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1500 questions
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5 answers

Nozir and four cups of wine

How can a nozir fulfill the mitzvah of drinking four cups of wine at the passover seder? p.s. It is not a riddle. My son asked me this question, and I don't know what to answer him.
jutky
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Status of a human-mermaid offspring

This is NOT Purim Torah. Dolfinim can give birth from humans. What are dolfinim? Says Rav Yehudah, mermaids.1 Bechoros 8a. Translation follows Rashi. Whether there are actually mermaids is not for this discussion. Let's assume that there…
DonielF
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How to eat Wacky Mac

Purim is pretty clearly the wackiest day of the Jewish calendar, and of course the preferred main course for the festive meal is Wacky Mac. Now, as we all know Wacky Mac has four different components: wheels, shells, spirals, and tubes. What is the…
Double AA
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Why is Judaism not Racism?

I am only asking this question to educate myself, not because I am anti-semitic or for any other hidden agenda. I do not want to turn this forum into an ugly place. I realize this question is controversial, I will not be angry if it is closed by…
Seeker
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"Anyone who saves a life is as if he saved an entire world": Jewish life or any life?

I am puzzled by the Mishnah's original text of the famous Jewish idea that "whoever saves one life [...] saves an entire world" (Sanhedrin 4:5). The English from sefaria.org reads thus: "It was for this reason that man was first created as one…
SAH
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2 answers

Order of the Tanach

In Nevi'im and Ketuvim, why is the order of the books that we use today different from the order given in Bava Batra 14b, and Rambam Hilchot Sefer Torah 7:15?
Chanoch
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8 answers

Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism

I have found that the first thing to do when you want to learn something about a subject, is to start with the idea that you know absolutely nothing. I understand, for example, that Judaism has either branches, or sects, or various subgroups. I'm…
Warren P
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The Ability to Pasken

What gives someone the ability to Pasken? At what point do we say that he is knowledgeable enough to decide questions on a topic? Does this have to do with "Semicha"? Does it have to do with being a Rabbi?
yydl
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Any primary sources that all Jewish males should l'chatchila stay in learning forever?

Does anyone know of any specific sources in Chazal or Rishonim (or even earlier achronim) that indicate that l'chatchila all Jewish males should learn full time forever? I know that this is the opinion of R' Shiman Bar Yochai in Berachos 35b, but…
sb
19
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School closing - At what point must the parents be told?

Yeshiva A or Bais Yaakov A has serious financial problems. They are doing all they can to stay viable, however unless a big donor steps forward they will be forced to close. If the school tells the parents how critical the situation is, that alone…
Gershon Gold
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Should one induce vomiting upon realizing s/he just ate non-kosher?

I've heard several stories of people who ate something, realized it was non-kosher, and therefore induced vomiting. Is this halachically required? Recommended? Does it accomplish anything? (If not, how should it be viewed?) If I recall correctly…
Shalom
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Moving from one's spot after Kedusha

After standing still for Kedusha, some people move after saying Yimloich, whereas others wait until after the Chazan says Hokail Hakodoish. What is the correct way?
Raffy Van der Vaart
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Can you see your wife unclothed?

I think someone in another question here (or on another site?) said he was told by his "chassan teacher" not to look at his wife unclothed. It seems like this is not the real halacha to me, or at least not everyone holds it. What are the opinions?
Desert Star
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Why did I become queen?

I'm Ester from the Purim story. My uncle Mordechai advised me to ask here on Mi Yodeya why Hashem made me queen of Persia, as it says: וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם לְעֵת כָּזֹאת הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת So, does anyone have an idea what Hashem is planning for…
Ester Hamalkah
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Using two plastic cups for Kiddush

I know making kiddush with a plastic cup is problematic because of requirements. I have seen people using two plastic cups: What is the source for this and is it legitimate?
SimchasTorah
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