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Why doesn't the OU put DE on food packages anymore?
The OU used to put DE next to the OU symbol when a product was Dairy Equipment. Such a product can not be eaten with meat but can be eaten right afterwards (you don't need to wait the amount of time that you normally wait between meat and dairy).…
N123
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Why doesn't Tefilat Geshem have a verse referring to Miriam?
The "Tefilat Geshem" ("Prayer for Rain") recited on Shemini 'Atzeret contains six verses. Each verse refers to a different person (except the last, which refers to a nation) and makes various allusions to that person's interactions with water found…
Isaac Moses
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20
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2 answers
In what way are mushrooms considered "non-nutritive"?
The Mishnah (Eruvin 26b) states that water and salt can't be used as the food for eruv chatzeiros or eruv techumin (thus Rashi; according to Tosafos only the latter). Rashi explains that this is because they are לאו מידי דמזון, not a food…
Alex
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20
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1 answer
Placing notes in the Kotel/Western Wall
Is there any source for the custom to place notes in to the Western Wall? A very prevalent practice in Israel.
And even if there is no source, is it a good idea?
Hacham Gabriel
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20
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1 answer
Critical Jewish analysis of the Ipuwer papyrus
I just stumbled across information about the Ipuwer papyrus, and I was wondering how many Jewish Egyptologists have had an opportunity to review and study it at length. Other than this very brief analysis by R' Mordechai Becher, and the article…
Seth J
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20
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2 answers
The custom of adding a candle for each child
Many people, including myself, added or will add a candle on Friday night for each child that is born. Where and when did this custom originate?
morah hochman
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20
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3 answers
If chicken eggs are parve, is caviar considered "fish"?
Chicken is classified as "meat" and cannot be eaten with dairy. Chicken eggs are considered parve and can be eaten with meat or dairy.
Fish and meat cannot be eaten together either. Does the same logic apply to fish eggs/roe/caviar, allowing them to…
Premundane
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Fast days and time zones
If I fly westward on a fast day, and travel through one/several time zone/s, thereby going back in (clock) time, must I then fast until it ends in my current time zone? What if I fly eastward, thereby "skipping" several hours?
Essentially the…
HodofHod
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20
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6 answers
If shepherds are taboo to Egyptians, what do we make of them having sheep themselves?
Yosef tells his family to say they're shepherds because that's taboo to Egypt:
you must say, 'We and our fathers have dealt in livestock all our lives'. You will then be able to settle in the Goshen district, since all shepherds are taboo in…
Monica Cellio
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4 answers
Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?
Rambam (Hil. Edus 11:4) writes (translation from here):
...base people are disqualified as witnesses by Rabbinic decree. This refers to people who walk through the marketplace eating in the presence of everyone... and the like. The rationale is…
Alex
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3 answers
Bli Neder Loophole
Who came up with the Bli Neder loophole of:
Bli neder I will help you do X
Or
Bli neder I will etc...
And the list can go on and on.
Who came up with addingBli Neder which basically means "Without a promise" to things that seem like…
Naftali
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20
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What are the sources for the stories of Chanukah?
I'd like to find the sources for the stories associated with Chanukah. When I was younger, I was taught stories like:
Eliezer Maccabee being crushed by an elephant.
The rebellion staring in Mode'in when the greeks tried to make the jews offer a…
Menachem
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2 answers
Can one throw out a Menorah?
Is it an issue to discard a menorah that has been used for the mitzvah of Neros Chanuka?
What if the menorah is made from something not usually used for a menorah? For example,bottles, cans, potatoes, ice?
HodofHod
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What Happens to People Who Don't Have a Portion in Olam Haba?
The last perek of Sanhedrin lists some people who have no share in Olam Haba. Other people who forfeit their share are discussed in the answers to this question: No Olam Habah for these?
My question is: What happens to those people who don't have a…
SarahBrodsky
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Why did Avraham take gifts from Pharaoh, but not the King of Sodom?
In Bereshit 12:11-16, we see that Avraham was willing to receive gifts from Pharoah:
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife: 'Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look…
Menachem
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