Most Popular
1500 questions
14
votes
1 answer
If a Jewish couple is married through a civil ceremony alone, do Jewish marriage laws apply to them thereafter?
If a Jewish couple is married through a civil ceremony alone, do Jewish marriage laws apply to them thereafter? Assume no ketubah; perhaps a ring, but not necessarily 2 witnesses. Could one say that the marriage was contracted through biah? Would…
SAH
- 19,756
- 4
- 56
- 165
14
votes
2 answers
Announcements before אשרי
I am in high school and in the morning my principal makes announcements before אשרי at the end of שחרית. The announcements often have absolutely nothing to do with davening. For example, he will tell us the scores of a game that the school’s…
2345678876543
- 2,505
- 14
- 25
14
votes
2 answers
If Rome release the vessels from the Beit Hamikdash to Israel, what is the procedure?
If Rome calls up the Ministry of Tradition in Israel and says they want to return the vessels they have from the Beit Hamikdash, including the Menorah, what would be the halachic considerations for the transfer and storage? Who can and should handle…
Rabbi Kaii
- 9,499
- 3
- 10
- 50
14
votes
2 answers
Did Moshe see Paro's face again after all?
After the ninth plague Paro once again offers to let the people go and then recants. At the end of this conversation Sh'mot 10:28-29 says:
28 And Pharaoh said unto him: 'Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in the day…
Monica Cellio
- 56,645
- 10
- 113
- 348
14
votes
4 answers
Why does Yitzchak's blessing of Yaakov refer to Yaakov's mother's *sons*?
B'reishit 27:29 reads:
Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee.
Rivka only had…
Monica Cellio
- 56,645
- 10
- 113
- 348
14
votes
1 answer
"Yaamod p'loni ben p'loni... chazak"?
The last ole (person called to the Torah) (besides the maftir) of Vaychi, P'kude, B'chukosay, and Mas'e is, in my experience, called using the formula "yaamod p'loni ben p'loni sh'vii chazak", with chazak added at the end.
In some instances, a…
msh210
- 73,729
- 12
- 120
- 359
14
votes
3 answers
If women are not obliged to daven maariv, should they daven if they wish to?
This source said that women are not obliged to daven maariv but may do if they wish.
He since revised his view - see the source quoted by @Double AA's comment 25 Mar 16. This question was posed on the basis of the original view.
Although the…
Avrohom Yitzchok
- 47,518
- 8
- 47
- 131
14
votes
3 answers
How does someone not know they're Jewish?
In this answer, someone said they got offended when people wore crosses, especially if they didn't know they were Jewish. I'm just wondering how someone can not know what religion they follow?
Rob
- 243
- 2
- 5
14
votes
2 answers
1/60: why was the figure 60 chosen?
Many instances in the Talmud involve the number 60 as for instances:
battel beshishim
dreaming is 1/60th of prophecy
sleeping is 1/60th of death
Why was the number 60 chosen by the Sages and not 100 or 50 or 10? What is the significance of…
Eli83
- 1,058
- 6
- 12
14
votes
1 answer
Shower or Mikvah on a Fast Day
Are you allowed to take a shower on a fast day, and is it suggested?
Once we are talking about bathing, what about going to the Mikvah on a fast day?
Does it make a difference if one goes daily, and/or one is a Mohel on that particular fast day and…
simchastorah
- 9,061
- 1
- 21
- 70
14
votes
3 answers
Maaser Deductibles
Are there any expenses that one is allowed to "deduct" from his income before calculating the amount of Maaser one must give?
For example, if one makes a hundred thousand dollars a year, but his living expenses, food, taxes and school tuition take…
ertert3terte
- 40,485
- 7
- 96
- 205
14
votes
1 answer
Magid Mesharim: How is it that the angel knew Aramaic?
There is a book called "magid mesharim" written by Maran Bet Yosef in Aramaic through the exact words of an angel. My issue with this is that we learned from some Gemaras (Shabbat 12b is one) that angels don't know Aramaic. How did the angel know…
Hacham Gabriel
- 16,613
- 61
- 84
14
votes
5 answers
Why is there Pesach Sheini - The Second Passover?
What is the primary/basic reason why one has a second chance to bring the Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) on Pesach Sheni (a month after Passover)? Other mitzvos, such as hearing the shofar or other special korbanos (sacrifices) do not have a…
Yirmeyahu
- 13,367
- 1
- 44
- 80
14
votes
6 answers
Why didn't Yosef's brothers recognize him?
The Posuk says (Genesis 42:8):
וַיַּכֵּר יוֹסֵף אֶת אֶחָיו וְהֵם לֹא הִכִּרֻהוּ
Translated as:
Now Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him
The question is: How did they miss all the signs that were there:
In Posuk 42:18…
simchastorah
- 9,061
- 1
- 21
- 70
14
votes
4 answers
Did hardening Paro's heart mean he wasn't really responsible?
As a child I often wondered how, if God kept hardening Paro's heart after each plague, it could really be Paro's fault. It sounds like God was setting him up to fail, and while that's God's prerogative, it seems kind of unfair, and we hold that God…
Monica Cellio
- 56,645
- 10
- 113
- 348