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What shevet did a convert in the midbar belong to (if any)?
During the time in the midbar or when the land of Israel was apportioned by shevet, if someone converted what tribe (if any) would s/he belong to?
The purpose of this question is to deduce a converts status in the midbar in relation to things like…
none
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Nullifying Ancient Israelite Idols
Following up on a question raised on the Avodah list (see here & here under the subject “Destroying Idols”).
Archaeologists often dig up idols whose worshipers have abandoned them over the millenia. The archaeologists who take possession of the…
J. C. Salomon
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Tevilat Keilim on a gift
If I buy a food-utensil from a gentile to give as a gift to a Jew, can I tovel it before giving it to him, or must he do it himself as the final intended owner? Is there a difference between glass and metal in this regard?
Double AA
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Why does a Meat Thermometer not need Tevilla?
In this answer, We were told that "according to the Star-K Tevila Guidelines, no tevila is required for a meat thermometer."
Why not?
From the Star-K's article on Tevillat Kelim:
Utensils require tevila with a brocha when they have direct contact…
Menachem
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And let who say Amen?
In light of this answer, why do we say V'imru amen and V'nomar amen at various points in bentching and davening when saying that passage alone? (eg. bentching by yourself, or oseh shalom at the end of one's silent amida) It sounds like these phrases…
Double AA
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What happened to the Eirev Rav upon entering Israel?
What happened to the Eirev Rav after the Jews entered Israel? They were open trouble makers in the desert, yet nothing was mentioned of them later?
Did they clean up their act? Did they die out?
ertert3terte
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15
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Did the prophets practice magic?
The Torah clearly prohibits all forms of magic, which we might define as the achievement of any supernatural phenomenon.
Yet we find many neviim, most blatantly Eliyahu and Elisha, achieving many supernatural phenomena, including bringing dead…
jake
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15
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Height of a mezuzah and children:
If a child cannot reach the upper third of the doorway and he is the primary occupant of said room, may the mezuzah be affixed lower than the upper third?
Moshe
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Would a Karaite be required to undergo conversion?
If a Karaite who knows that his mother is Jewish (Karaite) wanted to join the Orthodox Jewish Community - would he be required to undergo a conversion?
Gershon Gold
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Unusual number of males among the 70 who went to Egypt
B'reshis chapter 46 lists the seventy descendants of Yaakov who went to Egypt. It actually lists sixty-nine: let's assume Yocheved was the seventieth, as Rashi explains. It also lists (in pasuk 12) two who died before the trip down, so there are a…
msh210
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Why don't we seek converts to Judaism?
Why don't Jews try to convert other people to their religion, outside of Israel?
Since Christian and Islamic forces try to make them a minority shouldn't they also try to convert people to grow larger? Or is it just that Islam and Christianity…
Tofeeq
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15
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Halachic Source for Women-Only Mikvaoth?
Some (actually many) Mikvaoth are designated for women's use only, generally for reasons of cleanliness.
Is there Halachic literature supporting (or urging) this?
(This question is not asking for differences between what constitutes a valid Mikvah…
Seth J
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Plural of "Nafka Minah"
(Inspired by HodofHod's commment here: Four Holy Cities)
What is the proper plural for the common Aramaic phrase Nafka Minah נפקא מינה which means something along the line of "practical differences"?
As in "This distinction leads to multiple XXXXX…
Double AA
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Commencing Shabbos: Shkiya behind a mountain
It is common practice nowadays for Shuls to publish the zmanim (times) to begin Shabbos (the Sabbath) and other activities. These times, it would seem, are based upon standard calculations of sunrise and sunset for the area in question.
It would…
Yirmeyahu
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Source for the practice of not blowing out candles/flames?
It seems that a custom exists not to blow out candles/flames, but rather extinguish them another way, such as waving in the air. (Snuffer anyone?) What is the source for this custom? I am including two answers given at ohr.edu, but I am curious if…
yitznewton
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