From: Carrie Dear Rabbi, Haman was a malicious maniac who demanded homage from all – and most people obeyed. What I’m wondering is why Mordechai didn’t bow as well. Aside from this being one of the venues through which the salvation occurred, what were Mordechai’s reasons for not bowing down in honor of Haman as[…]
From: Debra Dear Rabbi, I am considering giving birth by C-section and was wondering whether there are any Jewish considerations involved. Dear Debra, Jewish considerations do, in fact, have a “bearing” on your question. Since it’s not clear the reason why you’re considering C-section, I’ll discuss the several possibilities. If it’s not for medical reasons[…]
From: Helen Dear Rabbi, I am Jewish but not religious. I have seen mezuzas as pendants on necklaces and in Jewish homes, but don’t really know much about what a mezuza is. A few questions come to mind, but any knowledge you could share would be appreciated: What is a mezuza, is there anything inside,[…]
From: Brandon Dear Rabbi, In Judaism, are converts accepted as full-fledged Jews or do they have a status in any way different than Jews by birth? Dear Brandon, Sincere converts who convert to Judaism according to Jewish Law are full-fledged Jews. It is nevertheless worth mentioning that Judaism does not require a person to be[…]
From: Jennifer Dear Rabbi, With so many horrible things happening in the world, I’m having trouble making sense of it and wondering where is G‑d in all this? Do you have any suggestions for coping? Dear Jennifer, The essence of being a Jew is to give thanks. That’s what the name for Jew in Hebrew[…]
From: Melissa Dear Rabbi, Is there anything wrong with saying negative things in the form of an exaggeration, or as a manner of speech, when one doesn’t really literally mean what he’s saying? For example, “I’ll go crazy if she tells my mother”, or “When you die, your soul goes to heaven” (suggesting the person[…]
From: Alan Dear Rabbi, I have had some introductory exposure to learning Torah. Some has been more in-depth, other learning focused more on breadth. I was wondering, which approach is preferable? Dear Alan, This is a very important question, and one which is discussed in many sources. There are several advantages to learning in-depth. It[…]
From: Michael Dear Rabbi, I recently got a blessing from a Chassidic Rabbi. This blessing was quite astonishing (in a good way). What is the significance of a blessing from a Chassidic Rabbi? Dear Michael, I am inspired that you had such a moving experience! The blessings of the holy and pious are very powerful,[…]