- Halacha
- General Questions
Forbidden Books - Chitzoni
Question
I was recently advised that the Book of the Maccabee is Chitzoni and therefore forbidden. Does this mean that it should not be read at all or not read in a religous context? (example - reading for my own historic edification as opposed to trying to glean religous significance from it.) I was very interested in reading. Please advise. Thank you.
Answer
It is permitted to read outside of a religious context. This means knowing that it was not written like the Tanach through any level of prophecy or "ruach hakodesh", knowing it shouldn't be accepted as necessarily true, and recognizing that reading it has no intrinsic value except for the information gleaned (Ritba Bava Batra 98b; see also Talmudic Encyclopedia XV- "Chachmot Chitzoniyot).

Learning avelut on shabbat
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Cheshvan 29, 5782

Difference between woman/converts in Srarah issues?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 1, 5781

Peyos
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 13 Iyyar 5765

Shlita - Why only for Rabbis
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 8, 5773

Rabbi Jonathan Blass
Rabbi of Neve Tzuf and Rosh Kollel "Ratzon Yehuda".

Kosher Rice
5 Cheshvan 5763

Zimun alone at a Wedding
16 Tishrei 5763

Havdalah in shul
23 Tishrei 5763

Havdallah Shabbat vs. Havdallah Yom Tov
5 Cheshvan 5763

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

When does the Jewish day begin?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 10, 5775

Do non-Jews or non-Noahides go to heaven?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 7, 5779

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Organization
Various Rabbis | Shevat 10, 5783

How can someone change their community?
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 11, 5783

Follow-up question on names
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 9, 5783
