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Activity for Monica Cellio
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | — |
Sefaria's holding a contest; can our community build something that uses Codidact and Sefaria together? Sefaria has just announced this year's Powered by Sefaria contest. The goal is to attract projects that are interesting and creative and that make use of Sefaria's library of texts and/or open APIs in some significant way. I imagine that, if it didn't already exist, the Sefaria linker that we use h... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Article | — |
the wood-gatherer, kiruv, and congregational life Originally given to a group of lay leaders from liberal congregations. Sh'lach L'cha records the incident with the wood-gatherer. To review, on Shabbat two men find a third outside the camp gathering wood, a clear violation of the laws of Shabbat they have been given. The men bring the wood-ga... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Article | — |
What was the sin of Sh'lach L'cha? This is a short d'var I gave at a weekday minyan years ago. I came across it while searching for something else and decided its message is still timely. In Sh'lach L'cha we read about the spies who were sent to scout out the land before the conquest. They came back with a bad report and the p... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
how should we organize the prophets tags? I asked a question about a passage from Ezekiel, creating the "ezekiel-book-of" tag in the process. (I followed the pattern I saw with other book tags.) I saw that we also have a "prophets" tag, so I was going to make this new tag a child of it, but then I noticed that "jeremiah-book-of" is a child... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What is the connection between the "tarshish" in Ezekiel's vision and the city Jonah fled toward? I noticed that Ezekiel 1:16, in describing his vision of something like a heavenly chariot (merkavah), says the words gleaned like tarshish, translated "beryl" by Sefaria and some others: > מַרְאֵ֨ה הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ כְּעֵ֣ין תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ > As for the appearance and structure of the... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Handedness for t'fillin: nature or nurture? I know that t'fillin are placed on the weaker arm, which for most people is the left, so that the stronger hand is the one doing the binding. I have heard, but don't remember where, that someone who is ambidextrous uses the left as well, since the right isn't weaker and the left is more common. W... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Why ones needs a chat. Eventually we want to have integrated chat. We aren't there yet. In the nearer term, we're overhauling the commenting system in a way that will make it easier to have discussion threads on questions without them overwhelming the page. Instead of seeing all the comments on the post, you'll see th... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Why do we stop saying Mashiv Haruach? The placement of this text suggests "praise, not request" to me too. In fact, we ask for rain separately in the ninth blessing, which makes it seem even clearer that this mention is not a request (would we make the same request twice?). Ta'anit 3:a cites a baraita that says that both dew and rain... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why didn't the dough rise during the night of the Exodus? When it comes to the bread, my plain understanding of the Exodus is that the Israelites left Egypt with dough (Exodus 12:34) and later baked it into unleavened bread because it had not risen (Exodus 12:39). That's what I've always understood, from the torah and from the haggadah: the dough did not r... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Are we expecting Eliyahu to drink the fifth cup of wine? Many kids I know (including past-me) think that Eliyahu drinks from the fifth cup at each seder. I've been to several where parents encouraged this belief, perhaps as a way of keeping the kids awake and attentive. (By "encouraged", I mean things like visibly checking the glass to see if the level h... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why aren't we required to eat matzah every day during Pesach? Shemot 12:15 tells us: "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread". But our tradition (I don't know the source, sorry) is that we are required to eat matzah only at the seder(s). Otherwise, the command is understood as "if you eat bread, it must be unleavened bread". Why aren't we required to ea... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
