Unanswered Questions
823 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
1
vote
0
answers
15
views
"His resting place will be Damascus" - what is the meaning of this Midrash?
The Midrash Rabbah (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7:5) expounds on the posuk: "and Damascus shall his resting place be" (Zecharyah 9:1) that Damascus will be "the resting place of Moshiach":...
- 11.7k
3
votes
0
answers
70
views
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 ...
- 168
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
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 ...
- 28.4k
2
votes
0
answers
122
views
Is there a gemara that explains why our forefathers' prayers were answered right away?
I think I remember a gemara that says the reason why our fathers were answered right away as opposed to us is because they knew G-d's name. I am searching for it but I have not found it yet.
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Seeking to find a quote from Rashba on Kidushin
ולולא פירוש רש"י היו דברי התנאיים והאמוראים סתומות ולא היו ניתנים
להבנה
Were it nor for Rashi's commentary, Shas would remain a closed book to
us all.
I heard that the Rashba says the above in ...
- 5,020
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
Touching dogs obstructs prayers - source?
One of the first things I learned in yeshiva was that there is some source that says that:
if one touches a dog, then their prayers are "held up in heaven" for 40 days.
I don't remember ...
- 5,020
0
votes
0
answers
78
views
Yisro wanting to go back to convert people: Moshe says no!
In Parshas Behaaloscha (Bamidbar 10:29), the Torah says:
And Moshe said to Ḥovav, the son of Re῾u᾽el, the Midyanite, Moshe’s father in law, We are journeying to the place of which the L-rd said, I ...
- 11.7k
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
Did Jacob prostrate himself before Joseph?
The Gemara in Berachot 55 learns from Joseph's dream that there is no dream without meaningless components; as he had dreamed of the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowing before him, yet Rachel (...
- 522
0
votes
0
answers
78
views
Is one allowed to consult oil and egg demons?
On one hand, the Gemara Sanhedrin 101a states:
And one may not consult the words of demons on Shabbat. Rabbi Yosei says: Even during the week it is prohibited to consult demons. Rav Huna said: The ...
- 5,026
2
votes
0
answers
80
views
Animals in the Ark of Noach: a metaphor for the nations of the world
In Parshas Noach (Bereishis 6:19-20), we read the instruction G-d gave Noach to build an ark, and together with his family, to put in animals:
וּמִכׇּל־הָ֠חַ֠י מִֽכׇּל־בָּשָׂ֞ר שְׁנַ֧יִם מִכֹּ֛ל ...
- 11.7k
4
votes
0
answers
61
views
Ha'azinu as a spiritual remedy for heretical thoughts
The B'nei Yissoschor in the sefer Agra D'Pirka, as quoted by the sefer Kavod Shabbos (Parshas Ha'azinu, p. 548) says:
לומר בכל יום שירת האזינו: נראה לי בסגולה ללמוד בכל יום שירת האזינו,
והוא סגולה ...
- 11.7k
4
votes
0
answers
63
views
Sleep Paralysis in Torah?
My friend recently mentioned to me that he has sleep paralysis and I was wondering what the Torah has to say about it:
Why does it happen according to the Torah?
How does one stop it from happening ...
- 3,592
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
What is the quote about 13 rivers of aparsemon?
Can some share the quote where this came from: "the righteous will bathe in 13 rivers of aparsemon"? I've seen it paraphrased online a lot but I can't find it in the reference listed (Avodah ...
- 5,026
3
votes
0
answers
78
views
Source for Shofar customs
What are the different practices and sources for different practices of the quality of the shofar sounds (not Rashi vs Tosfos (ie: 3 vs 9 truah)); ie: where the note goes up and down (rootoos, ...
- 101k
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Connection Between Shechem and Yitro? (and Amalek)
When Saul goes to war against Amalek, he tells the Kenites to withdraw from among the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:6).
In Josephus's Antiquities, it is David who gives this warning when he is attacking the ...
- 28.4k