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Running CCTV system with monitor over Shabbos

Does anyone have any sources for what the halacha is of running a home security CCTV system with the monitor on over Shabbos in a place where it is easily visible within the house? I'm specifically ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
28 views

Why weren’t the descendants of Esav or Yishmael also given the Torah alongside the benei Yaakob?

As we all know, Abraham had two descendants, Yishmael and Yitschak. Yitschak also had two descendants, Esav and Yaakob; however only the children of Yaakob were the nation that was chosen for the ...
Kyotiq's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
0 answers
21 views

Kabbalah/chasiduss explanation of theodicy

Are there any kabbalistic or hasidic explanations given to the question of theodicy? Beyond “rational”/philosophical explanations, are there any mystical reasons given to why bad things happen? If so, ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
1 vote
1 answer
39 views

Did the Israelites know the future?

The Torah was revealed to Israel at a certain point in time, and recounts many significant events that happened after that point. When the Torah was revealed, did the Israelites know about these ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
42 views

Why do Jews not reach out more?

Why do Jews nowadays not go out of their way to their secular brethren and even to non-Jews to try and spread positivity? In America, I believe there it is easier because there is fewer backlash from ...
Lior Golden's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
79 views

Kohanim hand symbol

When I was a kid I always heard that only kohanim are able to do the 🖖🏻 hand position on both their hands. Leaving the “b-b-but I can do this and I’m not a kohen” comments aside, what’s the deal ...
Curious Yid's user avatar
  • 1,782
1 vote
0 answers
41 views

Chanukah: The Hellenistic Jews defaming the Beis HaMikdash

The Baal HaMaor on Avodah Zahara 52b writes a somewhat radical interpretation on the Chanukah-story. He explains that the people that entered the Beis HaMikdash, and thus impurifying the Beis ...
Shmuel's user avatar
  • 8,772
4 votes
0 answers
38 views

Why didn't Esav wait until Yitzchak died to kill Ya'akov?

After Ya'akov got Esav's blessings, Esav says (B'reishis 27:41): וישטם עשו את יעקב על הברכה אשר ברכו אביו ויאמר עשו בלבו יקרבו ימי אבל אבי ואהרגה את יעקב אחי And Esav hated Ya'akov due to the ...
Lo ani's user avatar
  • 3,408
2 votes
0 answers
65 views

Latest time for morning Sh’ma

What are the opinions for the absolute LATEST time for reciting the morning Sh’ma B’dieved, not l’chatchila. Obviously there are different opinions for what is the latest or not but what are they. ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
3 votes
0 answers
55 views

Extra cover on tefillin shel yad [duplicate]

I've noticed that a lot of protective cases for the tefillin shel yad have an extra inner cover which slides out, usually a plastic cube with one side missing and a corner cut out for the knot, ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
67 views

Ashkenazic Practice of the Chazan saying only certain phrases (rashei perkaim) out loud

What is the source of the Ashkenazic practice of the Chazzan saying only certain words out loud? That is, in your typical Artscroll siddur, there are markings for the Chazzan to raise his voice and ...
josh waxman's user avatar
  • 20.4k
5 votes
0 answers
68 views

Question on Rashi, Bereishis 9:12

In P. Noach (Gen. 9:12) in reference to the phenomenon of the post-deluge rainbow, following Noach's exit from the teivah, the verse states: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים זֹ֤את אֽוֹת־הַבְּרִית֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֣י ...
flips's user avatar
  • 439
6 votes
2 answers
388 views

How did the Greeks make the menora-oil impure?

The Gemara in Shabbos 21b famously writes "Mai Chanukah"- what is Chanukah? The Gemara elaborates: When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary ...
Shmuel's user avatar
  • 8,772
1 vote
1 answer
57 views

Questions about the flood [closed]

I've been reading Parshat Noach, and I've been wondering about some things that either strike me as odd or impossible. For example, how did G-d cover the entire world with water if we know there isn't ...
Sascha's user avatar
  • 41
-2 votes
0 answers
31 views

Is, וישע ויט ויבו from Exodus, the only three consecutive three verse that can be intersplayed a la the 72 Letter Name from Exodus

As is known, the three verses And the Cloud rolled.. And Moses raised His Hand... And the Pillar touched down between.. from Exodus. Are intersplayed and that's what makes up the 72 Letter Name. Like ...
Nissim Nanach's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
47 views

Hashkiveinu Avinu Vs Hashkiveinu Hashem Elokeinu

In the bracha of Hashkiveinu, in ma'ariv, Ashkenazim (at least, all Ashkenazi communities and siddurim I've seen) start the bracha with השכיבנו ה' אלוקינו Whereas all Sefardi communities and ...
Lo ani's user avatar
  • 3,408
2 votes
1 answer
148 views

