13
votes
Accepted
Why don't Israeli women fast?
Note 10 in Rav Eliezer Melamed's article on the "lighter fasts" states as follows:
וכיום ההוראה הרווחת לנשים אשכנזיות שלא לצום. ועיין בפסקי תשובות תקנ,
א, שהביא דעות מופלגות להיתר, שכל ...
- 47.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Is it achievable to keep all of Halacha?
I once heard an amazing, simple, vort from a rebbi of mine. He used to say it each year around this time.
The Gemara in Avoda Zara 20B says the following;
ת"ר (דברים כג, י) ונשמרת מכל דבר רע שלא ...
- 10.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Certified vs. Uncertified Costco Salmon
R Sholem Fishbane, the Executive Director of the Associated Kashrus Organizations (AKO), an umbrella group of major kosher-certifying agencies and the and the Kashruth Administrator of the CRC kosher ...
- 47.6k
6
votes
Is it permissible to listen to a Rabbi instead of a doctor?
The Maharik as well as the Shevus Yaakov bring the Gemara in Niddah to prove that, on the contrary, Chazal would rely on the doctor's prognosis even in cases of potential Kares. Indeed, as the Rambam ...
- 4,313
6
votes
Halakha book for modern working place
The book Making it Work was released by Rabbi Ari Wasserman which contains discussions of many Halachic questions that arise in the modern workplace. The description is as follows:
The modern day ...
- 1,203
6
votes
Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World
Neither were Abraham, the holy matriarchs, Josef, Jethro, and even Mosses brought up in the best of surroundings, and the Midrash even says that Abraham worshiped idols in his youth, yet heaven ...
- 3,197
5
votes
Why don't open miracles occur nowadays?
According to the Gemara, Berachot 20a, it's because we're not willing to sacrifice ourselves Al Kiddush Hashem quite as readily nowadays.
Rab Pappa asked Abbai : How were our predecessors different ...
- 767
5
votes
Why don't open miracles occur nowadays?
See Ramban Shemot 13, 16:
ובעבור כי הקב''ה לא יעשה אות ומופת בכל דור לעיני כל רשע או כופר, יצוה אותנו שנעשה תמיד זכרון ואות לאשר ראו עינינו, ונעתיק הדבר אל בנינו, ובניהם לבניהם, ובניהם לדור אחרון. ...
- 22.7k
5
votes
Why don't Israeli women fast?
There is an exemption not only for a meineket (a nursing mother), but also for a yoledet (a woman who had given birth). They were never included in the minor fasts to begin with.
There are plenty of ...
- 131k
5
votes
Who opposes saying the Piyut מכניסי רחמים?
Artscroll (introduction to Selichot) quotes the Maharal of Prague as
writing strongly against supplications addressed to angelic advocates.
Why may one seek the intercession of human ...
- 47.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World
Repentance is the biggest cleanser of the soul; and there is no sin that can't be forgiven, if a person truly repents.
The first step of repentance; is regret, which you've amply expressed.
The second ...
- 4,892
4
votes
Why is the Jubilee year not being kept anymore?
Rambam Hilchos shmitta Halacha 8 (below) says that Yovel is not in effect unless all twelve tribes are on their land. That is why we stopped the yovel once the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and the part of ...
- 42.9k
4
votes
What is the halachic status of today's modern bathrooms?
R. Yitzchak Abadi has a responsum about this in Ohr Yitzchak 2:34.
בתי כסאות שלנו ודאי שאין להם דין בית הכסא לשום דבר [ועי' בדברינו ח"א חאו"ח סוף סי' מ'] ואני תמה מכל האחרונים שהאריכו בזה ...
- 49.1k
4
votes
What is the best way to keep updated with status of hechsheirim in Israel?
Kosharot is a website dedicated to educating consumers on Kashrut issues in Israel. They publish regular updates which might be exactly what you are looking for.
For an interesting podcast on the ...
- 47.6k
4
votes
Accepted
Do Modern Jews Accept that Judaism started as a Canaanite Cult?
