From: Name Withheld Dear Rabbi, I would like to know how to be happy in marriage. What are the things that a wife should do to make her husband happy? I thought that cooking nice meals, having a nice Shabbat table, caring for the sleep/good rest of one another was a way to express love.[…]
From: Jerry Dear Rabbi, Does the concept of a halo or aura around a person appear in Judaism? Dear Jerry, The answer is yes. In Jewish mystical sources the Hebrew terms are “hila” (emanation of light) and “ohr hamakif” (surrounding/enveloping light). It’s very interesting, in fact, that the English terms for these concepts are nearly[…]
From: Matthew Dear Rabbi, Why do the traditional sources seem to downplay the military aspect of Chanuka and focus more on the theme of oil and light? Dear Matthew, Clearly, one of the main reasons for establishing Chanuka as a festival for all Jews in all generations was to commemorate the miraculous military victory of[…]
Based on a real-life correspondence published with permission from the questioner. From: Jonathan in MA Dear Rabbi, My mom suffers from diabetes and it has now destroyed her kidneys. The tests have been done and I am an excellent match to donate my kidney to her, but someone told me that it was against the[…]
From: Jennie Dear Rabbi, What is the Torah’s position on healing? Since everything is from G‑d, do sickness and ailments have to be suffered because that’s G‑d’s will? Or can we try to cure the maladies sent by G‑d? If so, doesn’t that undermine His intentions? Dear Jennie, According to Judaism, everything that happens, whether[…]
From: Din Dear Rabbi, All major religions have missionaries to invite people to join their faith. Judaism doesn’t. Why not? From: Emily Dear Rabbi, I’ve been searching for the “one, true religion” for some time, and when I came across Judaism, I knew that was the religion for me. I also read briefly about conversion[…]
From: Maribel Dear Rabbi, Presumably, when G–d told Adam and Eve not to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, He meant it. So my question is, assuming it was His intention that they not sin, what did G‑d have in mind for them had they not sinned? Dear[…]
From: Matthew Dear Rabbi, If the Land of Israel is supposed to be flowing with milk and honey, why don’t we see that kind of abundance in the Land of Israel today? Dear Mathew, First of all, while Israel may not be oozing milk and honey, there is definitely an agricultural and material abundance which,[…]
From: Anonymous Dear Rabbi, I recently had a discussion with someone I got to know not too long ago about a personal issue of his which I disagreed on his approach and I told him exactly how I felt and why I think he’s wrong. Today, I wanted to ask him something and he told[…]
From: Shiri Dear Rabbi, It is now the month of Elul, a special time for teshuva in preparation and anticipation for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. But I’ve run into a problem. I don’t know exactly how to do teshuva or what path to take. Please set me on course. Dear Shiri, It’s interesting that[…]