Kol Isha and transgender people

Does the Halachic prohibition of Kol Isha apply to transgender people? So if a woman underwent operations to present as a man, can you listen to her sing? And what about a man who visibly looks like a ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
4 votes
1 answer
830 views

Wise saying in the Netflix series 'Shtisel'

Some time ago, I watched the fantastic series 'Shtisel' on Netflix. I can't remember everything clearly, and unfortunately, the series is no longer available on Netflix. However, there's one scene ...
Suslik's user avatar
  • 143
2 votes
1 answer
327 views

Folding chairs/tables on Shabbat

Is it permissible to unfold an easily foldable folding chair or table on Shabbat? Since this is easily re folded, would it still be considered under the melacha of “Boneh” or something else? If ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
3 votes
1 answer
163 views

Minhag of avoiding showing pictures of dinosaurs to babies

There is a minhag more common in Chassidic circles to refrain from showing pictures of non-kosher animals to babies. Does this apply to dinosaurs? As far as I understand, this minhag does not apply to ...
Josh Grinberg's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
87 views

Is it true Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug?

Is it true the Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug before he got married to her? If yes how did he know? That is, in this story, we read: Rav Efraim Kitover, the Av Beit din of Brody, was once involved in a ...
David 's user avatar
  • 745
1 vote
0 answers
43 views

Age of the the Azazel goat?

I was curious, are there any opinions that say the Azazel goat should be (or shouldn’t be) of a certain age or ages? If so what, would it be a minimum age or a maximum age? And what would the age be, ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
2 votes
0 answers
46 views

Halacha on being attentive to someone when they're speaking to you

BH Does Halacha or any teaching in the Torah address the following scenarios: A) When someone is talking to you, must you be attentive to show them respect that you're listening to what they're saying?...
David 's user avatar
  • 745
1 vote
0 answers
51 views

Having a Chassidishe Gaiva

BH One of my teachers said once that a student of the Alter Rebbe was in a city filled with so much materialism and sin that he was later asked how he was able to overcome the tests and so he said &...
David 's user avatar
  • 745
2 votes
0 answers
34 views

What is the source of not to speak dvarim betelim

BH What’s the source and meaning of not speaking dvarim Beteilim purposeless words?
David 's user avatar
  • 745
1 vote
1 answer
42 views

What is the explanation of And don’t let the evil inclination assure your that the grave will be a place of refuge for you mean

BH What do the main poskim and commentators explain “And don’t let the evil inclination assure your that the grave will be a place of refuge for you” mean in Pirkei Avot 4:22
David 's user avatar
  • 745
1 vote
0 answers
63 views

Caution against a person belittling himself

BH I heard someone say that a person should never say "I am this [negative character trait]" or "I am that [negative character trait]" because Chas ve Shalom Hashem can bring that ...
David 's user avatar
  • 745
0 votes
0 answers
53 views

Where does R Yitzchak Abadi's understanding of kashrus differ from mainstream kashrus organizations?

In a previous question I asked about when one can use ingredients lists to determine kashrus. Now, I'd like to ask how specifically does R Yitzchak Abadi's understanding of kashrus differ from the ...
ak0000's user avatar
  • 627
2 votes
0 answers
56 views

Should I add verses in Kerias Shema on the bed

When saying the 3 parshiyot of Kerias Shema on the bed, should I add "Kel Melech Ne'eman" before the Kerias Shema (Since it is read Yechidi (alone) and not in Minyan). Should I say after ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 1,139
2 votes
1 answer
50 views

Do we have physical desires after death?

This is a follow on from this question. I was always under the impression that the Nefesh Behamis is responsible for our physical desires, such as hunger for food. If it is immortal, does that mean ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
47 views

Are these Sheimos Hashem?

Someone just showed me an "ayin hara necklace" that has the words "אלד" and "סאל" on the charm and asked me to explain what it means. What are those words? (Some websites ...
NJM's user avatar
  • 13.8k
3 votes
1 answer
106 views

Is the extra casing over tefillin required

On the tefillin shel yad, there is an outer black box that covers the actual tefillin box. Is this required?
Curious Yid's user avatar
  • 1,782
3 votes
2 answers
480 views

New responsa on releasing terrorists in exchange for hostages?