How does agency work for selling chameitz? Each year my rabbi arranges the sale of chameitz for me (and anybody else who asks), and I know that I could also do this online. Either way, I provide some basic information, like the location of the chameitz, and that's it -- I don't sign anything, I don't make a public declaration, I don't pay hi... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Omer weekly/daily themes, online-style? I know that there are some customary "categories" of daily contemplation during the Omer -- combinations of Chesed, Hod, etc. I know that each week has one of these as a theme, and then within that, each day has a theme, for 49 combinations of 7 basic ideas. This hasn't been part of my Omer observa... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Seudah shlishit before Pesach: what's the source for omitting bread? When Pesach starts on a Saturday night, I understand that we are forbidden to eat matzah on that Shabbat (because we don't want to diminish the experience at the seder), but that we also aren't allowed to eat bread (chametz) past mid-morning. I also understand that on Shabbat we are required to eat ... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Blotting out Haman's name only some of the time? At megillah readings, I'm used to people making noise to blot out every mention of Haman's name. Tonight I was at a Chabad reading and they had a different custom: they blotted out the mentions that used his full name or referred to his role (I guess the "important" ones?) but didn't blot out every ... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
After the destruction of the temple, why didn't we revert to a temporary mishkan? I read a blog post tonight that started out by asking why we don't have a mishkan today -- we had the mishkan in the wilderness before the temple was built, after all, so if we can't have the temple today, why not revert to a mishkan, some temporary (and possibly movable) place in which the holy serv... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Can one fulfill the obligation of megillah on Purim via Zoom? I have heard (but have no source) that, to fulfill the obligation of reading the megillah, one must either be physically present for a reading or, if listening by phone, follow along in a kosher scroll. (First question: is that correct?) What provisions, if any, exist for following remotely if on... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Talmudic proverb based on Job 42:10 — source? As far as I can tell, the talmud in Bava Kamma 92a is the earliest source for the statement, though its phrasing indicates the principle was known earlier: > Rava said to Rabba bar Mari: From where is this matter derived whereby the Sages stated: Anyone who asks for compassion from Heaven on beha... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What happens if the goring ox was provoked? Exodus 21:28-29 (and onward) gives us laws concerning the ox that gores. If it happens once, they kill the ox but do not punish the owner. But if the ox has a pattern of goring and the owner has been warned, and it happens again, not only do they kill the ox but the owner is subject to death. (I t... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Article | — |
On the ritual foods of the Purim seder As we know,[^1] the evening meal for Purim starts with Wacky Mac, a dish that features four pasta shapes: wheels, shells, spirals, and tubes. What is less widely known is how we are to eat this ritual item. Like the Pesach seder a month later, the meal has specific requirements and specific meaning... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
How am I supposed to pay *half* a coin? This Shabbat we read Shekalim (Exodus 30:11-16), in which we're instructed to pay a half-shekel to avoid plagues. I'm not very skilled at cutting silver, so I want to know how exact the half-coin needs to be. If, after I cut my coin, I find that the two pieces aren't exactly the same, can I just pa... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
(When) can halacha with a stated reason be revisited in light of new information? I saw the following question, asked by David Ziants, on mail-jewish today: > In Daf Yomi, have just started chapter 7 of Mesechet Pesachim, and the first Mishneh talks about on how the Korban Pesach should be roasted. The Mishneh says only a branch from a pomegranate tree can be used for a spit an... (more) |
— | about 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Disposing of a Christian bible written in Hebrew? As noted in this answer, even a sefer torah, if written by a heretic, does not have holy status and needn't be buried. Further, Rambam (Laws of Tefilin, Mezuzah, and Sefer Torah 1:13) writes: > יג ספר תורה תפילין ומזוזות שכתבן מין, יישרפו. כתבן גוי, או ישראל משומד, או מוסר, או עבד, או אישה, או ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Disposing of a Christian bible written in Hebrew? While sorting through boxes of books in the attic, I came across a Christian bible written in Hebrew. (Some family member was apparently given it by a missionary when living in Israel and didn't dispose of it then.) The book is only their second volume; it doesn't include Tanakh. If the book wer... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Automatic draft-saving plus Sefaria auto-linker leads to the post taking too long to save We weren't able to solve the problem directly (something something Javascript is single-threaded something), but there is now a preference to disable auto-saving, which is a work-around. Go to your user profile and then to the "preferences" tab. The preference is community-specific, so you can disa... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why do we destroy t'rumah and challah instead of giving it to a kohein? I was thinking about t'rumah, which historically was designated for a kohein but today we destroy, and similarly taking challah, which we burn. Why isn't this a violation of bal tashchit, do not waste? If you're an active part of a Jewish community you know how to find a kohein -- one always gets... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
