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1500 questions
28
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3 answers
Is it acceptable under kashrut to eat tyrannosauridae meat?
Theoretically speaking, if tyrannosaurs were still present these days, or in some way or another brought back, would they be kosher?
Let's assume that they are properly slaughtered and prepared.
Earwin
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28
votes
9 answers
Does one have to take a Midrash/Aggadah literally?
Does one have to take a Midrash/Aggadah literally?
RCW
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28
votes
4 answers
Shaking hands with the opposite gender?
What's the story: Can a man shake hands with a woman (or vice versa) in a business setting?
Shalom
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28
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5 answers
Source of non-verse in Selichot
In Ashkenazi Selichot, the following set of verses from Tanach (patterned around the opening verb ז.כ.ר. to remember) appears towards the end of the Selichot service (there may be some slight variations depending on the particular Nusach):
זכור…
Double AA
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28
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3 answers
Must a jew-by-choice who is a firstborn observe the fast of the firstborn
I'm interested in the question of whether a ger who is firstborn (of both parents, say, to keep things simple) must follow the rules for Ta'anit B'khorot. There are some remarks on the wikipedia page, but they're quite terse and I'd be interested to…
circular-ruin
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28
votes
2 answers
How does a son call up his father for an Aliyah?
Suppose a son is the Gabbai in a Shul and needs to call up his father for an aliyah (or his brother who is the son of his father). Does the son say his father's name? Does he say something else instead?
Please don't answer that someone else should…
yydl
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28
votes
9 answers
Archeological proof of Exodus?
Is there empirical proof that the exodus from Egypt and related happenings (like Har Sinai etc) did in fact occur (i.e: Archeological proof)?
I believe in the Torah, but how would you prove to someone that the exodus did indeed happen if the other…
lehrer
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28
votes
4 answers
Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started?
Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started? For example, if I live in New York, could I send a fax (causing the machine to print a document) to Israel on Friday afternoon, before it is Shabbat for me, but after…
Shmuel
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28
votes
8 answers
Is one allowed to smoke?
Nowadays, since there are studies that show that smoking is dangerous to health, is one allowed to smoke or is it violating "Venishmartem Meod Lenafshosechem"?
ertert3terte
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27
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6 answers
When did Avraham Avinu become Jewish
Avraham Avinu is often called "the first Jew".
When did he become Jewish. Was it when:
He recognized G-d?
G-d spoke to him for the first time?
Covenant Between The Parts?
When G-d changed his name?
When he had a circumcision?
When Yitzchok was…
Menachem
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27
votes
3 answers
The Fanatic Badge
Here on Mi Yodeya, one can earn the "Fanatic" badge for visiting the site for 100 consecutive days.
Is it halachically possible to earn the fanatic badge in the Diaspora?
Tzvi
27
votes
9 answers
If Christianity is avodah zarah and Islam is not, why has the Christian world triumphed over the non-Christian, and why do Jews prefer to live among Christians and not Muslims?
The Rambam quite clearly considered Christianity to be avodah zarah. He did not feel the same way about Islam, however, going so far as to condone praying within a mosque, and many Orthodox Jewish Rabbis take the same position on the subject, but…
user337
27
votes
6 answers
The Origins of the Zohar - Why is it accepted as being true?
I've read arguments and counter arguments for the origins of the Zohar and I'm perplexed.
I personally accept the truths in kabbalah and chassidut, but I didn't realize how the Zohar sort of just "appeared" one day in 13th/14th century. Le-havdil,…
ZCG
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27
votes
7 answers
Halakhic International Date Line issues
According to halakha, where is the international date line?
More specifically, I have heard that some people say you should observe Shabbat on Sunday in Japan & New Zealand and/or on Friday in Hawaii. Should I worry about this if I go to these…
Sam
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27
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3 answers
Premature birth contradicting science
I am a teacher at a private all-girls Jewish high school. There are two science teachers in the school, and both of us are Christian. I was talking with my fellow science teacher recently, and she mentioned that during a discussion in her human…
Meg Coates
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