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1500 questions
22
votes
6 answers
How should a werewolf celebrate Pesach?
Werewolves are known for their transformation at the full moon. Unfortunately, for Jewish werewolves, this poses problems with holidays such as Pesach, Sukkot, (Shushan Purim, Pesach Sheini, Tu Bishvat, and Tu B'Av), all of which fall on the night…
Scimonster
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22
votes
7 answers
Stripes on a Talis
Is there any reason for the stripes on a talis? Does the color of the stripes have any significance?
YDK
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22
votes
4 answers
Relationship between Samekh and Sin
What is the relationship between the letters samekh and sin? Did they ever have distinct sounds? Why do they exist as separate letters?
Sam
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22
votes
9 answers
G'dolim or Rabbis Owning Pets
Are there any g'dolim (or rabbis of major influence) - past or present - who are known to have owned pets/kept animals for non-agricultural purposes?
WAF
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22
votes
4 answers
Why is a present day convert not obligated to read the Torah passage about the sacrifice he will have to bring in the future?
Rambam, Hilchot Issurei Biah 13:2 (English) tells us that a convert must do 3 things to complete the conversion process:
circumcision
immersion in a mikvah
bringing a burnt offering
The Rambam continues and tells us that nowadays, when there is no…
Menachem
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22
votes
12 answers
Talmud Study, Where to start
I would like to start to study Talmud, BUT do not know how, where to start.
My Jewish training is basically non-existent. I learned how to read the Hebrew words in the Siddur, Machzor, and Chumash - - - But do not know what they mean unless I read…
MoNoodles
22
votes
5 answers
Zeraim Moed Nashim Nezikim Kodshim Taharos - why not Moadim?
The names of the Shisha Sidrei Mishna (Six Orders of Mishnah) are: Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikim, Kodshim, Taharos. All of them besides Moed are in plural form. However Moed is in singular form. Why is it not called Seder Moadim (similar to the…
Gershon Gold
- 139,471
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22
votes
8 answers
Why did nobody succeed the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
The late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt"l had no successor as the rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. Why is this? Was it simply because he had no children? If so, why was nobody else appointed to be the rebbe?
Daniel
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22
votes
2 answers
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What are the steps taken and how does this come to be resolved according to halachah and in the most constructive way for them to deal with such a tragedy as human…
seekingclarity
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22
votes
4 answers
If a woman had more than one husband, to which would she be united at the Resurrection?
Ezra Stiles was a Congregationalist minister in Newport, Rhode Island in the late 18th century. He was a frequent visitor to the Newport Synagogue and there met Rabbi Raphael Hayyim Issac Carregal, a meshulach [fund raiser] from Hebron. In his…
Bruce James
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22
votes
6 answers
Why do some people wear their tzitzis out for people to see, and others don't?
Why do some people wear their tzitzis strings out for people to see, and others don't?
YRU
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22
votes
3 answers
What kind of kippah is this?
This photo of my great great grandfather was taken around 1900. He's a Lubavitch Jew from Belarus. His name is Zalman Malkin. He is from Liozna. The story of his life is here.
I was wondering if his kippah indicated a particular region, tradition,…
Elliott
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22
votes
9 answers
Why do we still do chazarat hashatz?
This question assumes that the purpose of chazarat hashatz is to allow for those who were unable to say their own shmoneah esrei (assumedly due to Hebrew illiteracy) to fulfill their obligation to pray.
To make a broad and unsubstantiated…
user1552
22
votes
3 answers
Does an ivory spoon make hot tea non-kosher?
Both the handles of cutlery and entire spoons have been made of elephant ivory, which is from a tusk (a tooth) of an elephant. Elephant is of course not a kosher animal. Presumably, then, these spoons and cutlery would render any food eaten with…
msh210
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22
votes
3 answers
Understanding "The Bruriah Incident"
Masecheth 'Avodah Zarah (18b) cryptically mentions "מעשה דברוריה" - "The Beruriah Incident" - as a reason R' Meir fled to Bavel. Rashi (ad loc) explains that R' Meir was teasing his wife (the noted scholar Beruriah) that she would one day admit that…
Seth J
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