(How) does the home gardener tithe? This past year I grew some vegetables for the first time. I don't live in Eretz Yisrael, so I know I don't have to tithe my produce, but it made me wonder: what if I did? How would I go about that, practically speaking? Or is there a minimum amount below which tithing laws don't apply, and my coup... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: ban the dvar-torah tag in the Divrei Torah category The tag can be removed server-side. I agree it's a pointless tag in that category. The Divrei Torah category shares tags with the Q&A and Challenges categories, so removing the tag would affect all categories that use it. It doesn't look like any other category does use it, and I would expect a que... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What are the flaws in the ten kal vachomer arguments in the torah? This d'var torah discusses kal vachomer arguments in torah: > Rashi is bothered that these two arguments have some sort of flaw. He wants us to realize that this isn’t so difficult, as there are ten instances of kal vachomers in the Torah that have a flaw. He is stressing that despite this flaw, t... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Do you say Baruch Dayan Ha-emet immediately, regardless of where you are when you learn the news? Upon learning of someone's passing, I have been taught, we immediately say baruch dayan ha-emet. I have also been taught that we don't say blessings (or learn torah) in inappropriate locations. My question is about which of these principles takes priority. This situation can arise if you overhear ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
If the words come from Christian worship but aren't otherwise objectionable, can you use them for secular music? Asking this question reminded me of another. As part of my (past) musical studies, I've studied historical compositions that set the "ordinary" of the Christian mass to music. The "ordinary" consists of five key prayer texts that are frequently (always?) part of the mass. Four of them are blatan... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
(When) can one listen to Christian music, according to Igrot Moshe? A post elsewhere cites Igrot Moshe (Yoreh De'ah 2:56) as saying that listening to (hearing?) Christian music is forbidden (asur). A comment there elaborates: > He states that the restriction is related only to those areas that they use as part of the Christian prayer service. However, he is lenie... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Where was Lot during the famine? In Lech L'cha there is a famine so severe that Avram has to leave Canaan and go down to Egypt for food. He leaves Egypt with great wealth, and then in Bereishit 13:1 he continues traveling with Lot. Lot isn't mentioned in the Egypt part of the episode. Did Lot go to Egypt too? If not, how did h... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Was Sigd part of historical Jewish observance? I noticed that my (paper) calendar reports that 29 Cheshvan is "Sigd". Curious about this day (on the Jewish calendar; they style secular stuff like Election Day differently) that I'd never heard of, I did some searching. The Wikipedia page has some basic information and also several "dubious sourc... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Can a sick pet eat food that would otherwise be forbidden? I have heard that when dietary laws and serious medical conditions interact, there are grounds to be lenient on the basis of pikuach nefesh. I'm pretty sure I've heard this with respect to ingredients, for example if the medicine you need has gelatin in it, and I've definitely heard this with respec... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
After being expelled, did Adam and Chava build tents or houses for themselves or continue to live outdoors? I've always assumed (but can't prove) that while Adam and Chava were in Gan Eden, and had they stayed, they lived out in nature -- they didn't require tents or other shelter. When they are expelled they're told that the ground will be inhospitable (they'll have to work for food), but it doesn't say ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Why does the text in B'reishit refer to God in the plural? The two passages you cite place the plural in God's mouth (God says "let us make..." and "like one of us" etc). I realize your question is more general, but I'm going to focus here on God's use of the plural. The predominant explanation is that God is addressing other (non-godly) beings, though s... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Article | — |
