16
votes
Does the talmud promote pedophilia?
TL;DR
It is a misquote. It is talking about the age at which the girl converted, not the age at the time of the marriage. Regarding these sorts of misquotes in general, see this related question. ...
- 16.9k
9
votes
Pregnant woman with male fetus in a minyan?
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 55:4) talks about adding a Katan to a minyan:
יש מתירים לומר דבר שבקדושה בתשעה וצירוף קטן שהוא יותר מבן שש ויודע למי מתפללין ולא נראין דבריהם לגדולי הפוסקים וה"ה ...
- 3,815
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 ...
- 2,669
7
votes
Blowing bubbles on Shabbos
The Rivevos Ephraim Chelek 8:564:1 was asked if one can blow bubbles from chewing gum(bazuka). He writes that making bubbles from soap was discussed in Shmiras Shabbas Kehilchasa perek 17:30 and says ...
- 41.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Children eating Matzah on Erev Pesach
R Israel Isserlein was asked this question. Here is his response (Terumat HaDeshen #125):
קטן בערב פסח, שרי להאכילו מצות או לאו?
תשובה: ייראה, דאם לא הגיע הקטן לכלל דעת כל כך שיודע ומבין מה שמספרים ...
- 97.4k
6
votes
Are there any crafts permitted to do on Shabbat?
Shabbos laws can be very complicated and many activities that might seem innocent enough superficially can be potentially problematic, at a Rabbinic (d'rabanan), or even at a biblical level (d'orayta),...
- 17.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Passing an infant across a table
The book ‘She’eilat Rav’ records that R. Chaim Kanievsky was asked about this practice. He replied simply that it’s something which people are careful about and referenced Rabbi Yosef Hahn in his ...
- 11.9k
5
votes
How to deal with the command of Vayikra/Leviticus 15:19
Yes, indeed, even an infant becomes impure.
The mishna in Taharos 3:8 says
תינוק הנמצא בצד העיסה ובצק בידו רבי מאיר מטהר וחכמים מטמאין שדרכו של תינוק לטפח
A child/infant found next to dough, and ...
- 58.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Leniency to aggrieve a minor (one's child)?
A mitsva
See Mishna Maccot chapter 2, 2:
אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר, מַה חֲטָבַת עֵצִים רְשׁוּת, יָצָא הָאָב הַמַּכֶּה אֶת בְּנוֹ {יא}, וְהָרַב הָרוֹדֶה אֶת תַּלְמִידוֹ, וּשְׁלִיחַ בֵּית דִּין {יב}: ...
- 22.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Children in the nine days
Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky in קובץ הלכות - בין המצרים, פרק ט הלכה ב-ה writes:
1 - Up to around five years old - there are no restrictions.
2 - Erev Shabbos, if a child is eating his Shabbos meal before ...
- 6,123
5
votes
Accepted
Are children permitted to help build the Beis Hamikdash?
In practice, it would likely be considered forbidden for a child to help with building the Bais Hamikdash. This is due to the fact that their main 'job' is being educated, which supercedes almost ...
- 6,753
4
votes
Does the talmud promote pedophilia?
It is simply not true. Period. The citation to Yevamoth lead you no where relevant. Another false allegation is than usually brought further by falsely quoting Ketuvot 11b. I bring it here for the ...
- 1,936
4
votes
Accepted
Shalom Aleichem of Kiddush Levanah to a Kattan
According to Rabbi Chayim Kanievski (She'elat Rav), one can say "shalom aleichem" to a kattan.
This discussion is about the general chiyuv of a kattan in Kiddush Levanah.
- 3,835
4
votes
Are people taking care of their toddlers Patur from Sukkah?
There are two comparisons they need to be examined:
1. between bitul asse deorayta and shvut deshabbat (davka shvut de amira lenochri),
2. between cooking meal and taking care of an ill person. In ...
- 22.7k
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
4
votes
is a animal more responsible then a child? if yes why?
The Ramban (BERAISHIS 9:5) says that an animal which kills a person does not receive death as a punishment because animals do not get rewarded or punished for their actions (as they have no Bechira (...
