Unanswered Questions
246 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
19
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2
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387
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Where did the incense-altar sweeper get his broom from?
Mishna, Tamid chapter 3:9, in a loose translation:
Those who merited removing the ashes from the inner altar and the candelabrum would precede. They had four tools in their hands: the basket, the ...
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11
votes
1
answer
152
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Is there any connection between the Sotah, the Mizbeiach, and the Beis HaMikdash keychain?
In exactly three contexts, the Mishnah notes that there was an amah square marble slab with a ring, using exactly the same language each time.
The first is in Sotah 2:2, regarding the Sotah procedure:...
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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
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0
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194
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Finding a chiddush of the Brisker Rov
This question has a bit of an introduction to it.
Rav Shlomo Lorincz wrote a biography of the Chazon Ish, the Brisker Rov and Rav Shach, called במחיצתם (translated by Yonason Rosenblum as “In Their ...
- 19.1k
7
votes
1
answer
570
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Eliyahu HaNavi's role in Moshiach's arrival according to the Rambam
The Rambam says in Hilchos Malachim 12:2:
There are some Sages who say that Elijah's coming will precede the coming of the Mashiach. All these and similar matters cannot be definitely known by man ...
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7
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0
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317
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Early descriptions of the Foundation Stone
I am looking for early descriptions of the "Foundation Stone" (אבן שתיה) -- the huge flat rock now enclosed by the "Dome of the Rock," and believed by many Jewish scholars to have been the site of the ...
- 7,056
7
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0
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184
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Why does Mishneh Torah have Shem uMalchut for Yishtabach?
I was looking into the Seder haTefillot as well as other siddurim based on it, and something always bothered me about Birkat Yishtabach, which as most of you know "closes" the Pesuqei deZimra section ...
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7
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2
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346
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Obligation to leave through a different gate
The prophet Ezekiel (46:9) tells us of an obligation when visiting the Temple.
וּבְב֨וֹא עַם־הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֮ בַּמּֽוֹעֲדִים֒ הַבָּ֡א דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֨עַר צָפ֜וֹן לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֗ת יֵצֵא֙ דֶּרֶךְ־...
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6
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0
answers
139
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What kind of flute was used in the temple, according to the mishna?
In Mishna there are several mentions of the use of flute, there were used at the time of the Bet Mikdash, see below a few examples. I am interested to know if we have some knowledge about the type of ...
- 57k
6
votes
1
answer
252
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How was Chanukah celebrated at the Beis HaMikdash?
In the centuries between the Maccabean Revolt and the destruction of the Bayis Sheni, how was Chanukah commemorated at the Beis HaMikdash (other than the addition of prayers like Al Hanisim)?
Since ...
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5
votes
0
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Approximately how many Jews would make the pilgrimage for aliyas l'regel during its height? How large of a gathering was it?
I've seen some writers talk about the rally in D.C. being the largest single gathering of Jews since Sinai. I would think that is not accurate in that, at the very least, we may have had greater ...
5
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0
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81
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What if one chos vishalom accidentally kills someone right before techias hameisim?
B"H
The Rambam in Hilchos rotzeiach 7:9-12 discuss how one who accidentally kills someone and is exiled to a city of refuge never leaves, until the Kohen Gadol passes away.
The question is, what ...
5
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0
answers
99
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Does treating a cohen's blemish permit him to serve?
The Rambam lists 140 blemishes that invalidate a cohen from serving (Hilchot Biyat Mikdash, perek 8). There are some that appear to be genetic traits that cannot be (easily) treated without extensive ...
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5
votes
1
answer
230
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What Caused Jerusalem to be Destroyed?
The Gemara states the following:
Abaye said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because people desecrated the Shabbos in it (Shabbos 119b)
Rabbi Abbahu said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because its ...
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5
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0
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139
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Are the musical instruments in the Beis HaMikdash exhaustive?
Rambam (Hil. Klei HaMikdash 3:4) lists the instruments accompanying the Leviim:
וּבַמֶּה הֵם מְנַגְּנִין. בִּנְבָלִים וַחֲלִילִים וְכִנּוֹרוֹת וַחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וְהַצִּלְצָל. וְאֵין פּוֹחֲתִין ...
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