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Q. Why do you need an Eruv-string our back? Isn’t the whole yard private property?

A. It is, and you’re right, we’re allowed to carry in private property on Shabbat. But in a Jewish legal sense, open, unfenced area, while not considered public area, is still not private for the laws of carrying on Shabbat … Read the rest

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Q. I was at a synagogue near home, and the Rabbi said a tissue box there could not be used. Why not?

A. Not being there, I can’t be sure, but it probably was an issue of tearing on Shabbos. If the tissues were connected, there may be an issue of tearing them apart on Shabbos. Some Rabbinic authorities allow tearing tissues/toilet-paper … Read the rest

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Q. The Bar-Mitzvah invite I got says the event begins with “Havdalah”. What is that and how long does it take?

A. It is a blessing recited over a glass of wine, some spices and  a braided lit candle, bidding farewell to the Sabbath and ushering in the new week. It literally means separation or divider, as it separates the holiness … Read the rest

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Q. My Jewish tenant asked me to switch the outdoor light’s motion-sensor to a photo-sensor. Is a motion-sensor unclean? Does it violate individual privacy?

A. There’s nothing unclean or unacceptable about motion sensors. But they do present a one day a week problem to a Sabbath observant Jew. Those who are strictly observant do not manipulate or change electrical devices on the Sabbath. We … Read the rest

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Q. Do Orthodox people have an official way to determine the exact time of Sunset?

A. Today, scientists do that research. Jewish organizations knowledgeable of these matters get the times for each locale from the US Naval Observatory or other agencies who do the same. Then, using calculations from Talmud and Jewish Law, various times … Read the rest

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Q. Why does Raizy cover her eyes when lighting the Shabbat candles?

A. Two reasons why all Jewish women lighting candles (not just Raizy) do this:

(1) It solves a Halachic problem. We’re generally supposed to make the blessing BEFORE we do the Mitvzah. But if we do that, it will already … Read the rest

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Q. Where does the word “Chulent” come from?

A.  Could come from the Hebrew sh’lahn, meaning ” it stayed over-night.” Some say it comes from the French chaud lent meaning hot-slow. It refers to the hot stew that we eat on Shabbos Day, which began cooking (in … Read the rest

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Q. Is there a problem with being in a lit, heated room on the Sabbath?

A. Not at all! In fact this was one of the significant differences between Rabbinic Judaism or Pharisees (as it was known back then) vs. the Sadducees (who denied much of the Oral Tradition). Lighting Shabbos Candles is one way … Read the rest

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Q. Why do we cover the Challah on Friday Night?

A. Challah recalls the manna bread that sustained the Jews in the wilderness. The Friday double-portion of manna is why we have two loaves of challah on Sabbath. The Manna was covered with a thin layer of dew, which is … Read the rest

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Q. Is it Shabbos, Shabbat, or Sabbath?

A. All of the above. Shabbos is the Ashkenasic pronunciation, Shabbat is Sefardic and Modern Hebrew and Sabbath is English possibly based on Latin or Greek. Shabbos House is called this way, even though it really is a Chabad House, … Read the rest

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