Best answer contest: Second quarter of 5778

Question

Have you seen (or written) a recent answer on Mi Yodeya that you thought was really great? Let's have a contest to help you tell everyone about it!

This contest has two phases: Nomination and Voting. It is currently in the Voting phase.

1. Nomination - ending April 9, 2018

   Post an answer to this Meta post containing a link to the Mi Yodeya answer you want to nominate. Answers created in Tevet - Adar, 5778 (from December 19, 2017 through March 16, 2018) are eligible (yes, including Purim Torah answers).

   Please link to one answer in each entry. Nominate as many answers as you like in separate answers to this post.

   When you see a great answer, don't wait; post a link to it here before you forget!

   Please do not vote on any answers to this post during the Nomination phase.

2. Voting - April 9 - 16, 2018

   On April 9, this post will be edited to indicate that the Voting phase has begun, and the featured tag will be added.

   During this phase, everyone will be invited to vote on the answers to this post however you see fit. Upvote (or downvote, I guess) as many as you like.

The answer linked in the highest voted answer to this meta post will receive a bounty of 300 points after completion of the event on April 15, 2018. In case of a tie, the distinction will be shared, and the prize will be split.

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^{Concept and words borrowed from Movies.SE.}

Answer 1

This answer to Deviations of Ralbag from normative Jewish theology by Alex is one of the most comprehensive, clear, and well-sourced answers I have seen on this site. I would like to nominate it, as it certainly deserves consideration for "Best Answer" this quarter.

Answer 2

I would like to nominate my answer to Is there a halachic preference order to the grains used for matzot?

This is a topic that's becoming more relevant with the ever-increasing availability and awareness of non-wheat matzot, and I was happy that my research led me to write what I think is a clear and comprehensive answer.

[With thanks to Double AA whose comments helped me to direct my research and refine my answer.]

Answer 3

Even though it's quite difficult to enter the competition after such a good answer by Alex, but still I would like to nominate my answer regarding the customs of saying Vihi noam. I suppose most of us heard about this issue with the repetition, and even knew that it had to do something with a divine name, but I was looking for the answer for quite a while, and was really happy, when a local rabbi suggested me a good source that explained it in detail. I suppose it's worth your attention.

Answer 4

I would like to nominate my answer to the question "Bdikat Hametz: Enlisting multi-person team" as the answer is a direct answer to the problem at hand. I was very pleased to find this issue addressed by the Tiferes Yisroel, and I'm sure others were also!!

Answer 5

I would like to nominate Ezra's answer to PTIJ: Yeshivas Shem v'Ever, as it was simply hilarious, and inspired a few great comments as well.

Answer 6

I guess I may as well join the throngs of self-nominators!

Of all of the ~200 answers I gave during this period (and some of them were pretty good), I would like to specifically nominate this answer to What was Yaakov's funeral procession doing in Transjordan?, for the following reasons:

1. This question, asked by Joel K, was a self-answered question ("to share knowledge Q&A style"), and yet I still came up with some answers that the OP didn't, despite a very thorough answer that was already posted.
2. In his answer, Joel K noted that he hadn't found anyone who suggested that Ever Hayarden actually meant "Transjordan" in this case. I found a number of commentaries who did so, and supported their theories very well, despite the obvious difficulties.
3. I researched and found support for 3 theories advanced in the comments (by Clint Eastwood, DonielF and Joel K, see comments to the question, and the discussion here)
4. I quoted Shu"t Terumas Hagoren in a question about Goren Haatad :)

Answer 7

I was very pleased to come up with my answer to What does Avot 6:6 mean when it invokes redemption?. As far as I can tell, it represents a novel way of interpreting the beraita in question, and I think it's genuinely plausible that it gets at ideas that Chazal were actually considering.

Answer 8

I would like to nominate msh210's answer to PTIJ - Who is Boris Karshina. I cannot remember laughing so hard the entire Purim Torah season, or ever accepting an answer so fast. Shout out to Shalom for his comment there, as well.

Answer 9

I would also like to nominate msh210's answer to PTIJ: Why all the obsession with BSD?, which I (and at least 12 others) found so funny.

(Apologies to those not well versed in non- 'Microsoft and Apple' Operating Systems'...)