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1500 questions
17
votes
1 answer
Yichud in a dorm like situation
I was wondering if yichud is an issue in a situation like one that might arise on a college campus in an all girls dorm (apartment style- the building is mixed but each apartment is separate) if one night a guy sleeps over.
Dorm apartments are…
MEG
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17
votes
2 answers
Can a Cohen marry a bat niddah?
Can a Cohen marry a bat niddah? Are Cohens generally restricted from marrying baalot teshuva because of the possibility that they may be b'not niddah?
SAH
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17
votes
3 answers
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings?
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings? I understand that in some ultra-religious groups they do, but there seem to be many groups within Orthodoxy where they do not cover their hair either during the chuppah or during the…
SAH
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17
votes
1 answer
Is kneeling and bowing down in Kung Fu an idolatry (Avoda Zarah)?
I am exercising at Kung Fu's dojo and wonder whether kneeling and bowing down is an idolatry (Avodah Zarah)? The floor has soft mats. The reason explained to me is that it's done as a form of greeting to a person. In general, the gesture recognizes…
Roman Kagan
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17
votes
1 answer
How much must one do to to sign a contract?
Nowadays most software comes with a EULA. In order to install the software one must click the "agree" button. However, there are some software that says are distributed through different licenses. For example,
1.A Browse-wrap license - There is no…
ertert3terte
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17
votes
2 answers
40 minutes offset for candle lighting?
Several Zmanim apps are giving a choice on my "candle lighting offset". The default here is 40 minutes instead of the usual 18 minutes I've heard.
Why 40? Why do I even have a choice?
Does the fact that I am in Jerusalem play a role?
Nathan H
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17
votes
3 answers
Why should the patriarchs have lived to 180?
Rashi to B'reshis 25:30 says that Avraham should have lived to the age of 180 had his life not been cut short.
Yitzchak lived to 180.
The Daas Z'kenim to B'reshis 47:8 quotes a midrash as saying that Yaakov should have lived to 180 had his life not…
msh210
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17
votes
4 answers
Need to treat a kippah respectfully?
Do we need to treat a kippah with more respect than a normal hat? I frisbeed a couple of kippahs across the room to a friend and he became indignant at me throwing them on the floor.
I remember as kids we were taught to kiss our kippa if it fell off…
Michael Sandler
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17
votes
4 answers
First time lighting Chanuka candles is on second night
If one didn't light Chanuka candles until the second night, how many candles should he light?
According to the reason that we add a candle a night is "Maalin Bakodesh" (we always add in holiness), there is no reason to light more than one. If the…
ertert3terte
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17
votes
2 answers
Who is the composer of Haneiros Halolu?
When we light the Menora we say Haneiros Halolu. Who composed these words?
Gershon Gold
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17
votes
3 answers
Shomer Negiah without direct contact?
An interesting thought crossed my mind: does shomer negiah specifically only relate to direct, physical contact, or does it additionally extend to cover cases where there is no direct touch?
Though I'd never use this in real life, is poking…
Naftuli Kay
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17
votes
3 answers
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicizing to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the candles long enough to see for half an hour when he…
Double AA
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17
votes
6 answers
Train ticket not collected: destroy?
Assuming a train line where single-ride tickets are normally collected or cancelled manually by train crew circulating among seated passengers, and it is physically possible to use them later if they are not:
If one takes a ride for which one has…
yitznewton
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17
votes
2 answers
Computer working on Shabbos
Can I leave my computer on downloading over Shabbos?
cookie monster
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17
votes
3 answers
What letter-counting system was used to mark the Planks of the Mishkan?
The sides between the 48 Planks of the Mishkan were marked with letters to keep them in order during assembly/disassembly (Shabbos 103a, & here). If the pairing system was one-letter:one-letter, then using the alef-bet would fall 25 spaces…
zaq
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