From: Name Withheld Dear Rabbi, Hi. I take antidepressants, and it has helped me a lot. The only problem is that, truthfully, I do not feel the same connection to G‑d now as I did when I was depressed. Sometimes I used to pray with tears. I guess you could say that medication has made[…]
From: Arthur Dear Rabbi, Would you please explain to me the reasons for keeping kosher? Dear Arthur, First of all, as regarding all mitzvot, we keep kosher because G‑d commanded to do so in the Torah. And even though Rambam writes that one should meditate upon and search for the meaning of mitzvot, he concludes[…]
From: Michal Dear Rabbi, My husband and I are not really sure what’s appropriate gift-giving for Chanuka. Clearly the kids will be there when we light the menorah every night, we’ll tell them about Chanuka, and get them some books. But are they supposed to get gifts/gelt/how often/how many? What’s too much and what’s too[…]
From: Alex Dear Rabbi, I have been invited to a kosher wedding but I’m not sure I want to go. For starters, I’m single and a bit frustrated and feel like I might be jealous if I go. Secondly, I’m not sure it’s the best use of my time. I mean, I could be learning[…]
From: David Dear Rabbi, I had a very embarrassing situation recently. There was a well-known rabbi visiting our community who I ended up treating not particularly politely because I didn’t know who he was. To be honest, the friction was really not his fault at all, but mine. So when I saw it was him[…]
From: Melissa Dear Rabbi, According to the Torah, the rainbow symbolizes G‑d’s promise that He will no longer destroy the world with a flood. So that after heavy rains, the appearance of the rainbow is G‑d’s way of letting us know of G‑d’s recalling His promise. It follows, then, that the rainbow conveys our would-be[…]
From: Mendy Dear Rabbi, I never understood why, since G‑d promised and gave the Land of Israel to Abraham, that he had to ask the local inhabitants to sell him the field of Efron for a burial plot for Sara. I mean, it was really Abraham’s anyway, right? Dear Mendy, This is a very good[…]