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: 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: Miriam Dear Rabbi, The Torah relates how Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. Since Cush is in Africa, and I think it’s considered to be Ethiopia, does this mean that the Torah would prohibit or discourage marrying a dark-skinned person? I can’t accept that the Torah would have such a[…]
From: Menashe Dear Rabbi, The ba’al teshuva movement seems to be successful in connecting non-observant people, particularly student-aged, to Judaism. On the other hand, unfortunately, there are young people raised in the system that are disconnecting. Are there methods that the established religious community could learn from the ba’al teshuva movement to keep kids from[…]
From: Menachem Dear Rabbi, I became observant, learned in yeshiva for a while, eventually got married, and ultimately had to go to work to support my family. I remember my time at the yeshiva so positively, and I felt that I was doing something really valuable and worthwhile. Now, I just don’t feel that I’m[…]
From: Harry Dear Rabbi, I’m not the type of person to share my belongings with others, or loan them out, since I’m particular about their staying intact and I don’t want them to get ruined. So I’m having problems with the Torah idea of having to loan things in order to help others, and, even[…]
From: Benny Dear Rabbi, Perhaps you can help me. Singing seems to be a pretty important part of Jewish custom. I mean, the Shabbat meals all revolve around singing, as do a lot of the prayers, and also events like bar and bat mitzvas, or brit mila and other joyous occasions. So my problem is[…]
From: Jonathan Dear Rabbi, My grandmother is in the final stages of dementia and she could leave us at any time now. We just don’t know when. My question is about her memories. I wonder where her memories are. Are they gone, are they in Heaven or will the memories “catch up” with her when[…]
From: Shelly Dear Rabbi, I ordered a particular craft item from an acquaintance to be prepared from materials that I bought and paid for. As it turned out, I was not particularly pleased with the final product and I preferred not to pay for it. So I offered that she keep it for herself, or[…]