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1500 questions
14
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4 answers
Rashi's Daughters wearing Tefillin
There is a commonly held "tradition" that Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin.
One highly educated rabbi/professor has publicly stated that he's spent 35 years searching for a source but to no avail.
Long shot: Does anyone here have a source for this?
Seth J
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14
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3 answers
Would a genetically engineered red heifer be usable?
Assuming that a non-Jew chose to create a genetically engineered parah adumah (red heifer) and further assuming it met all the halachic requirements --no two black hairs, hadn't been used for work etc. -- would such an animal be deemed usable to…
user2110
14
votes
10 answers
Why is God so hidden from us
Why did God institute a natural order so that His presence would be hidden. I know so many people who are hopelessly convinced of the scientists' belief that the world is basically a machine running eternally on its own and that man evolved randomly…
ray
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14
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5 answers
Maple syrup bracha
What is the bracha on maple syrup and why?
Being that the trees are probably planted specifically for the purpose of the syrup, it's not so far off to think it might be ha'eitz. After all, I've heard of some such rule that people say about orange…
Yehuda
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14
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8 answers
What can I feed a vegetarian at my Pesach seder?
Wait wait, it's not a question for Seasoned Advice. :-)
I have a vegetarian (not vegan) coming to my seder this year. Most of the vegetarian staples (as far as I know) are chametz or kitniyot. For a yom tov meal I want to strive for "festive",…
Monica Cellio
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14
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3 answers
Asking a shaila where disclosure of classified information might be necessary
Orthodox Jews have taken on more and more responsible government positions and have been trusted with clearances to see highly sensitive classified materials. Many years ago I had such a job. It never happened to me, but I can envision a situation…
Bruce James
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14
votes
1 answer
Hallel on Yom Nicanor
Yom Nicanor celebrated the victory of Yehuda Maccabi (a few years after the events commemorated on Chanuka) over Nicanor, the Syrian-Greek governor who threatened to destroy the Temple if he wasn't handed over Yehuda Maccabi and his followers as…
goljerp
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14
votes
1 answer
Thinking about Purim Torah in the bathroom
It is not permitted to think about Torah in the bathroom regularly, but what about Purim Torah, which is certainly not real Torah study, but still often refers to actual Torah?
One might think that it would be forbidden because the person would…
Daniel
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14
votes
2 answers
Origin of myth about the hole in the sheet?
There is a widespread myth (as far as I know it is a myth) that orthodox Jews must have marital relations through a hole in a sheet. What is the origin of this myth and does it have any actual basis in halacha?
not-allowed to change my name
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14
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1 answer
Mandatory evacuation on Shabbat: what can and can't you do?
A major storm hit New England starting this past Friday. While people knew this was coming and precautions were already in place, apparently (according to a news article I read tonight) some areas were declared for mandatory evacuation on Saturday…
Monica Cellio
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14
votes
7 answers
What do you have to check for Shatnez?
What do you and what do you not have to check for Shatnez?
Y.Stahl
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14
votes
3 answers
Bitcoin and Halakha
What are the halakhot that apply to bitcoin? Is it halakhickly money? What even is the halakhic definition of money? Can bitcoin transactions be made over shabbat? That sort of thing.
הראל
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14
votes
6 answers
Burning the Challah portion
What is a practical way of burning the Challah portion that is removed from dough? Wrapping it in foil and leaving it in the oven would produce too much smoke for my house.
Dave
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14
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2 answers
Would most Jews deem a tattoo containing the tetragrammaton offensive?
I understand that this question involves a measure of subjectivity, but I am curious to hear people's opinions. I understand that getting a (real) tattoo is forbidden by Jewish law. I also know that the name of G-d/Hashem is very holy and not…
Dan
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Why did Avraham prefer the daughters of Aner, Eshkol and Mamre over Eliezer's daughter?
Rashi on Bereishis 24:39 says that
Abraham said to [Eliezer] “My son is blessed, and you are cursed [Eliezer was a descendant of Canaan who had been cursed by Noah], and an accursed one cannot unite with a blessed one.”
And Rashi on Bereishis…
Binyomin Trager
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