Top new questions this week:

Gift of a Teddy Bear to New Born Baby

Can I give a new born jewish baby a furry Teddy Bear? I was told that a handmade teddy bear especially made as a gift and given to a new born baby of a religious family was returned? A doll would be …

halacha animals minor-katan-child gifts baby-infant

asked by elayne 8 votes answered by HodofHod 11 votes

What will happen if the Ark of the Covenant is discovered today?

I read this question and the answer says that the Ark of the Covenant was buried somewhere beneath Jerusalem during the First Temple period (~580 BC), to hide it from the Babylonian invaders. It seems …

ark-aron-kodesh

asked by Mawia 7 votes answered by Seth J 7 votes

Refrigerators and shabbat

I have a friend that became Habad a while ago, and lives with her non-orthodox parents. She leaves the house for shabbat, but insists that her parents turn the lights off in the fridge, because if …

halacha shabbat food kashrut-kosher

asked by Sarra 7 votes answered by tryingToGetProgrammingStraight 3 votes

Why is Shmoneh Esreh referred to as 18 blessings when there are actually 19?

Originally Shmoneh Esreh only had 18 blessings, thus the name "Shemoneh Esreh." However, subsequently a 19th blessing was added of Velamalshinim regarding the heretics. If there are 19 blessings now, …

history tefilla number prayer-book etymology

asked by RCW 6 votes answered by sam 4 votes

"Nahhat Ruahh l'Yotzro" source

At the end of מוסף לשבת in דרכי אבות השלם (p. 375), a quotation is written in the name of רבי יהודה: אמר רבי יהודה: אשרי מי שעמלו בתורה ועושה נחת רוח ליוצרו Can anyone help me find the exact …

sources-mekorot sephardi-mizrachi-eastern prayer-book quotations

asked by Lee 6 votes

Drumming on tables on Shabbat

We know there is an Isur to play instruments on Shabbat (S"A 338 IIRC), to clap or dance. A few questions: 1) Is it is permissible to drum on tables with one's hands? 2) What about with forks or …

halacha shabbat music

asked by Hacham Gabriel 5 votes answered by sam 1 vote

What is the Book of Genealogies?

The g'mara on Pesachim 62b says (Soncino translation): Rami the son of Rab Judah said: Since the day that the Book of Genealogies was hidden, the strength of the Sages has been impaired and the …

books-generally maseches-pesachim

asked by Monica Cellio 5 votes

Greatest hits from previous weeks:

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 …

christianity avodah-zarah rambam hashkafah-philosophy gentiles

asked by user337 13 votes answered by Alex 9 votes

Are the Jews today still waiting for the Messiah to come?

Are the Jews still today waiting for the promised Messiah to come? If so, then what kind of Messiah are they expecting right now? When do they expect him to come?

hashkafah-philosophy messiah

asked by Mawia 4 votes answered by Bruce James 9 votes

Can you answer these?

Source for having lace on a Kittel

In Shul on Yom Kippur I noticed that many of the Kittel's that people wear have lace on them. Is there a source or a reason why a Kittel has lace on it?

minhag clothing

asked by Gershon Gold 2 votes

Can a Nazir drink wine if it is part of a holiday observance?

One who takes a Nazarite vow cannot drink wine (or partake of product that uses grapes). I understand that this is to help the Nazir remain focused on God instead of being overcome by other forces …

halacha torah-study grapes-wine nozir

asked by user4150 2 votes

Non-Jews & Shul Access

Can a shul deny access to a non-Jew due to the fact that he/she is not Jewish? Even if the person genuinely has a desire to learn about Judaism and worship Hashem? What are the rights (if any) of a …

gentiles gerut-conversion synagogue

asked by Mahalia Samuels 2 votes