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| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Suffering | 1/23/2012 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I read your response to Jewish suffering where you quote Rabbi Kushner's book. I have read this book ... A: real issue for you and not just theoretical. First of all, I can't compete with fundamentalist ... | ||
| Aliyahs | 1/9/2012 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: My son is becoming a bar mitzvah next month and we are choosing those who will have an aliyah. I ... A: My delay was to do some research. While I cannot find any explicit instruction to deny an aliyah ... | ||
| Black Jews--looking for experts | 12/20/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Greetings, Rabbi... A Google search for "experts on Black Jews" brought up your name and your ... A: I have had a number of experiences, which were positive. If you are asking about the "Black Jews" ... | ||
| Isaiah 7:14 | 12/16/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I was reading about the debate among Jews and Christians concerning Isaiah 7:14. How is it a sign if ... A: The most important answer is not one of polemics or apologetics but rather basic Biblical Hebrew - ... | ||
| blood taboo | 12/4/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: An article the news recently about whether animals should be stunned first before being slaughtered ... A: I appreciate your gracious reply. There is little I can add. Modern Jews who are not vegetarians ... | ||
| blood taboo | 12/3/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: An article the news recently about whether animals should be stunned first before being slaughtered ... A: I've written a brief response to this subject to which you are welcome to consider: ... | ||
| star of david | 11/29/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Rabbi, thanks for making your expertise publicly available. I am a Christian. I have two unrelated ... A: Regarding the second question, I would remind you first that I am a Conservative Rabbi, a modern or ... | ||
| Tithing | 11/29/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Do Jews still tithe? If so, when did it become money? If not, when and why did they stop. A: It is a challenging and technical subject, and to be very honest I don't feel adequately qualified ... | ||
| Sabbath observance for non-Jews | 11/17/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am a former Christian who is planning to convert to Judaism. I have believed for much of my life ... A: Obviously you would do best to meet with a local Rabbi to begin a discussion about the elements that ... | ||
| Peter McKeand | 10/16/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: It brings me great sadness to share with you that Peter McKeand who wrote to you 3 years ago ... A: While I am grateful to know about Peter's passing, it is a very sad moment. I didn't know your ... | ||
| Headcovering | 9/14/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: This may sound like an odd question, but here goes: if it is common knowlege that a man wears a ... A: Not a new question but always interesting. If the head is covered - and different groups have ... | ||
| Terminally ill Reform convert | 9/13/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am a 58 year old woman with inoperable Stage IV cancer, and despite having undergone chemotherapy ... A: Your letters are among the high-points of this month if not year. It reminds me of how important it ... | ||
| Terminally ill Reform convert | 9/12/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am a 58 year old woman with inoperable Stage IV cancer, and despite having undergone chemotherapy ... A: and I hurt for your situation. I'm not a kid myself and I've struggled with various terminal ... | ||
| brothers | 9/9/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Both my brothers are of the Jewish faith. I am not. My sister in law said to me, Jews do not go ... A: and you've raised a fundamental question about Jewish belief and Jewish expectations of practice. ... | ||
| a question about bible history | 8/25/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: what was the real reason that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, I know that gays were in the land, ... A: A tough question because there is a great deal of literature and commentary. I would urge that you ... | ||
| Validity of my Jewishness | 8/21/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Shalom, Orthodox Judaism recently questioned my Jewishness and stated I need to complete ... A: and you raise a most important issue in the Jewish community. Several answers follow. 1. I can't ... | ||
| vegetarianism | 7/18/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Shalom! What does judaismthinkof vegetarianism? A: Vegetarianism is a positive life discipline within Jewish current and historical practice. Notable ... | ||
| Planting a tree for a birthday | 7/12/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Five of us friends went together to get a friend, she is Jewish though she does not attend services, ... A: In brief, it is a misconception that trees are planted only in memory of someone. If you share the ... | ||
| New Home Customs | 7/10/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: In a few days time I will be moving into a new home. My question involves customary greetings or ... A: Mazal Tov on your new change in residence. Your question raises some interesting issues. In terms ... | ||
| Conversion in the military? | 6/14/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Shalom Rabbi Lerner, I am joining the US Army this year and wondering if it's possible to convert ... A: I would encourage you not to "define" your faith or to continue in your present approach tyo ... | ||
