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Tanakh and Talmud
The Tanakh is the set of books that constitute the Hebrew Bible. The Talmud, which comprises the Mishnah (Jewish Oral Law) and the Gemara (commentary on the Mishnah) is the written deliberation of Jewish principles and laws.
5,774 Questions
What does moses mean in Hebrew?
Moses in Hebrew is moshe (משה) which which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning "son", but could also possibly mean "deliver" in Hebrew.
Note: The meaning suggested in the Bible, "drew out" from Hebrew משה (mashah) is probably an invented etymology.
What is the Passover holiday called in Hebrew?
If you are asking what the Hebrew word for "Passover" is, it's pesakh (פסח). If you are asking for the meaning of the holiday, it is a celebration of freedom, commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
How did Jonah stay alive in the belly of the whale?
Jonah 2:10-"And the Lord spoke unto the fish and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land." So basically Jonah got up chucked,or as it states in the bible.
Scientific evidence would tell you that Jonah would have some damage done to his body from the acid inside of the whale's belly(which he bible speaks nothing of).
How long was Jonah in the belly of the fish?
3 days and nights. Do note however that the use of days and nights in that manner is Hebraically idiomatic. 3 days and nights does not have to mean 72 hours, and can be any part of 3 days and nights.
Which books of the Bible give the Jewish dietary laws?
The Torah doesn`t contain laws, it contains mitzvot. The word mitzvot is best translated as guidelines. The mitzvot that the `halachot` (laws found in the Talmud) are based on, can be found primarily in Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
Why do orthodox Jews keep the food laws so strictly?
Nice question ... a lot like "Are you still beating your wife ?" in a way. The thesis of the question is debatable. Obviously, hundreds of thousands of people world wide who observe the kosher laws don't think it's so strict. In my mind right now, there are about 15 different ways I could go in response to this question, all fighting for the head of the line. But this really isn't the place for any of them. I'll just give you a few quick comments on the subject, and hope that either those will do it for you, or that someone else will jump in here and flesh out my response, or both. 1). If you own a bible or have access to a copy, have a look at Deuteronomy, chapter 14. Start at the beginning of the chapter, take it slow, pace yourself, drink lots of water, and see if you can make it all the way to verse 21. This isn't the only place in the bible that deals with the kosher laws, but it's a good one. 2). While you're in the neighborhood, turn back to chapter 12 and have a look at verses 23-25. This is a remarkable passage ... one that I just noticed last week, as I studied it in preparation to render it in the synagogue. Here is a passage where the bible says "Don't eat blood !" four times in three verses. How much more emphatic can the bible be ? And how does anyone who puts any small stock in the bible read this and conclude that actually, it's OK. If you read this and decide that going without blood in your diet is too strict for you, then we don't have a whole lot more to discuss. 3). The section in chapter 14 wraps up by saying "... because you are a holy people ... ". Elsewhere in the bible, during another 'lecture' on the kosher laws, the same reason appears for all of this: " ... in order to be holy ...". What do we do when we read that ? Normally, we skim over it and don't dwell on it, and go on to see what else is coming up. Then, eventually, if the subject ever comes up, we say that we don't actually know the reason for the kosher laws, it must have been for health reasons what with trichynosis and all that, and so we don't have to worry about it in our modern time now that we have refrigerators. We read the reason right there on the page; but it was talking about "holy", and who knows what that's all about anyway, so we skimmed it, and forgot about it, and concluded that we don't know the reason. No, I can't tell you what it means to be holy. But I don't have a pass to discard everything in the bible that I don't understand yet. I don't know you, but I will guess ... because the odds are pretty good ... that there are a lot of little things that you still do, just because that's what your parents taught you to do when you were tiny. You may well have kicked and screamed at the beginning, and yelled that it's too strict and there's no good reason for it. But in the end, you really didn't have that much trouble working it into your way of life. One more quick comment and then I'm done: I have had the privilege of standing around inconspicuously and watching life in small villages in northern China, in nomadic family tents in Outer Mongolia, in voodoo settlements in the mountains of Haiti and the interior of Jamaica, and in the slums of Calcutta and the wilderness of modern Sinai. If you think that the kosher 'diet' is 'strict', then you must fervently hope and pray that you never come anywhere near poverty, famine, or diabetes.
It is following Kashrut, a set of dietary laws (see Deuteronomy ch.14).
