What topics are in- and out-of-scope on Mi Yodeya?

Question

• What topics are in-scope on Mi Yodeya? Can I see some examples?

• What topics are out-of-scope on Mi Yodeya? Can I see some examples?

• Where can I discuss changing these guidelines?

Answer 1

The community has generally accepted this as the canonical list of in- and out-of-scope topics on Mi Yodeya.

If you have a question about...

• Jewish law or practice (what to do or why)
  • How many slices are required to make you responsible to wash on Pizza?
  • Why is it OK to have a sermon right before Kaddish of Musaf?
  • Can you recommend an alternative outer talit bag?
• Jewish philosophy
  • Does one have to take a Midrash/Aggadah literally?
• a Jewish text (explaining a passage)
  • "The drinking was according to doctrine, no forcing." — Forcing to drink, or forcing to stop drinking?
  • Help with Tosfot "v'HaAmar R. Yochanan" on Brachot 5b
• history of Judaism
  • Are there other extant Chabad groups besides Chabad-Lubavitch?
  • When/how was the controversy regarding stainless-steel blades for shechitah resolved?
• language used in Judaism
  • Why is הושיעה Mileel whereas הצליחה is Milra?
• general knowledge (science, etc.) as it relates directly to Judaism
  • Why is the latest time for candle lighting about a week after the longest day?
  • What's the leading medical explanation for the "woman whose husbands keep dying" ("katlanit") phenomenon?

... then you've come to the right place. Please, ask away!

On the other hand, questions unrelated to Judaism, even if they are about...

• other religions
  • What does Islam (officially) think about Jews? What do mainstream Muslims think about Jews?
• Hebrew language
  • Can anybody translate this Hebrew tattoo for me?
• Jews, Jewish history, and Israel
  • Who devised Israel's current parliamentary system?
  • Who was responsible for the deaths in the flotilla incident off Israel's coast?
  • How many Jewish members are there in the U.S. Congress?
  • How did the Jews get to control all the banks and news media?
  • In which way antisemitic attitudes against Jews began to become more extreme under the Nazi regime?

... are generally off-topic.

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Any requests to change standing site policy should be directed to Mi Yodeya Meta. First, though, please see the primary thread which led to formulation of the above material and other questions with the scope tag.