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Orthodox Judaism/Questions Answered by Expert Rabbi Ari Shishler
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Offhand. | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: Good day, Your response to this guy's question (Below) was, IMO, very bland & typically offhandish. ... A: I would love to believe that telling a different narrative of the Jesus story would curb ... | |
| satan/ devil | 1/19/2012 |
| Q: I would like to know if there is a devil in judaism? If yes, what is his nature, his extend ofpower ... A: Judaism teaches that the "evil spirits" or demons were created on the sixth day of Creation, after ... | |
| satan/ devil | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: I would like to know if there is a devil in judaism? If yes, what is his nature, his extend ofpower ... A: Judaism doesn't speak of "The Devil" in the same way as other religions do. We believe that Satan is ... | |
| words | 12/7/2011 |
| Q: Rabbi, why is the spoken word of man so important to God? Is it at all to do with the fact that we ... A: What a wonderful question! Even better, you have touched on the answer. As you know, G-d created ... | |
| Circumcision | 11/6/2011 |
| Q: How mandatory is metzitza b'peh? Can the blood be let in any other way and still satisfy the ... A: To be honest, I am not a mohel and have no practical Bris experience. As far as I understand, ... | |
| School Paper | 11/1/2011 |
| Q: I am writing a school paper on why assisted suicide should not be legalized. One of my reasoning ... A: Assisted suicide is a very emotive issue that touches on some fundamental beliefs of many religions. ... | |
| Silence | 10/6/2011 |
| Q: Shalom! What does the book of Isaiah say about silence? ANSWER: Hi Henrik Isaiah's prophecies and ... A: Silence is used as a metaphor for humility. By saying that a person should be silent in front of ... | |
| Holiday dates | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: I have a program that tells of holiday dates for just about any country. I noticed it had Yom ... A: It sounds like there is something wrong with that program (Yom Kippur is definitely on Saturday this ... | |
| menstrual uncleanliness | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: in regards to the laws on menstrual uncleanliness, i was wondering what precautions/actions you ... A: I generally prefer to avoid using the word "clean" in this context, because it really has nothing to ... | |
| Is ואהבת לרעך כּמוך applicable between men and women, and if yes, can you provide some examples, please? | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: Is ואהבת לרעך ... A: Unquestionably yes! The meaning of ואהבת לרעך ... | |
| jewish leadership flirts christian preacher. | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: i had another situation i came across from a christian web page, john hagee ministeries, i receive a ... A: You are right: Jews should be very careful not to compromise our beliefs for the support that other ... | |
| why jews do not speak out? | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: i am a sikh with christian beliefs, i am not unaware of the postion jews hold on the christian ... A: I guess the answer is simply that the Jewish people believe that our role in the world is to do what ... | |
| Orthodox Judaism/personal relationship with G-d 2 | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: Interesting question and answer. I read another of your answers stating that when we sin, G-d ... A: You have described G-d perfectly- He is merciful, not vindictive and will never punish us for things ... | |
| shabbat fire | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I believe that it is said somewhere in the Talmud that a house in which the Shabbat is violated in ... A: One of the most important things to remember is that G-d is kind and prefers not to punish us. The ... | |
| Orthodox Judaism/personal relationship with G-d 2 | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: Interesting question and answer. I read another of your answers stating that when we sin, G-d ... A: I don't believe it would be correct to say that non-Jews do not have faith or cannot fulfill the ... | |
| Zohar non-Jews | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: What does the Zohar say about the souls of non-Jews? A: Let me play the rabbi stereotype and respond you your question with a"What does the Zohar say about ... | |
| Shabbat time in ocean | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I am soon to be taking a cruise. On the Friday night of the return trip I'm not sure when to begin ... A: Sounds like quite an intriguing question. I would imagine the first place to start would be your ... | |
| How should I dress when visiting an Orthodox Jewish family? | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a job providing early childhood services to kids with special needs in their homes. My new ... A: Great question! It's wonderful to someone as sensitive to the issue as you are. I doubt that the ... | |
| book | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I am looking for the name of a type of book (not the name of the book itself as I suspect there ... A: The book that I think you are referring to is called a "Chitas". It contains a Siddur, Chumash, ... | |
| hyssop | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Shalom! Psalm 50 (51) says "Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed", but what ... A: Hyssop was traditionally used in two important purification processes, the Red Heifer used to purify ... | |
| Queen Esther | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: G_d bless you Rabbi, I am getting ready for Purim and in reading the book of Esther heard that ... A: I have never encountered a Jewish source that relates Esther to Astaroth. I suspect this is ... | |
| king of Tyre, Gog | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I have heard many things about the King of Tyre and Gog in Ezekiel. Can you tell me what these ... A: There is some debate between the various Biblical commentators as to who the King of Tyre and Gog ... | |
| Kaddish | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: I learned recently that there are 5 forms of kaddish. I know kaddish erev Shabbat and the Mourner's ... A: The five types of Kadish are: 1) Half kadish, which is said by the chazan at certain points during ... | |
| British- Israelism | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a pen pal who is involved with British - Israelism. In his last letter he told me that using ... A: Perhaps in the UK, the term "Jew" has a negative connotation. Jewish people would not find the term ... | |
| A.A. and false gods | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I am in alcoholics anonymous and many of the people rely on false gods to get them sober and yet the ... A: Firstly, I admire your courage and tenacity for taking the bold steps you have obviously taken to ... | |
| zohar on nonjews | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: Why does the Zohar make so many negative statements about nonjews? ANSWER: Hi Alex I am unsure of ... A: Unfortunately, what you have described is typically why one cannot "read" the Zohar, nor any other ... | |
