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1500 questions
27
votes
2 answers
Is unmasking an anonymous author addressed by Halacha?
If an individual writes a document for public consumption anonymously or pseudonymously and either explicitly or presumably desires to remain anonymous, is there a Halachic issue with publicly unmasking the author, or with publicly assembling…
Isaac Moses
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27
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2 answers
Can a gentile break shabbos only on a Rabbinic level?
A non-Jew is forbidden from observing Shabbos. When someone is in the process of converting, we advise them to keep the entire Shabbos besides for doing one forbidden activity. A common practice is to carry something in their pocket (if there is no…
Michoel
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27
votes
5 answers
Minimum Age to Learn Kabbalah?
How old do you have to be to learn Kabbalah?
(I think its 60 ) but it seems everyone learns it anyway (Maharal, Chassidus). Is there a defense or is it just done?
Ishyehudi
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27
votes
3 answers
Can a non-Jew don tefillin?
May a non-Jew or a person who is in the conversion process don tefillin? If not, what are the reasons that they cannot?
Ger
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27
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2 answers
When Israel and the diaspora are out of sync on parshiyot, why don't we take the first opportunity to re-align?
This year (5772) the seventh day of Pesach is on a Friday, so the diaspora has an 8th day of chag on Shabbat but Israel does not. The diaspora will thus read Sh'mini on April 21, Tazria-Metzora on Apr 28, and so on through Bamidbar right before…
Monica Cellio
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27
votes
5 answers
Glasses and Shema
The Shulhan Aruch records the custom of placing one's hand over his eyes in Shema in order to increase concentration. What about someone who wears glasses? Must he move them or remove them?
Hacham Gabriel
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27
votes
12 answers
Why are women exempt from (many) time-bound mitzvot?
Women are generally exempt from time-bound mitzvot (Kiddushin 29a). I have heard two reasons for women being exempt from time-bound mitzvot and both seem problematic, so either there are additional explanations or I am not properly understanding…
Monica Cellio
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27
votes
2 answers
How can I pray for Jewish people as they approach death? I am a hospice chaplain
I am a chaplain in a hospice, serving those who are terminally ill. As a chaplain, I do not promote my faith, rather, I help those walk in their faith as death approaches. One of the sad issues I face is the spiritual neglect of the elderly. …
Chaplain Mark
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26
votes
6 answers
What Issues Exist with the Tablet K Hecksher?
The Tablet-K hechsher is quite common on products in US supermarkets - especially cheeses. There seems to be a strong sentiment that it is not an acceptable hechsher, but I've heard no halachik reasons for that sentiment.
What are the issues with…
Laizer
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26
votes
6 answers
Moshe's age and the timeline of the exodus
Moshe was 80 when he approached Par'o before the makos, and the makos lasted a year, so he turned 81 in the Adar before the Jews left Mitzrayim. As he turned 120 in the Adar before the Jews entered Israel, the Jews were in the desert only 39 years.…
msh210
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26
votes
6 answers
26
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3 answers
PTIJ: whats the diffrence
Whits teh difference btween arur hAman and Baruch mosses?
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This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy
Daniel
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26
votes
5 answers
Why is the torah so misleading without the oral law
In Parshas Ki Teitze (Devarim 22:13-21) it says if a man takes a wife, hates her, accuses her of not being a virgin, etc. Then the elders spread out the bedsheet to see if there is blood of virginity. If yes, then the man is fined. If not, then the…
ray
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26
votes
10 answers
High School Math in the Talmud
I'm currently tutoring someone in math that has an atitude of "what's the point of all this... why would I ever need this..." (which is typical of many high-schoolers). To try to pique his interest, I figured it would be great if I could provide him…
yydl
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26
votes
3 answers
Is the winding פ in this sefer torah kosher?
Leaving aside all other issues with the text as displayed, are the pehs acceptable, or do they actually need an inverted vav on the inside (instead of these whirls)?
soandos
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