The State of Israel has over the years engaged in the exchange of terrorists and criminals in exchange for the release of hostages. This topic has prior been explored in posts such as Q 10731 and Q ...
Deuteronomy's user avatar
  • 6,433
0 votes
0 answers
87 views

Broken teffilin box

If a plastic teffilin case is broken by being chipped into different pieces, but the leather boxes as well as the leather straps are intact, do they need to put the whole teffilin in Geniza? Or should ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
3 votes
2 answers
357 views

Does the Nefesh Behamis survive death?

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 ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
152 views

Ashkenazi speed-mumble davening: origins and halachic basis? [duplicate]

What are the origins of the Ashkenazi practice of mumbly-speed-through davening? I refer both to: Shemoneh Esrei where the words are not articulated with the mouth (albeit silently) but rather the ...
Shaine Leah's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
37 views

What are the best books that teach Dikduk?

What are the best books to learn Dikduk? Both Lashon Hakodesh and Rabbinic/Mishnaic Hebrew.
Bukh's user avatar
  • 43
3 votes
1 answer
932 views

Story of a woman hitting a rabbi because husband said

BH I heard there was a story from the Talmud, correct me if I’m wrong, that a man told his wife to hit a rabbi on the head or something and she went hit him and after she hit him he asked: "My ...
David 's user avatar
  • 745
2 votes
1 answer
157 views

Does anyone know from which book this excerpt comes from?

Someone posted this excerpt on social media: Freedom in Judaism is defined by the ability of the soul to rule over the body, the capacity of the mind to channel the emotions of the heart. Not that ...
ddas91600's user avatar
  • 247
1 vote
0 answers
31 views

Tzedakah, peah, Maaser while in debt?

If somebody is in debt to someone else, and they own a farm or do something that obligates them in Maaser or Peah, do they still have to pay or leave their crops for others? And if they aren’t ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
1 vote
0 answers
57 views

Can a Messianic Jew (Christian) be counted in a minyan? [duplicate]

There are a group of people who claim to be "Messianic Jews." This is a group of people who are either natural born Jews who adopted Jesus as their messiah and other Christian practices or ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 935
4 votes
1 answer
162 views

Can a divorced man sleep in the same household (no intercourse) with his ex-wife? [closed]

The man is visiting his kids, from another country, and will stay in the ex-wife's house.
user34089's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
119 views

Source that we are inherently deserving

The question is about the concept not the song. I noticed an interesting difference in the lyrics of two versions of the song "Ribon" by Beri Weber. The original English version contains the ...
fulltimekollelguy's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
64 views

What type of enemies are being spoken about in Shaar Habitachon?

In Duties of the Heart, Ibn Paquda writes in Shaar Habitachon (Treatise on Trust, Ch. 4): אבל עניני אויביו וחומדיו ומבקשי רעתו יבטח בעניניהם על הבורא יתעלה ויסבל חרפתם ואל יגמל להם כפעלם אך יגמלם חסד ...
Rabbi Kaii's user avatar
  • 7,202
5 votes
0 answers
46 views

Approximately how many Jews would make the pilgrimage for aliyas l'regel during its height? How large of a gathering was it?

I've seen some writers talk about the rally in D.C. being the largest single gathering of Jews since Sinai. I would think that is not accurate in that, at the very least, we may have had greater ...
Michoel Binyomin's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
298 views

Is replacing a jamb that had a mezuzah obligates to bless again for the mezuzah

A person that replaces jambs with new ones. On the old one there was a mezuzah that many years ago he blessed for putting the mezuzah. When placing the mezuzah back on the new jamb should he bless ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 1,139
3 votes
1 answer
593 views

Is there any interest in eating a baked donut on Chanuka?

A person who for health reasons avoids eating fried foods. Can he make the minhag (custom) to eat a donut baked in the oven without oil on Chanuka? ​
Avi's user avatar
  • 1,139
1 vote
0 answers
52 views

Were there prophets, in and out of Israel, who were not recorded in the Tanakh? [duplicate]

Were there prophets, in and out of Israel, who were not recorded in the Tanakh? Have other sources determined the identities of some of them? Please cite the sources, if any. Thanks in advance.
ddas91600's user avatar
  • 247
2 votes
1 answer
50 views

Winnow of piles with objects that just fell

If there is a pile (say of leaves), and somebody drops an object into it on Shabbat, are they allowed to throw it into the wind so they can retrieve the object they just dropped? Does the prohibition ...
Kirk's user avatar
  • 802
3 votes
1 answer
208 views

Reciting/singing Aḥeinu outside of the formal prayer setting and origin of tune

Where, when and why did the prayer Aheinu begin to be recited outside of the liturgical context? It seems that it originated as and was restricted to being recited after reading from the Torah, ...
Deuteronomy's user avatar
  • 6,433

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