From: I.E. Dear Rabbi, If someone is sick and knows that he is going to have to eat on Yom Kippur, why not do so through intravenous? It’s my understanding that since intravenous is not the normal way of eating, it’s not technically a violation of the requirement to fast. If you tell me that[…]
From: I. in VIC Dear Rabbi, I have enjoyed your column for a number of years. I have a question. I recently organized a surprise party for my mother. We decided to make it a surprise, as we knew she would never agree to a party. To get her to our house nicely dressed I[…]
From: A.A. Dear Rabbi, Rosh Hashana will soon be with us, and this year we will not be blowing the shofar on the first day because it is Shabbat. I would like to understand more deeply why we have this custom. Is it because we don’t use ritual objects on Shabbat? But we read from[…]
From: E.T. in Denver Dear Rabbi, Is it permissible to ask for “mechila” (forgiveness) over an email network rather than in person? I know it’s not preferable, but many of us work in large networked environments. We considered the option of sending it receipt-requested to a specific address rather than an all-points broadcast. Thanks! Dear[…]
From: Joy Dear Rabbi, I’d like to know if and why vegetarianism may be a positive ethical choice for an observant Jew. Even if eating meat is permitted, could it be morally better to abstain? Dear Joy, G-d initially intended that people be vegetarians: “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face[…]
From: E.M. Dear Rabbi, I am a young woman who has been religious all my life. When I was a teenager, I had several burning questions about Judaism, such as the age of the earth, free will, etc. Although I sought and received answers to some of these questions, as I got older and became[…]
From: J. Schwartz Dear Rabbi, What’s G‑d’s “take” on depression and what’s the Torah’s “take” on it as well? Thanks. Dear J. Schwartz, First, G‑d’s and the Torah’s “take” are one and the same. In general, when speaking of depression we must distinguish between depression caused by a medical condition, and that which is caused[…]
From: Mrs. H. Dear Rabbi, I have been at my current job since November and it requires me to work with the public all day. Until recently, I always wore hats to work and was not even aware whether or not my co-workers and patrons knew I was wearing them for religious reasons. Now that[…]