From: Name Withheld Dear Rabbi, I have been shomer Shabbat (Sabbath-observant) for 6 years, keep kosher, taharat haMishpacha (family purity), and every day I pray, recite tehillim (Psalms) and study Torah. I’m 40 years old, have two teenage children, a good husband, and until 2 months ago this was enough. But I met a young[…]
From: Sam in Portland Dear Rabbi, When Jews drink alcohol together, especially wine, they say l’chaim; What is the source of the custom to say l’chaim? Thank you. Dear Sam, Despite the spiritually elevating potential of wine (or perhaps because of its great potential), mankind hasn’t fared well with the vine. According to one opinion[…]
From: Debra Dear Rabbi, Is it true that according to Kabbala or possibly the Zohar that a person who wears a red string will be protected from the evil eye or evil forces? When did all of this begin? What is the meaning of wearing a red string? What kind of a red string are[…]
From: David in Ann Arbor Dear Rabbi, In a recent article entitled Water on the Temple Mount you wrote that the mosque of the Dome of the Rock is not necessarily built on the site of the Temple. Would you please explain. Because I have always heard that the rock under the golden dome is[…]
From: Sidney Davis Dear Rabbi, How is one to understand the wearing of the kippa (skullcap-yarmulke) in light of the following from the Targum? On Judges 5:2 the Targum explains: “The wise men sit in the synagogues… with the head uncovered to teach the people the words of the law”, and on Judges 5:9 it[…]
From: T.R. in Belgium Dear Rabbi, Could you please enlighten me on the controversy surrounding wearing wigs made of human hair from India, and also is it permissible to continue wearing one. Thank you in advance, T.R. Dear T.R., The rabbis who oppose the use of Indian-hair wigs are not just splitting hairs. The root[…]
From: Sam in Chicago Dear Rabbi, This is my first time experiencing Shavuot in a yeshiva environment. I’m told that everybody stays up all night studying Torah, which sounds interesting, but at the same time I’m a little wary of doing so. In school I once had a paper due the next day that I[…]
From: Jeppe M. Dear Rabbi, I’d like to ask about the Jewish view on ghosts because I have read in the Tanach that when a person dies all activity ceases. Thanks. Dear Jeppe M., Ghosts are departed souls that continue to sojourn in the physical world rather than entering higher spiritual domains. Our sources offer[…]