam is used until the woman is brought to him and then he calls her 'Ishah' and refers to himself as '...
- 125
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2
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191
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+50
Did early biblical figures like Isaac abstain from intimate relations until marriage?
In biblical accounts, several figures, such as Isaac, are noted to have married at a relatively older age compared to today's standards. Isaac, for instance, married at the age of 40. Given the ...
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0
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61
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Why is not Yom Kippur is kept from the Mazikim
It is written that Satan has no control on this day (Yom Kippur), so why, unlike the Seder Night, we say a regular Kriyat Shema on the bed? Moreover, in the Machzorim there are additional Psalms ...
- 965
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0
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65
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Does eating a lot a day before Yom Kippur align with the fast and health restrictions [closed]
The Gmara in Yoma (81:2) brings the verse in parashat Amor and explains that the verse comes to teach that there is a mitzvah to eat on the eve of Yom Kippur. Does eating a lot before fasting lead to ...
- 965
1
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0
answers
59
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Why adding the first verse to Ashrei Yoshvei Beitecha
The Mizmor Ashrei Yoshvei Beitecha is mostly based on the 145 chapter in Psalms. The first two verses begin in the 84:5 chapter and the last verse of the 144 chapter. It is understood that apparently ...
- 965
3
votes
1
answer
470
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Wine on Erev Yom Kippur
Are there any sources saying that one should drink wine on Erev Yom Kippur, it being considered a Yom Tov?
(I’ve heard in chabad that Chassidim used to show up to Kol Nidrei drunk, as “a drunk cannot ...
- 61
1
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0
answers
97
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If one has reasons to think that their mom is Jewish but still lacks hard proof, should they celebrate Jewish holidays (e.g Yom Kippur) just in case? [closed]
Say one has reasons to suspect that their mother is Jewish and thus, they too would be Jewish but they lack hard proof, should they celebrate Jewish holidays just in case?
Are they halachically ...
- 541
-1
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0
answers
28
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What is the difference between Tachanun and Vidui?
What is the difference between Tachanun and Vidui? When do you say (or not say) one or the other? Does every nusach/siddur contain them?
1
vote
3
answers
299
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The reason for the evil in the world today [duplicate]
I have read a book by Dr Michael Heiser that stated if you asked this question to a Christian audience, they would say, the fall of Adam in the garden is the cause of evil in the world today. But if ...
- 125
1
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0
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30
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What does living creature mean?
Does the Hebrew word 'nephesh' (נֶפֶשׁ) refer to any creature (animal or human) or just humans? What does it actually mean in Hebrew? I see it is used in Bereshit to describe the living 'creatures' ...
- 125
1
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1
answer
177
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The Minhag to break specifically glass by Chatan leg in wedding
Why do you break a glass at a wedding and not something else like a plate at an engagement and perhaps something really valuable? And why exactly does the Chatan break the glass by his leg? Why not ...
- 965
1
vote
3
answers
95
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When was Adam restored to favor?
In the Guide for the Perplexed (Part 1, Chapter 7), Rambam quotes the Midrash which states that during the 130 years when Adam was under rebuke, he begat spirits, i.e demons; when, however, he was ...
- 125
2
votes
0
answers
44
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Looking at one's tzitzit
In some siddurim it writes to look at one's tzitzit during birchat halevana and kaparot.
What is the reason for this?
- 999
4
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1
answer
155
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+50
What are the peculiarities of a school or company of the prophets לַהֲקַ֚ת הַנְּבִיאִים֙ (1 Samuel 19:20)?
What are the peculiarities of a school or company of the prophets לַהֲקַ֚ת הַנְּבִיאִים֙ (I Samuel 19:20)?
What did one learn in a school of the prophets?
How did one become a student in a school of ...
- 83
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0
answers
34
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Mourner’s Kaddish at Minchah [closed]
Due to my medical work I am unable to say Kaddish for my parent at Minchah. I understand that I should say Kaddish at least once a day. What is the source for this? Besides using a proxy and practical ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
71
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Mislabeling of Kosher food
This question is regarding the mislabeling of treif as kosher, by food producing companies.
It happens every so often that we see the OU, OK etc. put out a msg saying that their kosher symbol was used ...
- 854
1
vote
2
answers
169
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Man like God or separate from God
Bereshit 3:22:
ויאמר ה' אלקים הן האדם היה כאחד ממנו לדעת טוב ורע
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us,
to know good and evil"
Is this the correct translation? ...
- 125
1
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0
answers
48
views
What’s the correct nusach Ari [closed]
BH
How come there are so many Nusach Ari’s?? What is the correct one to Daven from? And are all Nusach Ari’s the thirteenth gate where everyone could enter?
- 381
0
votes
1
answer
60
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Why does G-d, blessed be He, say that something did not enter His mind when He is all-knowing?
Jeremiah 19:5 states:
They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal— something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.
...
- 541
5
votes
3
answers
809
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What’s the deal with צרויה?
Found out recently that צרויה as in (Yoav Ben Tzruyah) was actually Yoav’s mom and not his father. Why is Yoav constantly referred to as the son of his mother, when the Tanach norm is to use their ...
- 1,076
4
votes
0
answers
65
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Using Wooden Screws to Secure the Beams that Hold Up Schach?
Lechatchila one should not use metal objects that are mekabel tumah (susceptible to tumah) for something that supports the s'chach ("maamid"), however, "maamid d'maamid" is ...
- 41
1
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0
answers
50
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Aser titasher Talmud bavli Taanith 9a-b
As for the advice to give maaser kesafim, מעשׁר כספים to become rich:
Talmud Bavli Taánith 9a-b
עַשֵּׂ֣ר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר becomes תִּתְעַשֵּׁר עַשֵּׂ֣ר.
Why does the Talmud uses ithpael ThiTh’ASheeR in ...
-1
votes
1
answer
70
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There were foreigners living in the Holy Land during the times of the Monarchy. Were they Noahides? If not, why didn't Israelites convert them?
Often throughout the Tanakh, you will see references to foreigners living the Holy Land, e.g. in Leviticus 19 I think.
Were these foreigners Noahides, and if not, why didn't they convert them so that ...
- 541