Unanswered Questions
275 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
10
votes
2
answers
208
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Counting Sefirah in a made up language
Can one fulfill the mitzvah of counting the Omer by counting in a language that only he/she understands? What if a few people understand? An entire goup?
- 2,013
9
votes
1
answer
443
views
Reincarnations - Let's work out how many one would need to be personally obligated in all 613 Mitzvot in the superset
In a nutshell, the Arizal says (Shaar Gilgulim Ch. 16) we are reincarnated in order that every Jew gets a chance to experience all 613 mitzvot as a chiyuv (personal obligation) at least once. My ...
- 14.7k
8
votes
0
answers
179
views
Mitzvos from the 613 that are not included in the Ten Commandments
The Chasam Sofer to parshas Nasso says (Toras Moshe I, ד"ה ושמו שמי) that it is known that even though the Ten Commandments contain all the 613 mitzvos (see Rashi and here), the three mitzvos that ...
- 979
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Women wearing men's "women's shirts"
Some chassidic shirts are basically identical to women's dress shirts, save for the bust shape, i.e. they button right-over-left.
Would a female wearing the former be transgressing the prohibition on ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
0
answers
147
views
Operating a mechanical calculator on Shabbos
Are mechanical calculators Mukzte on Shabbos? Would it be considered a form of measuring?
Mechanical calculators have no electric parts. Everything is purely mechanical:
If it is considered measuring,...
- 3,907
6
votes
0
answers
119
views
Why isn't imitating Hashem's traits a constant mitzvah?
In the introduction to Sefer HaChinuch, the author delineates what he feels are six constant mitzvos from the 613.
מששה מצות מהן שחיובן תמידי לא יפסק מעל האדם אפי' רגע בכל ימיו. ואלו הם. א' להאמין ...
- 20.2k
6
votes
0
answers
263
views
Holy Objects of a Messianic
Messianic Judaism is a heretical offshoot of Judaism which maintains that Jesus was the Mashiach which may violate the prohibition of avodah zarah (see above link). Would the tefillin or tallit* used ...
- 13.3k
6
votes
0
answers
241
views
During the nine days, can we do something "slightly dangerous" in order to fulfill a mitzvah?
During the nine days, many hold that we refrain from activities that are considered even slightly dangerous; for example, air travel.
However, I have read that R' Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (who ...
- 388
6
votes
0
answers
193
views
Do the laws of Ribis apply to loans of virtual currency?
If a Jew lends a player in a multiplayer online game money, and he knows without a doubt that that player is Jewish, does the prohibition of ribis apply? (After all, the only thing that changed was a ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
0
answers
123
views
Writing the woman's name in a kasubah or get: Plonis *ben* Ploni
Instead of writing the name of the kallah (bride) Rivka bat Chaim (for example) it was written Rivka ben Chaim. In such a case what's the halacha? By a kasubah is it valid? Does it have to be written ...
- 16.2k
6
votes
0
answers
244
views
Can members of Hatzolah learn how to deliver a baby?
This seems like a very simple thing. Is there anything wrong with male members of Hatzolah (a frum Jewish emergency medical organization) learning how to deliver a baby? I recently heard that Rabbonim ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
0
answers
4k
views
Rabbi Soloveitchik's wife and hair coverings
I've seen pictures online of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's wife with her hair uncovered.
Did Rabbi Soloveitchik have a halachic reason for his wife not covering her hair? Was it her decision, and ...
- 5,064
6
votes
1
answer
428
views
Can a woman uncover her hair for the sake of employment?
I am aware of many poseqim who hold that in order to get and hold a job, it is permissible for men to remove their kippoth during the interview and their workday.
Can a woman who badly needs ...
- 34.7k
6
votes
2
answers
482
views
Why a married woman is exempt from honoring her parents?
Although the wife should listen to the husband and make her best to please him, it is not a Mitzvah at all, and there are no DeOraytah obligations on the wife toward her husband (Rambam Ishut 22-24). ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
227
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Practical עשה דוחה לא תעשה
There are a few examples frequently offered for the rule "עשה דוחה לא תעשה":
Someone whose garment has four corners and linen can nonetheless put wool tzitzis on it. This is unlikely nowadays, when ...
- 188