All Questions
36,065
questions
-1
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0
answers
24
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When to NOT perform a mitzvah? [closed]
I am somebody who deals daily with perfectionism and burnout. I’m particular, I push myself really hard with my mitzvah observance, but it makes me miserable. Problem is, I never know when not to ...
1
vote
0
answers
18
views
Who owns a foster animal?
In animal foster care, the shelter provides everything including food. You are required to take care of the animal (feed, walks, train…). Are you or the shelter considered the owner and by extension ...
- 1,582
3
votes
0
answers
43
views
Did the Jews keep the Chagim in the Midbar?
Were the Bnei Yisroel obligated to keep Shavuot, Sukkot and Pesach during the 40 years in the Midbar?
- 6,578
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
Pardes Torah Commentary
Are there any Torah commentaries that incorporate a systematic theory of PaRDeS analysis?
Given the number of commentaries out there, even just the ones from eminent Torah authorities (the numerous ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
36
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My maternal 4th-great grandmother, born in 1787, had a Jewish maiden name, Zagel, and lived in Eastern Europe. Am I, therefore, Jewish? [duplicate]
My maternal 4th-great grandmother, born in 1787, had a Jewish maiden name, Zagel, and lived in Eastern Europe. Am I, therefore, Jewish?
I was raised in the Roman Catholic religion, yet, since I was 8 ...
- 1
-1
votes
0
answers
45
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Is "Maimonides' Introduction to the Mishnah" translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel a complete translation of Rambam's Hakdama to Mishnayos?
Is "Maimonides' Introduction to the Mishnah" translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel published by Yeshivath Beth Moshe of Scranton a complete translation of Rambam's Hakdama to Mishnayos?
user14048
2
votes
1
answer
137
views
Birkas Hamazon if I left the place I ate in
If a person washed and ate bread without the intention of completing the meal elsewhere and then left his house and cannot return, is that person allowed to say the grace after meal at his new ...
- 406
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
Introduction to the Ben Ish Chai
Which one of the Ben Ish Chai's books is the best introduction to his thought and work?
- 407
1
vote
1
answer
251
views
Sadducees versus Pharisees about Shavuot
When the Sadducees tried to argue that Shavuot comes on the Sunday after the first Shabbat in Pessah (because the Torah says "the day after Shabbat") Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai countered them ...
- 17.1k
1
vote
0
answers
64
views
Can one go visit a haunted house [closed]
Is it permitted Al pi halacha to visit a haunted house for fun or curiosity. And or is it a sakonas nefoshos.
- 926
5
votes
2
answers
154
views
Does Shoftim 2:10 refute the Kuzari argument?
Shoftim 2:10 states that a generation arose which:
לא ידעו את ה' וגם את המעשה אשר עשה לישראל
knew not the L-rd, nor yet the work which he had done for Yisrael
This either means that we literally ...
0
votes
0
answers
73
views
Is it true that abortion is allowed if it endangers the mother's mental health?
I heard this and it makes no sense because then almost every mother would have the excuse to abort; What would the exact parameters of such mental health issues be?
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3
votes
2
answers
79
views
Matan Torah: Coercion or out of love?
There is a Midrashic approach to "and they stood at the foot of the mountain" (Shemos 19:17), namely that G-d literally held the mountain over the heads of B'nei Yisrael, coercing them to ...
- 1,911
2
votes
1
answer
113
views
Why can Jews get their ears pierced but can't get tattoos?
If the Torah forbids tattoos, why doesn't it ban peircings. Isn't it self harm? If you could quote your sources that would be appreciated.
- 115
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
Where is the source in the Zohar that the neshomo of a person or righteous person comes down to the guf on the day of the yorzeit
I've heard it quoted, but I don't remember the exact source.
- 926
2
votes
1
answer
120
views
Why would the Rebbe Rashab lift his hands for al netilas yadayim?
The minhag Chabad by netilas yadayim in the morning is to raise the hands until the peyos for the brocho al netilas yadayim. The source for the minhag is in Likutei Diburim of the previous Lubavitcher ...
- 696
4
votes
2
answers
520
views
What is a prophet in Judaism?
When can one be considered a prophet in Judaism? What do they have to do to achieve the title of prophet? Do they have to make a predication about the future?
- 187
1
vote
4
answers
98
views
Parashiot Search Utility
Shalom friends!
