26
votes
Accepted
Best way to explain to my boss that I cannot attend a team summit because it is on Rosh Hashana or any other Jewish Holiday
I have faced this problem several times - sometimes a holiday and sometimes Shabbat (directly, or not having time to get home). How I handle it depends in part on whether the plans can still be ...
- 56.4k
15
votes
How to explain the Talmud to someone who hasn't ever opened one?
(1) Compare it to an intellectual pursuit they already know. And (2), show don't tell.
I've never had the benefit of full-time learning in yeshiva, but I've participated in some shorter programs that ...
- 56.4k
15
votes
Best way to explain to my boss that I cannot attend a team summit because it is on Rosh Hashana or any other Jewish Holiday
I have faced this issue many times myself - or advised younger colleagues facing the same. A few thoughts
I have found it critical to be very clear, direct and consistent. If you can explain that you ...
- 47.7k
12
votes
Accepted
How to have an easier time with Yom Tov?
Yeah, especially when a diaspora yom tov is adjacent to Shabbat, it sometimes feels like a long slog. I sometimes feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle because I didn't do this from birth -- it isn'...
- 56.4k
12
votes
Learning Chabad Sichos
There are two types of Sichos:
Sichos Kodesh / Toras Menachem-Hisvaaduyos.
From the early forties until the stroke in 1992, the Lubavitcher Rebbe would hold a Farbrengen (at least) every Shabbos ...
- 40.3k
11
votes
Accepted
How to suggest a kosher restaurant for a meeting?
In most cases, when this sort of thing comes up I say something like: "I have some dietary restrictions and wouldn't be able to eat there; could we meet at $other_restaurant instead?".
For someone ...
- 56.4k
10
votes
How to get an urgent answer if your local rabbi isn't reachable
The best option is probably the Beis Din of your own community; see if they are reachable by phone; they may well be. That said, someone I sort of know has experience with the following hotlines in ...
- 19.6k
10
votes
Accepted
Keeping tzitzit knots from coming undone
The best way which works for me is by taking the last knot and dip into hot water ,then I tie it tightly. I have yet have a knot open. Simple and easy. Don't know why this isn't more known and ...
- 41k
9
votes
How to have an easier time with Yom Tov?
I will start with the disclaimer that when I became religious, Yom Tov was a highlight for me, so I don't know how you will relate to what makes Yom Tov exciting for me.
I am generally more of an ...
- 58.3k
9
votes
Taping the Light on a Freezer
It depends on the freezer, but one approach is to just unscrew the light bulb if you can reach it. That's what my family has always done.
You can leave it loosely hanging in the socket if you want to ...
- 9,116
8
votes
How do I repeal rabbinic laws? Who to contact? What is the process?
As far as I know there are currently no rabbis who are actively involved in legislating rabbinc-level laws. Those laws were set in stone centuries ago. As DoubleAA mentioned in the comments on your ...
- 24.7k
8
votes
Washing Tallit Katan
The best way to wash a wool tallit katan is by hand washing it. Washing machines and dryers can severely mess up a wool tallit katan if you're not careful. I would suggest hand washing the tallit ...
- 18.5k
7
votes
How can you quit a habit of visiting inappropriate websites?
Marry a wife
Pele Yoetz (here) says it helps with sin
Seifer Hachinuch (mitzva 582.2) explains that the reason of the Mitvzah that after the first year of marriage you need to be happy with your ...
- 7,466
7
votes
Reliable Tzedakah Websites
Here's a list of Jewish organizations I donate online to with some regularity. I spend about 10 minutes checking out each one for reliability and quality and usefulness of work before giving a ...
- 19.6k
7
votes
How do I repeal rabbinic laws? Who to contact? What is the process?
Orthodox Jews live their lives based on rules explained/instituted by great Rabbis many years ago.
Throughout the generations many learned people have continued to interpret and apply those laws. ...
- 2,461
7
votes
Accepted
Check out of hotel after shabbos
This is a fairly common problem in U.S. hotels. I've found that most hotels are quite happy to accommodate your religious requests if you explain things in advance.
The easiest idea is to prepay your ...
- 70k
7
votes
Recommended program/method for creating sourcesheets?
Sefaria has a great source sheet creation community.
Although the end of your question was a drop vague, if not subjective, I’d suggest that your source sheet will only be as good as the work you ...
- 479
7
votes
how to get the Youth to come to shul
People in general come for a consistent experience that they value.
Kids come either because they're forced or because it's something the family values. So unless you have a super-strong youth ...
- 56.4k
7
votes
Best way to explain to my boss that I cannot attend a team summit because it is on Rosh Hashana or any other Jewish Holiday
myjewishlearning.com has an article titled "How Do I Ask for the High Holidays Off?" which addresses how to handle this:
First, provide straightforward information. Say, “You probably know I’m ...
- 12k
7
votes
Oil in Shabbos Candles Caught Fire - What to Do?
I know this is essentially a repeat of the other answers, but this is a matter of life and death, chalilah!
The floating wicks you are using are designed for OIL - not paraffin. To quote the Amazon ...
- 42.8k
6
votes
How can I make my Judaism more enjoyable?
I changed my views on how I see Judaism. I find Judaism exciting and interesting because I went to a completely new place with it. If you can find a Jewish practice that gets you excited then go and ...
- 71
6
votes
Experience-based advice for focusing and slowing down prayers?
I experienced a significant improvement in my focus on davening when I discovered that it is halachically preferable to omit much of davening in order to better focus on a smaller part.
The Mishna ...
- 6,467
6
votes
How to have an easier time with Yom Tov?
My parents were observant from before I was born, and I have been Shabbat- and Yom-Tov-observant my whole life. I can honestly say that I don't believe I have ever intentionally violated either. So no,...
- 47.8k
6
votes
How to have an easier time with Yom Tov?
B"H, I have solved my problem. I will post my experience here in case it could help anyone else.
It turns out that what was making Yom Tov impossible for me was the fact that I lived alone and spent ...
- 19.6k
6
votes
Accepted
How does one grow long peyos?
If you give them time and don't allow them to be cut, they'll be long. (How much time is necessary depends on how long you want them to be, of course. A tip of my hat to Isaac Moses for this link to ...
- 73.7k
6
votes
How does one grow long peyos?
My hair is curly and i could grow peyoth all day long if i wanted to. But for those who can't, then there a few things one can do, but none of them sound especially pious or manly.
Once your peyoth ...
- 10.5k
6
votes
How to approach saying divrei torah at the shabbos table
By talking about something really interesting that applies to your crowd. Know your audience is rule #1. NOTE Some people will tune out easily when hearing a regular scholarly vort on the Parshah or ...
- 10.7k
6
votes
Accepted
How to sit on the floor comfortably
The Mishna Berurah in siman 559 writes:
ועיין באחרונים דמותר להניח תחתיו שק או כר קטן. וגם יוכל לישב על ספסל נמוך למי שקשה לו לישב על הארץ:
One may place a bag or a small pillow underneath ...
- 33.4k
6
votes
How do I build a cheap metal pole sukkah?
I doubt that it's possible to recreate a kit-like metal sukka frame without spending hundreds of dollars, at least not without creative sourcing of the materials (e.g. finding them in a junk yard, or ...
- 47.8k
6
votes
What is the best way to correct someone who has unwittingly violated halacha in public?
I have been corrected on several occasions, so I can describe what worked better or worse for me. I've tried to apply this when I'm doing the correcting (doesn't happen often), and so far it has ...
- 56.4k
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