16
votes
What is the problem with dogs?
There are a few explanations, all of which (except one) can be found by looking at the following commentaries on the verse cited in the question, Deut. 23:19:
Ibn Ezra thought that dogs were simply ...
- 21.8k
10
votes
Accepted
"Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?
The Gemara in Meseches Brachos 7a says the following addressing this seeming "contradiction":
(Source from Sefaria.org)
והא כתיב (שמות לד, ז) פקד עון אבות על בנים וכתיב (דברים כד, טז) ובנים ...
- 4,245
9
votes
Where are there discussions about Torah commands that nobody is known to have broken?
There are 3 mitzvot in the Talmud-Gemara Sanhedrin 71a, 1 in Makkos 7a and 1 in Mishna Zavim 2,2 in which the required procedure of punishment have never been enacted by the sanhedrin, due to lack of ...
- 11.4k
9
votes
Accepted
How do Chazal know that the descendants of a Mamzer may never marry into the general populace?
Torah Temimah (text here) cites the Sifri here (my loose translation):
גם דור עשירי – נאמר כאן דור עשירי ונאמר להלן בעמוני ומואבי דור עשירי (פ׳ ד׳) מה דור עשירי דלהלן עד עולם אף דור עשירי שבכאן עד ...
- 20.9k
7
votes
Reading zeicher, zecher, or both during the regular Torah reading
The Mishna Berura (685 sk 18) only recommended this practice for Parashat Zakhor, seemingly because it may be a biblical obligation (ShA OC 685:7). Betzel HaChokhma (6:50) said this applies to any ...
- 97.4k
7
votes
Accepted
How can the Rambam say that Kiddushin is a Mitzvah, against the Gemara?
Rambam's son, R. Avraham, as cited in Kesef Mishne, end of Ishus 1:1, answers that the command is to marry with kidushin and nisuin, which is why Rambam refers to even the first part as a mitzva, ...
- 73.5k
7
votes
Who wrote the "Malbim" on the end of Devarim?
It was authored by Rabbi Yosef Halevi Ya'avetz, and has been printed with the Malbim from the first printing. (source)
- 20.9k
6
votes
Difference in meaning of Zeicher / Zecher
There are multiple kinds of Segolites (penultimately stressed two syllable words marked with Segol/Tzere-family vowels). Some are Segol-Segol (6-dots) and move to Tzere-Segol (5-dots) when in ...
- 97.4k
6
votes
Where are there discussions about Torah commands that nobody is known to have broken?
I think you are looking for this
Sanhedrin 71a
There has never been a stubborn and rebellious son and there will never be one in the future,...
There has never been an idolatrous city and there will ...
- 7,466
6
votes
Dog that was exchanged for a lamb
It is a sheep who was traded against a dog that is forbidden to be brought as an offering. See the gemara in Temura 30a and following. Such a sheep is forbidden as the verse continues: as it is "...
- 48.1k
6
votes
Accepted
First-born in a case of two wives
Netziv in Ha'amek Davar to Devarim 21:15 points out that we follow the time of birth, not conception, and shows how this is derived from the verses here.
He also notes, parenthetically, a contrary ...
- 41.8k
5
votes
Halacha that a woman may not speak to her husband in the presence of others
The Torah Temimah suggests that this is an extension of the law brought in the Rambam Hilchos Ishus 15:20 (emphasis on the part that he quotes):
וכן צוו על האשה שתהיה מכבדת את בעלה ביותר מדאי ויהיה ...
- 6,753
5
votes
אשה יפת תואר- BiZman HaZeh?
Sefer Hachinuch Mitsvath 532:
ונוהגת מצוה זו בזמן שישראל על אדמתן, כי אז היתה להם רשות ויכלת בידם להלחם. והעובר על זה ולא עשה המעשים שזכרנו בטל עשה זה.
This commandment is practicable in time ...
- 22.7k
5
votes
Wayward son only attributed to father?
Rashi (21:11) cites a Midrash that explains the juxtaposition of the passages of the captive woman, the hated wife, and the rebellious son:
אֲבָל אִם נְשָׂאָהּ סוֹפוֹ לִהְיוֹת שׂוֹנְאָהּ, ...
- 6,487
4
votes
How do we erase the memory of Amalek?