* Meat must be from those land animals which have split hooves and chew their cud (such as beef and mutton)* Fish have to have scales and fins. The kosher diet excludes shellfish.
* Birds cannot be amongst those listed as forbidden in the Torah (Deuteronomy ch.14) and cannot be hunters/scavengers. In actual practice, today we eat only poultry-species concerning which we have a tradition that they're permitted, such as chicken and turkey.
* Animals must be slaughtered in the manner specified by Jewish law and must be free of all disease. In actual practice, those who keep kosher purchase meat which is certified as kosher.
* As much blood as possible must be removed from meat before cooking, since consumption of blood is forbidden (Leviticus ch.17). This is done by the kosher butcher.
* Dairy and meat cannot be combined in the same meal and there's a waiting period between eating one and then the other. After dairy: 1/2 hour. After meat: 6 hours for most Jewish communities.
* Fruits and vegetables should be checked to be sure they're free of bugs. Some Jews avoid cauliflower, asparagus, and the like, because of the difficulty in checking them.
*Additionally, food must be prepared and handled following kashrut-laws and with kosher ingredients only. Any food that does not meet these requirements cannot be eaten by those who are religiously observant. Foods which are purchased should be labeled as having had kosher supervision during their processing.
What does it mean to be a kosher?
Kosher means right or correct according to Jewish dietary law. In non-Hebrew-speaking countries, it usually refers to food that is kosher, meaning all food but land animals that don't chew their own cud (pig and others), shell-fish, and crustaceans.
Pork, just like countless other meats, aren't kosher because pigs don't meet the requirements of a kosher animal as specified in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 8. Pigs have split hooves, but don't chew their cud.
What type of food are kosher and non- kosher?
The Bible specifies that only certain fish, birds , and mammals can be eaten. The criteria is complex: Fish must have a certain type of fin and scales, thus excluding fish such as shark, catfish, and shellfish. Birds must not be one of the 24 species listed in the Bible, all of whom are predators, and they must be a bird for which there is a tradition of eating the bird for at least 100 years. Mammals must have split hooves and chew their cud (cows, sheep, goats, deer are examples of kosher animals). Pork, rabbit, rats, and elephants are examples of non-kosher animals. Nor are any type of insect or reptile except for 4 types of locust but there has to be a family tradition of eating these.
In addition, meat and poultry must be slaughtered in a particular fashion, and inspected for disease (using a much stricter standard than the government inspectors). Excess blood, arteries and veins, certain types of fat, and the sciatic nervous system must be removed.
In addition, the food must not have come into contact with non-kosher food. There is a higher level of kashrut where a Jew has to be involved in the preparation of the food at some point.
Kosher wine has even stricter requirements, as does Passover food.
The laws of kashrut don't only cover the types of animals that are allowed but also all aspects of preparation and consumption. Meat and dairy are kept strictly separate.
Was Islam the first religion to start?
Islam is the religion which has been from the very start. Many prophets came but later on their followers were lead astray. Then, the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came and preached the same religion the previous prophets had preached; but this time the followers acted on the commandments of Allah and the prophet. So that's why we now have Islam as the complete religion.
What type of wood is used for the Torah scroll?
It's not made of wood, it's made of parchment that is usually some type of animal skin. Here is a link to how they are made: http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wizard_cdo/aid/339590/jewish/How-is-it-Made.htm
The Akshardham Temple in Delhi, India, was built by the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) organization. The construction of the temple was initiated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS, and it was officially opened to the public in 2005. The temple complex is a stunning example of traditional Indian architecture and craftsmanship and is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and showcases various aspects of Indian culture and spirituality.
read more: Woice pehchan
What are Jewish worship ceremonies called?
The Hebrew word for prayer is Tefillah. Most of the prayers can be found a Siddur (Hebrew prayerbook). However, there is no Hebrew word that means "worship" in the sense that we use it in our culture today.
Furthermore, there is a multitude of ceremonies that encompass Jewish life in terms of life events, holidays, etc. Perhaps there was a specific ceremony you were asking about?
Why do Jewish male infants get circumcised?
Answer 1
As commanded by God, in order to enter into the covenant of Abraham (Genesis ch.17).
God told Abraham "every male among you shall be circumcised" (Gen. 17) as part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
Since that time, virtually all Jews have observed the command of circumcision (Genesis ch.17) for close to four millennia, even in times of religious persecution under the Greeks, Romans, Spaniards, Soviets and others.
