Unanswered Questions
7,396 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Do evil people also have hope? (Tikvat reshaim)
There is a concept in Shaar Gilgulim, that there are certain great but evil men, who have a great potential, but they are doing mostly evil due to the origin of their soul. However, since every soul/...
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where do rabbinic Jews get their star from
The rabbinic jews use the star of "David" or Magen "David", I put quotations because nobody knows if David actually had a shield with that star on it. And everything surrounding is ...
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How to figure out if it is dangerous to light Chanuka candles outside
According to Halacha (see Yalkut Yosef 671), one shouldn't light the Chanuka candles outside one's home if it is dangerous. Given that there is an opinion that it is obligatory to light them outside ...
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Drinking during Leining
Is a Baal Koreh allowed to drink water during Leining to keep his voice smooth before hearing Kiddush?
The Shulchan Aruch does not allow one to drink even water before Kiddush. However, for a Choleh ...
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What is the bare minimum that needs to happen for a jewish wedding to take place?
I would like to know the raw components of what makes a Jewish marriage valid. What is the sine qua non, and what is considered "extra" or "minhag"? For example, is it enough for ...
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What is the source for Bitachon in the Torah?
The Chovos Halevovos's fourth שער, section, is on Bitachon. Since his sefer is "Duties of the heart", he clearly considers this a required "duty". Unlike some other areas, he does ...
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Why do we have different names today than in ancient Judaism?
There are definitely exceptions, but for the most part, it seems that from the Beis Hamikdash period up until the era of the Rishonim, the traditional names we use today were relatively uncommon (such ...
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Why do the Sages often believe that the word רוב mean "majority," when it clearly means "a lot"?
It seems clear that the word רוב in biblical Hebrew means "a large amount." For example, Bereshit 48:16
וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ may they teem into multitudes in the midst of the ...
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Can a witness for a sinful action function as a witness for non sinful aspects of the action?
There is a wedding that is forbidden but still effective (the participants will actually be married). There are no kosher witness at the wedding. Two kosher witnesses walk in and warn the man that the ...
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How could Rachel Imeinu have revealed Yaakov's secret to Leah?
The Orchos Chaim L'Rosh (41) writes:
סוֹד אַחֵר אַל תְּגַל. גַּם אֶת הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶּׁר יְדַבְּרוּ
לְפָנֶיךָ שֶּׁלֹּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ סוֹד, טוֹמְנֵהוּ בְּקִירוֹת לִבֶּךָ -
Do not reveal the secrets of ...
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Uncovering criminal activity of a fellow Jew while preparing a civil case
Bs'D. If, while preparing a civil case in the secular courts (because there is no other alternative to respond), it is discovered that the opposing parties have committed very serious financial crimes ...
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Which Passuk goes here: ברוך ה׳ לעולם version
Having davened from a number of Nusach Ashkenaz siddurim over the years, I've noticed that one passuk seems to be inconsistent in the berachah of Baruch Hashem le'Olam/Yiru 'Eineinu.
In some siddurim, ...
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Why did Eisav's emotions turn on?
In בראשית לג:ד, the word "וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ" is dotted. Rashi explains that this is to tell us that Eisav kissed Yaakov with a full heart and not just for show.
What caused Eisav to ...
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When is it right to tell someone they’re wrong in a harsh way
Do the rabbis say there a time and place when one should confront someone who is guilty of serious sin. Say slander, adultery, etc.
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What kind of character traits is Mashiach supposed to possess?
There a some stories Chazal bring about men who were potentially going to be mashiach. A couple that come to mind are Bar Kochba (who Rabbi Akiva said would be Mashiach) and the man Eliyahu Hanavi ...
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Wearing functional cufflinks on Shabbos
This question might be a duplicate of
Wearing Watches on Shabbat
but my question is on other types of functional wearable items that may be considered Tachshitim.
What is the determining factor that ...
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Rebbe Maharash studying Nigleh during night
Is it correct to say, as I once heard, that the Rebbe Maharash would learn Oral Torah the entire night while standing? I don't how to understand this statement, because of two conflicting facts, ...
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Origin of the Conservation of Biblical Personalities principle
There is a discussion on this site which is defined by a principle of Conservation of Biblical Personalities, when the midrash or aggadeta would quote various persons under the same name. Rabbi Tzvi-...
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Did a fire come down from Heaven to consume incense in the Tabernacle?
My understanding is that in the Beit HaMikdash a fire (perhaps in the form of a lion or other animal) would come down from Heaven and consume the sacrifices on the altar (1 Kings 18). I would like to ...
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Meaning of "Who maintains faith to those asleep in the dust"?
This phrase appears in the 2nd bracha of the amida: "Who maintains faith to those asleep in the dust". What does the phrase mean? For example, does it refer only to good people. If so, ...
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Conservation of Biblical Timepoints?
According to our tradition, several events seem to be occuring within one year one after another. Are there any sources, which explain if there is a midrashic connection?
Time of Akkeida for Yitzchak ...
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Can the words ״שתרגילנו בתורתך״ ever count as Birchas Hatorah?
The law is (Orach Chaim 47:7) that if one already recited the blessing of “Ahavas Olam/Ahavah Rabbah”, and recited words of Torah immediately after Shmoneh Esreh, he no longer needs to recite Birchas ...
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When did Lubavitch begin eating only Lubavitch meat?
Many Lubavitchers today only eat meat slaughtered from another Lubavitcher. Does anyone know when this came about? For of course one must eat meat from one that is yirei shamayim, for a shochet is not ...
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Source for quote from Rebbe Nachman zy"a
Does anyone know where the source is for the quote, "Remember: Things can go from the very worst to the very best in just the blink of an eye", I don't think this is an exact quote but if ...
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Why isn't Tefillin stressed more spiritually than physically
The Torah says in Deuteronomy 6:8 "וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃
" but why is the main emphasis in our culture nowadays about the physical Tefillin?...
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Why should one be immediately replaced if he messed up during the brocho of heretics?
B"H
The Rambam laws of Tefillah chapter 10 halacha 3 writes
ג שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר שֶׁטָּעָה וְנִבְהַל וְלֹא יָדַע מֵהֵיכָן יַתְחִיל
וְשָׁהָה שָׁעָה יַעֲמֹד אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו. וְאִם טָעָה בְּבִרְכַּת
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How could the Sages suppress such sefarim such as Yechezkel and Kohelet?
They of course seemed to have had good intentions so as to not let the books confuse people but how is it possible that some of the most wise and humble men decide that they have the right to suppress ...
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How does a war end?
To start an optional war, the full Sanhedrin must approve (Sanhedrin 2a.). A mandatory war would be defensive, against the 7 nations, or against Amalek.
How do these wars end?
For example, did the war ...
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Are self described Reform and Conservative Jews assumed to be halachically Jewish according to Orthodox Judaism?
I’m curious about what the Orthodox understanding of Halacha says about whether Reform and Conservative people are still assumed to be halachically Jewish.
Obviously the overwhelming majority of them ...
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Why Does עלה Mean 'Page'?
I have seen numerous sages refer to a page as עלה. Yet the normative way to refer to a page is עמוד or דף. What is the etymology of this usage?
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