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1500 questions
14
votes
9 answers
What to call the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe
Often times a few different rebbes are mentioned (either previous Chabad rebbes or rebbes of other Chasudusim) in the same talk and then the word "The Rebbe" comes in and it's ambiguous.
I have heard the 7th Rebbe called:
The current rebbe
Our…
Desert Star
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14
votes
3 answers
What does it mean that Hashem plays with the Leviatan?
The Talmud in Avodah Zara 3b says that the last quarter of the day Hashem plays with the Leviathan. Is there any explanation of what that means? If so, where?
הקב"ה יושב ועוסק בתורה....רביעיות יושב ומשחק עם לויתן שנאמר לויתן זה
יצרת לשחק בו
God…
El Shteiger
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14
votes
7 answers
Saying words of prayer or Torah while an immodest photo or drawing is in your field of vision?
The halachah is clear (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75) that one may not recite Shema, or any other words of Torah or prayer, while in the presence of parts of the human body that should be covered.
What about photos or drawings, though? For example,…
Alex
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14
votes
2 answers
How often and for how long should one pray for a sick person?
Are there rules/guidelines for how often to include a sick person in the refa’enu prayer in the amidah, and for how long to include them? Should one pray for that person every time one prays until one knows they are well, or, G!d forbid, until they…
Jon Mitchell
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14
votes
3 answers
Does a sotah make a bracha?
Before drinking the sotah water does the woman make a blessing? If so would it be shahakol or something else?
user6641
14
votes
5 answers
Meaning of the phrase "Tzur Chevli B'eit Tzarah" near the end of Adon Olam
Near the end of Adon Olam, there is the phrase "Tzur Chevli B'eit Tzarah". What exactly is the meaning of this phrase, and specifically the term "Tzur Chevli"? I have seen it translated rather literally as "Rock of my pain in my time of distress"…
Avi Ray
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14
votes
2 answers
Story of love sick tree
I once heard a shiur which quoted a gemarah (I think) about two trees. One of the trees was uprooted and taken elsewhere and the other tree started to get sick. The explanation was that the trees were in love. I may be off on some of the details…
user6641
14
votes
2 answers
Does Shmita apply in Jordan?
Since the East bank of the Jordan River was given to shevet Reuven as an inheritance, was Shmita observed there as well? If so, does shmita still apply there?
alice fine
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14
votes
1 answer
Can I trust a random internet user?
Does the halacha of עד אחד נאמן באיסורין (a single witness is trusted in matters of prohibition) apply to a random internet users? If someone presents themselves as being a practicing Jew, can I take their word for it on information they give…
Y e z
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14
votes
4 answers
Can you keep a vending machine freebie?
If someone buys something from a vending machine and two items accidentally pop out (due to some error in the machine), is he/she allowed to keep the extra item? And if not, what should he/she do?
For example, if someone puts a $1 bill in to a…
yydl
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14
votes
2 answers
Why didn't Noach look out the window?
After all, a window was clearly part of the Ark's structure, as we see from:
Genesis 6:16:
צֹ֣הַר׀ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַתֵּבָ֗ה וְאֶל־אַמָּה֙ תְּכַלֶ֣נָּה מִלְמַ֔עְלָה
וּפֶ֥תַח הַתֵּבָ֖ה בְּצִדָּ֣הּ תָּשִׂ֑ים תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם שְׁנִיִּ֥ם
וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים…
Shmuel Wise
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14
votes
1 answer
If kings get up at 3 hours past sunrise, wouldn't they need some extra time to say Shma?
Mishna Brachot 1:2 gives the times for saying Shma in the morning.
מאימתיי קורין את שמע בשחרים: משיכיר בין תכלת ללבן; רבי אליעזר אומר, בין תכלת לכרתן. עד הנץ החמה; רבי יהושוע אומר, עד שלוש שעות, שכן דרך בני מלכים לעמוד בשלוש שעות. הקורא מכאן…
Scimonster
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14
votes
3 answers
Hefsek in being yotzei besamim in havdallah
This past motzei Shabbos, in the Shul where I davened, there were a number of young men who were lining up to be included in the communal havdallah done at the end of Maariv. The person making havdallah made the beracha on the besamim and then…
Y e z
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14
votes
2 answers
In Levirate marriage, can the widow refuse marriage to the brother-in-law?
In Levirate marriage, the Torah text gives the option for the brother in law to refuse when it says: Devorim 25 (7)
But if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, the brother's
wife shall go up to the gate, to the elders, and say, "My…
Avrohom Yitzchok
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14
votes
3 answers
Does sorcery/black magic exist today?
The Torah She'bicsav and Torah She'ba'al Peh discuss sorcery/necromancy/witchcraft. Assuming that those activities were actually harnessing some sort of supernatural power in order to perform supernatural activities, do such things exist today?
I am…
Gavriel
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