Answer 2 The real reason however is always to set a society or a part of a society apart from others.
Answer 3
The religious origin of Jewish circumcision is in the Torah. It says that God told Abraham "every male among you shall be circumcised" (Gen. 17) as part of a covenant between God and the Jewish people. Circumcision was introduced to replace the sacrifice of children to their god. However, most Jews are unaware of this origin, and in a survey of American Jews, the large majority (87%) do not believe that the Torah is the actual word of God.
In actual practice, many Jews circumcise because of cultural conformity, not religious reasons. Based on a national survey of American Jews, "90 percent define being Jewish as being a member of a cultural or ethnic group." Most circumcisions of male infants of American Jewish parents are done in hospitals without any religious ritual.
"Circumcision is commanded in Genesis 17:10-14 as an outward sign of a man's participation in Israel's covenant with God, as well as a sign that the Jewish people will perpetuate through him" (Circumcision in Judaism, n.d., para. 2)
Reference:Circumcision in Judaism. (n.d.). What does Judaism teach about circumcision?
(see the link)
Why is it important to circumcise Jewish babies?
Circumcision is a religious tradition for Jews that goes back thousands of years. No one knows for sure how it started, but it is believed it may be related to difficulties with hygiene in the desert environment of the Middle East. Jewish theologians generally discount the practical explanation in favor of the religious one.
The Jewish bris is a sign of Abraham's covenant with G-d. It is practiced by all branches of Judaism. The reason male circumcision is important to Judaism is because the Torah specifies that uncircumcised Jewish males are cut of from Judaism and cannot participate in a large percentage of Jewish life and ritual.
In terms of when the circumcision occurs, aside from the Torah specifying it must be done at 8 days, modern research has shown that blood clotting performance peaks at 8 days. Additionally, when circumcision is done at 8 days, it is a minor process that heals within 36-48 hours on average. Adult male circumcision is a serious surgery that requires stitches and a fairly long and painful healing process.
What does it mean to be circumcised according to the bible?
Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the penis. The foreskin is a flap of skin that normally covers the glans (head) of the penis.
Christians don't have any obligation to their religion to mutilate their genitalia through circumcision. It was decided that accepting Christ as their savior and that the sacrifice of Christ added up to circumcision of the heart.
Why did Moses's wife circumcise their son?
Not all of the children in the Bible were circumcised. Only the boys were.
Circumcision was (and is) a visible sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
I read this in the old testament in the bible. That boys should be circumcised.
How much does a woman bleed during menstruation?
The average blood loss during menstruation is 35ml, with anything over 80ml being considered heavy. Everyone is different, some women lose significantly more blood than this, unless you use a menstrual cup it's very difficult to accurately determine how much blood you're losing on your period.
What are some of Jewish ceremonies?
Jewish life is governed by 613 categories of commandments - a list of which can be found at http://www.answers.com/topic/613-mitzvot-1. These are binding on all Jews. E.g. Jews may not cook - nor eat - meat and milk together. Over the centuries various customs have developed, a discussion of which can be found at http://www.answers.com/topic/minhag. Different families have different customs - and these may change over time. E.g. Some Jews wait 6 hours between eating meat and milk, some only 3 hours and some only 1 hour.
Why do Jewish people get circumcised?
The origin of Jewish circumcision is in the Torah, which is the foundation of Judaism. God told Abraham "every male among you shall be circumcised" as part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people (Genesis ch.17).
Since that time, virtually all Jews have observed the command of circumcision for close to four millennia, even in times of religious persecution under the Greeks, Romans, Spaniards, and Soviets. Circumcision is the indelible sign of God's covenant and is just as important as Yom Kippur in terms of the stringency which the Torah places upon it. And similar to Yom Kippur, it is one of the observances which are common to Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews alike.
It may be noted that while we do not keep God's commands because of physical benefits, it is still interesting that circumcision has been known to offer virtually complete protection from penile cancer. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, none of the more than 1,600 persons studied with this cancer had been circumcised in infancy. In the words of researchers Cochen and McCurdy, the incidence of penile cancer in the U.S. is "essentially zero" among circumcised men.
Also, research at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore have shown that circumcised men are six to eight times less likely to become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Researchers believe that protection is due to the removal of the foreskin, which contains cells that have HIV receptors which scientists suspect are the primary entry point for the HIV virus (Reuters, March 25, 2004).
