The Thinking Planet
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From the moment it was written, the Rambam’s famous Halachah that the intelligence of planets surpasses that of humanity has puzzled and perplexed Jewish scholars. What did the Rambam mean? The planets and stars are seemingly inanimate objects, incapable of intellectual thought. Are we so mistaken in our view of the constellations?
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Machon Shmuel is proud to offer a collection of papers on a variety of topics relevant to Gimmel Tammuz.
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Where should a mezuzah go? An analysis of the Chabad approach, where the mezuzah is placed on the doorpost opposite the hinges.
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מנהג העולם לברך את החתן והכלה בברכת ׳מזל טוב׳ תיכף אחר שבירת הכוס תחת החופה. אלא שיש וקראו תגר על מנהג זה מחד, ויש שיישבו את המנהג מאידך. מזל טוב?
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Love is not bound by time. Even after a loved one passes on, they continue to live on in our hearts; we treasure the memories of the times we spent together and immortalize them through noble deeds.
But may we communicate with them after they’ve gone? The Torah (Devarim 18:11) instructs us to avoid all occult arts, such as sorcery, divination and necromancy. What are the details of these laws and what practical relevance do they have?
Related: Familial Bonds in the Hereafter and תפלה על קברי צדיקים
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Query from a Shliach in France
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May non-Jews participate in personal and communal performance of mitzvos? What must we be aware of when working with intermarried families? A look at how the people of the book share their birthright with the people of the world.
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Harmonizing two monumental works of the Rambam, in the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
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מקדמת דנא מסורת ההלכה היהודית לקבות את המת בקרקע דוקא. אלא שחדשים מקרוב באו למצוא סמך והיתר למנהג הגויים לשרוף את המת. מאמר תגובה ומסכם על חומרת איסור שריפת גוף המת. כי קבור תקברנו.
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In 1903 professor Simon Newcomb argued that human flight was a “mathematical impossibility,” but that same year, the Wright Brothers successfully launched the first powered airplane.
Having your travel route shortened and arriving at your destination almost momentarily is known in Biblical terms as Kefitzas Ha-derech. It may be “naturally impossible,” but miracles do happen! From Avraham to the Baal Shem Tov, some of our greatest heroes experienced this firsthand.
Read this paper to explore this fantastic feat, its history and halachic ramifications. Have a safe trip!
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Submitted by a Shliach in Florida
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In recent decades, thousands of Jews have gravitated to the East in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. More recently, several Eastern Practices have been secularized, popularized, and repackaged as physical and meditative exercises. Does this make them kosher? Which practices are problematic and should be avoided? And what was the Rebbe’s response to the popularization of Yoga and Transcendental Meditation back in the '70s?
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Submitted by a Shliach in New York
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עיון על רמת האחריות החלה על ישראל לפרנס גם את שאר עניי אומות העולם. דרכיה דרכי נועם.
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מגדולי הניסים והנפלאות שנעשו לאבותינו הוא ללא ספק הנס של קריעת ים סוף. אך מה קרה שם בדיוק? האומנם נקרע היום ועברו ישראל ביבשה מעבר אחד לעבר השני? או שמא היה הנס באופן אחר מהמשמעות הפשוטה? על קריעת הים וסוד מטרת הנס לאור החסידות.
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Many natural substances have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties that can significantly impact one’s mental state and affect one’s mood.
May an observant Jew avail himself of such stimulants? Is such recreation acceptable from a halachic standpoint, or does it contravene one’s Torah obligations? How would we judge actions taken while under the influence of drugs and alcohol?
See also: “The Drugs Debate” on the appropriate legislative attitude towards controlling the proliferation of potentially harmful substances.
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