All Questions
36,753
questions
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13
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Learning to chant Torah with trope
It takes me at least 3-4 hours (cumulative) to learn 5-10 psukim (sentences) in trope. This is just one Aliyah! And unlike many of you, I know the notes, the grammar, and understand most of the words. ...
- 11
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0
answers
12
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Can Gentiles Perform a Vasectomy?
Can Gentiles perform a vasectomy once there is an understanding that they are not obligated to have children? If it is prohibited, what principle is it linked to? If vasectomy is prohibited, would ...
- 41
2
votes
2
answers
20
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Is a reason given for why the sacrifice of the Red Heifer was made at the Mt. of Olives rather than at the Beit Hamikdash?
As stated, the Red Heifer sacrificial process involved taking the animal to the Mt. of Olives opposite the temple.
Was a reason for this ever given? Is it purely to emphasize the separation of this ...
- 705
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votes
1
answer
24
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Parameters of a Cheshbon Hanefesh
I've come across the concept of a Cheshbon Hanefesh (eg. in Garden of Emunah). Is this a universally recognised thing? Is there any halacha about it? Do different opinions consider it to be ...
- 1,305
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votes
3
answers
62
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Is it possible to use free will to avoid getting married?
In the context of zivugim, it seems that it's not possible to marry someone who is not your zivug. See this answer for some sources, as well as this gemara in Moed Katan 18b for example.
What I have ...
- 61
4
votes
1
answer
158
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe and the name Nimrod
Can anyone help me find the origin of the story recorded here:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson instructed a ba’al teshuvah (returner
to Judaism) whose name was Nimrod (נִמְרוֹד; meaning “Let us ...
- 1,590
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votes
0
answers
33
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Neila: Extended Shemoneh Esrei Vs receiving Pesichas Neila
On Yom Kippur, Neilah represents the climax of the day. Hashem as it were, is about to seal our fate and finalise our year ahead. It is correspondingly a time to really storm the heavens and daven ...
- 21.3k
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0
answers
29
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Is every word of a translation as important as every word of the original Hebrew?
This question came up during a discussion about Hebrew vs translated texts and I'm curious what the answer or consensus is.
We're taught that every single word and letter is specific and used for a ...
- 705
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0
answers
16
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Torah Sources for Womens Headcovering [duplicate]
What are some biblical sources (Tanach, Talmud etc...) for the obligation for a married woman to cover her hair?
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
42
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When will the "marriage" between G-d and Am Yisrael be completed?
This post is sort of related to this post that I wrote earlier.
There is a Midrash that explains that this worlds serves as the "engagement of Am Yisrael with Hashem" and that the world-to-...
- 2,688
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
Why is Shabbat observed according to the time zone one is in rather than according to the one where the mitzvah of Shabbat was given?
Why is Shabbat observed, Friday night through Saturday day, according to the time zone that one is in rather than the time zone that the mitzvah of Shabbat was given in (the time zone of Mt. Sinai)?
- 13
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votes
0
answers
30
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how is the 10th commandment "לֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד" understood in light of Devarim parshas Nitzavim last pasuk of shlishi?
How is the 10th commandment of the 10 commandments "לֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד" (not to covet) understood in light of the verse in Devarim?
The verse in Devarim is, "The hidden things belong to the ...
- 4,079
1
vote
0
answers
50
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Three Crowns - heard in shiur, can't find source
I have heard in a reliable shiur that there are three crowns each Jew can have, and they are:
Tzaddik
Baal Teshuva
Kadosh (Martyr)
However, I am unable to find the source for this. I was wondering ...
- 61
3
votes
4
answers
185
views
Ivdu es Hashem beSimcha in practice
Tehillim 100:2 tells us that we need to serve Hashem with joy.
I'm sure that this is something that many people have difficulty with - especially those of us who suffer from mental health issues.
Most ...
- 1,305
1
vote
0
answers
32
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How is it concluded from Yerushalmi Shevi'it 6:1 that Rabbi Yishmael b'Rabbi Yosei was a kohen?
I heard a number of months ago that it can be concluded from Yerushalmi Shevi'it 6:1 that Rabbi Yishmael b'Rabbi Yosei was a kohen (this topic in itself is debated, see a short summary in his Hebrew ...
- 21.2k
2
votes
0
answers
31
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Birkat HaGomel and Tehillim
I once met a Chabadnik who said Tehillim (I forget which) at the end of a journey instead of Birkat HaGomel. Is this normal among:
Chabadnikim?
