Tanakh
Torah, Prophets, and Writings — the Hebrew Bible and its teachings.
349 questions answered
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...
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 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...
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
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 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...
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
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 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...
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 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...
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 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 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
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 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
The Hidden Divine Presence in All Things
Finding God When Religion Has Collapsed: The Hidden Divine Presence in All Things Your reflection moves from Jeremiah's personal paradox into something even mor
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")...
Can you explain according to orthodox sources why people say that a woman isn’t allowed to masturbate because she isn’t spilling seed the same way a man is
This is an important halachic question that deserves a careful, nuanced answer. The short answer is: the claim that women face no prohibition is an oversimplifi
What is the Jewish prayer for finding lost items?
The Jewish tradition does not prescribe a single, fixed, universally mandated prayer for finding lost items. However, the most widely known and practiced c...
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...
Explain the hidden meaning of the three opinions of what was the etz hadaat (wheat, grapevine, fig)
The identity of the Etz HaDa'at (Tree of Knowledge) is one of the most fascinating aggadic debates in the Talmud, and the three opinions — wheat, grapevine, and
Can you find me a source that simcha is holiness
The connection between simcha (joy) and holiness is a profound theme in Torah literature, supported by multiple classical sources. Most directly, Rav Kook in Sh
Kabbalah
Kabbalah: The Jewish Mystical Tradition Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה, literally "receiving" or "that which has been received") is the esoteric, mystical dimension of...
Can women pray at the kotel?
Women can pray at the Western Wall (Kotel), and this is both halachically permitted and historically practiced. The question of how they may pray — and in...
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