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2 answers
Mordecai: Esther's uncle?
The m'gila says clearly that Ester was "bas dodo", which seems to mean she was the daughter of Mord'chay's uncle, i.e., his first cousin. The targum renders this as "b'ras achvoy". Does that mean "his niece"? If not, then where does the common claim…
msh210
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Does a convert have a clean slate?
When a non-jew converts to Jusaism, must he still do teshuva from past sins, or does the "reborn" concept stretch far enough to consider him "sinless"?
jake
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3 answers
Was the Mishkan Built on Shabbat?
There is a famous midrash that relates the 39 prohibitions of Shabbat to the various types of activities that were required for the mishkan's construction. Implicit within this idea is the notion that the mishkan itself was not erected on Shabbat…
Shimon bM
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Is the "Special K" a reliable hechsher?
Recently, I saw this logo on a package of cereal:
I couldn't locate any information on the web about this kosher symbol. Is this hechsher reliable? Who is the head mashgiach?
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely…
DanF
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20
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6 answers
how to survive if you are hanging on to some aveiros
Is there a strategy or saying / quotation (chasidish, chazal, etc.) that addresses what to do if there are some aveiros that one is not ready to give up on but wants to feel good about doing the other mitzvos? Sometimes these aveiros become big in…
Desert Star
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5 answers
Was a sefer torah ever actually written in Greek?
This answer to a different question states that the only other language a sefer torah can be written in and be kosher is Greek. (Rambam, Hilchot Sefer Torah 1:19 says that this Greek no longer exists as a language.)
Was a sefer torah ever actually…
Scimonster
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A rabbi asked me to light candles before weekday Mincha/Ma'ariv. Is this customary? Is there a bracha?
Last night, I was pulled in off the street to help an unfamiliar shul make a minyan for Mincha/Ma'ariv. The rabbi greeted me, and when he learned I do not speak Hebrew, he gave me a very nice blessing about my future with Hashem. Then he said,…
Jon Mitchell
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2 answers
Do we have any proof (Biblical or other Judaic) that current-day Arabs have lineage from Yishma'el?
I am relating my question to Hashem and Arabs.
Offhand, I thought that Islam claims ties to Yisma'el. If true, I don't know how or why it makes that claim. If it's all Arabs, even non-Muslims, how do we know this claim is true? Is there Biblical,…
DanF
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1 answer
The new TSA airport scanners and tznius
Is it OK as per Halacha to go through the new TSA scanners where they see you as if you are naked?
Gershon Gold
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11 answers
Yaakov Marrying Two Sisters
According to those that say the Avos kept the Torah beforehand (here), how was Yaakov allowed to marry two sisters?
(Yes, I'm aware that there are many answers)
yydl
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20
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3 answers
How long did Chava (Eve) live?
The Torah tells us that Adam HaRishon lived for 930 years. Is there a source that tells us for how long Chava (Eve) lived?
I have been unable to find any source that discusses how old Chava was when she was buried. However I have heard there is a…
Gershon Gold
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20
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8 answers
Has the Torah been changed over the ages?
It is quite a famous argument from Muslims for authenticity of the Quran that the previous Holy Books (Bible and Torah) sent by God have been corrupted or changed by their followers and that Quran is the only one which remains intact in its original…
CobaltBabyBear
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8 answers
Eating Meat: What Changed?
Adam wasn't allowed to eat meat. After the mabul (Flood) we were suddenly permitted to eat (Bereshit 9:3). What changed (ie what was the reason we weren't allowed to before, why are we allowed to now and what changed after the flood)?
yydl
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4 answers
Is there such a thing as "Veset Halom"
One friend of mine told me that his wife always sees a special dream before her veset. Always the same one.
Could such think be counted as veset kavua?
I understand that technically a dream doesn't apply to any type of veset that are mentioned in…
jutky
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2 answers
Woman with 2 wombs in regards to pidyon haben
There is a medical condition known as "Uterus didelphys". Wikipedia describes it as follows:
Uterus didelphys (sometimes also uterus didelphis) represents a
uterine malformation where the uterus is present as a paired organ as
the embryogenetic…
Yehoshua
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