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1500 questions
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Where does the custom of a second "bar mitzvah" at 83 come from?
I have noticed more 83 year old men celebrating their second bar mitzvahs, and cannot find any source for this. Is it a new custom? Does it have any basis in pre-20th century practice?
cmose
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Jewish definition of a charity
I know that Jews are supposed to give 10% of their income to charity, but what constitutes a charity? I know that Shuls, Jewish schools and poor people in your community count, but what about secular organizations? There are some that save lives,…
Ken
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Rape for a girl and is looking to get married
If a young Jewish girl was raped, what are the protocols for her getting married?
Is there anyone that she can't marry other than the Kohen or Kohen Gadol?
What are the halachot for these types of circumstances, and what do you recommend should be…
Anz12
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Is being vegan "kosher"?
Is being a vegan completely okay according to halacha?
Even if a vegan is not eating anything traif (non-kosher), perhaps it's not truly correct because you are not following the commandments to domesticate animals and eat meat.
JoshV
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Putting on tefillin late
For whatever reason, I was unable to put on tefillin while davening shacharit this morning. However, I have access to tefillin now, and the sun has not yet set. After I put on the tefillin, what should I do before I take them off? Consider both…
Sam
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Brewing fresh coffee for Shabbos with a time clock
May one prepare coffee ingredients in a brewer such as this one on Friday and set the timer to brew the coffee for 8:00 Shabbos morning?
Gershon Gold
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15
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Origin of the allegory of the long spoons
A common version of the allegory of the long spoons tells how Rabbi Hayim Elhanan ben Yehudah Leyb Tsedek or Tzadikov (*1813, ✡1883) of Rumšiškės went to see the difference between Heaven and Hell.
Where does this version of that allegory originate?…
user3378
15
votes
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Riddle: when would a couple be forced to break their engagement?
Riddle:
Chaim and Shprintza got engaged. They, their entire families, and their rabbis were all totally happy about the engagement. They didn't hide any information from one another. Chaim and Shprintza both know both his and her detailed…
Shalom
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Why doesn't God offer Sodom and Gemorrah the same chance to repent He offers Nineveh?
Why does God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah without warning, but offer Nineveh a chance to repent? The men who come to Lot's house could have just easily prophesied to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that they must repent or they will be destroyed,…
user1928764
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Why was a bat kol able to settle the dispute between Battei Hillel and Shammai?
Eiruvin 13b recounts an argument between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. The argument grew very heated until a bat kol intervened and stated the famous line elu v'elu divrei elohim chayim ("These and also those are the words of the living God"). But…
Daniel
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Did the kohanim wear tefillin during their Temple services?
The Torah and the Gemara (especially in Yoma) gives us fascinating detail about the bigdei kahuna (clothes of the priests) that were worn in the Holy Temple. What is not clear is whether tefillin were worn by the kohanim when they performed their…
Bruce James
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Why did Miriam die in the desert?
We are told why Moshe and Aharon passed away in the desert (Bamidbar 20:12), but we are not told why Miriam died.
According to Rashi (Bamidbar 1:49, 26:64), only the men who were counted in the primary census died in the desert. Does this not…
Menachem
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Why did God choose Moshe?
Why did God choose Moshe? The Torah says very little about him, other than that he was extremely humble. However, I heard from a tape by Rabbi Kardozo that his humility stemmed from his being in such close contact with God, hence he was not as…
ray
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Can you ask God to kill you?
I know that out of desperation Moshe asks God to kill him and I don't necessarily see any reason it would be forbidden but I was curious if there was any discussion, halachic or otherwise, as to whether or not someone may request that God kill him.
not-allowed to change my name
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Satmar Derech Halimud
I was curious as to what the Derech Halimud (learning style) is for Satmar Chassidim. I understand that the general Chassidish Derech (Chassidic style) is one that moves at a quicker pace with not as many commentaries as opposed to a Litvish Derech…
Bochur613
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