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Why is there a dagesh in second camocha, but not in first?
In "Mi chamocha ba'elim H', Mi camocha nedar bakodesh" (from the Az Yashir song by the sea, but also between the shma and the amidah in the morning, and elsewhere):
מִֽי-כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְ-ק-וָ֔-ק מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א…
Mark Fischler
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Polite way to break up with a chavrusa?
I've been learning with someone for quite some time, but it just hasn't seem to be working out.
There are too many interruptions, he seems to space out a lot, and not much progress is made with the learning.
Is there any correct way (perhaps through…
Ani Yodea
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18
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Baal Teshuva -- Interested in both Chabad and Breslov, now what?
I became a baal tshuva quite some time ago through the "yeshivish" derech, but for the last number of years have been becoming less and less religious, and losing enthusiasm and interest in Judaism. In an effort to "fix" this situation, I started…
Desert Star
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Stacking Seforim
Are we allowed to place less holy seforim on top of more holy seforim? I believe that the consensus is that you are only allowed to stack seforim in chronological order from top to bottom (e.g., Mishnayos above Gemara, Chumash on top of a Navi). …
Tzvi
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18
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Is it problematic to own and use a SwissGear bag, due to the "plus" logo?
SwissGear brand bags and back packs have the image of the Swiss flag (usually in color, red and white, and made out of a hard material) sewn into the material. Often the Swiss flag's image is put on other area's of the bag as well.
My question is:…
Gavriel
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18
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6 answers
What's the deal with female Rabbis?
1) Is there a concrete halachic (Biblical?Rabbinic?) basis for women not being permitted to become Rabbis?
2) After 2000+ years, what changed so the JTS's Commission in 1979 decided that they can?
A sub-question: are they recognized by the State…
Gary
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Let there be light! But from where?
According to Genesis 1:3, "And G-d said, Let there be light; and there was light." What light is the Torah referring to if the sun which produces light by day was created only on the 4th day of creation?
Ben Masada
18
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3 answers
Why don't some do yibum today, l'chatchilah?
According to the Mishna (Bechorot 1:7) the reason not to perform yibum nowadays is people don't have intention l'shem mitzva when performing yibum. Firstly I would like to know if there are any other reasons recorded for not performing this mitzvah…
not-allowed to change my name
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Is there tashlumin for n'ila?
Being that n'ila is a unique prayer, in that it only occurs once a year, can one make up (do tashlumin for) n'ila at the next prayer or the previous one at n'ila?
WAF
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Where can I buy inexpensive seforim online?
Where can I buy seforim online for inexpensive prices? I mean real seforim.....not digital ones.
I'm willing to buy seforim either new or second-hand.
Matthew Miller
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What is Ya'aleh Veyavo about?
Ya'aleh Veyavo is said on three occasions: in the third blessing of Birchas Hamazon, in the third to last blessing of Shmoneh Esrei on Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, and in the Kedushas Hayom (middle blessing of Shmoneh Esrei) of Yom Tov. The common…
Ypnypn
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5 answers
How could Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai eat from the carob tree?
The gemarah (Shabbat 33b) states that when Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rav Elazar were hiding in a cave a carob tree miraculously sprouted from which they ate. How could they eat from this tree within the first three years of its growth, for…
not-allowed to change my name
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18
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Why is Purim on Adar II during a leap year?
On a leap year, when a second Adar is added, we celebrate Purim on the second Adar. I would think it should be celebrated on the first Adar, since the Megillah goes out of its way in several places to identify Adar as the "twelfth month." Adar Sheni…
Premundane
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Aleph with a Dagesh
In four places in Tanakh, our text has an aleph with a dagesh: Gen 43:26, Lev 23:17, Job 33:21, and Ezra 8:18. What is the significance of this, and for the first two examples, how would you indicate its existence while laining?
Commentaries that…
magicker72
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Why do we honor Charvona, specifically?
The song we sing after reading the Megilla on Purim, "Shoshanat Yaakov," concludes with "and may Charvona also be remembered favorably." According to the Megilla (Esther 7:9), all Charvona did was, when Achashverosh was angry at Haman, mention that…
Isaac Moses
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