Water on the Temple Mount
From: Yitzchak Muskal Dear Rabbi, I heard that water was pouring from the “Foundation Stone” on the Temple Mount. What is that all about? What can we learn from it? Is there any mention of this in our sources? By the way, a friend of mine told me of an Arab in preparation for conversion[…]
What’s Not in a Name?
From: Marsha in NYC Dear Rabbi, Why is Moses’ name not mentioned in the Haggada? Dear Marsha, The Torah attests, “Moses was the most humble person on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). It should be no surprise, then, that the world’s humblest person omitted his name from the story, and instead he attributed[…]
Riddle in the Middle
From: Neil Reznik in Valley Forge, PA Dear Rabbi, Why is the afikomen taken from the middle matza during the Seder rather than from the top or bottom matza? Dear Neil, On the first night of Passover, we say two blessings over the matza. The first blessing, “hamotzi”, is the usual blessing we say when[…]
Parents With Bread
From: I. M. Burns Dear Rabbi I am living with my parents now and they do not keep mitzvot nor Shabbat nor the holidays. They are respectful but they just don’t know and can’t be bothered to learn. Passover is coming up. I am trying to arrange with them to go out to a kosher[…]
A Question of Ridicule
From: Anonymous Dear Rabbi, I came across an article in which a fictitious reader of Dr. Laura asks ridiculous questions about Judaism that are obviously meant to ridicule and undermine Orthodoxy. For example, some of the questions are: 1] When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a[…]
Noahide Laws
Noahide Laws From: Maggy Moens Dear Rabbi, I am a non-Jewish woman who loves to browse your website because there are pearls of wisdom in it. I have a problem. I read that the commands given to Noah must be obeyed by all of mankind. Jews are no missionaries. Who shall teach these commands, in[…]
Blessings from the Righteous
From: Dave in Denver Dear Rabbi, Is there any basis in Torah for going to rabbis for blessings for health, children, livelihood or any similar such thing? Does Judaism believe that these blessings actually help? Thank you. Dear Dave, The first thing to know and to remember about getting blessings from rabbis or anyone else,[…]