(Any) other Chasidim?
Other groups of Jews?
Does ...
- 43
0
votes
1
answer
55
views
To return to G-d from their sins via teshuva? Yoma 86b
In a previous post the question is asked how Hashem could remarry Yisrael if in Devarim (24:4) it is written that it is assur to remarry a divorcee after she strayed with another husband?
then her ...
- 2,688
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votes
1
answer
57
views
What would be the Bracha Rishona for a certain blended combination of foods?
According to Ashkenazim: What would be the Bracha Rishona for a mixture of pureed pumpkin, applesauce and cinnamon? It is a smooth puree (no chunks or identifiable bits). The pumpkin and applesauce ...
- 379
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votes
0
answers
87
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Do you get into olam haba if you do not celebrate shabbat, eat pig, basically disregard Judaism?
Do you? I mean like do nothing?
- 13
2
votes
0
answers
68
views
After city walls were no longer built, what did the ~10M Jews living in pre-Holocaust Europe do regarding an Eruv?
As per my quick research 1 2 sometime around 1800 to 1920 European cities stopped erecting and started removing city walls. My understanding is that a lot of the laws regarding Eruv was assuming that ...
- 141
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
Free will after Moshiach [duplicate]
In the Rosh Hashana amida (at least nusach Ashkenaz), there is a tefilla that the whole world should recognise Hashem as King and that all wickedness should evaporate like smoke. I presume that this ...
- 1,305
3
votes
2
answers
161
views
Coping with guilt over spilled seed and looking at inappropriate things
I'm asking this because I'm sure that I'm not the only one here, so hopefully this won't be counted as a personal question.
For well over 20 years, I've struggled with the temptation to look at things ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
98
views
How would you define this list of breakaways from Judaism?
I don’t know so much about history and theology, but I saw the following list and I was hoping that someone could help me understand it;
I saw R Dovid Gottlieb in "Reason to Believe" ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
Percentage moon illuminated to declare a new month?
How is a new Jewish month declared?
Today, it is precomputed but in the past, a new month was declared only when the new crescent was visually seen.
Today, we have software like Stellarium which ...
- 111
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
29 or 30 days of Elul
Does the month of Elul ALWAYS have 29 days, or can it also have 30 days?
Also, if there are only 29 days of Elul and Mosheh went up to Mount Sinai on the first of Elul, and then came down on the 10th ...
- 239
-1
votes
1
answer
57
views
Trinity in connection with a - hypothetical future - Jesus [closed]
(Being otherwise completely ignorant) I assume that the Old Testament is a true subset of Judaism, with prophecies of a coming Jesus, I wonder if there is an opinion in Judaism about the view of a ...
2
votes
4
answers
92
views
Possible causes of divine judgement of losing one's memory, measure for measure?
This is definitely not to imply that anyone who gets Alzheimer's or has memory issues is being judged for sin. Who knows the ways of Hashem in every situation? But in some cases, we see in Tanakh that ...
- 314
0
votes
1
answer
115
views
Lesbianism would be prohibited based on what principle?
"Do not do as in Egypt" as written in Leviticus 18 indicates what kind of practice? A rabbi from Brazil (I am Brazilian) with whom I have contact cites Rambam, which refers to the homosexual ...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
53
views
Gentiles marriage
Gentile couples are under what rules or laws regarding marital rights and duties compared to the onah laws of Judaism such as sexual attendance, food, clothing and whether it is a man's duty to ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
61
views
Accepting judgement
I often think about the people who went through the concentration camps run by the Nazis, and many of the other horrific things that Jewish people have been subjected to throughout the ages. I ...
- 1,305
1
vote
1
answer
57
views
What sin was Hevel killed for?
In Judaism we believe that someone who is murdered is being killed as punishment for his sins. What sin did Hevel commit to deserve to be put to death?
- 339
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
Stroller ball bearing grease
On Yom Tov, when we push a stroller, the grease in the ball bearings holding the wheels to the axle, gets smeared within the balls. Is this is a melacha of smearing?
- 471
-3
votes
0
answers
52
views
Which of these is a worse averah? [duplicate]
Which of these is worse for a Jewish man (if any)? "Spilling seed", intercourse with an unmarried Jewish woman or intercourse with an unmarried non-Jewish woman?
Don't worry - not asking ...