Is there such a service that keywords can be searched to find the parasha where the keyword can be found. For example if I typed the word "Moses" then all the parshiot in the ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
Why did Rabbi Akiva give smichah to the 5 talmidim if Rabbi Yehudah ben Bova already gave them?
Why did they receive semicha twice?
They both gave semicha to Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yehudah bar Iloiy, Rabbi Elozor ben Shamua.
I noticed Rabbi Yehudah ben Bova also gave Rav ...
- 926
0
votes
0
answers
40
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When was kosher certification created? [duplicate]
When was kosher certification created? Another way of saying this question was when did the Rabbis say that it was appropriate to have a governing body (such as the OU, Star-K etc...) which oversees ...
- 125
0
votes
1
answer
61
views
Where are the "many times" (פעמים רבות) referred to by Maimonides in his commentary on Mishnah Sotah 3:4? Which statement of בן עזאי?
The Mishnah Sotah 3:4 states:
אֵינָהּ מַסְפֶּקֶת לִשְׁתּוֹת עַד שֶׁפָּנֶיהָ מוֹרִיקוֹת וְעֵינֶיהָ
בּוֹלְטוֹת וְהִיא מִתְמַלֵּאת גִּידִין, וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים הוֹצִיאוּהָ
הוֹצִיאוּהָ, שֶׁלֹּא תְטַמֵּא ...
- 406
0
votes
1
answer
30
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Why does the Torah in Leviticus 21/23 use the word "Mikdoshay" in plural form?
אַ֣ךְ אֶל־הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֗א וְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ כִּֽי־מ֣וּם בּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יְחַלֵּל֙ אֶת־מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃
but he shall not enter behind the curtain or ...
- 406
-5
votes
0
answers
42
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Is the Messiah משיח considered to be a Leader or a Saviour in Jewish thought in the various periods of our history? [closed]
The root of the word משיח seems to come from the concept of anointing. How is it that it has taken on the additional meaning of “saviour”?
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votes
0
answers
17
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What are the foundation sifrey chassidus that should be studied to understand it [duplicate]
What are known as the sefarim ikariyim in the library of hasidic books.
There are contemporary books which glean sources. But what are the foundational texts.
- 926
1
vote
0
answers
48
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What does Shavuot commemorate? [duplicate]
When did the tradition of interpreting Shavuot as commemorating the giving of the Torah ("Zman matan toratenu") begin and what is the first source for that?
In the Torah itself, Shavuot is ...
- 17.1k
0
votes
1
answer
34
views
Can the mother determine the tribe of the son if her father had no sons and she was married to a gentile [duplicate]
There are several passages that clearly say that the tribe of the son is the tribe of the father.
I saw only below the passage that seems to say that the mother's tribe was passed onto her son.
Tanakh ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
Why is Esav identified with the European people?
This question is for the history buffs. Do you know why we say Esav is Rome and Esav is modern day European descendants?
- 59
2
votes
1
answer
122
views
Where was Maaeser Sheni brought before the beit hamikdash was built?
This was eaten in Yerushalayim, but prior to the beit hamikdash what was done? I haven't seen an answer to this. Any sources would be great.
- 61
2
votes
1
answer
35
views
Parashat Emor - Connection Between Kohen and Sacrifice
Shalom! In parashat Emor, both the Kohen and the sacrifice are disqualified based on physical deformities. What is the connection between the two? (Answers on different levels Pshat, Drash, Sod would ...
- 33
0
votes
2
answers
77
views
ועם רוחי גויתי meaning in Adon Olam
What is the correct meaning and translation of the last line of Adon Olam: ועם רוחי גויתי
- 157
1
vote
1
answer
88
views
How to pronounce Hebrew with the Chassidic pronunciation?
First of all, I'm not Jewish but I love Judaism and feel a strong connection to the Jewish people and faith.
My question is regarding the Chassidic way of Hebrew pronunciation when praying and reading ...
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0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Did Chazal say that Ramses was the Pharaoh?
I have two questions
Did Chazal say that Ramses was the Pharaoh?
Did Pharaoh die in Yam Suf?
I heard something about Pharaoh dying in Yam Suf then becoming a gilgul which became king of Assyria. I ...
- 11
3
votes
3
answers
284
views
How to identify if a Chabad shul is Meshichist?
How can one discern whether a Chabad shul is Meshichist?
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0
votes
1
answer
62
views
Were the priests that served in the unsanctioned Temple in the northern kingdom Levites?
