Torah Q&A
3290 answered questions with cited sources from the Sefaria library.
What is reciting shema prayer?
Reciting the Shema (שְׁמַע) is one of the most fundamental acts of Jewish worship — a declaration of God's absolute unity and sovereignty, drawn from three...
What are the halachic considerations of drinking coffee
Coffee is permitted under Jewish law, though several important halachic considerations arise around its preparation and consumption. The core issues involve the
Is naturism/nudism allowed
The Torah tradition is clear that public nudity is fundamentally incompatible with Jewish law and values. Tzniut (modesty) is not merely a rabbinical stringency
Some chassidic commentry on the Bilams donkey
Chassidic Commentary on Bilam's Donkey What a rich topic! The episode of Bilam and his donkey (Numbers 22:21-35) is a treasure trove for Chassidic interpre...
When do you say tefillas haderech
Tefillas HaDerech (the Traveler's Prayer) is recited when departing on a journey beyond the boundary of one's city, after traveling a distance of approximately
What’s the shortest perek in shas Gemara
The shortest perek (chapter) in Shas (the Talmud) is Perek Bemeh Madlikin — actually, let me give you the precise answer: The shortest chapter in the Babylonian
Explain tzroros
The term tzarot (צָרוֹת) — or in its singular form tzara (צָרָה) — is a fundamental Hebrew word meaning troubles, distress, or suffering. In Torah tradition, it
What is the Jewish prayer for healing (Mi Sheberach)?
The Mi Sheberach (מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ — "May the One Who Blessed") is a traditional Jewish prayer for healing recited on behalf of the sick. It invokes the meri...
What does the Or hachaim say about why re'eh starts in singular then plural in the torah
The Or HaChaim explains that the shift from singular to plural in Re'eh is deeply intentional — Moses spoke in the singular ("Re'eh" — "See!") because the spiri
מצאו מכשיר שיכול ל9ענח את הצלילים שהצמחים מוצאים
צמחים מדברים? מבט מדעי ותורני מחקרים מודרניים גילו שצמחים אכן פולטים צלילים וגלים, ומכשירים מיוחדים מסוגלים לקלוט ולפענח תדרים אלו. מעניין שהמדע המודרני מגיע למ
Can I give him a birthday present
Yes, you can give your son a birthday present on Tisha B'Av. Since he is under bar mitzvah age, he is not bound by the restrictions of the day, and receiving a
Look at the stars Abraham
"Look at the Stars, Abraham": The Vision of Genesis 15:5 When God commanded Abram to look at the stars in Genesis 15:5, it was one of the most profound moments
Where does mishneh torah talk about mukat eitz
Mukat Eitz in the Mishneh Torah Mukat Eitz (מֻכַּת עֵץ, literally "struck by wood") refers to a woman who has lost her virginity through a non-sexual means...
What is the significance of the 17th of Tammuz?
The 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar b'Tammuz — שבעה עשר בתמוז) is a fast day commemorating five tragic events that befell the Jewish people, most notably the br...
What is the Yizkor memorial prayer?
Yizkor is a Jewish memorial prayer recited for deceased relatives, asking God to remember the souls of the departed and linking charitable pledges (tzedaka...
What is zman krias shema?
Zman Krias Shema (זְמַן קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע — the time for reciting Shema) refers to the halachically mandated time window within which one must recite the She...
Segun el movimiento masorti es permitido viajar en shabat
El Movimiento Masortí (Conservador) permite el viaje en automóvil el Shabat bajo ciertas condiciones muy específicas — principalmente para asistir a la sinagoga
What is hebrew prayer before sleep?
The traditional Hebrew prayer recited before sleep is called Kriat Shema al HaMita (קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עַל הַמִּטָּה) — "the recitation of Shema upon the bed....
Did the מן come down on Yom Tov?
The man (manna) did not fall on Yom Tov (Jewish holidays), just as it did not fall on Shabbat. This is derived from the same biblical logic that explains the do
What is parshat vayikra?
Parshat Vayikra is the first parasha (Torah portion) of the book of Vayikra (Leviticus), and it serves as the foundational text introducing the entire sacr...
What is the jewish kaddish prayer?
The Kaddish (Kaddish, קַדִּישׁ — literally "holy" or "sanctification") is one of Judaism's most recognized and emotionally resonant prayers, primarily know...
What is the meaning of shehecheyanu?
The Shehecheyanu (שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ) is a Jewish blessing of gratitude recited upon experiencing something new, joyful, or seasonally recurring. It expresses th...
What are several extensive Hasidic commentaries upon the amidah
Hasidic Commentaries on the Amidah The Amidah (the Eighteen Blessings, also called Shemoneh Esrei or Tefillah) has been a central focus of Hasidic thought, as p
I am a Bat Noach and I want to study Judaism because I was raised with lies and now I feel very disoriented in life. I try to study Torah classes a lot, but the problem is now that I am involved in several classes and I feel overwhelmed and my household chores are piling up. I don't want to do the household. I want to study, but my life is getting chaotic and I don't achieve anything. I need to find motivation to come to action but when I do household works I feel completely lost without Torah. What should I do ? I want to create order out of chaos, my life feels chaotic now. How should I create order in my life in a Torah true way ?
What a beautiful and honest question. The very fact that you feel this tension — a burning desire for Torah truth alongside the demands of real life — shows tha
What is kosher rules about meat and dairy?
The Torah prohibits cooking, eating, and deriving benefit from a mixture of meat and dairy, derived from the verse "לֹא תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ" —...
What is night shema?
The night Shema (Kriat Shema shel Layla) is the obligation to recite the Shema prayer in the evening, derived from the Torah's command to say it "when you...
What does the events and the result of Sinai teach the world, not just Jews?
The Revelation at Sinai stands as one of the most consequential events in human history, carrying a universal message for all of humanity: that God speaks to hu
Is targum unkelus from har sinai
The tradition holds that Targum Onkelos has its ultimate origins in the revelation at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai), though it was later forgotten and subsequently re
The Demut Adam in Ezekiel and Adam Kadmon
The Demut Adam in Ezekiel and Adam Kadmon — Vision, Throne, and the Limits of Understanding You have touched upon one of the most sacred, debated, and carefully
Can one schedule a non-jew appliance repair mechanic to come on Shabbat to repair a refrigerator?
Scheduling a non-Jewish appliance repairman to come specifically on Shabbat to repair a refrigerator is generally forbidden according to halacha. The core prohi