- 6,919
4
votes
Information of Kiddushin 41a
There's no contradiction.
A father has the "right" to marry off his minor daughter, as in if he does it, she's married.
Despite that, he's not allowed to do it unless she's old enough to agree and ...
- 9,117
4
votes
Rambam's Mishneh Torah - Is a female pure after relations with a minor/gentile/animal?
The Rambam explains - the pasuk says 'וְאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב אִישׁ אֹתָהּ'... To exclude anything that isn't a fully grown Jewish adult man. Not that the Torah is condoning it, but it doesn't ...
- 547
3
votes
What is the source for the "Upsheirin"?
There appears to really be three different, possibly interconnected, issues here.
Celebrating the first haircut.
Cutting hair by kivrei tzadikkim, especially Rashbi and Shmuel.
The age of the haircut....
- 31
3
votes
Are there any crafts permitted to do on Shabbat?
The Shemirah Shabbath by Rav Yehoshua Neuwirth discusses games and toys in Chapter 16. The closest thing to a crafts which he mentions as permissible for children under bar-bat mitzvah age are
(18) ...
3
votes
Does the talmud promote pedophilia?
there are certain halachas regarding who is considered a virgin.
a girl who had sex after 3 is no longer a virgin. but if she had sex before then (by rape or whatever), the virginity grows back and ...
- 21.1k
3
votes
Is wine touched/shaken by a non-idolatrous Gentile child forbidden to drink?
From Avoda Zara 57a we see that even a baby who is one day old renders the wine prohibited for drinking:
אמרו ליה רב כהנא ורב אסי לרב והא מר הוא דאמר תינוק בן יומו הוא עושה יין נסך אמר להו אימור ...
- 3,849
3
votes
Lego on Shabbos
Great answer by Baal Shemot Tovot
though extra sources brought here:
R' Pesach Eliyahu Falk (Machazeh Eliyahu 69) writes that while joining two pieces together is permissible, one shouldn't even ...
- 6,175
3
votes
Can a 9 year old do Yibbum?
See Kiddushin 19a, where the Gemara derives from a pasuk that there is no death penalty for relations with a woman married to a nine-year old through yibum.
Also see Yevamos 96b, where the Mishna ...
- 593
3
votes
Does a non-observant person converted as a young child lose their Jewish status?
R Yirmiyohu Kaganoff has an excellent article covering many points relevant to your question. In summary
an adopted child can convert, instead of his parents accepting responsibility for the child ...
- 48.3k
3
votes
Accepted
How can a Minor Learn Torah from Imperfect Teachers?
Shearim Mitzuyanim Bihalacha points out the interesting language concerning Torah 'from his mouth', why did the Gemara not simply say from him?
He quotes the introduction of the Darkei Teshuva to ...
- 33.4k
3
votes
Saying hagomel on behalf of small kids
Piskei Teshuvos OC 219:9 says:
שם: עוד כתבו דקטן אינו מחויב להודות, ואפילו מצד מצוות חינוך. כי35 אין יכול לומר הגומל 'לחייבים' שהרי עדיין אינו בר חיובא, ואם הכוונה על אביו, אין זה מן הכבוד שבן יאמר ...
- 20.9k
2
votes
Blowing bubbles on Shabbos
Shmirat Shabbat Kehilchatah 16:30:
Although adults should not blow soap bubbles, one need not stop children from doing so.
He adds in a footnote that he heard the leniency (of allowing children ...
- 6,976
2
votes
Father being Matir Neder for himself: does it affect the family?
Assuming the Minhag is one for which Hatarah can work, the father may represent his family as he and they are all equally part of the Minhag and all equally require Hatarah thereby sidestepping the ...
- 261
2
votes
Hataras Nedarim for 12 yr old boy
The Shaarim Metzuyanim Bhalacha (128:24) is quoted as saying that although a 12 year old can make a neder, they lack the ability to make hataras nedarim. See also Piskei Teshuva 581/18.
There are ...
- 10.6k
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