Unanswered Questions
220 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
16
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Mesorah exchange between communities
Based on this thread
What exactly prevents Ashkenazim from accepting Mesorah from other communities on things that we have not done in our own community?
For example, what is it about the Mesorah of ...
- 1,912
10
votes
1
answer
432
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Who authored the 13 Ani Maamin's?
The Rambam in his Hakdama to his Pirush on Perek Chelek in Mesechtas Sanhedrin mentions the points of belief a Jew must have. To the best of my knowledge these are the basis of the well-known ...
- 970
7
votes
0
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103
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Why does An'im Zemiros have two רs?
The song beginning אנעים זמירות (also named Shir HaKavod), which is popularly sung in shuls on Shabbos and/or Yom Tov and/or Yamim Noraim, basically follows a letter-scheme, with one verse for each ...
- 23.4k
6
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0
answers
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Recommended changes to the text of selichos when you say them at the "wrong" time
Some of the piyutim in selichos assume that you're saying them at the ideal time - before Amud Hashachar (for example, at the end of selicha #70 שחרנוך קדם עמוד השחר). Many people don't make it at ...
- 9,421
6
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0
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Why is it forbidden to eat after the Qorban Pesah?
The Mishnah (Pesahim 10:8) states (Hebrew, English):
אין מפטירין אחר הפסח אפיקומן
They may not add an afikoman after the Pesach offering.
The commentators (e.g. Bartenura) explain that this is to ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
706
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May one order food from Amazon Prime after Pesach?
May one order chametz from a publically-traded company (Amazon) which may have had food pass through any number of distributers on the way? The service in question is Amazon Prime Pantry.
CommunityBot
- 1
6
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0
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Is one allowed to brush teeth on yom kippur with toothpaste without any water?
Is one allowed to brush teeth on Yom Kippur with toothpaste on a toothbrush without rinsing toothbrush before and without rinsing mouth after? What if its prescription which I would think probably ...
- 44.7k
6
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0
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111
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Why are there only 8 Martyrs in the Tisha b'av kinnos
The kinna on Tisha b'av says there are 10 Martyrs, but only 8 are named.
In the Yom Kippur version, however, all 10 are mentioned. Why are 2 missing from Tisha b'av?
- 74k
6
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0
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May a nutrition scientist perform research on chametz as part of his job on Hol Hamo'ed Pesach?
For this question, I am interested only in the aspect of handling the chametz and "benefitting" from it on Hol Hamo'ed, not any problems, possibly of going to work. (Let's assume that if the worker ...
- 71.5k
6
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308
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Why did Ashkenazi Jews not adopt the custom of reading the Book of Job in synagogue on Tisha B'Av, as Sephardim do?
I understand that Sephardim have the custom of reading the Book of Job on Tisha B'Av. Is there any historic discussion among Ashkenazi rabbis regarding why the practice was not adopted by them?
- 3,692
6
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0
answers
71
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Badikas Chamatz in courtyards of cities today
Shulchan Aruch HaRav says:
קרקעית החצר אין צריך בדיקה לפי שעורבין ושאר עופות מצויין שם והם אוכלים כל חמץ שנופל ואפילו אם ידוע לו שיש שם בחצר ודאי חמץ אין צריך ליטלו משם בשעת בדיקת ליל י"ד ואפילו ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
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0
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397
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Why did Israeli sportsmen keep their hats on during their national anthem?
Last year I was at the international softball tournament and I noticed that players from Israel took off their baseball caps during the other teams anthems (as is common courtesy), but kept them ...
- 74k
6
votes
1
answer
292
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Piyutim in the Scroll
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 139:4) discusses the potential issue that a listener might think that the blessings for an aliya are actually written in the Torah scroll. Different suggestions are offered for ...
- 3,997
5
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0
answers
56
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Who are the lulav and the hadasim?
There is a popular midrash that the four species on Sukkos represent four kinds of people. I usually see it in the form where the smell corresponds to mitzvos and the taste corresponds to Torah ...
- 9,421
5
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0
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72
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On Pesach, to which side does someone with situs inversus lean?
Situs inversus is a condition where the body’s internal organs are reversed, apparently including the esophagus, the trachea, and both bronchi.
Therefore, on Pesach, would a Jew with this condition ...
- 1,912