R' Samson Raphael Hirsch sees the "זכר" (translated in the question as "memory") that needs to be erased as not simply the memory of the historical fact of Amalek, but the ...
- 47.8k
4
votes
אשה יפת תואר- BiZman HaZeh?
Here are two halachic answers (1, 2) that say that this law applies these days but in any ordinary case one may not act on it because of two main reasons:
The current laws of war, which do not allow ...
- 3,835
4
votes
Accepted
Halacha that a woman may not speak to her husband in the presence of others
"And the girl’s father shall say [to the elders]: [The father, but not the mother.] This teaches us that a woman is not permitted to speak in the presence of her husband [when others are present]. — [...
- 10.7k
4
votes
How can we reconcile Devarim 24:16 with BaMidbar 16:27?
The Midrash Tanhuma (ed. Buber: Parashat Korah 6) notes that this was abnormal as normally children are not punished:
אמר ר' ברכיה כמה קשה המחלוקת שב"ד של מעלה אינן קונסין אלא מבן עשרים שנה, וב"ד ...
- 35.4k
3
votes
How can the Rambam say that Kiddushin is a Mitzvah, against the Gemara?
I realize that both msh210 and IsraelReader already gave answers based on this source, but I think that neither one explained it fully/properly, so I would like to attempt to answer it myself.
This ...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Can a yefas toar be Jewish?
An Eishet yefat toar is not Jewish because there is no Kiddushin for her. Kiddushin 68b:
א"ק (דברים כא, יג) ואחר כן תבוא אליה ובעלתה וגו' מכלל דמעיקרא לא תפסי בה קידושין
Only After she has cut ...
- 11.4k
3
votes
Does Judaism kill the infidels?
No, it can't be proven from these sources that Jews have a "join us or die" stance and are commanded to either enslave or kill the rest of the world. See here that the killing of Amalek and the seven ...
- 6,487
3
votes
Did Moses divorce Tziporah?
Your connection is exactly what the Malbim discusses, I copied the relevant part here (partial emphasis by me):
וישמע יתרו. בא להציע מה הניע את לב יתרו לצאת ממדין אל המדבר ולהביא את בניו אתו, שהלא ...
- 3,835
3
votes
Pretty woman - is it a test or a Mitzvah
The Talmud describes it as a concession to man's inclinations that is merely better than the alternative:
Kiddushin 21b
ת"ר וראית בשביה בשעת שביה אשת ואפילו אשת איש יפת תואר לא דברה תורה אלא
...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Can a mamzer, Ammonite, or Moabite enter the temple after ten generations?
These people (i.e., a child born from adultery, an Amonite or a Moavite) may not marry a Jewish woman of unflawed lineage, forever.
A child born from adultery (a mamzer) remains a Jew and can marry ...
- 48.1k
3
votes
What is the Na’arah claiming in a case where her husband truthfully accuses her of immorality?
Rambam Hilchot Na’arah Betulah 3:6 explains the passage as follows (based on oral tradition):
The man accuses his new wife of committing adultery while she was betrothed to him and brings two ...
- 41.8k
3
votes
How can a rapist in the field be executed, if there were no witnesses?
There are people - at least according to some opinions - who do not need a warning.
As we learn in Makos 6b that Rabbi Yossi bar Yehuda says that a Chaver [a learned person] does not need a warning [...
- 42.8k
2
votes
What are "the tokens of virginity"?
While @Shalom's answer is a start, I don't think it fully explains the topic at hand.
tl;dr: As @Shalom pointed out, there are witnesses involved in the passage, essentially making the "tokens of ...
- 19.6k
2
votes
What is the problem with dogs?
Adding a quick answer so that the major sources are covered here.
We are allowed to feed a stray dog even Shabbos, as we may not any other animal. Perhaps it is even a mitzvah to do so.
We are ...
- 19.6k
2
votes
What is the problem with dogs?
The Sefer Hachinuch (571) suggests that since the dog is brazen it is an antithesis to a Korban and will get in the way of the pure thoughts of submission when the person is conscious of where his ...
- 4,988
2
votes
Difference in meaning of Zeicher / Zecher
Rabbi Soloveitchik was reported to repeat these words in Ashrei as well. This practice is recorded in this online siddur, along with the meaning of each word.
The Rav would repeat the verse, but ...
- 19k
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