Torah Q&A
3290 answered questions with cited sources from the Sefaria library.
What is the stance on homosexuality in the torah
The Torah explicitly prohibits male homosexual intercourse in two verses in Leviticus, classifying it as to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה — abomination/abhorrence). This...
What is jewish blessing may the lord bless you?
The blessing you are referring to is Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing), one of the most ancient and sacred blessings in all of Judaism. It consists of...
What is the Jewish prayer for protection?
Jewish tradition contains several prayers and texts used for divine protection, with the most central being Psalm 91 (Tehillim, chapter 91), known as the "...
When camping, is an eruv required and why?
Eruv When Camping: Is One Required? When camping on Shabbat, the need for an eruv (a halachic enclosure or boundary) depends on the type of camping situati...
Who is metatron?
Metatron is one of the most exalted and mysterious angelic figures in Jewish tradition, identified in rabbinic and kabbalistic literature as the highest of all
What is meaning of prayer in hebrew?
The Hebrew word for prayer is tefillah (תְּפִלָּה), derived from the root פ-ל-ל (p-l-l), which carries the meaning of self-judgment, self-examination, or t...
What does the Talmud say about honesty?
The Talmud presents honesty — particularly emet (truth) — as one of the most foundational values in Jewish life, so central that Hillel summarized the enti...
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
What is psalm 130 in hebrew?
Psalm 130 in Hebrew is Shir HaMa'alot (שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת), "A Song of Ascents." It is one of the most beloved tehillim (psalms) in Jewish tradition, expres...
What is blessing for candles shabbat?
The blessing recited when lighting Shabbat candles is: "Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner she...
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...
Who was responsible for writing the Zohar and was it only one person
Who Wrote the Zohar? The authorship of the Zohar is one of the most debated questions in Jewish intellectual history. The traditional view attributes the Zohar
What is jewish prayer before surgery?
Jewish prayer before surgery draws on the tradition of tefillah (prayer) and bakkashah (petition) before moments of danger or need. The primary text recite...
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
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...
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
How are the Hebrew words for nothing and for the eyes related?
What a beautiful and penetrating question! This is a perfect example of how Hebrew etymology (shorashim — root words) reveals profound theological and philosoph
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...
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
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 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...
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 hebrew blessing for planting a tree?
There is no single standardized bracha (blessing) specifically for the act of planting a tree in traditional Jewish law, though there are related blessings...
What are the Yom Kippur prayers?
The Yom Kippur prayers constitute the most extensive and spiritually intensive liturgical cycle in the Jewish year, spanning five prayer services over appr...
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...
What is psalm 145 hebrew?
Psalm 145 in Hebrew is the famous Ashrei prayer — an acrostic poem by King David praising God's greatness, kingship, and compassion. It is one of the most...
Was Water Created Before Heaven and Earth
Was Water Created Before Heaven and Earth? This is one of the most profound and ancient questions in Torah commentary. The verse in Genesis 1:2 seems to imply t
What is blessing for mikvah immersion?
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...
What is chabad talmud?
"Chabad Talmud" is not a standard term in Jewish tradition — there is no separate Talmud specific to Chabad. However, the phrase likely refers to one of tw...
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...