From: Laura Dear Rabbi, How do we know that the Sabbath is in fact on Saturday and not on Sunday or Friday as observed by Christianity or Islam? Dear Laura, Interestingly, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 65b) raises your question. The distinguished military leader Turnus Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva what makes the Sabbath special. Rabbi Akiva replied,[…]
From: Marc in Belgium Dear Rabbi, I’ve been looking over the Haggada and there is a section that is not so clear to me. The passage reads, “And it is this that has stood by our fathers and us, for not one alone has risen up against us to destroy us, but in all ages[…]
From: Andrew in Paris Dear Rabbi, I am studying abroad this year and will be observing Passover for the first time without my family. I seem to remember something about first-borns fasting on the day before the holiday. Do I have to do this if I’m not in my parents’ home? Thanks. Dear Andrew, It[…]
From: Alicia in New Haven Dear Rabbi, If we clean the house of chametz before Passover, and then particularly the day before the holiday, why do we then hide pieces of chametz around the house before checking that night. Doesn’t that seem to defeat the purpose? Dear Alicia, On a strictly practical level, once we’ve[…]
From: Pamela in Orlando, FL Dear Rabbi, Why is it necessary to read the whole Megilla year after year? Dear Pamela, Every year we read the whole Megilla, twice – Purim night and then again by day. Year after year, it’s the same old story, right? Well, almost right. According to the Jewish mystical tradition[…]
From: Ariel in NY Dear Rabbi, Tu b’shevat is coming and it has always had a special place in my heart, thanking G‑d for fruits and trees. But I realize that I don’t know much about the spiritual side of the day. I know that it is the “Rosh Hashana” for trees, but this seems[…]
From: I. Licht in Miami Dear Rabbi, Why did G‑d rest on the seventh day? Was He tired??? Did He leave the world incomplete intending to return to it? How do we know the details of Creation? G‑d was presumably alone, yet the account is written in the third person. Is this one of the[…]
From: Sam in L.A. Dear Rabbi, What is the significance of the different sacrificial offerings that were offered during Succot? Why are they different each day, and does the fact that there were seventy mean anything? Thanks. Dear Sam, The Torah prescribes special sacrifices for each of the days of Succot (Nu. 29:13-20). On the[…]
From: Anat in Israel Dear Rabbi, In connection with Yom Kippur, I have seen the term “tefilla zaka”. It seems to mean “pure prayer”. Is this a general way in which we are to pray, or does it refer to a specific prayer in the service. If so, what is it, when do we say[…]
From: Arthur in Chicago Dear Rabbi, Since in addition to being the beginning of the New Year, Rosh Hashana is also the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, why don’t we say “hallel” on Rosh Hashana as on other days of Rosh Chodesh? Dear Arthur, Good question. Since Rosh Hashana is the Day[…]