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1500 questions
40
votes
23 answers
How to tactfully circumvent opposite-gender handshake
Say you're a man in a professional setting, and a woman who isn't used to dealing with observant Jews stretches out her hand to greet you -- but your practice is to avoid shaking hands even in business settings (see here for dissection of that…
Dave
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39
votes
6 answers
bicycle on Shabbat?
Is riding a bicycle on Shabbat permitted within an eiruv, being ridden only on pavement (so no unintended plowing), for transportation and not exercise, and with the understanding that repairs aren't possible (so you'd have to get off and walk it)?
Monica Cellio
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39
votes
13 answers
Conversion: If G-d really wanted me to be a Jew (and observe mitzvot), why was I not born into a Jewish family
This question pertains to the issue of conversion, and if it makes sense in the Jewish context of some people being Chosen specifically by God.
Before beginning, this poster is aware of the long, and serious process of conversion, the commitment it…
Jeremy Glenne
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39
votes
7 answers
Where does the concept of Gilgulim (reincarnations) in Judaism come from?
What is the source of Gilgulim (reincarnations) in Judaism? Are there people who disagree with its existence? Who was the first to mention it? What I am asking essentially is what is the historical development of Gilgulim in Judaism?
Chalutzhanal
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39
votes
2 answers
You accidentally broke your fast. Now what?
What are you supposed to do if you inadvertently broke your fast*? Do you:
keep going;
extend it (if so, how long);
cancel it (if so, do you make it up a different day)?
*This question is for day-fasts only.
Seth J
- 41,606
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39
votes
3 answers
Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture
I've recently been studying polygamy (having more than 1 wife), and had a few cultural questions.
Was polygamy accepted at the time of David and Solomon? Were there any laws about it?
Was polygamy accepted during the first century CE? How common was…
stringo0
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38
votes
11 answers
Is there any evidence that Rabbi Akiva's students fought alongside Bar Kochba?
Various sources say that "12,000 pairs" of Rabbi Akiva's students died between Pesach and Shavuos because they did not treat each other with respect. See Genesis Rabba 61:3, Ecclesiastes Rabba 11, Yalkut Shimoni Kohelet section 989, for parallel…
Bruce James
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38
votes
4 answers
What are the sources for women to wear/ not wear pants?
I have heard that the argument is beged ish / kli gever, and I have heard people say that even if that was once a real reason for it it doesn't apply today for various reasons.
I understand that the social expectation/norm in many communities today…
MEG
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37
votes
9 answers
Why don't Jews think Jesus is the messiah?
Christians say that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament; Jews disagree. Why couldn't Jesus be the Messiah spoken of? Or could he possibly have been?
android.nick
- 1,361
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37
votes
8 answers
PTIJ: Using the Force on Shabbat
What halachic considerations must a Jewish Jedi take into account before using the Force on Shabbat?
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.
Ze'ev
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37
votes
2 answers
Abbreviations before/after names
What are the more common abbreviations one might see printed before or after a person's name, and what do they mean? Please include honorifics (R'=Rabbi) as well as memorial - or prayerful - suffixes (eg., zt"l or shlit"a). I'm particularly…
Seth J
- 41,606
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- 85
- 245
37
votes
9 answers
Avot keeping Mitzvot
How are we to understand the tradition that the patriarchs kept all of the mitzvot in the Torah (see for example: the last mishna in Kiddushin (4:14), Rashi on Bereshit 32:5, etc.) in light of the many obvious logical contradictions that this would…
Sam
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36
votes
5 answers
Is PDF avodah zarah (idol worship)?
A good rabbi always anticipates questions before they're asked, so when you start asking Rabbi Google "how do i convert to...", he's quick to suggest Judaism. And Islam. And Christianity. And PDF.
So now the question is, is it permissible to…
Scimonster
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36
votes
6 answers
Does Judaism consider women inferior?
According to Orthodox Judaism, women may not be rabbis, be counted as part of a minyan, leyn from the Torah, or study the Talmud. It even says that to teach a woman Torah is to teach her obscenity! (Sotah 21b)
In addition, women are exempt and even…
SAH
- 19,756
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36
votes
14 answers
How can we be sure that Judaism is true/the truth?
I borrowed (with permission) a question from Ahmed Han, which is:
People of every religion claim that they are the ones in the right
path. Even the people of sects in these religions think that they are
on a better path than the peoples of…
user1550