| prophets | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: Why has G-d not sent us any prophets recently? After Malachi we have recieved no revelation. Why ... A: That's a really good question. Having prophets definitely makes life much easier, because prophets ... | |
| Jewish wedding | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: Once again the clarity of your responses has been refreshing. You are correct in my dedication to ... A: I am glad that you have found our correspondence helpful : ) 1) You can certainly use the decorated ... | |
| Jewish wedding | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: We are Conservative Jews who have chosen to become more Torah observant recently and attend Chabad. ... A: I'm sorry for not responding sooner, but had to go out of town for a few days. Thank you for ... | |
| Na'aseh ve-nishma | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: Na'aseh ve-nishma is classically understood as "We will DO and we will HEAR", in that order, ... A: That reference uses the term "naaseh venishma". You could translate "nishma" as obey, but the more ... | |
| Jewish wedding | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: We are Conservative Jews who have chosen to become more Torah observant recently and attend Chabad. ... A: Ok, I get the picture now. This is a very tricky situation to be in and, seeing as I don't know you ... | |
| Jewish wedding | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: We are Conservative Jews who have chosen to become more Torah observant recently and attend Chabad. ... A: You have a very delicate situation on your hands. When you mentioned that you have chosen a more ... | |
| Esau and wickedness | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: G_d bless you rabbi, I heard that Jewish tradition says that God took Abraham from this world 5 ... A: may G-d bless you too. You are correct, there is such a tradition. The Talmud relates that when ... | |
| personal relationship with G-d | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: Christianity teaches we can have a personal relationship with G-d through their messiah Jesus. I ... A: Judaism teaches that every one of us can have a personal connection directly with G-d and we do not ... | |
| cows | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: Shalom! Why are jews allowed to eat cows when cows are giving us healthy diary products? should jews ... A: Shalom Henrik I understand that Rav Kook did make reference to a vegetarian approach within ... | |
| about religions | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: I used to wonder about God, so I studied the bible and wondered who wrote it..because some of the ... A: These are great questions! Unless a person questions and investigates, they will never understand ... | |
| cows | 12/31/2010 |
| Q: Shalom! Why are jews allowed to eat cows when cows are giving us healthy diary products? should jews ... A: I have to agree that dairy products are a wonderful gift, that we need to appreciate and thank G-d ... | |
| Messiah and Sabbath | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: I have been reading Elie Wiesel's "The Town Beyond the Wall", and in the first part of the book, ... A: Considering that Wiesel's book is a novel, you should not expect it to necessarily convey such a ... | |
| messiah | 12/21/2010 |
| Q: What are the prophecies that the messiah has to fulfill in order to be a messiah and which ones did ... A: Isaiah is full of Messianic prophecies throughout and Daniel also carries some Messianic prophecies. ... | |
| messiah | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: What are the prophecies that the messiah has to fulfill in order to be a messiah and which ones did ... A: The Messiah must be a paternal descendant of King David through his son Solomon. He must be a Torah ... | |
| genesis 2;17 | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: Could you please explain to me why in Genesis 2;17 God told them if they ate from the tree of ... A: You make a good point in your question- G-d removed Adam and Eve from Eden AFTER eating from the ... | |
| Final Punishment | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know what is the Orthodox Judaism doctrine regarding final punishment. Thank you ... A: Judaism doesn't believe in "final punishment". We believe that every soul goes through a cleansing ... | |
| wigs | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: Why is a wig acceptable for covering womens hair. It is also hair and no difference can be made. Is ... A: Great question! The truth is that a woman doesn't cover her hair so she won't look good or to hide ... | |
| Talmud | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: The following passages are directly from the Soncino Babylonian Talmud by Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein on ... A: It looks like you've stumbled upon one of the perennial attempts to discredit the Talmud by quoting ... | |
| Sukkot | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: What is the significance of all nations celebrating Sukkot in the messianic era? Why not Passover, ... A: The prophecy that the gentiles will celebrate Sukkot comes from Zechariah (chapter 14). In context, ... | |
| Judaism | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: .. I was talking with a friend who mentioned a Jewish saying :'Life comes first, and the laws ... A: The principle is that preservation of life supersedes all laws of the Torah, except for idolatry, ... | |
| Bible | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: In the bible it says "Jehovah is preserving the strangers, The fatherless and widow He causeth to ... A: You could interpret this phrase in two ways: 1. G-d foils the evil plans of the wicked and they ... | |
| yod | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: What is the significance of the yod not appearing as the first letter of the page on 8 or 9 pages of ... A: you sent me on a very interesting bout of research. There used to be a custom to start all but six ... | |
| yod | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: What is the significance of the yod not appearing as the first letter of the page on 8 or 9 pages of ... A: Can you please explain your question. Are you referring to the print version of the Scriptures (in ... | |
| roman empire | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Shalom! Why did G-d allow the romans to invade Jerusalem? and does the tannakh speak about it? ... A: The Divine plan very often involves things that we don't understand, as I mentioned previously from ... | |
| roman empire | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Shalom! Why did G-d allow the romans to invade Jerusalem? and does the tannakh speak about it? A: Nobody really knows why G-d does what He does. After all, He tells us in the Bible that "My thoughts ... | |
| Marriage | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: Do women still shave their heads on the night before the wedding? A: No, they don't. Jewish women cover their heads after marriage, reserving their natural hair for only ... | |
| Josephus-Antiquities of the Jews | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: I am Eastern Orthodox Christians and I am starting to study and cherish Christianity Jewish roots. ... A: Unfortunately, I am not an expert on Josephus. It is likely that he had access to teachings from the ... | |
| Sacred texts | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering how important sacred texts (tanakh) are and how it impacts on beliefs, doctrine and ... A: The Tanach is made up of twenty four books. Five of those are called the Five Books of Moses and ... | |
| Jewish belief | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: Mr rabbi, hey im taking a class on Judaism and theirs a couple of things i can't find info for and ... A: As I'm sure you can imagine, these topics are very broad and detailed and I can only give you a ... | |
| praying | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: Shalom! Why do jews wear kippa and do we (non-jews) need to wear it when visiting a synagouge? i ... A: Jews have had a long-standing custom that men cover their heads. While our predecessors may not have ... | |
| oaths and vows... | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: according to the torah's definitions of the terms, is there a difference between an oath and a vow? ... A: A vow is a promise to do something or refrain from doing something. For example, "I will not eat ... | |
| Daniel 12:2 and Eternal Suffering [Hell] | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: In studying Jewish teachings I find that they affirm my understanding that there is not an eternal, ... A: My apologies for not replying sooner. Before addressing your question directly, it's probably a good ... | |
| Question on "Disturbing" Talmudic Passage | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: I teach a bible class and today's discussion led me to some research on the Internet. I wound up ... A: Let me preface my response with the following: As I am sure you appreciate, each religion has its ... | |
| hilchos gittin | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: I was told that the 'Get'of a women divorced because of adultery has a special feature. The ... A: I was pretty sure that no additional information could be added to a get, but decided to do some ... | |
| Judaism | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: what is your view on Marian Apparitions A: Judaism believes that there are many and varied types of spiritual experiences that people may have. ... | |
| talking to the dead... | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: the torah prohibits talking to spirits or going into the presence of people who do- but i'm not sure ... A: The Torah prohibits calling up the dead, rather than simply speaking to them. In other words, if a ... | |
| marriage | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering if arranged marriage is the norm in judaism? i saw a movie called "keeping the ... A: For a start, don't believe everything that you see in the movies (even when it looks like they know ... | |
| loaning money...I | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: i read in the torah that there is a holiday where all debts are cancelled. but whats to stop someone ... A: The Torah provides for Rabbinic laws, even when they provide loopholes in the original law. ... | |
| Jewish food restrictions | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: Greetings Rabbi Shishler, I am of the Christian faith, and as such, I don't understand the ban on ... A: Jewish dietary law is based Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Both sources define that Jews may ... | |
| Gentile, majoring in Jewish Studies. | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I am a Christian who is getting an undergrad degree in Jewish Studies. Afterward I am considering ... A: To be honest, I am not sure of the policies of Jewish schools and groups in the U.S.A. From what I ... | |
| Mourning | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around two different customs. I know that we do not pass the ... A: I guess the best place to start is to clarify a common misunderstanding. The reason that people ... | |
| loaning money...I | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: i read in the torah that there is a holiday where all debts are cancelled. but whats to stop someone ... A: Boy, do I wish there was a holiday like that! Every seventh year on the Jewish calendar is called ... | |
| Resolving matters in Judaism | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I wish to know that since Judaism does not have a single head over the entire religion, such as the ... A: Before attempting an answer, I would like to point out that Judaism has always comprised various ... | |
| Bioethics | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm a Yr12 Student here in Australia studying Studies of Religion and Ive chosen Judaisim for my ... A: Orthodox Judaism does not consider rape to be reason enough to justify an abortion. I know this is ... | |
| Bioethics | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm a Yr12 Student here in Australia studying Studies of Religion and Ive chosen Judaisim for my ... A: Good luck with your report! The short answer is, no, Orthodox and Progressive Jews don't have the ... | |
| idolatry... | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: are you absolutely sure the 2D arts do not count as idolatry? because in english (and not hebrew) ... A: The Hebrew terms "pesel" and "temunah" which are used in the verse that you've referenced mean ... | |
| evil spirits? | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I am confused by what seems like conflicting ideas by 2 of you in regards to free will and spirits ... A: Free will is unique to humans. Angels, demons and spirits are created to either be good or evil. ... | |
| is it a sin for a Noahide to eat a rare steak? | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: If so, does the steak have to be well done? medium well? or what? Thanks and G-D bless. A: That is a very interesting question. When Jews prepare meat, we take a number of steps in the ... | |
| God | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: What is a God of Israel and Who is He to a brown gentile male? and Do that God help a brown gentile ... A: G-d does not judge people by colour and does not want a person to have a white appearance to be ... | |
| shaving and wigs | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I heard from a friend that there used to be an evil decree in Europe and Russia that every Jewish ... A: Apparently there was a time in either Hungary or Rumania when such a decree existed and the women ... | |
| Temple | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: Rabbi, G_d bless you and your family! Just to let you know up front, I will be asking this same ... A: G. Orthodox Jews believe that G-d has promised that His Temple will be rebuilt. The Messiah, who is ... | |
| shaving with a razor | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: According to jewish law, where on a mans face and neck can he shave with a razor and where can't he? ... A: The Torah forbids shaving the "corners" of your face, which is at the "hinges" of the jaw (just ... | |
| Differences Between Orthadox And reform | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: What Is the differences between orthodox and reformed Judaism? Because I am doing a school project ... A: The basic difference between Orthodox and Reform Judaism is that Orthodox Jews believe that the ... | |
| divination | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: i've read two different versions of the Torah, and in one version it said "do not go into the ... A: Deuteronomy 18:10 says diviners etc. "may not be found among you", meaning that we may not allow ... | |
| blaming god | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I am not Jewish, but I am very interested in what you would say to someone who blamed their ... A: Blaming G-d for your hardships is a two-sided coin. On the one hand, it may be a cop-out. Too often ... | |
| killing the pursuer | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I am discussing the need for abortion when the fetus will kill the mother. I was sure there was some ... A: I don't think you will find any clear verse that describes a fetus threatening the mother's life ... | |
| belief | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: Shalom Rabbi, I would like to know, do Jews believe in heaven and if so, who goes, do Jews believe ... A: I find it strange (although it is common) that important topics such as this are not dealt with at ... | |
| intermarriage | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I have written to you before with regards to the problems associated with intermarriage. I know ... A: I can see that you are grappling with this issue, which is quite common for a person in your ... | |
| Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I am a Christian Sunday School Teacher who is trying to write plays about the lives of the major ... A: The Talmud (Yebamoth 49b) relates that Isaiah was killed by King Menasseh, who accused him of ... | |
| Genesis | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I want to get an understanding regarding Genesis Chapter 6:3 where the age of man is set to be 120 ... A: The Bible is telling us that the average person would live to a maximum of 120 years from after the ... | |
| Intermarriage | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I am an agnostic male (22). I have recently met and fallen in love with an orthodox Jewish girl ... A: You're in a very tricky situation and can expect that one of you- or likely both of you- will get ... | |
| top two current concerns facing Judaism | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I am a college student taking a world religions course. I have to answer the above question. Will ... A: I think the top two concerns facing the Jewish world today are: 1) The spiritual threat of Jewish ... | |
| branches of judaism | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Is there animosity between the difference branches of Judaism like there is between the different ... A: I think it would be accurate to say that Jewish branches often criticise each other and vehemently ... | |
| burial | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I was told that in Israel it is possible to bury one body above the other. i.e. My late husband ... A: I have to admit that I was unaware of such a practice before you sent your question, but you got me ... | |
| number 9 significance | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Some friends of mine are going to be married tomorrow on 9/9/09.....this date was very important to ... A: To be honest, Jews don't generally attach much significance to the secular date. But, we do attach ... | |
| the temple | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know about the sacrifices at the time of the passover in ancient Israel. I would ... A: "Big bloody mess"- LOL : ) Truthfully, the Temple was quite messy at that time of the year. They ... | |
| Reverend | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Before I converted to Judaism 10 years ago, I was an ordained Baptist minister. As such, I carried ... A: Maimonides writes that the Jewish community may not remind a convert of his/ her past, as the Torah ... | |
| Religion | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: 1. Can you tell the lists of all religions out there? 2. How do emails all experts at once? A: I'm not sure that I can list "all" the religions out there, there are hundreds. This link may help ... | |
| the temple | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know about the sacrifices at the time of the passover in ancient Israel. I would ... A: The courtyard of the Temple had a water conduit running right through it. After all the sacrifices ... | |
| facial hair... | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: what is the permissable way for a jewish man to shorten his facial hair? A: A Jew may not cut his beard/ facial hair with an exposed blade. That means that razor blades are not ... | |
| Brit Mila | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Our daughter & son-in-law are presently working in India and expecting a baby around the time of the ... A: Firstly, besha'ah tovah! Please G-d everything should go well and everyone should be healthy. The ... | |
| unlcean pottery... | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: Leviticus 11:33 What do I do? how am I supposed to know everything I eat doesn’t have water from a ... A: It seems you've got quite a lot of stuff going on there :) For some reason, the Divine Author of ... | |
| unlcean pottery... | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: Leviticus 11:33 What do I do? how am I supposed to know everything I eat doesn’t have water from a ... A: Your question is a classical example of how important the Oral Tradition (recorded in the Talmud) ... | |
| hair curls... | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: i do not understand the commandment "you shall not round off the hair at the sides of your heads." ... A: I had to laugh at the thought of all curly-haired people straightening their hair "by law". The real ... | |
| food | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: Rabbi This may seem like a silly question but, are chickens mentioned in the bible? I know ... A: This is actually a very interesting question. As you have indicated, the Bible lists the birds that ... | |
| Judaism | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: What ,if any, serves as a "church" for the followers of Judaism? A: Jews pray in a Synagogue (or Shul, as it is often called). Jews pray in the morning and evening. A ... | |
| Judaism | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: Is there acknowledgement of sin in this Judaism? A: Judaism believes that sin exists and that there are different types of sin: 1. "Cheit"- sins that a ... | |
| Judaism | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: Does Judaism see people as basically good or basically evil and why? A: Judaism believes that people are basically good. The Torah describes that Adam and Eve originally ... | |
| Judea at the time of Herod | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: Rabbi- I was wondering what the impact was that Herod's killing of all the Judean male children ... A: To be honest, the only source I am aware of that refers to Herod killing all Judean males at that ... | |
| whats next? | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: Correct me on this first part if I have it wrong, but I am that the "reward" is the same for both ... A: The Jewish understanding of "reward" for people who "get it right" is not simply eternal life. ... | |
| King David | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: G_d bless you Rabbi, I have been exploring King David recently. Can you give me any information ... A: That is a very interesting question! I don't believe that the Bible spells out David's ratings as a ... | |
| law | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I am considering becoming a lawyer and was wondering if that would be an acceptable profession ... A: A lawyer is an acceptable Jewish profession, as long as you follow the ethical guidelines of Judaism ... | |
| Sacrifice | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I just came across your answer about sacrifice from 4/19/09, which lead me to wonder: When do you ... A: I think we could all do with an extra act of kindness, and sometimes we need to creative with it : ) ... | |
| Noahide Laws | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I am currently taking Judaism classes online with a Rabbi. I love Judaism, every aspect of it and I ... A: Your situation is certainly unique, and commendable. As you know, Judaism does not encourage nor ... | |
| halloween | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: Are Jews allowed to celebrate Halloween? A: What an interesting question! I think it's fair to suggest that the average American Jew would not ... | |
| Sacrifice | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I just came across your answer about sacrifice from 4/19/09, which lead me to wonder: When do you ... A: The daily sacrifice ceased when the Romans attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in the 1st ... | |
| Support for Israel | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I've been wanting to find a way to show my support for Israel. A friend of mine suggested wearing a ... A: I, and many other Jewish people, appreciate your sentiment and support. I would not suggest that you ... | |
| Jewish Ethics and Law | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: can you please explain and expand the Jewish Ethics and Laws of the three main branches of Judaism ... A: This is really a broad topic, so I'll just give you a brief outline: Orthodox Judaism believes in ... | |
| David and the Temple | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: You previously answered a question for me about David bringing the sacrifices. I would assume that ... A: While you are correct that the overall law is not to bring a sacrifice anywhere but in the Mishkan ... | |
| David and the Temple | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: You previously answered a question for me about David bringing the sacrifices. I would assume that ... A: 1) The Mishkan was erected in Gilgal when the Jews entered the Land of Israel and remained there for ... | |
| explaining puberty to our son | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: Our son is 12 yrs. old and will be having his bar mitzvah in a few months, G-d willing. We have ... A: Firstly, mazal tov on your son's upcoming bar mitzvah. Your question really resonates with me, ... | |
| Several questions | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: I hope you and your family had a wonderful Passover! I have several unrelated questions: 1) In this ... A: 1. Before the Temple in Jerusalem was built, individuals were allowed to sacrifice on a "bamah", a ... | |
| Sacrifice | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: What is the meaning of the sacrifical laws in ancient israel? Many christians claim that it ... A: Jews do not believe that anything or anyone can be sacrificed and atone for our sins. We are ... | |
| Several questions | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I hope you and your family had a wonderful Passover! I have several unrelated questions: 1) In this ... A: Pesach was excellent, thank you. You've got some good questions here, let's take a look: 1) David ... | |
| a question on idolatry and kids movies | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: coming soon there is a film called "Where the wild Things Are." In this film, people wear big ... A: I think the issue in question here is not really about the technology as much as it is about the ... | |
| service | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: Are non-orthodox jews allowed to attend orthodox services? And is every part of the service ... A: Yes, Orthodox prayer services are generally in Hebrew. Hebrew is the holy language, the language G-d ... | |
| occupations | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: What kind of occupations do orthodox jews engage in? A: Sorry for not replying sooner, but the Pesach season is very busy. Orthodox Jew engage in just ... | |
| "In sin" | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: First let me thank you for your willingness to answer questions in this forum. Your service has been ... A: I appreciate your thanks, and am glad to be able to assist. As you can see from the context of the ... | |
| jewish "People" | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I was having a debate with someone about Jews being both a religion and a race. I said that we are ... A: Defining what Jews are is a tricky business, and people have been debating this for ages. You ... | |
| Wine-kosher for Passover? | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I know that during Passover we not only avoid yeast but also those things that yeast acts upon (ie ... A: I have to be honest, I have more experience with drinking wine than I do with making wine. As I ... | |
| rabbis | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm sure this is an odd question but I was thinking of becoming a rabbi but I can't find out any ... A: Interesting question! Each rabbi is in a different financial situation. Some rabbis serve very ... | |
| Jewish wedding ring | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: does a wedding ring for a Jewish wedding be of a certain mineral? Must it be silver or gold? Can it ... A: Ideally, a Jewish wedding ring should be gold. Gold symbolizes the deepest type of love, according ... | |
| Jewish Mysticism | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: I am working on a report about Jewish Mysticism. Right now I am focused on the animals, angels and ... A: Sounds like you're doing a very interesting project, good luck! You can find loads of information ... | |
| BAr Mitzvah & Puberty | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: If I may I would like to ask a followup question. Your answer implies that if the bar mitzvah boy ... A: A boy's barmitzvah is supposed to be a happy event, not an uncomfortable or embarrassing experience. ... | |
| community | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: NOw i now the rabbi wouldn't shun me but I hear alot of talk within Reform congregations that ... A: The Torah forbids us from looking down on converts. On the contrary, the community is expected to ... | |
| hebrew/conversion | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if they would accept me or if I would be for lack of a better word shunned? A: I think it's fair to say that most people who approach the Orthodox community to convert do not have ... | |
| Bar Mitzvah & Puberty | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I understand that according to strict Jewish law in order for a boy to become a bar mitzvah he must ... A: This is a very interesting question and most people are probably unaware of the issue altogether. ... | |
| occupations | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Do to the fact that they keep to themselve throughout the community are Orthodox Jews limited in the ... A: The only job restrictions that Orthodox Jews have are due to Shabbat observance or moral issues, not ... | |
| Free choice | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: Im a male 21 from India. Could you answer these - 1) How to use the Gift of Free Choice that it ... A: 1) Free choice is a gift, as you say, and we need to use it to make choices that will improve our ... | |
| kippah | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I was wondeirng if you have to wear a kippah in your own house or if you just have to wear one in ... A: Often when you understand the reason for something, the question answers itself. The reason for ... | |
| Question | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: Could you these questions -- 1) Why the Divine revelation is hidden from me? 2) Will the ... A: G-d deliberately hides from us so that we can look for Him. If you open your eyes, you see sparks of ... | |
| community | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: DO Orthodox Jews keep to themselves within the community? A: I assume that you're asking if Orthodox Jews keep to themselves within the community. When you ... | |
| kippahs | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I also live in Dumont NJ, near Teaneck NJ and when walking through the town I saw alot of plain ... A: Wearing a kippah is essentially a Jewish tradition, rather than a law per se. The purpose of the ... | |
| General Inquiry | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: First and foremost... I am not a Jew. However, I wake up each day to the same earth, the same sun, ... A: I have no idea WHY G-d would choose one specific group as His "chosen" people, so I can't answer ... | |
| More on Is God Cruel | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: The below verse in Deuteronomy says that if a person propagates and entice people to worship idols, ... A: As always, Torah verses need to be understood in context. In this case, there is a twofold context ... | |
| judaism | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: shalom.recently i convertdas ajew.before i used to believe yahshua as messiah.now i have some ... A: 1. We believe that G-d is infinite and beyond any description. The first statement of the Ten ... | |
| Instruction of the faith | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: Rabbi, I am doing research on collaborative ministry in the area of religious education and am ... A: There is definitely precedent of communities working together to teach children, right through ... | |
| Instruction of the faith | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: Rabbi, I am doing research on collaborative ministry in the area of religious education and am ... A: Sorry for my delayed response, I have been out of town and out of Internet range (what a great ... | |
| Is God cruel - Follow up | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: If God wants to punish the deviants, why does He punish their children. You wrote "When a parent ... A: The Torah teaches (Deut. 24:16): "The fathers shall not die for the children, nor shall the children ... | |
| the Oral law... | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: i have heard that the written law is less powerful without the Oral Law. Since the Oral Law is ... A: It sounds like someone has given you a slightly skewed version of the Oral v. Written Law. The ... | |
| Is God cruel? | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I was reading Leviticus. The below verses says that God punishes innocent children. How could a God ... A: Generally speaking, G-d looks to show kindness and love to all His creations. "G-d is good to all, ... | |
| Jewish prayer | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Why do Jews nod or repeatedly bow during prayer. I have seen this numeous times at the wailing wall? A: You won't only see this at the Wailing Wall, but pretty much everywhere that religious Jews pray. ... | |
| More on circumcision | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: You wrote that God wished to emblazon His covenant by mark on their flesh. Why should that be in ... A: Good questions : ) Judaism believes that the task of Jewish people is to take the physical world ... | |
| Reg circumcision | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: Why Judaism asks men to circumcise? What is the reason behind this?. If circumcision is good, why ... A: Jews circumcise their children because G-d commanded Abraham to circumcise his son and all future ... | |
| tattoos and converts? | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: i have a friend that has sent in the paperwork for his conversion to orthodox jew. he has never met ... A: I guess it would depend on what the tattoos depict. Generally speaking, Judaism forbids tattoos. ... | |
| Suicide and Judaism. | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if perhaps you had some knowledge on the amounts of suicides carried out by ... A: Firstly, my apologies for not responding sooner, we have just completed the busiest month on the ... | |
| Change of outlook | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: About two years ago, if that, I gave up my christian belief. I struggled with it for 20 years until ... A: I think that what you're experience is very normal, though quite unnerving (as you indicate). It ... | |
| Familiar Spirits/Occult | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: I am extremely concerned about my sister. She has mentioned that she had a couple of contacts with ... A: Kabbalah is an intrinsic part of Judaism- it is the ancient Jewish mystical tradition that has been ... | |
| you and i | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: why don't Jews' believe in the messiah? And why don't you believe the new Gospel? Has it been ... A: Jews sure do believe in the Messiah- in fact Jews are the people who introduced the concept of ... | |
| Proper way of mourning under the circumstances | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: my friend is a convert and an Orthodox Jew. Her mother, however, was not Jewish and was a practicing ... A: Whenever a person loses a loved one, it is a challenging and emotional experience. There is no ... | |
| Familiar Spirits/Occult | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I am extremely concerned about my sister. She has mentioned that she had a couple of contacts with ... A: I think you have good reason to feel concerned. People tend to involve themselves in things which ... | |
| "Other gods that you have not known" | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: In this week's Parshah, the Torah discusses the curses and how we will bring them upon us by ... A: Shana Tovah! Please remember that the Torah's directive is aimed at US. The fact that other ... | |
| number 19 | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: Is there any significance of number 19 in judaism? For example, bahais have 19 months in their ... A: Every number in Judaism has significance, because the Hebrew letters all have numerical values and, ... | |
| Life on other planets | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: what can we deduct from the Torah and orthodox and mystical teachings about life on other planets? ... A: There clearly isn't much written about ET and friends in the Torah. After the famous story of ... | |
| Deuteronomy 11 | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: I ran into a snag during my parshah reading and would like your help. Deuteronomy 1:3 sets the time ... A: Good question! The people who died before entering the Promised Land were the those who had been ... | |
| More on Animal cruelty. | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: You wrote that animal burnt offerings of the old were part of spiritual exercise. Can you please ... A: If you consider the way that ecosystems work, you will see an interesting cycle. Soil gives life to ... | |
| "The cause of the fatherless and the case of the widow" | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: Early on in Isaiah, there is mentioned the importance of "the cause of the fatherless" and "the case ... A: There are quite a few Biblical references to the fact that G-d looks out for orphans and widows. The ... | |
| two questions! | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: firstly, do you think you could tell me what or who the "avenger of blood" is? Secondly, the law ... A: I hope that I've understood your reference correctly. The "avenger of blood" means any family member ... | |
| Essenes | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I was reading history about how the Essenes separated from Temple worship because they said that ... A: The Essenes were a small sect of radical Jews, living around the end of the Second Temple era. They ... | |
| Animal cruelty | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I read several verses in Bible about animal burnt offering at altar and marking and sprinkling of ... A: Judaism is strongly opposed to animal cruelty. But, this does not mean that we are not allowed to ... | |
| About resurrection | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: You wrote that even Heaven is not a permanent position and the souls will be resurrected and born as ... A: it allows me to clarify. When I spoke about resurrection, I meant at the time of the Messianic ... | |
| About Hell | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: I read in one of your reply that Hell is not permanent position. Do you mean according to Judaism, ... A: Firstly, the term "Hell" is not really a Jewish term. We use the expression "Gehinnom", which ... | |
| Time - Counting of Days | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: Rabbi Shishler, I have been researching the day that Jesus died, a subject that you are probably not ... A: The Talmud commonly uses the phrase "Part of the day constitutes a day". This has practical ... | |
| Matrilineal Descent | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: you have recently replied to someone's question that G-d makes Gentile souls and Jewish souls, and ... A: You can read up on the subject in the "Shaar HaGilgulim" (Gates of Reincarnation) by the famed ... | |
| Matrilineal Descent | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: you have recently replied to someone's question that G-d makes Gentile souls and Jewish souls, and ... A: Let's deal with these questions one by one: 1) Souls are not made at conception, the soul exists ... | |
| Matrilineal Descent | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: you have recently replied to someone's question that G-d makes Gentile souls and Jewish souls, and ... A: Let's start with a Torah reference: "You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your ... | |
| Converting to Reform Judaism | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I'm a non-jew wishing to convert to Reform judaism, and I would just like to know where about in Jhb ... A: I must be honest, I have serious reservations about following the Reform conversion process. ... | |
| conversion....! | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: i am currently a 20 year old male of Japanese descent living in the UK and have been trying my ... A: Before you go down the conversion course, please consider this: Judaism does not believe that every ... | |
| Efrain Tribe | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: My family were spanish jews whos came from the tribe of Efrain. We came to North America in the late ... A: The tribe of Efraim was a branch of the tribe of Joseph. You can find information here: ... | |
| Gensis 1 | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to understand Genesis 1 from a Jewish perspective. I am particularly interested in ... A: I think your best bet for getting a good compendium of Midrashic and Talmudic sources on Genesis 1 ... | |
| Conceptual questions about God | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: This is about the question of God-PART I. If you notice, there are many different gods in the world. ... A: I have to be honest and say that I know very little about what Conservative Judaism believes or ... | |
| The Talmud | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: "Hi, I read Israel Shahak's book "Jewish History, Jewish Religion, the Weight of Three Thousand ... A: J. First up, I have to admit that I haven't read Shahak's book, so I can't comment on his ... | |
| images. | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: i have been asking many of the practicers of Judaism on this website about the law on images in ... A: This is a very interesting question, and other people have shared your reservations in the past. ... | |
| Sabbath | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: Is there any evidence from the Tanack that the seventh day was observed on Saturday? The Gregorian ... A: There's no direct reference in the Torah to the names of the days of the week (as we know them). The ... | |