The Torah states that MalkiTzedek, king of (Jeru)Salem, was a priest to El Almighty (Genesis 14:18) and that Abraham gave him tithes. Abraham did not start monotheism, according to Jewish tradition, ...
- 788
4
votes
Do Modern Jews Accept that Judaism started as a Canaanite Cult?
In a not-widely-known piece on Bereishis 14:18 ("MalkiTzedek... priest to El Elyon"), the Ohr Hachaim says the following:
https://www.sefaria.org/Or_HaChaim_on_Genesis.14.18.5?with=all&...
- 788
3
votes
Why does cholov yisroel milk have such a short shelf life?
I've noticed the same problem quite consistently. Although, I must admit that some brands of Chalav stam milk have the same problem.
I'll relay what I have heard from 3 store owners in the NY area. ...
- 70k
3
votes
Do any modern day halachic authorities permit salting vegetables?
Rabbi Sh'lomo Zalman Auerbach is cited in Sh'miras Shabas K'hilchasah (1979 edition, chapter 11 footnote 6) as saying that cut tomatoes are not included in the category of "foods commonly preserved by ...
- 73.7k
3
votes
(How) have cheap electronics changed the definitions of "muktzeh machmas chisaron kis"?
R' Eliezer Melamed, in Peninei Halacha, Shabbat 23:4, sounds similar to your citation from the Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa:
Included in this category of muktzeh are: musical instruments, ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
Using modern electronic devices (refrigerators, air conditioners, digital water meters) on Shabbat
The disagreement with these devices(disregarding light bulbs in fridges or fans in ovens, at the moment) is whether grama or pesik reisha d'lo neicha lei are permitted on shabbat; assuming we accept ...
- 867
3
votes
Is it permissible for a man to be seen without a shirt?
As I wrote elsewhere, R. Moshe Feinstein writes in Igrot Moshe Y.D. 3:68:4 that the only formal prohibition regarding uncovered male bodies is if the genitalia are exposed. Everything else is ...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Beis Din - peshara and Za.B.L.A
"In an actual Beis Din case these days, if someone is summoned to Beis Din, can the nitva (respondent) insist on using a different Beis Din than the plaintiff sent the hazmana (summons) from?"
Yes. ...
- 487
3
votes
Is it permissible to listen to a Rabbi instead of a doctor?
The article in question was poorly reported, according to one of the commenters who claims to personally know the one who asked the opinion of the Gadol. According to him, the doctors were not firmly ...
3
votes
Reshus Horabim Today?
I guess one is the roads by meka
Since for the hajj millions of people come to one place in one day
- 7,466
3
votes
Do modern-day Jews have waters of separation?
No such thing exists today for a few reasons
There would need to be a red hefer that does not have two consecutive non red hairs and has not had any type of burden placed on it or preformed any sort ...
- 4,293
3
votes
Accepted
Birkat Hagomel for Eurostar?
Contemporary Poskim - שבט הלוי and להורות נתן among others - are of the opinion that one does not say the bracha after traveling in a tunnel under water, since there is no constant danger. They ...
- 6,123
3
votes
Why no early pidyon haben?
It is not clear that you can redeem the child before he is a month old. What is clear in the sources is you can give the money to the priest before the child is a month old stipulating that the money ...
- 97.2k
3
votes
Giving a divorce (get) written on a tablet screen
No this is not possible. The Rambam (MT Gerushin 4:1) explains why electronic "ink" on a tablet doesn't work
A get may be written only with a substance that leaves a permanent
impression - ...
- 47.6k
3
votes
Is it achievable to keep all of Halacha?
I
The gemara (Shabbos 55b, Bava Basra 17a) names four people who didn't sin, and only died because the original snake got Chava and Adam to choose mortality. Meaning, they must have performed every ...
- 9,388
3
votes
Accepted
What are the spiritual(mental), mystical, practical, realistic, religious social benefits of refraining from all perversions and immodesties?
One of the places where the Torah warns us to not stray after our own hearts, can be found in Bamidbar 15:40. The Torah states
and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after ...
- 8,512
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible