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1500 questions
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How straight do the chanukah lights have to be?
The Mechaber says (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 671:4) that the Chanukah lights may not look like a bonfire. The Remah therefore says that the Chanukah lights must be in a straight line, to make sure it doesn't look like a bonfire. The Mishna Berura…
Menachem
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Can you leave video chat on over Shabbos?
Basically:
Can you leave your computer with video chat on (to another person) on over shabbos? And what if there's also audio?
For example a relative in the hospital, relatives that in a far away country, or just on in general.
This is all under the…
Naftali
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Shmuel running and walking
My sixth grade students asked me today:
In Shmuel Aleph Perek Gimel Shmuel becomes a Navi. It says in vs. 5 that Shmuel ran to Eli. In vs. 6 and 8 is says that he went to Eli. Why the difference?
(I thought this was a great insight on the part of…
morah hochman
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Dipping fingers in Havdalah Wine
What is the source or origin of the custom to dip one's fingers in the wine poured over the candle to extinguish it at the conclusion of Havdalah?
As a side note, and a reason I'm tagging it this way, is that I always joke that it's 'Avodah Zarah…
Seth J
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PTIJ: I live in Australia and am upside down. Where should I put my tefillin?
Should they go on my hands or my feet? I usually write with my right foot.
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.
Derdeer
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Are there halachos which specify who is qualified for tzedakah?
Following a very interesting and animated discussion at the Shabbos table this past Friday night, I wanted to delve more into the halachos of who is an oni? I understand very clearly from the Neviim and from the Torah that we're supposed to…
Naftuli Kay
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Does someone who dies very young have a soulmate?
As discussed in this question, the Talmud tells us that 40 days before someone is born, a heavenly voice calls out "This person is destined for so-and-so".
Not sure if anyone can answer this, but I'm wondering if this same 'calling out' for the…
Barry Hammer
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What does the aramaic "pon" mean?
Once in a while, Onkelos will throw in the word pon (פּוֹן) that doesn't directly translate from the Hebrew.
Avimelech to Yitzchak: k'z'eir pon shachiv d'm'yached b'ama (Toldos 26:10)
Lavan to Yaakov: v'shalachitach pon b'chedva (Vayeitzei…
YDK
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Can the husband in a gentile married couple convert without his wife?
We are a gentile married couple and my husband wants to convert to Orthodox and I'm still not sure if I want to convert at all. I found out that the Conservative would let my husband convert and stay with me, but how is it in Orthodox? Our rabbi…
tiger
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Rabbinic Responses to Landline Telephones
Recently the use of cellphones and smartphones has met with a lot of criticism in some communities. I'd be interested to see if landline telephones encountered any similar opposition when they were first introduced. Can anyone point me to rabbinic…
SarahBrodsky
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What does כתר"ה stand for?
What does כתר"ה mean? It's mentioned very often in Igros Moshe, often in reference to the one who asked the shailah e.g. "שאל כתר"ה"
Chaim
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How Should I Understand Gemaras Where People Quote Pesukim that Were not yet Written at the Time the Story Takes Place?
In various places in Talmud Bavli, there are stories told that take place during the times of Torah or Neviim where people in the story quote verses from prophetic books that did not yet exist at the time the story took place. How am I to understand…
conceptualinertia
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PTIJ: Carrying the flu on Shabbos with no Eruv
Why don't cities take down the Eruv during the flu season, so that no one gets sick?
By taking down the Eruv, one may not carry a cold on Shabbos, which helps stop the spread of disease.
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken…
Moshe
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Called to the Torah before wedding
I recently received an invitation to a friends wedding and I noticed that it said he would be "Called to the Torah" with a date and time approximately 1 week before the wedding.
I am not Jewish, so could someone please explain to me what the purpose…
going
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Am I allowed to view a Kotel Cam on Shabbos?
If there is a camera in Israel that is operating on Shabbos, am I (a person living in America, where Shabbos only starts 6 or 7 hours later) allowed to view such a camera?
I suppose the same could be asked in reverse (i.e. someone in Israel views an…
yydl
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