32
votes
Accepted
Are there any sources that prohibit childhood vaccinations?
According to R' Dr. David Shabtai, in a 2013 Times of Israel blog post, there is no such source:
The religious exemption exists to protect people whose religion forbids vaccination, to allow ...
- 46.7k
21
votes
How can I redeem a wasted youth?
Talmud Sukkah 53A:
חסידים ואנשי מעשה כו': ת"ר יש מהן אומרים אשרי ילדותנו שלא ביישה את זקנותנו אלו חסידים ואנשי מעשה ויש מהן אומרים אשרי זקנותנו שכפרה את ילדותנו אלו בעלי תשובה אלו ואלו אומרים אשרי ...
- 5,181
17
votes
Can a mother taste her own breastmilk?
Human breastmilk is 100% kosher once it has left the woman's body (Shulchan Aruch YD 81:7). Furthermore, it is pareve, but shouldn't be cooked with meat to avoid issues of Marat Ayin (ibid. 87:4).
- 95.1k
15
votes
Accepted
Where does Chassam Soffer say Hillel needed a job
You may be referring to the Chidushei Chasam Sofer on Bava Basra 57b. The gemara there states as follows:
בעא מיניה ר' יוחנן מרבי בנאה... שלחן של ת"ח כיצד שני שלישי גדיל ושליש גלאי ועליו קערות ...
- 16.2k
15
votes
Child from the relations Yael had with Sisra
Gitin 57b says that the grandchildren of Sisra taught children in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Tzadok HaCohen in Poked Ikrim - Os 5 - page 36 - line 3 - second columm says that this Gemara, according to the ...
- 137k
15
votes
How can I redeem a wasted youth?
What happened happened and the Torah approach is not to dwell on it, but rather focus on improving going forward. Regarding sins from the past, the Rambam writes (Hilchot Teshuva 1:3)
Teshuvah [...
- 43.3k
14
votes
Accepted
What is the prayer uttered by Michael Ginberg's dad in Mad Men?
He is reciting Numbers 6:24-26 (he only gets through half of the last verse in that clip):
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee;
The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
...
- 95.1k
12
votes
Are you yoitze the Mitzva of Pirya Verivya with children born out of wedlock
Aruch Hashulchan 1:17:
Even if he has a son and daughter from an unmarried woman whom he did not marry with chupa and kidushin…, nonetheless he has fulfilled the command of p'ru urvu… for, after ...
- 73.4k
11
votes
Must a couple get divorced if they have no children after 10 years?
The current answers don't address the question in detail. So here goes:
What is the source and reason for this?
The source is the Mishna in Yevamos 64a and the subsequent discussion in the Talmud ...
- 31.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Do the Nine Measures Apply to the Woman?
The Tur indicates that a number of these apply to the woman (EH 25):
Nidah - The woman would at least share responsibility.
Shichrus - This applies if either spouse is intoxicated.
Chatzufa - This ...
- 16.2k
11
votes
Accepted
Name two kids the same name?
Pischei Teshuva Y.D. 116:6 quotes Adnei Paz as permitting it, but then quotes the Adnei Paz's corrigenda as indicating that it should not be done for reasons of Ein HaRah (if both are alive) or ...
- 31.3k
11
votes
Are you yoitze the Mitzva of Pirya Verivya with children born out of wedlock
The Rema in Even Ha'Ezer 1:6 writes that one fulfills the mitzvah of p'ru u'revu with a child who is a mamzer, which by definition is out of wedlock:
היה הבן ממזר... קים המצוה
If the child is a ...
- 57.3k
10
votes
How do you explain tzniut to a little girl?
"What is the best way to explain the concept of tzniut to a very young (say first grade) girl without explaining sexuality?"
The same way you would explain the concept to anybody else: ...
- 95.1k
10
votes
What does it mean for atheists to raise their children 'Jewish'?
Being "Raised Jewish" in this context means that, to the degree that there is any religious experience in the home, it is of Jewish origin. So if they go to a house of worship, it will be a synagogue. ...
- 31.3k
10
votes
Name two kids the same name?
Rashi Kesuvos 89b - Mar Keshisha Umar Yenika says that Rav Chisda had two sons and both had the same name.
- 137k
10
votes
What did Amram and Yocheved do to merit raising leaders of Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam?
