Unanswered Questions
136 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Whence "בחזקת בשרי"?
Besides the main categories of meat, dairy, and pareve (non-meat, non-dairy) foods, two special subcategories of pareve foods are relevant to halacha (e.g. Yore Dea 93): pareve food cooked using clean ...
CommunityBot
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8
votes
1
answer
277
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Why do books say "ספר" on them?
Why do Jewish books often say "ספר" on the spine, cover, or cover page?
The word is synonymous with "book" in modern Hebrew, and some closely related concept like "document" or "scroll" in Tana"ch. ...
CommunityBot
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7
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0
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Saying "Elokim" when not referring to Hashem
People often say "Elokim" instead of "Elohim" when speaking in order to avoid taking God's name in vain. I have observed, however, that some people always substitute the word "...
7
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Source for not referring to Chanuka lights as a "menora"
Following up on this question about the use of the words "menora" or "chanukiya" to refer to Chanuka lights:
I find it interesting that the use of "chanukiya," popularized in 1897 through a secular ...
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6
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0
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109
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Why don't we say "please" (that often)?
The week day Shmoneh Esrei prayer has a series of requests during which we ask Hashem for many of our needs. In my siddur (Tefilla Hashalem) there is a subtle change made in the texts of 1 of the ...
- 38.7k
6
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0
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200
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Difference Between Shamayim and Rakia
In parshas Berashis, the words Shamayim and Rakia keep on coming up. someone asked me what is the difference between the 2, and I had no idea.
- 73.9k
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How Did Aharon Change Moshe's Words to Par'oh?
Moshe's message to Par'oh was to be communicated through Aharon, as per Sh'mot, 7:2
אַתָּ֣ה תְדַבֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ וְאַהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֙יךָ֙ יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־...
CommunityBot
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5
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0
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What does "p'ruath rosh" actually mean?
It says in the halakha that a married woman may not go out into the public market place with "p'ruath rosh."
I have heard that this means "with uncovered head," but this does not seem to match up ...
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5
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0
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What is the Hebrew term for the drawing of the hands inward during lighting of Shabbos candles?
Someone elsewhere asked what is the Hebrew term for the drawing of the hands inward during lighting of Shabbos candle.
For example, Chabad.org describes the custom,
Extend your hands over the ...
- 73.9k
4
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0
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Why is mercy the only characteristic that is quantified?
In the Hoshana poem L'ma'an Amitach, various characteristics of God are enlisted as a reason for God to save us. The version appearing in my prayerbook, and recited in congregations I have been ...
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110
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Why does ויאמר almost never use לאמר, and why does וידבר almost always use לאמר?
It seems that whenever Tanach says ויאמר, "and he said," it almost never uses the word לאמר, "saying."1
Conversely, whenever Tanach says וידבר, "and he spoke," it almost always uses the word לאמר, "...
- 34.7k
4
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0
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73
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Source for galuta d'galuta גלותא דגלותא?
I so clearly remember from my days of Talmud study the phrase גלותא דגלותא, meaning a place that was REALLY far away, seriously in exile, "deep diaspora", totally removed from eretz yisrael. Maybe it ...
- 11.9k
4
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0
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571
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Are the talmudic "Prushim" the Rabbinic Pharisees?
In Masechet Sotah, 20a, the mishna details harmful forces and reads (translation from dafyomi.co.il)
The following destroy the world - a foolish Chasid, a crafty evildoer, a woman who is Perushah, ...
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4
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Gerah as a coin and cud (and more)
Is anyone familiar with any exposition on the connection between gerah גֵּרָה as cud (ma'aleh gerah) and as a measure of 1/20th of a shekel? Is there any connection drawn to the root for the word ...
- 38.7k
4
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0
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152
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Difference between 'rafa' and 'ripa'
The root רפא, "heal", is used in various places in Tanach, sometimes in binyan paal and sometimes in binyan piel. I wonder what the difference is between these. Does any Tanach commentator, or the ...
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