From: Y.W. Dear Rabbi, Basically, G‑d, HaShem is Master of the Universe. He is One and of course there is no other. With regards to other religions and other people of non-Jewish faith, when they pray and have a connection with their god, and he answers their prayers or they feel a great devotion and[…]
From: Yehuda Dear Rabbi, What is the connection between counting the Omer and working on ourselves and self-improvement? I imagine it has to do with getting ready for Shavuot, but I’m sure how that works. Thanks for any clarification you have on this. Dear Yehuda, According to the Zohar (Chadash, beginning of Yitro), as a[…]
From: Stephanie Dear Rabbi, My husband and I are expecting a birth soon, and we were wondering, if it will be a girl whether there are any special considerations or customs regarding giving a name. We are familiar with the name giving for a boy at the brit, but is there anything like this for[…]
From: Adel Dear Rabbi, I am challenged by giving. I know it’s right to help others and to be charitable. But I always have this gnawing feeling that by giving to others, I’m depleting my money or time from myself. Could you please help me with this? Dear Adel, In truth, we believe that everything[…]
From: Megan Dear Rabbi, I am new to Jewish observance and am a bit confused about what to do at the Passover Seder. More accurately, I’m not sure which of the traditional observances apply or not, and why or why not. For example, I know there’s a mitzva to sacrifice a lamb for Passover, at[…]
From: Carey Dear Rabbi, Let’s say I know someone who wants to have a nose job because she feels she has too much of a “Jewish nose” and she feels self-conscious about it and she says it affects her confidence and she’s not happy because of it. Would that be an acceptable reason to do[…]
From: Melissa Dear Rabbi, I keep Shabbat but I feel that the nitty-gritty halachot take away from the beauty of Shabbat in that they make people more worried about how to open a can on Shabbat then to actually truly observe it. I have seen people actually embarrass others by calling them out on little[…]
From: Bart Dear Rabbi, Jerusalem isn’t mentioned in Islam’s “Koran,” but I don’t think it’s mentioned in the Five Books of Moses either. I’ve heard it argued that the Koran’s omission of Jerusalem shows a lack of connection between Islam and Jerusalem, but can’t the same be said of Judaism? Dear Bart, Jerusalem is mentioned[…]
From: David Dear Rabbi, We are told that G‑d is perfect. How do we know that? If G‑d is perfect, then how did He create an imperfect world? Rather, since His creations are imperfect, doesn’t that show that He is imperfect? Dear David, This is a great question! It is one of the things that[…]
From: Todd Dear Rabbi, What is Parashat Zachor, what does it have to do with Purim, and why is it read on Shabbat and not on Purim itself? Thanks for your time. Dear Todd, It is a positive Torah commandment to remember and verbally recall the wicked attack perpetrated by the people of Amalek against[…]