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1500 questions
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2 answers
Is there a halachic problem with the Columbia University seal on the floor of the library?
The seal of Columbia University has the YKVK (G-d's 4 letter name) on the floor of the library. People walk on the seal. Is this chilul Hashem or is there some other halachic problem with this? Does this problem apply to non-Jews as well as Jews?
DanF
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24
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24
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Why are Shabbat loopholes a good thing?
I'm not Jewish but do know that strict observance of religious laws is important in Judaism.
I recently visited one of our suppliers in Israel and the hotel and office block had sabbath elevators. The younger techies I was working with thought it…
Nobody
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"I never saw a tzaddik be abandoned..." - how do we understand this?
At the end of bentching we say that "I was young, and I also became old, and I never saw a righteous person be abandoned, and his children asking for bread" (Tehillim 37:25).
How do we reconcile that with the poverty that we see all the time?
Just Wondering
24
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14 answers
Does the Torah ever mention jail as a punishment for a crime?
I have learned that punishments in the Torah often (always?) have a rehabilitative aspect to them as well as providing justice to the victim, e.g. someone who steals and can't pay back the value of what he stole becomes a slave, and through this…
DaagahMinayin
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All the many, many details
I understand a number of reasons why the Jewish community keeps so many rules to the level of minutiae. But why SUCH a level of intricacy in some of these laws?
I looked through a large book on the laws of brachos, because this is one aspect of…
Annelise
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24
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7 answers
Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?
Rabbis such as Abudraham have explained a woman's exemption from positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot shehazman grama) in terms of a woman's ongoing and preliminary role in supporting her children/husband in the home (see here).
I'm wondering…
Aryeh
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24
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2 answers
Is it forbidden to wear a snap-brim Borsalino fedora on Shabbos?
The Talmud, at Shabbos 138b, presents the opinion that one may not wear a siyana -- which Rashi defines as a wide-brimmed hat — on Shabbos if it has a brim that is one tefach (hand-bredth) wide because it is like erecting an ohel (tent). Tosafos…
Bruce James
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24
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3 answers
What is the longest masechta?
I heard that Bava Basra is the longest masechta in blatt but Brochos is the longest mesechta in words. Did anyone else hear anything about that?
cookie monster
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What percentage of Chabad still believes their Rebbe is the Messiah?
Are there any statistics as to what percentage of Chabad still believes that their Rebbe is the Messiah? Is it the majority or simply a very vocal minority? Have there been any serious studies made on the issue?
Please note this question seeks…
Shraga
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Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah?
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah? Not necessarily that the Rashbi authored the Zohar, but in the general tenets of kabbalah including but not limited to: tzimtzum, sefirot, partzufim etc.
If a person believes that the ideas found…
user2110
24
votes
2 answers
Why was the translation considered a tragedy if it was already translated into 70 languages?
I just read in Parashat ki tavo that the Torah was translated into 70 languages and written on giant stones, yet the Talmud says the translation of the Torah to Greek many years later was considered a tragedy.
Why was it considered a tragedy if it…
ray
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3 answers
Can an Alien convert to Judaism?
Suppose we one day find an extraterrestrial walking on our planet that originated from another planet. The alien quickly learns all about religion and now wants to become a Jew. Do we let him?
Remember: Aliens don't have to be three-eyed,…
yydl
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24
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7 answers
How does Judaism deal with God and paradoxes?
How does Judaism deal with paradoxes relating to the omnipotence of God?
For example: Can God create a rock that he himself cannot lift?
fakeID
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Understanding the story of Rabba and Rav Zeira
The Gemarah (Megillah 7b)describes how Rabba and Rav Zeira celebrated Purim together. While intoxicated Rabba kills (slaughters) Rav Zeira. The next day he resurrects him. The next year Rabba invites Rav Zeira to celebrate Purim together again. Rav…
none
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