Precious Stones of the Twelve Tribes
Question: What were the precious stones in the high priest's garments and how are they related to the twelve tribes? Answer: The ephod had two stones on its shoulder straps, both of onyx (shoham), with...
View ArticleTefillin of the High Priest
Question: How did the High Priest in the Temple wear Tefilin while also wearing a head dress? Answer: The High Priest was able to wear Tefillin - the Sages explain that the golden "Tzitz" band was on...
View ArticleUrim and Tumim of the High Priest
Question: What is the Urim & Tumim on the Ephod? How were they used by the priest? And the big question - what happened to them? Answer: Inside the Breastplate was placed God's sacred names....
View ArticleJudging Favorably
Question: I'm having trouble understanding "judge everyone favorably". If I turn a blind eye and I don't use my mind and say "he's a honorable, he's correct he only does what's right, he doesn't have...
View ArticleJews in Black Hats
Question: What age do Orthodox Jewish men start wearing black hats? Is there a hard rule or is it down to custom? Answer: The hat is completely a custom and different groups wear different types of...
View ArticleQueen Esther’s Children
Question: Were Queen Esther's children raised as Jews? Answer: You are asking an excellent question. I can't give you a definitive answer, but I can give you food for thought. In order to serve G-d as...
View ArticleCondemned Souls?
Question: What sin would someone have to commit for their soul to be condemned? Answer: Thank you for your question. In Judaism we don't believe that a person's soul is "condemned". A soul is very...
View ArticleHumility vs. Responsibility
Question: Two Jewish values are humility on the one hand, and taking responsibility on the other. While it may be important to shy away from honors and the limelight, it's also important to take...
View ArticleJewish Ritual for the Skeptical
Question: A friend of mine is disgruntled with organized religions. He believes that all the festivals and rituals and holidays are antiquated nonsense. When asked why Jews needed the rituals and...
View ArticleTzaraas, the Biblical Skin Blemish
Question: Is the Torah's description of Tzaraas, skin blemishes, related to our own negative impurities, pertaining to our character and behavior, in which we need to purge from our soul, in...
View ArticleThe Obligation to Pray in Scriptures
Question: Where in the tanakh does G-d tell us that we should pray? Where is the institution of prayer? I would like any and all references to prayer in the scriptures as possible. Answer: I'm afraid I...
View ArticleLeprosy in the Bible
Question: Where is leprosy mentioned in the Bible? Answer: "Leprosy" is mentioned in the Bible in many places. The principal place in the Torah is Lev.13-14, but see also Ex.4:6, Num.5:2 and 12:10, and...
View ArticleConstructive Slander
Question: In a meeting yesterday in trying to explain my husbands mentality, I'm afraid I spoke Loshon Hara (slanderous speech) on people I never knew and are no longer alive. If my husband would know...
View ArticleMaror - Bitter Herbs
Question: Why do we eat the Maror (Bitter Herbs) on Passover? Answer: God commanded us to eat 3 foods on the first night of Passover to remember 3 aspects of the miraculous way we were freed from...
View ArticleFour Questions and the Youngest Child
Question: Why does the youngest child always ask the 4 questions on Passover? Answer: Our Rabbis tell us that the reason that it is the youngest who asks the four questions, is so that he/she will...
View ArticleElijah and Passover
Question: Would you explain the tradition of the empty chair for Elijah at the Passover table? Answer: The most common tradition is to have a cup for Elijah the Prophet at the table that is usually...
View ArticleThe Spiritual Dimension of Work
Question: I work with undergraduate students who are in the process of finding their first professional job after graduating college. One often unarticulated, but clearly present, issue for them is...
View ArticleLaws of Money and Clothing
Question: In what way are money and clothes kosher? what are the laws concerning money and clothes? Answer: You are asking a very good question, about a topic that many people don't know. The Torah...
View ArticleUnderstanding “Love Your Neighbor”
Question: I have to write an essay on a few of the famous quotes in Leviticus. I am having a particularly troubling time on chapter 19, verse 18 and understanding the meaning of the different...
View ArticleThe Great Principle of “Love Your Neighbor”
Question: I have read that "Treat your neighbor as yourself" is how one Rabbi summed up the Torah. Is that a common theme of the torah? Answer: The verse states. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Rabbi...
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