Most Popular
1500 questions
25
votes
9 answers
What is the downside to wearing techeiles?
There are many Compelling arguments to support Techelet, although it's not yet universally accepted.
A friend of mine bought P'til Tekhelet Murex techeiles, and went to his rabbi (who I know and respect) to ask for advice on how to tie it, and his…
MTL
- 19,073
- 4
- 51
- 161
25
votes
8 answers
Is one allowed to kill false witnesses to his own capital crime?
Reuven and Shimon conspire to execute Levi in Beis Din (court) for killing Yehuda by their testimony. There were no Eidei Hazama (counter-witnesses) who will expose Reuven and Shimon to be liable to death instead of Levi for false testimony. Levi…
ertert3terte
- 40,485
- 7
- 96
- 205
25
votes
5 answers
What is the original halachic source for a woman covering her collarbones out of modesty (tznius)?
Many contemporary instructions on women's modesty (tznius) say that necklines have to be high enough to cover the collarbones.
I can certainly accept that if this is the communal standard, it should be upheld; or that it makes a good guideline to…
Shalom
- 132,602
- 8
- 193
- 489
25
votes
2 answers
What is the source for the tradition that the philtrum is formed by an angel before birth?
Physiological context: The philtrum is the dip or groove in the middle of the upper lip below the nose (link). It is a feature of most mammals, thought to draw water from the mouth to the nose to keep the nose moist but is vestigial in humans. It is…
A L
- 2,547
- 20
- 38
25
votes
5 answers
What is it about pigs that's so despised vs. other non-kosher animals?
We all hear about pigs being so much more reviled than other forms of non-kosher. This is true in general culture; I believe such a minhag was recorded with regards to using soap rendered from non-kosher animals; we find the Talmud occasionally…
Shalom
- 132,602
- 8
- 193
- 489
25
votes
4 answers
Saying "I love you" during nidda
While a woman is nidda and she and her husband are observing harchakot, is it permitted for them to tell each other, "I love you," or is that too suggestive of a statement for the nidda period?
Daniel
- 24,888
- 3
- 48
- 148
25
votes
4 answers
Maintaining Tzniut in Uncomfortable Social Situations
How can a teenage girl, who recently started practicing the laws of tzniut as well as feasible, balance those laws with the prohibition against embarrassing her family members, who are embarrassed to be seen with her dressed so oddly?
Sherri Berry
- 251
- 2
- 3
25
votes
5 answers
When did Ruth convert?
In the book of Ruth it never openly states that she converts and in fact she is referred to as Ruth the Moabite throughout the text. At what point, chronologically, did she in fact convert?
bookofruth
- 251
- 2
- 3
25
votes
4 answers
What's up with this strange new hechsher?
All of a sudden, I’ve seen the hechsher shown in these photos popping up on various products. I’ve never seen it before, and I don’t see it listed on any of the usual online hechsher lists.
Have you seen this mark on any products? (Pics please,…
Isaac Moses
- 48,026
- 13
- 119
- 333
25
votes
2 answers
Can you learn from seforim written by someone who believed Shabbetai Tzvi was the Messiah?
During the times of false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, and for several decades afterwards, many well established rabbanim [1] believed him to be Moshiach. Some even maintained this belief after his conversion to Islam. May one learn from the seforim of…
none
- 3,948
- 17
- 47
25
votes
1 answer
What do you do if you made a Tzedaka pledge and now the organization folded?
Recently a friend of mine asked me the following question. He pledged $500- to a Yeshiva, yet before he paid the pledge the Yeshiva closed. Does he still have to pay his pledge to another Tzedaka or is he absolved? Is there a difference if the…
Gershon Gold
- 139,471
- 12
- 231
- 553
25
votes
6 answers
Is it a discouraged or an unacceptable practice for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath?
According to Jewish Law and tradition, is it acceptable, discouraged or totally unacceptable for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath according to the regulations spelled out in the Torah and the Talmud and expounded upon by the Rabbis?
absurdrefusal
- 924
- 2
- 8
- 18
25
votes
9 answers
After chumashim with notes and Rashi, what's the next torah commentary I should acquire and study?
When I read the torah text (parsha or otherwise) I currently use a couple of chumashim with notes, and Rashi. I know some Hebrew but am not fluent. I'm ready to stretch beyond what I'm reading now and would like to add another commentary to add a…
Monica Cellio
- 56,645
- 10
- 113
- 348
25
votes
24 answers
SE Challenge: Halachot in which rulings range from permissible to Torah violation?
Inspired by my previous question regarding heating up soup on Shabbat, I present a challenge to the Judaism StackExchange community --
List halachot which have halachic decisions ranging from outright Torah violations (i.e. not simply a rabbinic…
ChaimKut
- 2,463
- 21
- 20
25
votes
3 answers
PTIJ: Is Schrödinger's cat inscribed in the book of Life and the book of Death?
Based on the idea of quantum mechanics, Erwin Schrödinger proposed his famous "Schrödinger's cat" idea, which is a cat that is both alive and dead until observed.
Is Schrödinger's cat inscribed for a year of Life and Death, and then subsequently…
Moshe
- 3,639
- 8
- 29