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1500 questions
16
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2 answers
Is there any issue with using aerosols on Shabbos?
I've heard from many people that you shouldn't use aerosols (such as air fresheners, disinfectants or deodorants) on shabbos, usually citing some vague reason of changing the form from liquid to gas, or some such. This always seemed rather…
HodofHod
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16
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Ship of Theseus in Halacha
How would Halacha deal with the Ship of Theseus thought experiment?
For example, if one made a neder (vow) not to have any hana'ah (benefit) from a certain ship and over time every single piece of that ship was replaced, would it still be forbidden?…
Eliyahu
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16
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3 answers
The laws behind the separation of men and women
In Israel there is a hot debate because of instances on some communities where extra steps are taken to separate men and women in every day life. For example in some bus lines women seat in the back of the bus, and a community tried to have separate…
Nathan H
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16
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Why doesn't Chabad differentiate between Ches and Chaf, and Ayin and Aleph?
The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe writes that the Shabbos before the great debate in Minsk, the Alter Rebbe served as the chazzan and baal koreh for his minyan. Furthermore, although the Alter Rebbe used Ashkenazi pronunciation, he did differentiate…
HodofHod
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16
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3 answers
Was R' Shamshon Rafael Hirsch anti-Zionist? Why?
I admit not being well read in the writings of R' Shamshon Rafael Hirsch, but I was recently taken aback when someone suggested that he was anti-Zionist. Is this true, is it obvious in his writings (which one[s]), and why?
Seth J
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16
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8 answers
PTIJ: What does Cookie Monster eat during Pesach?
Cookie Monster loves cookies. So what does a Jewish cookie monster do during Pesach, when cookies are Chametz?
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.
Moshe
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16
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3 answers
Is it permitted to take extra food from a buffet?
If you're at a hotel and there is a buffet meal, and you can take as much as you want, is there any problem taking a few extra rolls or any of the food back to your room for later?
I assume if I'm not hungry or able to eat now then there would be no…
Mark
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16
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3 answers
Can someone have more than one potential soulmate simultaneously?
I have been told from several different people that it is possible for one person to have multiple Besherts (divinely intended marriage partners, soulmates if you will) to choose from. He may only choose one at the end, but there are several…
Menachem
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16
votes
6 answers
What is "emunas chachomim"?
My daughter came home from school with a textbook response for what "emunas chachomim" is. I disagreed strongly with what was written in the book, so I'm not even going to say what they said. Rather, I will ask the learned forum here if they have…
Shaul Behr
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16
votes
3 answers
At what age should we start teaching the distinction between Midrash and Text?
At a very early age children learn the history of the world and the Jews through the enthralling stories found in many varied sources.
They learn that the world was created in six days; that Avraham knocked down the idols in his father's store;…
morah hochman
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16
votes
1 answer
Are all French baguettes intrinsically kosher?
According to French law, all baguettes must be made of only wheat flour, water, salt and yeast (source).
So, do Jews who keep kosher (and eat pas palter) in France eat baguettes from plain unsupervised boulangeries, and not require a hechsher?
torahmike
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16
votes
7 answers
Why did Yonah run away?
If Yonah understood that he was being commanded by God, then how could he have possibly thought that he could run away? Did he believe that God was tied to a particular land, the way pagan gods were thought to be tied to theirs, and that if he just…
Monica Cellio
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16
votes
3 answers
Why do divorced or widowed women still need to cover their hair?
I was recently reading the latest edition of Halachically Speaking. It says:
A woman who is a widow r”l or divorcee still has an obligation to cover her hair.
But why is this so? Why should they be any different than unmarried women?
yydl
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16
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4 answers
Why "Moshe Moshe"?
When Hashem appeared to Moshe at the burning bush in parshot shamot perek gimil why did he call Moshe's name twice? He could have just said "moshe" ONCE!
moshe r
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16
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2 answers
Does everyone have to drink the Kiddush wine?
When making Kiddush, does everyone who is yotzei have to drink the wine or grape juice, or is merely hearing it enough?
In my experience, it appears that Friday nights everyone is careful to drink, while at the kiddush by Shabbos day, people will…
yydl
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