I wouldn't think that the Levites would agree to serve in an unsanctioned Temple, often making offerings to Ba'al.
- 1,144
2
votes
4
answers
83
views
Is there a tehilim in Hebrew or English with amazing commentaries?
I'm looking for a tehilim with commentaries that are melaket from commentaries like the Alter Rebbe or Reb Nachman or any of the chassidic masters. I don't mind if it is in Hebrew or English.
Is there ...
- 926
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Learning Hebrew words from a song [closed]
I am a music teacher and have come across some words and phrases that I'm unaware of, I apologize for my ignorance.
They are, "b'tel chay" and "ta-nu, ta-nu, ra-ba-nan".
I am ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
How do I know if a garment is considered tights or leggings or pants?
Using the Shulchan Aruch as a guide how can we deduce where womens' leg wear crosses from being considered tights to being considered leggings to being considered pants. Is there a decision algorithm ...
- 319
2
votes
1
answer
247
views
Is there a source that says that Hashem keeps all halachos of the Torah? [closed]
I am looking for the מקור that Hashem keeps all Halachos of the Torah - if there is one.
- 406
2
votes
1
answer
73
views
What is the earliest use of Ein Sof as a marker of Hashem?
I was looking at the modern Hebrew word אינסוף (infinite, overwhelming) and wondered about how it was used in earlier times. The gemara has many instances of the words אין סוף but they all seem to be ...
- 36.5k
0
votes
1
answer
27
views
Kli Yakar to B’midbar 26:64
Can anyone help me with the final words of the quoted passage (below) from this commentary? Beginning with the asterisks, to the end. Thanks!
אבל הנשים של אותו דור צדקניות היו והיו אוהבים הצדקה, הן ...
- 1,457
1
vote
0
answers
62
views
How to determine if one is disqualified for ruling on bedika cloths
Let's say a person is minorly colorblind, as they failed one or more of the Isihara Tests. How can they determine if they are disqualified for mareh's, examining bedika cloths? If they can see red and ...
- 18.2k
6
votes
0
answers
80
views
Replacement kesubah but the father had a name change
I heard an interesting question but didn't hear the answer. There are laws about what to do when someone loses their Kesubah. They write something new called a kesubah d'irkesa, which is a document ...
- 18.2k
0
votes
0
answers
42
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Is there modern scholarship on Sefer HaBris?
Have there been any studies, examinations, comparisons, discussions etc. of Sefer HaBris in light of modern (~21st Century) science. I'm looking for elaboration on this book particularly within a ...
- 232
0
votes
1
answer
65
views
Seforim Recommendations on Bava Metzia
Any recommendations on seforim that deals with (commentaries or insights) Bava Metzia (especially on Perek Eilu Metzios)? Preferably in English. Preferably seforim that explain the deeper meaning of ...
- 1,911
1
vote
2
answers
122
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English translation of Rashi Talmud Commentary
Are there any Rashi commentaries in English on Moed Katan?
If not, does anyone know where I can find an accurate (non-Google translate) rendition of this:
אפילו בספר עזרא - ספר תורה של עזרא ואני שמעתי ...
4
votes
1
answer
121
views
Temple and an Islamic shrine simultaneously on the Temple Mount
Is there any halachic work around for a Jewish Temple and an Islamic shrine to be on the Temple Mount at the same time? I am talking about the the shrine know as Qubbat aṣ-Ṣakhra (or in English as the ...
- 319
2
votes
0
answers
34
views
Hashavas Aveida with changing forfeiture status
In an instance in which an object is found prior to forfeiture by despair ( Ye'ush) the finder is obligated to return the item. However, in an instance in which despair is presumed either implicitly ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Does Being Buried next to Christians Affect the Soul of a Ben/Bat Noach?
I asked this question once and never got an answer and part of it is because historically the only reasons why Gentiles approached the Jewish community was either to convert them or for blood libels. ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
143
views
Rape perpetrated by an adult male towards a girl under three years of age: halachic framework
In his Mishneh Torah -Issurei Biah 1:13, Rambam states that if a male copulates with a girl under the age of three,also the male,even if he was an adult, is exempt from liability, for the act is not ...
- 2,322
1
vote
2
answers
54
views
Question on the connection of the braitot in Sanhedrin 32b
In Bavli Sanhedrin 32b it says:
"The Sages taught: The verse states: “Justice, justice, shall you follow.” This teaches that one should follow the best, most prestigious, court of the generation....
- 20.2k