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1500 questions
19
votes
2 answers
Is one allowed to have a tattoo of G-d's name removed?
Inspired by Dan's question , and requested by DoubleAA...
If one got a tattoo of G-d's name, either in ignorance or in spite of the prohibition against tattooing, may one have it removed? Would this be a violation of the prohibition on erasing G-d's…
HodofHod
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19
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1 answer
In case of diphallia, how is brit-milah affected?
Diphallia is a rare medical condition in which a male infant is born with two penises.
Does brit-milah requires both penises to be circumcised? Is there any reference in the litterature about such an event?
Robert
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19
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4 answers
How do we understand the idea of something missing from the mishnah חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני?
The gemoro often reconciles the argument of a mishnah with other evidence by saying
חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני - there is something missing from the mishnah and this is how you must learn it. See for example Shabbos 37a at the top.
How do we…
Avrohom Yitzchok
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19
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3 answers
Grammatical function of Emet te'amim?
The Emet books (Iyov, Mishlei, Tehillim) have a cantillation system that is not used elsewhere in Tanach. In addition to the use of cantillation marks not found elsewhere (iluy, ole, dehi, geresh muqdam), the marks that are also used elsewhere…
Ted Hopp
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19
votes
3 answers
Will Tisha B'Av be pushed off in the future?
We have a tradition that Tisha B'Av will become a holiday in the time of Moshiach. Will that holiday also be nidcheh if it comes out on Shabbos?
user1668
19
votes
5 answers
"Silk-Screened" Sifrei Torah
What are the halachic issues with Silk-screened sifrei torah? I am interested in a summary of concise halakhic rulings of multiple authorities on the prohibition or permissibility of HaRav Yitzchak Abadi's innovation of silk screen sifrei torah.…
Adam Mosheh
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19
votes
4 answers
How can you quit a habit of visiting inappropriate websites?
The Torah teaches that, if you're an unmarried man, watching pornography is harmful to your soul. See, for example, this article by Chabad rabbi Tzvi Freeman. (If you're married and need to watch pornography in order to get aroused, see this…
tealhill supports Monica
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4 answers
Was it ever the norm for children to get married?
The Gemara describes many Halachos that apply when someone gets married at very young ages, many under 12, and even a few for the age of 3. There are stories of people who did get married at such ages (Rivkah, ATSO1). I've heard that during the…
HodofHod
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19
votes
6 answers
Which books help one acquire a systematic understanding of Biblical Hebrew grammar?
A question for the grammar experts. How can I learn Hebrew grammar in a systematic way? Especially a book that would help me understand how to layn properly. Something that covers rules of nikkud, teamim, word stress. Verb conjugation. Something…
Eliyahu
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19
votes
1 answer
Was there a GOLEM?
was there really a golem made in Prague that was alive and interacted with other people?
I heard that this story was nothing more than a made up tale in a children's book. Does anyone know the real history behind it? What evidence do we have backing…
In Search of EMeTh
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19
votes
2 answers
Academic review of Steinsaltz Gemara
One of the nice aspects of the Steinsaltz Gemaras is that he provides little historical background pieces to figures and objects referenced in the text, as well as linguistic analysis of certain non-Hebrew/Aramaic words. I was wondering how his…
Yaakov Kuperman
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19
votes
5 answers
Which masechtot don't really have Rashi?
I often hear that the printed "Rashi" commentary in certain masechtot of the Talmud Bavli (first that come to mind are Moed Katan and Nedarim) is not actually written by Rashi. Does anyone have a full list of which of the commentaries were actually…
Double AA
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19
votes
8 answers
May one love a non-Jew?
May one love a non-Jew? Not romantically in the sense of marriage, but rather in the sense that one loves a friend or family. May a Jew love his Gentile father, for example? May a baal teshuvah continue to love his non-Jewish friends?
I realize the…
SAH
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5 answers
If the last day of Passover is Friday, may I eat chametz on the Shabbat right after?
This year, 5778, the last day of Pesach in Israel is on Friday. Is there any possible way that one could contrive to eat chometz on the shabbos immediately following Pesach?
Shaul Behr
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19
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1 answer
Lechem Mishlesh?
(Based on Tosfot Pesachim 116a and Aruch haShulchan 274:5 I assume that the man did not fall on Yom Tov and double fell on Erev Yom Tov, and that this is why we have lechem mishne on Yom Tov.)
When Yom Tov fell on Friday in the desert, did three…
Double AA
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