Unanswered Questions
163 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
Isn’t ״צרות לבבי הרחיבו״ an oxymoron?
In Tehillim 25:17, David says:
צָר֣וֹת לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ מִ֝מְּצוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃
My deep distress increases; deliver me from my straits.
The root ״צר״ literally translates as “narrow”. Its ...
- 1,356
3
votes
0
answers
76
views
Source for beginning Creation with the alphabet
I recall a number of years ago hearing the same idea from two different Rabbis, both without citing sources which I would like to now try to find.
When the Torah begins "Bereishis bara Elokim es&...
- 1,912
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
What do Jews call the deuterocannonical books?
In theory, the Christian “Old Testament” is the same as the Jewish Bible, or at least the same texts in a different order, but in fact there are a few different versions of the Old Testament. The ...
- 101k
2
votes
0
answers
49
views
Origins/Information sought for the words דּוֹק and חֶלֶד, which appear in אַדִּיר וְנָאוֹר - translated as "Heaven and Earth"? (RH/YK Machzor)
I've never seen דּוֹק וָחֶלֶד before except in this prayer. Looking them up hasn't been particularly useful - I can't find a second source that defines דּוֹק as heaven (and can't find any uses in ...
- 14.7k
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Are you allowed to make liquid nitrogen ice cream on Yom Tov
Liquid nitrogen is a liquid version of nitrogen gas and hence very cold. This ice cream involves sugar, chocolate syrup, milk --liquid nitrogen is poured in as one stirs vigorously. When all have ...
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
What is the criteria for doubling the verse "ויהי נועם" in the Tefila?
There are cases, usually after "יהי רצון" (May there be a desire), that double the verse "ויהי נעם ה' אלקינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו. ". On the other hand, ...
- 1,659
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
How would you explain/translate "the ways of Yisrael Saba"?
How would you explain/translate "the ways of Yisrael Saba"?
Something like 'ancient traditional values or practices'?
Is there a source for this phrase?
- 491
2
votes
0
answers
71
views
Meaning of יוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית
What is the meaning and kavana for יוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית - "Maker of Bereshit" - eg. in מודים דרבנן and עלינו לשבח
? Especially, in light of the point made by Ramban in Bereshit 1:1 where the ...
- 101k
0
votes
0
answers
92
views
Blend words (Portmanteaus) in Torah
I came across a "portmanteau" in Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tisa 5:
בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת (from Tehillim 68:7)
Which is a combination of בָּכֵי
and שִׁירָה, as Hashem's matching of people, against ...
- 28k
0
votes
0
answers
76
views
Why does Shulchan Aruch not use the term חלף
A knife that is used for Shechita is also called a חלף. Why doesn't the Smach and Shulchan Aruch use this word and instead use the regular term סכין שחיטה?
- 2,413
2
votes
0
answers
128
views
Why is a נשר - eagle considered שקץ - a detestable thing when its symbol is used on many holy things
The word "שקץ" is described by R. Samson Rafael Hirsch as follows, "...the prohibition against eating (an eagle, or other similar birds) is termed שקץ, such eating is antithetical to ...
- 5,076
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
Can you jinx someone?
Since I was a child it was common that when two people would say the same thing at the same time one would call out "jinx" (sometimes followed by, "you have to buy me a soda!"). ...
- 15.3k
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
What is "Hebrew letter form"?
Rabbi Michael L. Munk composed "The Wisdom of the Hebrew in the Hebrew Alphabet". Pg. 44 on Aleph he addresses the 'graphic form' of Aleph. He explains the aleph is a construct of two yuds ...
- 1,517
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Smoke or incense
Genesis 19:28 "and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and behold, he saw the smoke (קִיטֹ֣ר) of the land ascended like the smoke (...
- 323
2
votes
0
answers
115
views
What is אנדרלמוסיא
It is quite clear from context that it means a type of heavenly group punishment, like a flood or a plague* where both good and bad die, l'a. It seems mainly connected with the sin of זִּמָּה/זְנוּת i....
- 14.7k