Mishnah
The foundational code of Jewish oral law compiled by Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi.
101 questions answered
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...
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 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...
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’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
Proves that god exists
The question of God's existence is one of the most profound in all of human thought. Jewish tradition does not rely on a single "proof" but offers a rich c...
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
Can one water plants on Tisha baav
Watering plants on Tisha B'Av is generally permitted, as it does not fall under any of the five prohibited activities of the fast day. However, there are nuance
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...
Kabbalah
Kabbalah: The Jewish Mystical Tradition Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה, literally "receiving" or "that which has been received") is the esoteric, mystical dimension of...
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...
A Hindu scholar claims that Brahman and the Kabbalistic Ein Sof are identical concepts. Present the strongest Jewish sources supporting this claim.
Is Ein Sof Identical to Brahman? The Strongest Jewish Sources for the Comparison The claim that the Kabbalistic Ein Sof (אֵין סוֹף, "Infinite/Without End")...
What is the Shehecheyanu blessing?
The Shehecheyanu (שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ) is one of Judaism's most beloved blessings, recited to express gratitude to God for enabling us to reach a significant or j...
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 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 the Hamotzi (blessing over bread)?
The Hamotzi (HaMotzi, "Who brings forth") is the berakhah (blessing) recited before eating bread made from one of the five grains. The full text is: "Baruc...
What is the different minchag of either one hole or two holes in a Tallit Katan
The custom of one hole vs. two holes in a Tallit Katan (small four-cornered garment) is a fascinating dispute rooted in how we understand the construction of th
The idea that a person’s good deeds walk before them and escort them after death
Good Deeds as Escorts After Death The Torah tradition teaches that a person's good deeds — their mitzvot and ma'asim tovim (good deeds) — serve as both com...
Can you feed your kids hot dogs on Tisha B'Av?
The question of feeding children on Tisha B'Av touches on the halachic distinction between adults, who are obligated to fast, and minors, who are generally not.
What is the summary of Parshat Behaalotecha?
Parshat Behaalotecha — Summary and Overview Parshat Behaalotecha (Numbers 8–12) is one of the richest and most varied portions in the Torah, covering a wid...
The Evolution of Jewish Prayer
The Evolution of Jewish Prayer: From Abraham's Spontaneous Cry to the Shemoneh Esreh You are touching on one of the most fascinating tensions in Jewish religiou
What does the Zohar say about the sparks of holiness in exile? Cite exact sources.
The Zohar teaches that when the Divine Presence (Shekhinah) went into exile along with Israel, holy sparks (nitzotzot kedushah) became scattered throughout the
What are the rules of israelite sabbath?
The Sabbath (Shabbat) is the cornerstone of Jewish observance, commanded directly by God in the Torah and elaborated extensively by rabbinic tradition. At...
Do you know the name of any of רבי עקיבא's original 24000 תלמידים
What a fascinating question! The Talmud does preserve the names of several of Rabbi Akiva's students, though the famous 24,000 who died during the Sefirat HaOme
What is shabbat dinner blessings?
The Shabbat Friday night dinner opens with a set of blessings known as Kiddush (kidush — sanctification), recited over a cup of wine, followed by the bless...
Everything about a bar mitzvah boy going up to the Torah for the first time
The Bar Mitzvah Boy's First Aliyah to the Torah When a boy turns 13 and becomes a bar mitzvah (son of the commandment), one of the most significant ritual momen
In Israel, can fruit that is less than 3 years old be used for essential oils, not for eating. does orlah apply
The prohibition of orlah (ערלה) — the ban on fruit from a tree's first three years — applies not only to eating but also to any form of benefit (hana'ah) derive
What is the Hanukkah candle lighting prayer?
The Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony involves reciting two blessings every night of Hanukkah, and a third blessing (Shehecheyanu) on the first night only....
Can you tell me all the interpretations of "Justice, justice shall you pursue."
"Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue" — Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof (צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף) The verse Deuteronomy 16:20 — "Tzedek tzedek tirdof" — "Justice, justice shal
What is the Jewish prayer for peace?
The Jewish Prayer for Peace The Jewish tradition contains several prayers for peace, but the most prominent is Sim Shalom ("Grant Peace"), recited as part...
Have a different question?
Ask AI Torah