Shabbat Shuva: looking back and looking ahead Adapted from a d'var torah I gave on Ha'azinu/Shabbat Shuva 5781. Ha'azinu consists primarily of Moshe's final poem, recited to the people before he ascends the mountain to see the land and die. The language is very different from what I'm used to in the torah. It is not the language of events... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What is the purpose of God asking Adam to name the animals? In Bereishit 2:19 God brings all the animals to Adam to see what he will name them. This has long puzzled me, because: - God created them and already knows their functions (He doesn't need Adam to tell Him). - God, having made Adam and especially b'tzelem Elokim, in the divine image, knows Adam'... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What does it mean that Yisrael dwelt in sukkot in the wilderness? The plain reading of Vayikra 23:43 says that Yisrael dwelt in sukkot while they were in the wilderness. Rashi on this verse says that the "sukkot" that Israel dwelt in were the divine clouds of glory -- by implication, not physical booths. But this Rashi in turn seems to be referring to Rashi on ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
How much contact did Avraham and Yitzchak have after the akeidah? The akeidah was a significant event for both Avraham and Yitzchak.[^1] Immediately after they appear to go their separate ways -- Avraham leaves without his son, and we're not told where Yitzchak went. I have heard (unsourced) that Yitzchak went to learn, but where and for how long I don't know. A... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why is cholam sometimes pronounced like segol (Chabad, Yom Kippur)? I learned what I understand to be a S'fardi or maybe Israeli pronunciation of Hebrew. I'm aware of the differences between this and the usual Ashkenazi pronunciation. My question is about variations I've heard in Chabad. Having spent Yom Kippur with Chabad this year, I heard the differences enough... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
When does not forgiving become holding a grudge? Yoma 87a and Rambam Hilchot Teshuvah 2 both describe requirements for doing teshuva and gaining forgiveness. According to them, the one doing teshuva must first make restitution and then, in front of witnesses, ask the wronged person for forgiveness (possibly more than once). The implication is tha... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Divrei Torah Category I like the idea of divrei torah prompting "response" divrei torah. If we make the original d'var torah a question and use answers for the responses, though, then where would responses to those responses go? (I think we should assume that will happen.) I propose that divrei torah, with whatever r... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What does a beginning shofar blower need to know to correctly make the sounds? On Rosh Hashana I heard somebody say something like: if you can't get to a public shofar blowing, at least this is a commandment that is relatively easy to fulfill on your own -- most people, this person said, can get acceptable sound out of a shofar with a little practice. This person immediately q... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Must one forgive those who wronged him but do not ask forgiveness? In the previous paragraph, Rambam Hilchot Teshuvah 2:9, he writes (Sefaria translation): > [...] but sins between man and man, for instance, one injures his neighbor, or curses his neighbor or plunders him, or offends him in like matters, is ever not absolved unless he makes restitution of what he... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
What are the requirements for the body of water used for tashlich? For tashlich I'm used to joining a group, and thus somebody else figures out where to do it. But there won't be groups this year. I could of course return to any of the locations we've used in the past, but they're in public parks that are likely to be crowded, so I'd like to understand what my oth... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
When bringing first fruits, why do we say to the priest "your God" rather than "our God"? When bringing first fruits we are commanded to say the following to the priest: > וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו הִגַּ֤דְתִּי הַיּוֹם֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּי־בָ֙אתִי֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ לָ֥תֶת לָֽנוּ׃ > You sh... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Imported answers incorrectly reported Ah, there was another one! Thanks for finding that. This question was (somehow) imported twice, at these two URLs: - https://judaism.codidact.com/questions/277598 - https://judaism.codidact.com/questions/277725 Both questions were then deleted (by the System user), presumably as part of th... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Some special encodings, including Hebrew, didn't import well We have learned by experience that the data-import process gets tripped up by some character encodings... like Hebrew. (Oops!) The mix of HTML (what we can get from SE) and Markdown and character encodings contributes to these errors, and especially with RTL thrown in, our developers are concerned ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
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