From: Laura Dear Rabbi, What is the reason that we split the middle matza on Passover. Normally, we’re so careful to use whole loaves for Shabbat and Holiday meals. Thanks for clarifying. Dear Laura, Before answering why we do the matza split, the point you make about whole loaves is exactly why we use three[…]
From: Henry Dear Rabbi, I know there is a special mitzva on Purim to give to the poor, but I’m not sure why. What’s the connection between the poor and Purim, and what are some of the specifics on how the mitzva is to be performed. Thanks for your time. Dear Henry, One particular aspect[…]
From: Mordechai Dear Rabbi, The whole period of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and even Succot through Hoshana Raba, is a period of judgment. The righteous are judged for life, the wicked for death, and the rest are in balance depending on how they, or G‑d, decides to tip the scales. This judgment is for life[…]
From: Yehuda Dear Rabbi, I know it’s Elul, and that this is the time to do teshuva in preparation for Rosh Hashana. But I also know that to do proper teshuva that is accepted by HaShem, a person has to: 1. Verbally express his transgressions, 2. Feel regret for having done them, and 3. Accept[…]
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: 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: 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: 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[…]
From: Adrian Dear Rabbi, Is the observance of the eighth day of Chanuka related to the way in which outside of Israel festivals are observed for two days? Dear Adrian, This is an interesting suggestion. But although the day is certainly a special day, for reasons I’ll write below, it doesn’t seem to be for[…]
From: Tami Dear Rabbi, I’ve heard a question about how many days Chanuka should be – since the oil burning the first day wasn’t a miracle, we should really only light for seven days. But I don’t remember the answer. Could you please “illuminate” this for me? Thanks “a latkes”. Dear Tami, A good question[…]