Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
195 questions answered
Does 63 have a numerical equivalent and meaning in Hebrew?
The number 63 has deep significance in Jewish mystical tradition. In gematria (the system of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters), 63 is most famo...
What’s the deal with anal sex
The halachic status of anal sex within marriage has been a subject of significant rabbinic debate throughout Jewish history. The mainstream position, as ruled b
How much more is a Jew obligated to pay to support business in their community?
There is no fixed monetary percentage or multiplier that a Jew is obligated to pay extra to support local Jewish commerce. Rather, the Torah and halachic t...
Un juif peut til manger du porc ?
Un Juif peut-il manger du porc ? La réponse est non — la Torah interdit explicitement la consommation de porc. Le porc (chazir en hébreu, חֲזִיר) ne possède qu'
Who were the holiest mamzers
The Holiest Mamzerim (Illegitimate Children) in Torah Tradition The Torah tradition preserves remarkable figures who were either identified as mamzerim (בַ...
What are the restrictions on the 17th of Tammuz?
The 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar b'Tammuz) is a communal fast day on which eating and drinking are forbidden from dawn (alot hashachar) until nightfall. It m...
Does the torah say you can kill all your enemies?
The Torah does not grant blanket permission to kill all enemies. Jewish law has a highly nuanced framework governing when killing is permitted, prohibited,...
What is prayer for lighting shiva candle?
The traditional practice is to light a candle (or ner, נר) in the house of mourning during shiva (the seven-day mourning period), but there is no formal bl...
Did the Jewish people have a presence in the land of Israel over the past 2000 years.
The Jewish people maintained a continuous religious and communal presence in the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) throughout the past 2,000 years, though in...
What is jewish psalm 91?
Psalm 91 is one of the most beloved and powerful chapters in the entire Book of Psalms (Tehillim), known as the great psalm of divine protection and securi...
Would the Torah approve of AI?
Artificial intelligence doesn't appear in the Torah explicitly, but Jewish tradition offers rich frameworks for evaluating transformative technologies. The Tora
Can I work on Tisha b’av
Working on Tisha b'Av (the Ninth of Av) is governed by local custom (minhag), but universally, Torah scholars refrain from work the entire day, and anyone who d
What is blessing for mikvah?
The blessing recited before immersing in a mikvah (ritual bath) is: "Baruch Atah Hashem, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al h...
Tu'baAv
Tu B'Av — The Jewish Day of Love and Joy Tu B'Av (ט״ו באב, the 15th of Av) is one of the most joyous days on the Jewish calendar, celebrated as a day of love, r
What is the Halacha regarding monetary retribution for a broken engagement
Broken engagements (shidduchin) and monetary retribution is a nuanced area of Halacha that blends rabbinic enactments, local custom, and contractual law. In bri
Explain Shabbat laws
Shabbat (Shabbat — the Jewish Sabbath) is one of the most foundational institutions in all of Torah, rooted in both Creation and the Sinai covenant. The To...
What are the Rosh Hashanah prayers and blessings?
Rosh Hashanah Prayers and Blessings Rosh Hashanah features a rich and distinctive liturgical structure centered on three central themes: Malkhuyot (Kingshi...
What is jewish bedtime shema?
The bedtime Shema (Kriat Shema al HaMita — the recitation of Shema upon one's bed) is a Jewish nighttime prayer practice performed just before going to sle...
What are the rules of passover kosher?
Passover Kosher Laws (Kashrut shel Pesach) Passover has its own unique set of dietary laws that go significantly beyond year-round kashrut (kosher law). Th...
Drinking alcohol during 9 days
Drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages is restricted during the Nine Days (the first nine days of Av) as part of the mourning practices observed before Tis
Can I shave during the three weeks
Shaving during the Three Weeks (Shloshet HaShavuot — the mourning period from 17 Tammuz to Tisha B'Av) is subject to a significant dispute between Ashkenazic an
Eating meat on shabbat during the nine days
Eating meat and drinking wine on Shabbat during the Nine Days is permitted — in fact, it is considered a mitzvah (religious obligation) to honor Shabbat with me
Thought experiment: Imagine you are a resident of the World to Come. Speaking exclusively from your perspective in the World to Come, do the lake of fire, Gehenna, and the second death exist or not? Did they ever exist?
What a profound and philosophically rich question! Let me engage with this thought experiment while grounding it in authentic Jewish tradition. --- From th...
What is a Mezuzah and what is the prayer for hanging it?
What is a Mezuzah and What is the Prayer for Hanging It? A mezuzah (מְזוּזָה, literally "doorpost") is a parchment scroll containing two biblical passages...
What is Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals)?
Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) is the set of blessings recited after eating a meal that included bread. It is a Torah-level commandment (mitzvah d'orai...
Where is the igros moshe
Where Is the Igros Moshe? The Igros Moshe (אגרות משה, "Letters of Moses") is a landmark multi-volume work of halachic (Jewish legal) responsa authored by Rav Mo
What does halachic mean?
What Does Halachic Mean? Halacha (הֲלָכָה) is the Hebrew term for Jewish law — the complete system of religious rules and practices that govern Jewish life...
A Torah scroll with missing letters. What are the halachic implications of this?
A Torah scroll (Sefer Torah) with missing words is considered pasul (invalid/disqualified) for public reading, and this has been the case since the defect origi
What are the Sukkot prayers?
Sukkot Prayers: A Comprehensive Guide The prayers of Sukkot (Chag HaSukkot — the Festival of Booths) follow the standard Yom Tov (festival) liturgy with se...
What are all of the sources that one can wear glasses on Shabbat without an eruv?
The question of wearing glasses on Shabbat without an eruv (a halachic boundary enabling carrying) touches on whether glasses constitute a "burden" (masa) or a
Have a different question?
Ask AI Torah