Tanakh
Torah, Prophets, and Writings — the Hebrew Bible and its teachings.
334 questions answered
If i cut myself and bleed a little bit into something I'm making for dinner, must I throw it out?
The blood from a living human being that falls into food does not render it forbidden, and the food need not be thrown out. Human blood is not subject to the sa
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
In a minyan, why do we need six people who are fasting for the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz to change the service?
Great question! This touches on the intersection of communal prayer, ta'anit tzibur (public fast), and the laws of tefillah (prayer) on fast days. Key Takeaways
What is the Kapparot prayer?
The Kapparot (כַּפָּרוֹת) ceremony is a Jewish custom performed on the eve of Yom Kippur in which a person symbolically transfers their sins to a rooster (...
Is establishing Eruv hatzarot with bread sufficient when camping?
Eruv Chatzerot When Camping: Is Bread Sufficient? The Basic Rule The standard eruv chatzerot is established using bread (pas), collected from each househol...
What is messianic prayer book?
A messianic prayer book is a siddur (Jewish prayer book) that has been adapted or created for use by "Messianic Jews" — those who identify culturally or et...
Traslat this - אין הקב'ה בא בטרוניא עם בריאותיו
Translation The phrase אין הקב"ה בא בטרוניא עם בריאותיו translates as: "The Holy One, Blessed be He, does not come with complaints/unreasonable demands against
Would meditation and verbalization of the beginning of parshat devarim, specifically “these are the words…” , per likkutei moharan 1, be efficacious in connecting to the divine/hidden wisdom and opening da’at
Meditation on "These Are the Words" — Devarim and Da'at Through Likutei Moharan 1 Opening with Eileh HaDevarim ("These are the words") as a meditative focus is
What is prayer for tzitzit?
The blessing (bracha) recited over tzitzit (fringes) is "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments a...
Can you please summarize the life of Eliyakim ben Chilkiya with sources
Eliyakim ben Chilkiya: A Summary of His Life Eliyakim ben Chilkiya was a senior royal official in the court of King Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) of Judah, serving...
Animal Sacrifice: Sacred Ritual or Social Control
Animal Sacrifice: Sacred Ritual or Social Control? Your argument is bracingly honest and has genuine support within Jewish tradition itself. You are essentially
Raised Christian here, exploring Judaism and the Noahide covenant
Welcome! This is a wonderful topic to explore, and it's deeply relevant to you as someone from a non-Jewish background. The Noahide covenant (Brit Noach) is the
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
Explain the hidden meaning of the three opinions of what was the etz hadaat (wheat, grapevine, fig)
The identity of the Etz HaDa'at (Tree of Knowledge) is one of the most fascinating aggadic debates in the Talmud, and the three opinions — wheat, grapevine, and
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...
Jeremiah and the Paradox of Faith Without Community
Jeremiah: The Solitary Prophet and the Paradox of Faith Without Community You have identified one of the most profound and painful paradoxes in all of Tanakh. J
Maaser and terumah for garden veggies
Maaser and Terumah for Garden Vegetables Great question! This touches on agricultural laws (mitzvot hateluyot ba'aretz — commandments dependent on the Land...
Torah
Shalom! It seems like you'd like to explore the topic of Torah itself — one of the most fundamental concepts in all of Judaism. The Torah is the foundational di
Why in Akeda story Avraham returned to naarim without Itzhak?
The end of the Akeidah (the Binding of Isaac) narrative in Genesis 22 records that "Abraham returned to his young men" [Genesis 22:19] — with no explicit mentio
Where in the torah is the requirement if universal peace that the meshiah will bring?
The concept of universal peace in the Messianic era is not found in a single verse but is woven throughout the prophetic books of Tanakh and developed extensive
When did the Jewish community start fasting for tammuz
The fast of the 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar b'Tammuz) has its roots going back to the Biblical era, with formal rabbinic codification during or after the Se...
What does commentary say about why the israelites never complained about having to unexpectantly move without advance warning of the clouds of glory
The Israelites' acceptance of sudden, unannounced travel at the cloud's direction is actually a profound expression of bitachon (trust in God) and emunah (faith
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
Is there any source that would encourage preparing a dish or food for shabbos that we should refrain from eating on weekdays?
Yes, there is a direct Talmudic and halachic basis for this practice. The principle of Shammai the Elder — saving the best food specifically for Shabbat — is we
If someone gets engaged and I have information that the other person has serious character and personality flaws am I obligated to tell that person
This is one of the most important and practically relevant questions in the laws of lashon hara (forbidden speech). Yes, you are not only permitted but obligate
Are today's tattoos the same as prohibited in the Torah
The Torah prohibits tattoos (kote'vet ka'aka' — כְּתֹבֶת קַעֲקַע), and the overwhelming consensus of halachic authorities holds that modern tattoos fall squarel
What is torah books in hebrew?
The Hebrew word for Torah books is ספרי תורה (Sifrei Torah), referring to the sacred scrolls and books of Scripture. More broadly, the complete Hebrew Bibl...
On clear food and unclean food
The Torah's dietary laws — kashrut (כַּשְׁרוּת, the system of permitted and forbidden foods) — form one of the most distinctive pillars of Jewish observance. Th
Can i braid a friendahip bracelet on tisha ba av
Making a friendship bracelet on Tisha B'Av is generally prohibited, both because it constitutes melachah (creative work/labor) and because it conflicts with the
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
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