Unanswered Questions
198 questions with no answers
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
6
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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?
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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 ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
5
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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 ...
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Can you eat foods during Passover, if you already opened and ate from the package before Passover?
Let's say that a person opens a jar of pickles that is kosher for Passover, and eats from it during the week before Passover starts.
Can the jar still be used during Passover?
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Is it necessary to include Seder HaAvodah in the Musaf Repetition on Yom Kippur?
As far as I understand, piyyutim (poetic additions to/replacements for certain brachot in public prayer) are optional/only a minhag, and that omitting all of them wouldn't be a problem.
On the other ...
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Can you buy chametz during Pesach that will be delivered after Pesach?
As an example, during Hol Hamo'ed Pesach, could you buy chametz online knowing that it will arrive after Pesach?
My assumption is that it would be OK, as the buyer doesn't actually own the product ...
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Eating matzah on the second day of erev Pesach
I don't have all the sources and grounding for the various suppositions I am going to present so I apologize -- I fear I can't put this question into proper words:
We refrain from eating matzah (at ...