All Questions
39,715
questions
1
vote
0
answers
18
views
Was Yaakov's kidushin to Leah valid?
It says in Masechet Bava Batra 123a:
אָמַר לָהּ מִינַּסְבַתְּ לִי אָמְרָה לֵיהּ אִין מִיהוּ אַבָא רַמָאָה הוּא וְְלאֹ יָכְלַתְּ לֵיהּ אָמַר לָהּ מַאי רַמָּאוּתֵיהּ אֲמָרָהּ לֵיהּ אִית לִי אַחְתָּא ...
- 910
0
votes
1
answer
17
views
The minhag to read chapter 119 in Tehilim in Chanuka (Temney Api)
I heard that there is a minhag to read Chapter 119 in Tehilim (Psalms) every Chanuka Evening (Temney Api the name of the chapter). I also heard that each evening there are 4 letters of the chapter to ...
- 1,179
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
Are we missing the point in the idea of a bashert?
There are several sources which say that our spouse is predetermined from when/before we are born. I remember hearing a Rav say once that there are many people who we could be equally happy with as ...
- 2,276
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
Repetitiveness and the reason for the way of reading the Torah on Hanukkah
Why is it during Hanukkah that the reading of the Torah (according to the Ashkenazi Nusach Sfard) is repeated again on Shlishi? Was it not possible to add other verses? And why is the reading ...
- 1,179
2
votes
1
answer
98
views
Reusing cotton wool wicks during Hanukkah
One who lights Hanukkah candles with oil and cotton wool wicks. Is it allowed to use yesterday's wicks again for the same candle or for another candle? There is no difference in the quality of light ...
- 1,179
0
votes
1
answer
35
views
Using a nail file on Shabbat
According to Halacha, is one allowed to file their nails with a nail file on Shabbat? Would this fit into a specific melacha that is prohibited? Source for this would be appreciated
- 892
1
vote
0
answers
19
views
Why do we say berachot on hanukah if it’s post-Torah [duplicate]
Since Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah, why do we say bercahot with hashem’s name, especially lehadlik ner which includes “asher kiddishanu bemitzvotav”. If hanukah is not part of the ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
57
views
What is the origin of Al Ha Nissim for Hanukka?
Whence Al Ha Nissim that we say on Hanukka? Who wrote it? When? When did it enter the siddur? Has the wording changed over time?
- 7,926
1
vote
0
answers
34
views
Chanukah greetings proper form
why is the greeting for Hanukah
חג אורים שמח "chag urim samach"
And not חג אורות?
- 29
-4
votes
0
answers
75
views
Does boofing meth on Yom Kippur violate the fast?
It is neither eating nor drinking.
On the other hand you are "ingesting" a substance albeit from the other end.
2
votes
1
answer
48
views
The Rokeach and the Chanukah candle
Rabbi Daniel Glatstein (The Light And The Splendor, p. 336-337) quotes the Rokeach, Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Worms and mentions the following parable:
When a new building is complete, the first ...
- 8,854
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Do messianic prophecies have to occur immediately or can they all be fulfilled over a longer period of time before and after his arrival?
We have a wide swath of prophecies and information regarding the messianic age and the events which are to happen both prior and during mashiach.
My question is whether the timelines of such events ...
- 983
1
vote
0
answers
148
views
Is a non-Jew permitted to light a menorah? [closed]
Is it ok/respectful for a non-Jew to light the menorah?
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
129
views
Are there also strong admonitions against the wealthy in the Jewish Bible?
In Christianity, there are several passages containing warnings or even threats directed at wealthy individuals, cautioning them about the state of their souls. For instance:
Mark 10:24:
But Jesus ...
- 153
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Mixed gender seating for entertainment
There is a Heter some Poskim (such as rabbi Moshe feinstein), give to sit in public transportation next to someone of the opposite gender. My question is, what is the Halacha about sitting next to ...
- 892
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Can we put less oil in Shamash of the Hanukiya
Those who light with oil, can they put an amount of oil in the Shamash so that it will light less than 30 minutes? (The other candles will of course be light for at least 30 minutes)
- 1,179
4
votes
0
answers
60
views
Comparison of different hashkafas
I'm curious whether anyone has published a (reasonably unbiased) comparison of different major hashkafas and the key differences between them. Has anyone come across such a thing?
