Most Popular
1500 questions
16
votes
3 answers
Humming during shmoneh esre
On shabbat for shacharit and mussaf, I am usually still davening shmoneh esre by the time the chazzan gets to kedusha. In this situation, can I hum to the tune of kedusha?
This essentially boils down to: At what point does use of your voice for…
2345678876543
- 2,505
- 14
- 25
16
votes
3 answers
How was the Shaalos Utshuvos Min Hashamayim allowed to do what he did?
The Shut Min Hashamayim was written by a Rishon in the time of Tosfos. He used to ask questions from Shamayim (Heaven) in a Sheilas Chalom (Dream Question) and write the answers down. Many of those questions are practical Halachic questions (for…
Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa
- 2,652
- 12
- 30
16
votes
2 answers
Why is the Lubavitch custom to have short Peoth?
If R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi had long Peoth, as in this famous sketch, why is it not the custom in Lubavitch circles these days for adult men to maintain long, emphasized Peoth as it is in many other Hasidic groups?
(Of course this is not strictly…
Seth J
- 41,606
- 7
- 85
- 245
16
votes
5 answers
Rabba bar bar Chana
There is a rabbi in the Talmud referred to as רבה בר בר חנה. Why is he called that way? It says that Rabba was the grandson of Chana.
Who was Chana? Was it(?) a woman? Why wasn't he called after his father or grandfather?
Who was his father?
Rabbi Yaakov
- 1,058
- 5
- 13
16
votes
2 answers
Is getting a "fake" tattoo a violation of halacha?
Inspired by Curiouser here:
Is getting a "fake" (temporary) tattoo a violation of halacha? I'll define this broadly as any tattoo that doesn't permanently show on your body. This includes transfer tattoos, henna, etc.
I did go to a Bat Mitzvah…
Matthew Flaschen
- 329
- 2
- 8
16
votes
1 answer
Rainbow in water spray
You can often see a rainbow in a spray of water such as from sprinkler irrigation. Is the brocha for a rainbow applicable in that case?
Also, does a rainbow that comes from a prism get a brocha too?
Michael Sandler
- 5,470
- 20
- 52
16
votes
3 answers
Moshe and the Red-Hot Coals
A midrash that myself and I'm sure many others have heard in grade school is that when Moshe was a baby, still crawling, his "grandfather" Pharaoh, incited by an incident in which Moshe took off Pharaoh's crown to put it on his own head, decided to…
jake
- 28,533
- 2
- 72
- 159
16
votes
2 answers
Is participating on a Teacher rating site a violation of Lashon Hara?
There are websites out there (e.g. RateMyProfessors) where students can post information about teachers they had.
Is reading the "reviews" on the site, or writing such a "review", a violation of Lashon Hara?
yydl
- 38,600
- 6
- 88
- 285
16
votes
3 answers
Who is Moshiach Ben Joseph and what does/did he do?
I am asking this as someone who has never heard of Moshiach Ben Joseph. I would appreciate detailed answers, or maybe links to places that explain it.
I have been interested in Judaism for a long time and have tried to study things here and there…
absurdrefusal
- 924
- 2
- 8
- 18
16
votes
3 answers
How should a Jew deal with Anti Semitism?
Is there an standard way for a Jew to deal with the threat of hatred, particularly that which stems from a public forum such as a hate group? Do I:
Simply ignore it
Write to my local council/state government/police etc. and complain, or
picket and…
Anthony
- 413
- 4
- 12
16
votes
2 answers
By using judaism.stackexchange am I fulfilling the mitzvoh of learning Torah?
To what extent can using judaism.stackexchange in the following ways be considered fulfilling the mitzvoh of learning Torah?
Reading posts
Posing questions
Researching answers
Other
Avrohom Yitzchok
- 47,518
- 8
- 47
- 131
16
votes
5 answers
What are Rambam's "עיקרים"?
Rambam, in his Commentary to the Mishna (Sanhedrin 10), enumerates 13 "עיקרים" or "יסודות", which he holds are the core "principles" that every Jew is expected to believe. (Summary in English.)
But what are these "עיקרים"? Are they axioms in a…
jake
- 28,533
- 2
- 72
- 159
16
votes
3 answers
Yerushalmi Versus Bavli in Halacha
The halacha we have today is mostly sourced in Talmud Bavli(the Babylonian Talmud),Medrash and Zohar. I would like to know what Halachot in which we rule according to the Yerushalmi (the Jerusalem Talmud) versus the Bavli (the Babylonian Talmud)?
simchastorah
- 9,061
- 1
- 21
- 70
16
votes
2 answers
Where are the magic cucumbers discussed in the Talmud?
Where are the magic cucumbers discussed in the Gemara by a Rabbi proud of his knowledge? Are magic cucumbers discussed elsewhere? Thanks.
Larry K
- 1,559
- 9
- 20
16
votes
2 answers
Are Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin really Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin?
I once heard from a Sofer the shocking revelation that Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin do not actually follow Rabbeinu Tam's opinion. Is that correct? Did I misunderstand? Are there any Soferim in our forum who are not only intimately familiar with how…
Seth J
- 41,606
- 7
- 85
- 245