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
Rambam's example for teshuva
Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuva 2:1:
For example, a person engaged in illicit sexual relations with a
woman. Afterwards, they met in privacy, in the same country, while his
love for her and ...
- 1,305
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votes
0
answers
48
views
Is dancing at a club or rave forbidden? [duplicate]
Is dancing at a rave not for the purposes of mingling with another sex forbidden? The background is that there are many different venues with different music , different personalities and different ...
- 59
3
votes
1
answer
49
views
Which Atzei Chayim does the Yad go on
When dressing the Torah for it's return to the Ark, does the Yad (chain) go around a particular Atz Chayim? If so, right or left when facing the Torah?
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
Can Jews attend a Muslim wedding? [closed]
I have a close Muslim personal friend who is getting married soon. Being a close friend, I was invited to his wedding. The wedding takes place in a conventional event venue (i.e., not a mosque or any ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
50
views
Being punished for things beyond bechira point
According to Rabbi Dessler's idea of a "bechira point", if something is beyond my bechira point and I transgress it, does that mean that I won't be punished for it because it is beyond what ...
- 1,305
4
votes
2
answers
112
views
Teshuva knowing that I'm likely to sin again
Every year I have a very similar list of aveiros that I want to stop. Practically, I know that it is too much to expect myself to have completely stopped all of them by next Rosh Hashana, so I ...
- 1,305
3
votes
1
answer
75
views
The Shaliach tzibbur reciting "Hamelech" on Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur from his seat
On both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the shaliach tzibbur chants "Hamelech" at the onset of Shacharis from his seat and then makes his way to the amud.
The Aruch HaShulchan, OC 584:1 brings ...
- 21.3k
0
votes
0
answers
40
views
May a non-Jew who has not undergone gerus teach Torah to Jews?
Shalom.
I recently gave answer on Mi Yodeya here:
Does coming to God near death count less than coming to God when times are good?
I took a chance on this. I wasn't sure this was lawful. As explained ...
- 1,127
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votes
0
answers
17
views
Is the prophet "like moses" in Deut 18 always understood specifically not in the sense of the "prophet like Moses" in Deut 34:10?
Is the prophet "like moses" in Deut 18 always understood specifically not in the sense of the "prophet like Moses" in Deut 34:10?
Deut 18:18 "נָבִיא אָקִים לָהֶם מִקֶּרֶב ...
- 2,011
3
votes
1
answer
108
views
Where was Carshina? (Borit Carshina)
I'm assuming that Carshina (as mentioned in Pitom HaKetores - פטום הקטורת) is a place, since the Ketores also mentions places like Cyprus, Sedom, Jordan.
Any idea where Carshina is/was?
- 333
1
vote
1
answer
112
views
How do non-chassidim relate to the Baal Shem Tov's ascent to heaven?
With respect to non-chassidic Torah scholars who respect the Baal Shem Tov and don't believe he was hallucinating in his אגרת הגאולה:
Do any of them endorse or discuss the Baal Shem's letter? (e.g. R....
- 440
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votes
3
answers
48
views
Does coming to God near death count less than coming to God when times are good?
Growing old and dying are a normal part of life.
For some people though, the realization time is running out can result in them pursuing God in a last minute act of desperation.
Hypothetically ...
- 705
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
Reducing aveiros vs increasing mitzvos
Is it more important to focus on reducing our aveiros than increasing our mitzvos? Does that depend on anything?
- 1,305
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
Did the Levites and Priests Ever Teach the Oral Law? If not, Why not?
I've learned that the basic transmission of the oral law was: Moses > Joshua > Elders > Prophets > Great Assembly > Specific Rabbis
But this seems to run contradictory from what we'd ...
- 9,755
-1
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0
answers
27
views
Surname Schachter -- could it have to do with chess sometimes? [closed]
I understand that it is thought to derive from someone who was butcher but the German word for "chess" is "Schach" and I am thinking that in the days when surnames were being ...
- 99
0
votes
2
answers
57
views
Sources identification of the Steipler Gaon
I've read in an article that the Steipler Gaon, Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky zt"l wrote:
I’ve seen many who were thought in their youth to be incapable of succeeding, yet over time they grew to ...
- 2,688
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
Can a kohen have a child by IVF with a divorce. What is the status of the child?
Is there any workaround avialable for thousands of kohanim who want to have children but are older singles and can't get married because of the high percentage of divorcees in the female population ...