Several studies reported that circumcised boys were between 10 to 39 times less likely to develop urinary tract infections during infancy than uncircumcised boys. In addition, circumcision protects against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections and a variety of other conditions related to hygiene.
The extremely low rate of cervical cancer in Jewish women (9 to 22 times less than among non-Jewish women) is thought to be related to the practice of circumcision. As a result of studies like these, a number of prestigious medical organizations such as the California Medical Association have recognized the benefits of circumcision.
As an operation, circumcision has an extremely small complication rate. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine (1990) reported a complication rate of 0.19 percent when circumcision is performed by a physician. When performed by a trained mohel, the rate falls to 0.13 percent or about 1 in 800. When a complication occurs, it is usually due to the bleeding, which is easily correctable. No other surgical procedure can boast such figures for complication-free operations.
One reason why there are so few complications involving bleeding may be that the major clotting agents, prothrombin and vitamin K, do not reach peak levels in the blood until the eighth day of life. Prothrombin levels are normal at birth, drop to a lower level in the next few days, and return to normal at the end of the first week. One study showed that by the eighth day, prothrombin levels reach 110 percent of normal. In the words of Dr. Armand J. Quick, author of several works on the control of bleeding, "It hardly seems accidental that the rite of circumcision was postponed until the eighth day by the Mosaic law."See also:
When do Jewish boys get circumcised?
In the Jewish religious tradition it is done at eight days of age. Muslims can do it anytime before puberty, and the elective non religious circumcisions which are still popular in the US are performed within the first two days of being born. However regardless of the reason there are no medical reasons for this procedure, other than the prevention of cancer, the prevention of urinary tract infection, and the hindrance of AIDS.
- Professors Cochen and McCurdy state that the incidence of penile cancer in the U.S. is "essentially zero" among circumcised men.
- Studies at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore have concluded that circumcised men are six to eight times less likely to become infected with HIV (Reuters, March 25, 2004).
- Circumcised boys are also 10 to 39 times less likely to develop urinary tract infections during infancy than uncircumcised boys. As a result of studies like these, a number of prestigious medical organizations such as the California Medical Association have recognized the benefits of circumcision.
How old are Jewish boys when circumcised?
This is a tradition that goes back thousands of years. It is a requirement of Torah-law (Genesis 17:9-14) and is a part of the covenant with God. All major denominations of Judaism keep the practice circumcision, including even Reform Judaism.
There is a small fringe group of non-religious Jews who are opting out of circumcision.
- Answer 2
It may be noted that while we do not keep God's commands because of physical benefits, it is still interesting that circumcision has been known to offer virtually complete protection from penile cancer. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, none of the more than 1,600 persons studied with this cancer had been circumcised in infancy. In the words of researchers Cochen and McCurdy, the incidence of penile cancer in the U.S. is "essentially zero" among circumcised men. Also, research at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore have shown that circumcised men are six to eight times less likely to become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Researchers believe that protection is due to the removal of the foreskin, which contains cells that have HIV receptors which scientists suspect are the primary entry point for the HIV virus (Reuters, March 25, 2004).
Several studies reported that circumcised boys were between 10 to 39 times less likely to develop urinary tract infections during infancy than uncircumcised boys. In addition, circumcision protects against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections and a variety of other conditions related to hygiene.
The extremely low rate of cervical cancer in Jewish women (9 to 22 times less than among non-Jewish women) is thought to be related to their husbands' being circumcised. As a result of studies like these, a number of prestigious medical organizations such as the California Medical Association have recognized the benefits of circumcision.
As an operation, circumcision has an extremely small complication rate. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine (1990) reported a complication rate of 0.19 percent when circumcision is performed by a physician. When performed by a trained mohel, the rate falls to 0.13 percent or about 1 in 800. When a complication occurs, it is usually due to the bleeding, which is easily correctable. No other surgical procedure can boast such figures for complication-free operations.
One reason why there are so few complications involving bleeding may be that the major clotting agents, prothrombin and vitamin K, do not reach peak levels in the blood until the eighth day after a baby is born. Prothrombin levels are normal at birth, drop to a lower level in the next few days, and return to normal at the end of the first week. One study showed that by the eighth day, prothrombin levels reach 110 percent of normal. In the words of Dr. Armand J. Quick, author of several works on the control of bleeding, "It hardly seems accidental that the rite of circumcision was postponed until the eighth day by the Mosaic law."
