Historical Persecution of Jews
Question: I am interested in history and global politics and truly want to understand why the Jewish people have been consistently persecuted both historically and in modern times. I've noticed that...
View ArticleWholesome Premarital Values
Question: I believe that before marriage we should have limitations in relationships with people. The way we talk and interact should be definitely different from the way we interact with fiance or...
View ArticleTwo Sets of Tablets, Aaron and the Golden Calf
Question: How long was it between the first and second tablets? Answer: Moshe went up to receive the first tablets on 7 Sivan and broke them on 17 tamuz. He prayed until 1 Elul and received the second...
View ArticleAltruism in the Torah
Question: I am writing a paper on altruism in Judaism. I need to specifically use examples from the Torah and the Talmud. I think I would like to focus on the selfless and humble values of Moses....
View ArticleWhat did Pinchas Do?
Question: The beginning of the Torah Portion of Pinchas begins with a reference to a great deed that Pinchas did. What great deed did he perform? Answer: Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon...
View ArticleKohanim from Aaron and Pinchas
Question: Why do we usually say that the Kohanim (Jewish priestly class who are honored with the service in the Temple) are from Aharon and not from Pinchas? Answer: Pinchas was the grandson of Aharon...
View ArticleThe Value of Friends
Question: Where does the Torah tell us that good friends are hard to find and are very valuable? Answer: The statement "A friend can be acquired only with great difficulty" is found in the Midrash...
View ArticleHow Evil were Dasan and Aviram?
Question: How did Dasan and Aviram leave Egypt Answer: Hi! You're asking a very interesting question. You didn't explain, but I think you're assuming that Reshaim (sinful people) didn't get to leave...
View ArticleRabbi Elazar Ben Shamua
Question: Can you tell me about Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamua. When he was alive? What is he known for? Basically about his life. Thank you. Answer: Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamua lived around 3920, or 160 C.E.,...
View ArticleUnderstanding G-d and Evil
Question: My 14-year-old son has very negative feelings about G-d because He doesn't intervene to prevent little kids from being abducted and murdered. My son says he no longer believes in G-d because...
View ArticleNear Collision - What’s G-d’s message to me?
Question: I almost nearly got killed (unintentionally) today, G-d forbid. I was tired & I ran a red light in a HUGE major intersection. I just nearly (by 2 seconds according to the cops) missed 2...
View ArticleInnocent Midianite Children
Question: In Numbers 31, Why did Moses order the death of the young male children if they could not have participated in any way in causing the Children of Israel to sin? What are the ethical and moral...
View ArticleBorders of Israel
Question: Why does the Torah provide two different accounts of the borders that are to define Israel; each border fairly different than the other? (Shemos 23:31 and Bamidbar 34:2) Answer: Thanks for...
View ArticleVisiting the Western Wall
Question: I am Oleh Chadash (new immigrant to Israel) and am going to visit Jerusalem and the Kotel (the Western Wall). I have a standard Sephardic prayerbook and a Tehillim (Book of Psalms) - what are...
View ArticlePersonal Health and Hygiene
Question: What are the specific needs that people who follow Judaism have in relation to personal care? Answer: I'll assume by "personal care" you're referring to the full complement of activities...
View ArticleWhy Be Nice?
Question:Why should one be nice? When one is nice they can miss out on stuff. When I was playing ball and I saw a kid at the side so I was nice and invited her in the game. Then what happened is she...
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 ArticleThe Wedding Ring
Question: Under the Chuppah, is there some reason why the groom puts the ring on the bride’s right index finger, and not what the secular world traditionally regards as the 'ring finger'. Answer:...
View ArticleJeremiah’s Sadness
Question: I was reading in class about Jeremiah and it says that he was always really sad. What was his burden? What was wrong? Answer: Jeremiah, of all the prophets, was the one who had to witness the...
View ArticleDates For Babylonian Captivity
Question: Recently I read your response to a question involving the Jewish captivity in Babylon, and the seventy year prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet. The dates that you gave are important to me and...
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