Firstly, there is a fascinating philosophical point that relates to this question. Maharal (Gur Aryeh to Shemot 1:15) points out that neither Yocheved, nor Amram's names were mentioned prior to Moshe'...
- 20.5k
9
votes
List of people who lose a child in תנ"ך
Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:25):* their son Cain killed their other son Abel
Terah (Genesis 11:28): his son Haran died in his lifetime
Judah (Genesis 38:7,10):* his sons Er and Onan died after marrying ...
8
votes
Accepted
Was Baal worshiped via child sacrifice?
The prophet Jeremiah (19:5) clearly identifies the baal as one of the gods to which the Caananites offered their children:
וּבָנוּ אֶת בָּמוֹת הַבַּעַל לִשְׂרֹף אֶת
בְּנֵיהֶם בָּאֵשׁ עֹלוֹת ...
- 2,561
8
votes
Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?
As someone in this category, I would like to remind everyone that this is what psak is for. One cannot be exempted from commandments, a competent rabbi familiar with a single-parent father's ...
- 4,310
8
votes
Accepted
Halachic sources for not using the first names of your parents?
Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 240:2 (based on a number of earlier sources) says:
אֵיזֶה מוֹרָא, לֹא יַעֲמֹד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ הַמְיֻחָד לוֹ לַעֲמֹד שָׁם בְּסוֹד זְקֵנִים עִם חֲבֵרָיו, אוֹ מָקוֹם הַמְיֻחָד ...
- 20.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Crying when reading about Aaron's sons' deaths
Mishnah Berurah 621:2 quotes this idea in the name of the Zohar. (I believe the relevant piece of Zohar is to be found in Vol. III 57b.)
- 38.2k
8
votes
How can I redeem a wasted youth?
There is nothing that does not come from G-d - even evil has a kernel of good. This is why evil is referred to as a klipah, a shell - it separates holiness from G-d but the holiness is still there, ...
- 181
7
votes
Accepted
Promised to name son Shimon - now husband is Shimon?
I finally found the Sefer Lulei Toratcha stories with Rav Shach on the parsha.Parshas Matos 30:4.
Rav Shach answered that she should name the child Shmayah since it is similar to the name Shimon and ...
- 39.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Is a child obligated to honor his foster parents?
The commandment of kibbud av v'eim does not apply to adoptive parents (Sotah 49a - right before the Mishna). However, there is a moral obligation of hakarat hatov (gratitude) which requires that the ...
- 8,163
7
votes
Holding a child during bentching,kiddush,havdallah
The Rivevos Ephraim 6:410:1 brings the psak of Rav Eliyashiv that one may hold a child during bentching.
In Chelek 8:572:1 he was asked to explain the psak of Rav Elyashiv how its ok since there are ...
- 39.5k
7
votes
Discipline of children
Actually Halacha forbids a hard Rod. The discussion in Hilchos Talmud Torah is a "retzua daka" - a thin strap - and nothing more, and if it doesn't work the first time, you don't try again.
- 31.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Can a parent "victim" forgive a child due the death penalty?
The Sheiltot (R. Achai Gaon, 8th c.) says that although a parent can forgo his honor, he cannot forgo the prohibition against striking and cursing. שאלתות (פ׳ משפטים סוף סא): האב שמחל על כבודו, כבודו ...
- 13.7k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I explain my heritage to my son? (as someone who has left Judaism at a young age)
Since your wife is not Jewish, as you mention in the comments, your son is also not considered Jewish per halacha. That doesn't mean that you can't tell your son a bit about his Jewish ancestry. ...
- 24.3k
7
votes
Is there anything in the Tanakh or Talmud about a woman that raises her children alone?
Chiram, the craftsman who designed much of the first Beis Hamikdash, was the son of a widow (1 Melachim 7:14).
The woman from Tzorfas who hosted Eliyahu was a widow with a son (1 Melachim 17:9-24), ...
- 1,647
7
votes
what is the source that a parent carries the sins of their children when the children are minors?
One of the places that this is mentioned in, is in Bereshit Raba 63:10
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִטָּפֵל בִּבְנוֹ עַד י"ג
שָׁנָה, מִיכָּן וָאֵילָךְ צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר בָּרוּךְ ...
- 3,789
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