Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
195 questions answered
Tell me about basar v chalav as it pertains to chicken?
The Torah prohibition of basar b'chalav (meat and milk) applies biblically only to the flesh of kosher land animals cooked in milk — chicken is explicitly exclu
Where does custom of walking back 3 steps in the beginning of shemoneh esrei and waving your hand to people to left and the right come from
The custom of taking three steps forward before the Amidah comes from early rabbinic and halachic tradition, rooted in the idea of approaching a king with...
What is the meaning of amidah?
The word Amidah (עֲמִידָה) literally means "standing," derived from the Hebrew root amd (עמד), referring to the act of standing in prayer. It is the centra...
What is jewish blessing door frame?
The Jewish "blessing on the door frame" refers to the mezuzah (מְזוּזָה), a parchment scroll containing handwritten Torah passages that is affixed to the d...
What is shavuot prayer?
Shavuot has several distinctive prayer elements that set it apart from regular holiday davening. The holiday's liturgy reflects its dual themes of matan To...
Let’s say someone has to lay down because of medical reasons and can’t sit or get up how would they pray amidst Sephardic bottom line short Halacha clear
A person who is bedridden due to medical reasons may pray lying down — this is fully permitted and their prayer is valid. The Sephardic ruling is that one does
If I didn’t hear a siyum but was in the building while it happened, can I eat meat in then9 days
Can You Eat Meat During the Nine Days if You Were Present at a Siyum But Didn't Hear It? Being physically present in the building where a siyum (completion of a
What is hebrew prayer for safe travel?
The Jewish prayer for safe travel is called Tefillat HaDerech (תְּפִלַּת הַדֶּרֶךְ), the "Traveler's Prayer." Its text was established by the Talmud and ha...
If there are fewer than ten men, what changes in the shacharit service on Monday and Thursday?
When a minyan (quorum of ten Jewish men) is not present, the Torah cannot be read publicly. This means that on Monday and Thursday mornings — days when the Tora
If a baby boy is born to a Jewish woman, but the boy isn't circumcised, is he still considered to be jewish?
Yes, an uncircumcised Jewish boy is still fully Jewish. Jewish identity (Jewishness) is determined by birth to a Jewish mother (or conversion), not by circumcis
What is the Jewish morning prayer (Shacharit)?
Shacharit (שַׁחֲרִית, "morning prayer") is the daily morning prayer service in Judaism, recited each day after dawn. It is one of the three obligatory dail...
What is kippah and tallit?
The kippah (כִּיפָּה, head covering) and tallit (טַלִּית, prayer shawl) are two of the most recognizable Jewish ritual garments. The kippah is a small head...
What are the rules of passover dietary?
Passover Dietary Laws The Torah prohibits eating chametz (leavened products) during Passover and commands eating matzah (unleavened bread) in its place. Th...
What is chabad rebbe?
The Chabad Rebbe refers to the dynastic leader (nasi) of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, one of the largest and most influential Hasidic dynasties i...
Shabbat chazon how to see vision of third temple
Shabbat Chazon and the Vision of the Third Temple Shabbat Chazon (שַׁבַּת חֲזוֹן, "Shabbat of Vision") is the Shabbat immediately before Tisha B'Av, named after
What is the Traveler's Prayer (Tefilat HaDerech)?
Tefilat HaDerech — The Traveler's Prayer Tefilat HaDerech (תְּפִלַּת הַדֶּרֶךְ), the Traveler's Prayer, is a special blessing recited when embarking on a j...
If a whole tzitzit of one corner comes off all the strings and they aren’t there anymore are you allowed to put new string new tzizit there or is it pasul simple Sephardic bottom line Halacha
The garment remains valid (kasher) and you are permitted — and required — to re-attach new tzitzit to that corner. Removing or losing one corner's strings does
What is the Bedtime Shema prayer?
The Bedtime Shema (Kriat Shema al HaMita — the recitation of Shema upon the bed) is the nightly prayer recited just before going to sleep. It is built arou...
What is the relationship between the myth of the prodigal son and the Baal tshuvah?
The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the Jewish concept of the ba'al teshuva (penitent/returnee) share extraordinarily deep thematic parallels —
What is jewish psalm 121?
Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Shir HaMa'alot), a collection of psalms (120–134) traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem a...
Why does the Torah consider a woman who is divorce from her husband subsequently married to another man and once again divorced or he dies she can’t go back to the first husband the Torah calls this toeuvah. Why
Excellent question — this touches on one of the more challenging chukim (divine statutes) in the Torah, one that has generated significant rabbinic and philosop
Could the Yovel law dictating the return to the original distribution be interpreted as favoring those who have become poor over those who have become rich, and if so, how is this consistent with the interpretation of "justice, justice shall you pursue" as saying that one should not in matters of law favor either the rich or the poor.
This is a profound question that cuts to the heart of Torah jurisprudence. The Yovel system does structurally benefit those who have fallen into poverty by rest
Can athletic shoes with some leather trim allowed to be worn on tisha b'av?
Athletic shoes with leather trim occupy a debated area in halacha (Jewish law). The core prohibition on Tisha B'Av is wearing leather shoes, and most authoritie
Touching the leaves of a small estrog tree on Shabbat
Touching the leaves of an etrog (citron) tree on Shabbat is primarily governed by the laws of muktzeh (items set aside/forbidden to handle on Shabbat) as they a
In which part of the torah the mitzvah of yibum is stated
The mitzvah of yibum (levirate marriage) is primarily stated in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 25:5–10, where the Torah lays out the full commandment in detail, includin
What is parashat hashavua chabad?
Parashat HaShavua — Chabad Perspective The Parashat HaShavua (פָּרָשַׁת הַשָּׁבוּעַ, literally "the portion of the week") refers to the weekly Torah portio...
Compare Rebbe Nachman and simcha Bunin for similarities in outlook
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa: A Comparative Study Both Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) and Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (176
What is hafrashat challah prayer?
Hafrashat challah (separation of challah) is a Torah commandment requiring that a portion of dough be separated and given to a kohen (priest), based on Num...
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 is the Jewish prayer for the dead?
The primary Jewish prayer associated with mourning and the dead is the Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom — the Mourner's Kaddish). Notably, the Kaddish does not menti...
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