| Ezra | 6/14/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Do Jewish people believe Ezra is the son of God? A: Jewish people do not believe that anyone is "son of God," or that anyone has divinity. God is unique ... | ||
| "jewish name" | 6/12/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am a teacher in middle schools and sometimes I am asked by a student "is that a Jewish name?" ... A: Neither of us will ever know what is behind the questions we are asked and the unspoken questions of ... | ||
| Conversion Proccess ? | 6/9/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Shalom, Rabbi Lerner ! I am 18 years old, and have recently discovered that Judaism is the right ... A: Please forgive me delay in answering because I truly know how important this question is to you. ... | ||
| Beards in Jewish culture | 5/6/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am researching into the cultural beliefs and tradition in all religions regarding beards for my ... A: but it is policy not to answer school work. I urge you to use online resources, one of which is ... | ||
| Kipah (Head Covering), The | 5/5/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I was watching a documentary at least a movie, it was about a young child who happened to have down ... A: I thought it was so. It is a documentary about a real young man. I will attach a comment I found on ... | ||
| Kipah (Head Covering), The | 5/5/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I was watching a documentary at least a movie, it was about a young child who happened to have down ... A: Your question unfortunately is based on a film. If you would or could send me the name of the film I ... | ||
| annointing bodies | 5/1/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: At the time of Jesus was the anointing of the body done by relatives, males, females? A: I'm now in the process of researching the sources which appear to be very limited in both text and ... | ||
| Tradition of putting stones on graves | 4/1/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I know there are many reasons (have read them) of putting stones on graves or on the headstones. I ... A: No, I had not heard this notion that the putting of stones-on-stones would fore-shadow the ... | ||
| Conservative judaism | 3/29/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I come from a traditional/orthodox Iranian family. Over the last few years most of my friends have ... A: If you are searching for a Conservative congregation that meets your standards of what is halachah ... | ||
| Atonement | 3/18/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Rabbi Dov, I was told that the Hebrew people never looked at sacrifice as an atonement for ... A: but you have asked a very sophisticated yet complicated question. In different ages - Biblical, ... | ||
| Marry a Divorced Man | 3/16/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am Marrying a divorced man. Am I going to have a problem finding a Rabbi to marry us? A: You may have some trouble if your fiance hasn't given his ex a Jewish divorce. Regarding a Jewish ... | ||
| forks | 3/13/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I work in the banquet department at a Hotel and we are having our first Bnai Mitzvah in our ballroom ... A: I don't completely understand the question, and I do professional kosher supervision for caterers in ... | ||
| Unclean Animals | 3/11/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am doing a study on the Clean & Unclean animals and I am confused by Leviticus 11:27 "And ... A: There are two major sections describing kosher/permitted animals: Leviticus 11:3-8 and Deuteronomy ... | ||
| A.A. and false gods | 3/4/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am in alcoholics anonymous and many of the people rely on false gods to get them sober and yet the ... A: Please bear with me as the explanation and background is as important as just a simple answer. 2000 ... | ||
| A.A. and false gods | 3/2/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: I am in alcoholics anonymous and many of the people rely on false gods to get them sober and yet the ... A: Yours is not an easy question, and it requires a bit of my understanding your own faith affiliation ... | ||
| Jewish Terms | 2/22/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: It has been a long time. Happy your still there. Jewish Hebraisms, Jewish Idioms is there a ... A: Regarding your first question, I truly don't understand what you mean. I would need examples of each ... | ||
| headstone inscription for Mother | 2/20/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Am having difficulty figuring out what to have inscribed on Mother's headstone. She lived a very ... A: Sorry for any delay, and I hope you will understand. The consensus of all my questions in terms of ... | ||
| conversion | 2/17/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: If my mother was Jewish but she converted to a Christian, what would be my religion? Similarly, if ... A: I wish I could give you a simple, clear answer. I am appending an op-ed by a colleague from a recent ... | ||
| head covering for women | 2/14/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: My daughter is married and has 2 very young children. She enjoys going to her Conservative synagogue ... A: and this sounds as though it could be rather easily resolved. First of all, we are all grateful ... | ||
| Resurrection | 2/10/2011 | Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner |
| Q: Hope you're doing well! I just have a question, it concerns Jewish conceptions of the resurrection. ... A: Shavuah Tov. Sorry for the delay but I had to do research on your question - very interesting. I've ... | ||
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience
I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
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