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Activity for manassehkatz
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comment | Post #280509 |
A related question is: Do their normal practices put them in the category of Bnei Noach? That could have Halachic ramifications for permanent residence in Israel, though not in the current (and foreseeable future until Moshiach) State of Israel. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280480 |
On the other hand, within the scope of Torah, free speech - stating your opinion - seems to be a very valid thing. I can't remember the specifics at the moment, but there is at least one famous incident of an argument over Halachah that ends with a Bas Kol siding with the outvoted Rabbi (essentially)... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280448 |
acrostic meanings, explanation of themes, etc.), links to online resources (lyrics, translations, Divrei Torah, music, video), etc. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280448 |
One person's "standard" may be unknown to someone else, depending on what Bentcher they use, where their family is from, etc. A twist on this which might make it really helpful to people would be to start a **List of Zemiros** and (with help from everyone else) expand to include things like: Name, au... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280261 |
and then you have a real issue (on Shabbos). On the other hand, a hot plate or blech at 180 F is not a problem if the food is already cooked (or liquid already heated) - maintaining heat is different from cooking. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280261 |
Generally speaking, the key level of heat is "Yad Soledes Bo". A quick search (not definitive) shows a range of 110 F to 160 F. Meaning that if a temperature is below 110 F then there is no issue of cooking, at all. And if a food is fully cooked and warmed to > 160 F before Shabbos then there is no i... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #280252 |
I wrote up some basics. If someone comes up with a better referenced answer, that's fine with me - no time to finish it right now. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #279781 |
"it remained lit the entire evening"? I thought the Nes was "the entire day" - i.e., the Menorah was normally lit with enough oil to burn 24 hours. We think of "all night" in normal candle usage, but in the Beis Hamikdash the Menorah was 24/7, except for cleaning time (and even then, I think one flam... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #279781 |
Just to clarify for anyone out there who is new to this and might be confused: This question **only** applies in the Beis Hamikdash (Temple). In the celebration of Chanukah, the requirement is for 30 minutes past Tzais Hacochavim (same time as end of Shabbos). No bonus points for lights that burn for... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #279757 |
As far as finding ashes of red heifer (not making a new one - that was extremely rare), presumably those were kept in a special place *outside* the Temple and retrieved as needed. As opposed to oil which was a commodity used daily and logically kept inside the Temple where needed (and therefore taken... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #279757 |
I remember the same story: 7 days to travel and get new oil. No sources, so just comment and not an answer: If *everyone* (or majority) is Tamei then there are exemptions - which would apply to making oil as much as lighting the Menorah, but since there was at least one Tahor Cohen to light the Meno... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278662 |
It is useful. It fits "Judaism Codidact". It just doesn't fit "Divrei Torah". (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278662 |
This is a useful piece of information, but I don't think it qualifies as a full-fledged Dvar Torah. If you flesh this out with the derivations of the various dates, a discussion of different opinions regarding the dates, etc., that would be different. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278521 |
On the Sukkos/Water/Chanukah/Oil: Any way to connect that to the count-down for Sukkos (Korbanos) vs. count-up for Chanukah (days of miracle of the Menorah/Oil)? (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278479 |
also without the normal "Bimkom Cohen" because this is *not* a substitution in the normal sense. Strange times. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278479 |
exception, though even then in normal times my Shul makes an effort to distribute Cohanim & Leviim so that the usual rules are followed until they can't be. This year - Baal Koreh gets *everything*. I was thrilled to actually call up a Cohen last week (the other Menashe Katz - he is a Cohen, I am not... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278479 |
In *normal* times, it is pretty strict: 1 = Cohen, if no Cohen then Gabbai's choice (really!) Levi or Yisrael; 2 = Levi unless (a) no Cohen - then Yisrael, (b) Cohen but no Levi - then the *same* Cohen (because a Cohen is a subset of Levi; but can't do a different Cohen because that would imply the f... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278186 |
The style may be a bit different, but the technical structure is, I think, essentially the same: A bunch of posts with links between them. The difference with a Wiki that comes to mind is having an overall index that is more than "just a list of posts". But otherwise much the same. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278186 |
These bidirectional links sound like the beginnings of a Wiki. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278167 |
New requirement. You can only use a Hebrew username if it is a palindrome like דוד גוֹג ישי and doesn't end in ךףץןם.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Hebrew_palindromes (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #278148 |
@DonielF I know there are probably different opinions on every piece of this. But it is a starting point until someone is able to write a more comprehensive answer. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277947 |
@robev I 100% agree. Smell is the easiest thing to fake an answer to, unless you start including non-smelling items in a blind test - and then the people will claim they smelled something in the air (which could really be true). I think that's why the non-contact thermometer tests are so popular - yo... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277947 |
The fact that is **is** Besamim may be very relevant. As I understand it, smelling spices and similar grown items gets a Bracha but artificial smells do not. (No source, I heard this many years ago.) My guess though is that this would be similar to questions regarding medicine - e.g., perhaps like a ... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277910 |
Believe it or not *no stupid jokes this time*. I actually met Rabbi Steinsaltz twice when he visited this area - once almost 40 years ago and again more recently (I think 2006 but not sure). (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277512 |
Wow! So easy - all I have to do is cross-post some juicy gossip from a blog...oh wait, you want something about Halachos of Loshon Hara, not actual Loshon Hara? Oh well... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277324 |
@MTL Reading it now, I spotted (and fixed) a typo. And went back to the original bulk member email message and it had the typo. And went back to the original message from the Rabbi, and it had the typo. So I can assure you this is the real thing. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277324 |
Sorry, this was a bulk member email message. Public - not limited to members - anyone can sign up for it - but not archived on the web site except when I get around to making a page or adding an existing page. Might end up in the Shabbos Shorts (which always goes on the wbe site) if I have space this... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277286 |
