Unanswered Questions
136 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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The origin of the word Teffilin
We know that the word תפילין appears nowhere in the Tanach. On the other hand, the only meaning of "תפילה" in Tanach is "a prayer" (see Sefaria search תפילה").
Seemingly, ...
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The difference between "hu" and "zeh"
In Yeshayahu, 42:8, the text reads
אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא שְׁמִ֑י
This is translated in most English version I can find as
"I am God, THAT is my name."
The targum doesn't translate it at ...
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75
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Which species does or do בקר refer to in the Torah?
Are only cows and bulls included?
Or perhaps other related species as well?
Is this subject to disagreement?
And does context make a difference?
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Why the change in phrase with the morning blessings?
In the morning blessings, there is a small but seemingly important variation in word usage across three blessings.
In the blessing about the distinction between day and night, G-d is described by the ...
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Evolution of the Term "Ger"
According to Plaut ("The Torah a Modern Commentary", Revised Edition, p. 530) the term "ger" has changed over time.
Ger was the term applied to resident non-Israelites who could ...
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Origin of the use of "G-d"
I'm wondering about the earliest uses of the abbreviation "G-d". Obviously, it's used as an extension to avoiding saying Hashem's name in vain, but was this practice common from the ...
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Do we know what Avodah means?
Parallel to this.
The root ayin-vet-dalet seems to have three separate uses according to the Even Shoshan:
as a noun, eved means A) a person who is owned by another or who is forced to work for ...
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Why are some commandments relayed via "Tzav" but not others?
In the chumash, there are approximately 10 places where a law is given to the Children of Israel and is preceded by Hashem's telling Moshe to command (tzav) the people, or certain people. An example ...
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Does ehad mean "one" or "first" when used together with "rishon"?
How should ehad be translated in this phrase and why?
וְשַׂ֣ר׀ מַלְכ֣וּת פָּרַ֗ס עֹמֵ֤ד לְנֶגְדִּי֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וְאֶחָ֣ד י֔וֹם וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל אַחַ֛ד הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים בָּ֣א לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי ...
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Connection between Terafim and Therapy?
During a hesped for Rav Belsky z"tl, Rav Yisroel Reisman mentions Rav Belsky's ability to connect common words with their Torah source, alluding to "terafim" of Lavan being connected with "therapy". ...
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Where does HaShem stands and in which council?
Psalm 82 teaches that Elohim (אלהים) stands (נצב to position oneself) within the council/congregation (עדת-אל) of El, among/amidst (בקרב) elohiem (אלהים) He judge (ישפט).
Someone told me to look at ...
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Torah definition of אזרח, גר and תושב?
The Gemmorah in Succah (and Kiddushin) learns that the women are exempt from sitting in a Succah from the word האזרח.
The Torah uses this word a couple of times, many times together with the words גר ...
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A list of doubled words
In the tanach, there are times when certain words are doubled (generally verbs but I'm open to other combinations) with one form of the word, followed by a second form which is in a future tense, I ...
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Why doesn't our decrease of joy extend beyond Tish'a B'Av?
Citing from here
There is a famous Mishnah that is cited towards the end of Masechet
Ta’anit (4:6) that states:
“Mishenichnas Av, Mema’atin Besimcha”
“When the month of Av arrives, we ...
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What does "chotim" mean?
In Shmuel Aleph, 14:33 the word חֹטִאים is used (chotim). I always had thought that the word was chot'im with the vowel under the aleph (as it is in the title to this book) but that isn't the case. ...
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