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: Dr. M.W. in Slingerlands, NY Dear Rabbi, In the Book of Esther, why are certain letters in the names of Haman’s sons written smaller than the others and why are some letters in the text larger than the others? Dear Dr. M.W., In Megillat Esther, and elsewhere in the Torah, you find several places[…]
From: Jill in Long Island, NY Dear Rabbi, Why do we eat “hamantaschen” on Purim? Dear Jill, I’ve heard that the word is Yiddish and comes from the two words “mon” (poppy seed) and “tash” (pocket). Thus it would mean “a pocket of [dough filled with] poppy seed.” Perhaps the letter ‘heh’ at the beginning[…]
From: Roger H. in Walsall, UK Dear Rabbi, When and why did the tradition of reclining at the Passover meal begin? In the book of Exodus it seems that the people were instructed for all time to eat the Passover meal with sandals on their feet and staffs in hand as if ready to move[…]
From: Saul “The Maven” Caplan from Florida Dear Rabbi, I deliver pizzas 2-3 evenings a week. Do I have to take the entire week of Passover off? Dear Saul “The Maven” Caplan, On Pesach, it’s forbidden to eat, own or derive any benefit from chametz – leavened bread. A renowned halachic authority here in Jerusalem[…]
From: Bonnie H. Dear Rabbi, I am a vegetarian and it is abhorrent to me to have an animal leg on my table at Passover. I have been told that somewhere in the Talmud it says that a roasted beet can take the place of a roasted shank bone. Can you help me find the[…]
From: Fred in Tennessee Dear Rabbi, What is the Haggada? Dear Fred, The Haggada is a book that Jews read on the first night of Passover. It tells about our slavery in Egypt and the miracles G‑d did for us when freeing us. The word “haggada” means “telling”, which comes from the Biblical command: “And[…]
From: Joseph C. Dear Rabbi, This year my wife and I are kashering our home for Passover for the first time. We are now purchasing Passover dishes, utensils, etc. My question is, when we remove the everyday dishes, where do they go? May we put them in the boxes that held the Passover dishes? Is[…]
From: Martin in St. Louis Dear Rabbi, A central theme of Chanuka seems to be the victory of Torah over the philosophy of the Greeks. Does that mean that Judaism rejects the wisdom of the nations? Is there no redeeming value to that wisdom according to the Torah? Thank you. Dear Martin, True, Chanuka commemorates[…]