or if he had other reasons to move, as I didn't know him well at the time, though we became friends in later years. He certainly had the public respect and admiration of other (younger) Rabbis despite being retired. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277286 |
Paskening (generally not a good idea, at least publicly, for a "retired" Rabbi) and teaching (always encouraged). In my experience, Orthodox Rabbis mostly serve until death (whether a ripe old age or sometimes much younger). The one exception I can think of locally was Rabbi Klavan. He actually *move... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277286 |
Life-cycle events is actually, IMHO, a new addition to Rabbinics. Anyone can do a funeral (I've been to a few run by laypersons for various reasons). A Bris needs a Mohel but doesn't need a Rabbi. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah has no need for anyone special. A wedding is the one where, due to frequent complicati... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277287 |
Ongoing discussions, but most recently with my LOR, indicated that based on medical advice **will** likely (I wouldn't say "definitely" on anything a month away these days) include **covering the wide end of the Shofar**. (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277273 |
It is ethical teaching. First of all, there are the debt-forgiveness and other things that aren't about farming at all. Second, saying everyone has rights to the produce during Shemittah is a major change from the norm (both 6 years out of 7 and everywhere else) of "what's mine is mine". And finally,... (more) |
— | over 3 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277118 |
I doubt that you have to be close enough to hear the calls for each group of blasts or the various prayers, simply because those are all skipped (at least in my experience) if the Shofar is being blown any time except during the Davening. The only exception is the actual Brachos at the beginning. I h... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277049 |
sensitive topics - which can cause a cascade of problems for a variety of reasons - then more serious attempts to take out the trash are arguably necessary *if we want to allow those same topics from serious real people*. I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. But I still want throw o... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277049 |
@IsaacMoses Not a filter. That really would do nobody any good. What I am really getting at is some serious moderation. It is one thing (and we've already seen some of this) if someone posts vague and/or controversial and/or just problematic for whatever reason questions *deliberately to cause troubl... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277049 |
The key is the often-used phrase "good intent". Someone can ask *using the same basic (even euphemistic) language* a question in the nature of trying to actually understand history, Halacha, etc. or someone can ask a similar question (which is why keyword filters are nearly useless here, as in spam f... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #277049 |
While codidact is (like Mi Yodeya) not a substitute for a personal Rabbi, the reality is that these are often topics that people are often uncomfortable discussing with their Rabbi. Providing at least a research tool so that people only have to ask specific questions to their rabbi instead of having ... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276988 |
bad back doesn't have to sit on the floor, someone who can't see well can use regular light. In any case, this year it was Maariv in Shul and Eicha on Zoom, so not an issue. (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276988 |
I used to do that in my Shul in the Social Hall for Eicha, but always a balance trying to make it much darker than normal but bright enough for people to read. But in the main Sanctuary none of the lights are on dimmers and only a few large groups of lights so no easy way to "dim" and we just left al... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276987 |
studying it always applies for everyone at all times (except as defined in terms of a certain age/knowledge level/etc. and even then always private and limited)? Or is that "old" and not applicable in this day and age? Ironically, it becomes a *religious* question *about* studying religion! In compar... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276987 |
My understanding is that *Kabbalah* is considered almost a different world. Not just an increment step (like most topics) and the "self-*pasken* comparison doesn't quite hold either - we *all* self-pasken to some degree, it is just a question of "at what point do we decide that we really should ask" ... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276985 |
The complication is that the "simple search result" may provide **an** answer, but not a complete, comprehensive, authoritative answer, particularly if it comes to a complex Halachic question. (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276948 |
@AA Interesting points. I don't think of Korban Pesach as personal, in the sense that everyone has to do it and it has a specific time, and it is shared by groups. But it **is** personal in comparison to true **communal** Korbanos. Kohen Gadol daily is "personal" but a specific requirement & YK Par i... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276960 |
@DonielF On the other hand, many of those same ones that are *not* Pekuach Nefesh - e.g., dental - would have such a minimal risk of death to be insignificant. On the other hand, there are other factors too - e.g., a modern large hospital is a place where even if you are simply visiting people you ha... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276960 |
Arguably, most surgery would be Pekuach Nefesh and therefore the risk acceptable since if the surgery works well there would not be Tumah *and* would save a life. A bigger problem may be (I have heard various things over the years) that modern medical training normally includes significant work with ... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276948 |
FYI, all based on recollection of learning these things in the past (more than just "read the Parasha" but far less than "studied relevant Gemara in-depth"): 1 - Just keeps going until Korban/etc.; 2 - Generally speaking, *personal* sacrifices can't be brought on Shabbos; 3 - Interesting question. Mi... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276948 |
My understanding (but no sources at the moment, so just a comment) is that the status and prohibitions of Nezirus extend beyond any specifically stated end-time or default 30-days until the proper Korban, etc. is completed. As a result (and this is the context where I learned it, many years ago), any... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276945 |
The Gemarah anticipated many things relating to the modern world, but they never expected that the Saints would win the Superbowl! (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276945 |
@robev In all seriousness, I think animal crackers would be fine. The prohibition is specifically "writing". That being said, anecdote time: When the New Orleans Saints won the Superbowl, a member sponsored a Kiddush in their honor and had a special cake made. Everyone knew letters were a problem, bu... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #276944 |
To take the opposing viewpoint, in my Shul (well, until COVID-19 changed everything so that now we don't have singing *any* week), singing Lecha Dodi, etc. is permitted during Shabbos davening in the 3 weeks, though not a "Ruach Minyan" (aka Carlebach). (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
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