New answers tagged history
3
votes
What are the first sources of Tzimtzum
The word "Tzimtzum" does not appear in Sefer Yetzira, as it is a word borrowed (and derived) by the later Kabbalists to explain what the Sefer Yetzira teaches in 1:1:
בשלשים ושתים נתיבות ...
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6
votes
Seeking Sources on the Russian Decree Regarding Jewish Dress Code
Complete Collection of the Laws of the Russian Empire, 1851, № 25113:
Russian in pre-reform orthography:
25113. — Апрѣля 12. Сенатскій, по Высочайшему повеленію.—О запрещеніи женщинамъ Еврейкамъ ...
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3
votes
Seeking Sources on the Russian Decree Regarding Jewish Dress Code
In Everyday Jewish Life in Imperial Russia: Select Documents [1772-1914], pp. 302-303 the following petition is translated:
Petition of a Rabbi and Merchants of Zhitomir
to Count Kiselev [Chairman of ...
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6
votes
Accepted
Seeking Sources on the Russian Decree Regarding Jewish Dress Code
Rav Shlomo Kluger in Sh'not Chaim 316 writes:
במדינות רוסיא דהגזירה הוי שם שילכו הנשים בשערות שלהם ... בעוה"ר בזה"ז הרבה פרוצות שהולכין בכוונה בשער
שלהם ... ובפרט במדינות רוסיא דהגזירה שם ...
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0
votes
Idolatrous origin of the name TAMMUZ
החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים זו מצוה ראשונה שצוה הקב''ה את ישראל על ידי משה, ולכן אמר בארץ מצרים, כי שאר מצות שבתורה היו בהר סיני, או שבא לומר בארץ מצרים, לא בעיר מצרים, כמו שאמרו רבותינו (מכילתא כאן) חוץ ...
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-1
votes
Did the pre-lightbulb era rabbis have light bulbs
I wonder whether this fable existed already before electricity was invented?
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1
vote
How do I know if a midrash is accepted?
I don't believe there is any formal list as such. Even רב פעלים by R. Abhraham b. ha-Gr"a doesn't really vet midrashic works so much as it catalogues their existence and notes where references to ...
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0
votes
Did the pre-lightbulb era rabbis have light bulbs
I doubt that's true. They used oil lamps. Here is a story in the Talmud:
If not for Ḥananya ben Ḥizkiya, the book of Ezekiel would have been suppressed because its contents... contradict matters of ...
- 19.9k
1
vote
Jewish languages
I mean they kept their language throughout 210 years of slavery in Egypt (see Vayikra Rabbah 32) does that count as "consistent".
The other instances you cite such as Yiddish, Ladino etc. ...
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0
votes
Did the Men of the Great Assembly Canonize Tanach?
I would say it happened during the time of Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel, seeing as all (or at least most of) the disputes concerning which books defile the hands occur then. (Although these arguments ...
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1
vote
Accepted
Menstrual flow of 12 years; any leniencies?
The Gemara in Nidda 54A discusses a situation like this. Although the Gemara says it’s highly unlikely, the situation is such that the woman has a menstrual flow every three days for three days, (or ...
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1
vote
Did any rabbis address the theological possibility/implications of nuclear extinction?
I've heard Rabbi Manis Friedman Shlita say many times, based on Torah teachings that Hashem's plan cannot fail, the world is getting better and not worse. His world will never be destroyed; nuclear ...
- 5,401
1
vote
Why were the Jews chosen?
If the Jewish nation was better than other nations, then there's no choice - what, is Hashem going to choose anything but the best? No, and also, that's not what Divine choice means.
Hashem never ...
- 5,401
1
vote
Origin of mythical creatures
According to Rabbi Ariel bar Tzadok, in his book The Greatest Story never told, the other “gods” are the Watchers mentioned in Daniel and Genesis 6.
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2
votes
Why were the Jews chosen?
The Shabbos after I posted this question, I was reading R' Miller's Elul Made Easy and he brought up an interesting point in the Mesilas Yeshurim that I think gives a good insight into the answers.
&...
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4
votes
Why do we have many teachings from Hillel and Shammai, but very few of earlier zugot?
Because in those days there was very little to no machlokes:
בראשונה לא היתה מחלוקת בישראל, אלא על הסמיכה בלבד
In the beginning there was no disagreement in Israel, except regarding
smicha (...
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0
votes
Did the Himyarite Kingdom (Jewish state from c. 380 CE till 530 CE) have the Talmud/Oral Torah? If they converted without it, are they valid converts?
As the Himyarites continues to practice pagan rituals and even worship the arabian sun goddess Shams, I doubt they were sincere converts, that is if they even converted bechlal. They might have been ...
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