To clarify: I'm ...
- 2,276
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
Buying seforim online
Is there a problem with buying seforim from a (non-Jewish) online seller, such as Amazon? eg. do we need to worry about how they have treated the seforim (eg. thrown the packages around)? If there ...
- 2,276
2
votes
1
answer
392
views
Does everyone end up with their 'soulmate'/bashert?
I ask this in all respect because there are people who end up not having a romantic partner or spouse in their life. Yet, there is an assertion that HaShem has designated for each individual a ...
- 326
2
votes
4
answers
185
views
Star coming from Jacob?
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, And a scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all ...
- 892
4
votes
3
answers
425
views
Do angels still manifest themselves as humans and appear to us unknowingly?
Do angels still manifest themselves as humans and appear to us without us knowing? Do the rabbinic sources have something to say about this?
- 326
2
votes
0
answers
79
views
How to interpret statements of Rabbonim on the nature of reality
I know that some people tend to take more or less everything that a Rav says as the absolute truth, but throughout the ages, different Rabbonim have expressed a variety of opinions, which can, in many ...
- 2,276
4
votes
0
answers
59
views
Relativistic Zmanim [duplicate]
Physicists have conclusively proven that if a spaceship leaves Earth and travels fast enough, then turns around and comes back, a person in the spaceship experiences a much shorter time than people on ...
- 2,276
2
votes
1
answer
74
views
Are there some humans in history who are an exception to the idea of free will?
We all talk about the idea that God has an ultimate plan and that we are all existing within that plan.
That said, humans have free will as we are judged by our actions due to this free will.
My ...
- 983
0
votes
0
answers
44
views
Are only Jews the sons of Israel? [closed]
Is being a son of Israel limited only to those whose mothers are known to be Jewish?
Is one no longer a son of Israel if he is cut from the nation? If not, is there then a possibility of return after ...
- 85
3
votes
0
answers
86
views
Why is the "eilah" tree so special?
After the battle for Dinah, Yaakov Avinu tells those with him to bury their idols under the "eilah" tree.
Bereishis (35:4) - וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר אֲשֶׁר ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
2
answers
60
views
Chasam Sofer Biography
Does anybody have any recommendations for a Biography about the Chasam Sofer? I'm really interested in learning more about him and the events in his life that may have influenced his writings.
- 71
2
votes
1
answer
54
views
Does someone get punished for unknowingly committing a sin or unknowingly hurting a person?
Does someone get punished for unknowingly committing a sin or unknowingly hurting a person? Please provide sources, thanks.
- 326
6
votes
1
answer
90
views
Pidyon Peter chamor on c section born donkeys
Does the mitzvah of Pidyon Peter Chamor (redeeming the firstborn donkey), apply if the donkey was born through C section (caesarean section)? Or does the Halakha not consider that is birth for the ...
- 892
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Choosing a minhag based on ancestry
To roughly which year does a Jew, who does not descend from any mixed marriage, need to analyze his patrilineal ancestry to find out the minhag of your family?
Also taking into account that many ...
3
votes
2
answers
213
views
Why did Yehuda/Shelah need Yibum with Tamar? She had a Chazaka
Why did Yehuda/Shelah have to Yibum, after all Tamar already has 2 of her husbands die, and even though we pasken chazakah happens after three times we pasken you only need 2 times for a danger?
- 141
2
votes
1
answer
75
views
What happened to Torah she be al peh in the generations before Yoshiyahu HaMelech?
I get the impression from learning about Yoshiyahu HaMelech that the country as a whole almost entirely forgot about the Torah altogether in the previous generations, until he discovered the Sefer ...
- 2,276
3
votes
1
answer
75
views
Gematria of Person's Name
Kol Hator states that a person has multiple gematrios that are important to him, such as one's name, one's name plus father's name, name plus father's and mother's name, etc, etc.
My question is, ...
- 131
-1
votes
0
answers
82
views
Neshama Transfer/Copy - what happens to the higher parts of the soul? [duplicate]
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan writes in his essay Immortality and the Soul that the Neshomo is effectively the data of our "memories, thought patterns and personality traits" and discusses the idea of ...
