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Is there anything wrong with inviting friends to a bris?
I have a friend - let's call him 'A' - who's married; His wife gave birth to a boy. I asked another friend of mine, if 'A' invited him to the bris. He told me that one is not supposed to invite friends to their child's bris.
Does anyone know if…
Chiddushei Torah
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What did women have to do with the moon's shrinking?
In the Mishna Berurah (426:1) it says (with loose translation):
ונשים פטורות מלקדש הלבנה דהוי מ"ע שהזמן גרמא ואף דכל מ"ע שהזמן גרמא נוהגות הנשים שמקיימות ומברכות עליהן מ"מ מצוה זו אין צריכין לקיימה משום דהם גרמו פגם הלבנה
Women are exempt from…
yydl
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Napoléon's Sanhedrin
In 1806, Napoléon Bonaparte convened a synod of French rabbinim (mainly Alsatiens and Bordelais) to ascertain halachic opinions on a set of questions. What is the halachic standing of this synod's decisions and to whom does it apply?
On Wikipedia,…
Noach MiFrankfurt
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15
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Is there a connection between Hagar's distance and Yishmael's profession?
The Torah tells us that Hagar sat an archer's distance away from Yishmael as he lay crying, Genesis 21 verse 16. After he is miraculously saved he lives in the desert and is described as a רובה קשת, also some connection to archery, see verse 20. Is…
user6591
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Intentionally using a grace period on a rental
I recently rented a bike for a few hours, and the person in charge of the rental told us that we have "X number of hours, and a 15 minute grace period," followed by the warning that if we don't return the bikes until after the grace period is over,…
MTL
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Are Samaritans viewed as adherents of Judaism?
In Judaism, particularly from an Orthodox perspective, are Samaritans seen as fellow Jews? Sometimes I see their religion referred to as 'Samaritanism', sometimes as Judaism.
Also, is it halachically appropriate for a Jew to pray in a Samaritan…
A.Concerned.Lurker
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Did any of the early Rabbis encounter Mohammed?
Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, lived in Saudia Arabia, mainly in Mecca and (later) Medina. He lived from 570-632CE.
According to this wikipedia article there were Jews in Saudia Arabia at that time:
The first mention of Jews in the areas of…
bondonk
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We're not supposed to point at stars?
I'm an Israeli Jew living in Israel. I often give "sky tours" where I show children and adults different stars and a view through a powerful binocular at objects of interest.
Recently a young boy asked a naive question at a sky tour:
Is it true…
dotancohen
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What Bracha do you make on Sushi?
What Bracha do you make on Sushi?
Is the rice the main part and therefore a mezonos, or is it just a toful (less-important ingredient) in which case I guess a shehakol?
BFree
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15
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3 answers
Origin of Unveiling
Often, the family of the deceased will have an unveiling service for the presentation of the matzevah.* What is the origin of this custom?
*Source: Goldin, Hyman. Hamadrikh. Hebrew Publishing Company: New York City, 1939. Print.
Noach MiFrankfurt
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15
votes
4 answers
On what social issues were the rabbis ahead of their times?
On what social issues were the rabbis (Chazal and rishonim) ahead of their times? That is, which social/political matters subject to wide agreement today were shared by Chazal before these views became widely held by non-Jewish populations?
For…
Kordovero
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15
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Teshuva and non-Jews?
The Rambam explains the basic requirements of doing teshuva and seeking forgiveness from another person: acknowledging the transgression, making amends, and seeking forgiveness (presumably publicly per Yoma 87a). If a person wrongs us and does…
Monica Cellio
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15
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Why Didn't Yosef tell Yaakov He was Still Alive?
What do the meforshim say on why Yosef didn't tell Yaakov he was still alive? Do any critique him?
Matthew Miller
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Do Jews pray to deceased forefathers?
Shalom,
I would like to know if Jews consider it acceptable to pray to deceased ancestors, forefathers, or "saints" like some Christians in the Catholic tradition do. Deuteronomy 18:11 would seem to prohibit speaking with the dead or praying to…
SeligkeitIstInGott
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6 answers
Do Jews believe in Heaven and Hell?
In yeshiva I was always told about gan eden and gehinnom, and how the good go to the former place while the bad go to the latter. However, in popular culture, Jews are always said to not believe in Hell (and many times Heaven). Why the discrepancy?
Tzvi
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