- 2,276
0
votes
1
answer
59
views
Cleaning clothes before Passover?
Does one have to clean all their dirty clothes before Pesach (on the principle of being careful to washout all the chametz from their house)? What is the general Halakha for your clothing collections (...
- 892
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
What daf and exact quote is this talking about in the Rashash
BH
The Rashash on the Tosfot daf 7B dibur hamaskil VeIbait Eima brings support from a different Gemara somewhere in Brachot. What’s the exact source and lashon of this? Like where is it? In my Gemara ...
- 755
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How does a Jewish community recognize a Jewish person they hadn't seen ever before?
Let's say there is a Jewish community where everybody knows each other, for example in a city. Let's say a new Jewish person arrives and manifests their will to get integrated with them. Nobody knows ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
63
views
Modern/ legible edition of Chik’kei Lev
Is anyone aware of a modern edition, or transcription, of Rabbi Chaim Palaggi’s responsa Chik’kei Lev? The only edition I can find on Otzar and on HebrewBooks is a scan that’s barely legible. And it ...
- 2,361
4
votes
5
answers
246
views
Let's Kill Hitler
There is a popular moral question - if you had access to a time machine that was capable of allowing you to do so, should you go back in time and kill Hitler when he was a child, before he had a ...
- 2,276
2
votes
2
answers
144
views
Sources for Halachic opinions influenced by kabbalah
Is there a source (like a book, website, etc.) that has a list of halachic opinions/rulings based on kabbalah and/or the Zohar? I’m asking because I am looking more into Halachic methodology and I ...
- 892
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
Asking for a zimmun
Why are there various different ways of reciting zimmun before birkat hamazon — why isn't there one set formula?
- 1,155
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Respecting parents
I believe the two sources for the mitzvah of respecting one's parents stem from these two verses:
Honor your father and mother. Shemos 20:12
You should fear your mother and father. Vayikra 19:3
My ...
- 1,155
2
votes
0
answers
43
views
Menorah Placement [closed]
I am living in a college dorm where we are not allowed to have open flames in our dorm. However, we are allowed to have flames in our floor lounge (with no windows). Should I light my Chanukah candles ...
- 21
3
votes
1
answer
69
views
Did Rav Hutner zt'l write any seforim?
Did R' Hutner zt'l write any seforim that are available to buy? I'm not really seeing anything when searching
- 445
2
votes
0
answers
47
views
Different publishers of kovetz mefarshim
I'm wondering what the different major publishers of kovetz mefarshim on Gemara are, and if there are any pros/cons to the different editions. In general, and if known regarding Kiddushin specifically....
- 647
4
votes
0
answers
47
views
Angelic wrestling and the intergenerational transmission of rights and priestly duties
In Gen. 32:26, during Ya'aqobh's struggle with a malakh (angel/emissary), he is struck. The Ba'al ha-Turim there offers two explanations for the location that the malakh chose to strike his body. The ...
- 6,482
-5
votes
0
answers
53
views
Is English and grammar and punctuation chukos goyim, and is it good for Yidden to have their own dialect? [closed]
Like the question says.
And it may be compared to Ladino and Yiddish. There's already Jenglish, Jewish English, like schmooze and sch- prefixing words for mockery. And there's Yinglish, Yiddishe ...
- 1,904
4
votes
1
answer
96
views
Talmud Yerushalmi vs Bavli
We all know that only a Sanhedrin can vote conclusively on a halakha for the entire nation. Since the Sanhedrin was dismantled, the next best option was to listening to the hachamim of your locale. ...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
134
views
Is betting on board games/chess gambling
If someone makes a bet on something like chess or a board game, (we’ll include some types of card games as well), does that count as gambling in Halacha?
Gambling (between Jews) is prohibited de-...
- 892
3
votes
1
answer
154
views
Why was Yoseph sold to Ishmaelites and then Midianites, rather than Midianites and then Ishmaelites?
The following question and translations are courtesy of Studies in Bereshit by Nechama Leibowitz.
In Parshat Vayeshev, some pesukim suggest that Yoseph was sold by his brothers to Midianites, and ...
- 327