| christian dating a Jew ????? | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: Hey, I recently met a wonderful young lady, she is Jewish. I am a Christian, and I've never really ... A: Well, that changes things a little- certainly from my point of view. Judaism only considers you ... | |
| idolatry | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, verses 16-19 "Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not ... A: The Hebrew term used to introduce that section is "semel", which means a 3D figure. So, Judaism ... | |
| christian dating a Jew ????? | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: Hey, I recently met a wonderful young lady, she is Jewish. I am a Christian, and I've never really ... A: Well done on looking into this before going out, I think it shows great sensitivity on your part to ... | |
| Burial | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: Rabbi, Why are there to be no nails in a Jew's coffin? Thanks and shalom! A: The truth is that some Jewish coffins do have nails, but generally we prefer to use wooden pegs. ... | |
| adultery.. | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: is it adultery if she has a boyfriend but not a husband? A: Technically, adultery only applies to a married woman. Nonetheless, that does not permit a person to ... | |
| praying | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: Are there any examples of going to Graves of sadeekem to pray in the Tanach, why did not the kings ... A: Rashi explains that Rachel died in Beis Lechem and was buried on the side of the road, so that her ... | |
| Deut. 22:5 | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: We have heard many explanations of this verse about a man is not to wear womens clothing, and a ... A: I'll assume that you've covered the standard answer that the Torah wants to keep men and women from ... | |
| What's in a name? | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: According to the Arizal, the nature and behavior of a person can be found by analyzing his or her ... A: As you correctly point out, this opens a Pandora's Box of related issues on Free Choice v. ... | |
| What's in a name? | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: According to the Arizal, the nature and behavior of a person can be found by analyzing his or her ... A: The Gemorah teaches that when parents name a child, they have a spark of Ruach Hakodesh (Divine ... | |
| Fiction. | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: I am currently a writer of fiction. Is this lying? The Commandments say it is false witness AGAINST ... A: That's a very interesting question! I don't believe that writing fiction constitutes lying. ... | |
| Greek Orthodox Jew | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: A friend recently exchanged greetings with a man in a hospital elevator. He was wearing a kepah and ... A: Shalom Gwen Greek Orthodox Jews? That's news to me. Of course, he could simply have meant that he ... | |
| Anxiety | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: I have terrible anxiety, I keep having thoughts of making deals with the devil (though I honestly ... A: Yes. Darkness has no real substance and can be undone with a little light. Actions need work to be ... | |
| orthodox view of homosexuals | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: How do the Orthodox feel about homosexuals? Why? A: The Torah clearly prohibits homosexual relationships and Orthodox Jews subscribe to that. We feel ... | |
| Satan. | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: I am a keen believer in YHWH and hope to one day endure the rites of passage to become a Jew. I ... A: Your observations about Satan are quite correct. As you see in the story of Job, Satan appears ... | |
| loosing focus | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I am dating a lovely guy who not even two dates with me decided he wanted to convert. He and i have ... A: To be honest, your situation is tricky, and you probably find it quite frustrating. Conversion, as ... | |
| Cohens marrying converts | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: first, I live in NZ and Shabbat is out. I have a young relative who is a Cohen and who is going out ... A: The "kohen-marrying-a-convert" issue is thorny and uncomfortable for many. Simply- a kohen may not ... | |
| Observancy | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: First of all, thank you for taking your time for replying my e-mail. I am a convert to Judaism. I ... A: We always joke about Jews having a constant sense of Jewish guilt, so I guess your concern is itself ... | |
| Clothing/Old Testament | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: I do not have the scripture reference verse, but you probably will find it quickly. I am curious as ... A: The Torah prohibits wearing garments of a wool and linen mixture. There is no reason given for this ... | |
| inter-faith dialogue | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: 1. How do you define inter-faith dialogue? 2. Have you or your congregation taken part in any ... A: 1. Inter-faith dialogue is the conversation between members of different religions where each side ... | |
| re:wig | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: my name is j.Z.my Jewish friend told me that Jewish women wearing a wig, because they shave their ... A: Z. Relax, you don't need to shave anytime soon : ) There is nothing in the Bible about Jewish ... | |
| Jewish and Christian friendships | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: My Jewish friend and I (I am Christian) went to a Jewish bookstore to learn more about Judaism - as ... A: Quick answers are luck of the draw, depending on whether or not I'm at my PC when you ask your ... | |
| Jewish and Christian friendships | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: My Jewish friend and I (I am Christian) went to a Jewish bookstore to learn more about Judaism - as ... A: I think that you were right in advising your friend to ask a rabbi. What's the worst that can ... | |
| Jewish and Christian friendships | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: My Jewish friend and I (I am Christian) went to a Jewish bookstore to learn more about Judaism - as ... A: Whoa! What a story! Question 1: Can you tell me what questions you guys asked him? Maybe something ... | |
| Speaking G-d's name | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: I would greatly appreciate any information you could provide on th efollowing questions. Thank you. ... A: Jews are very careful not to refer to G-d by name unnecessarily, regardless of what language they're ... | |
| Leah | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: We named our daughter Leah, after her great-grandmother. We were aware of the meaning "weary" at the ... A: I can just imagine what goes through a 7 year-olds' mind when she hears that... The truth is that ... | |
| Drums | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: When I was a Christian I once found a site that said that drums were used in African religions to ... A: Judaism does not have any issue with playing drums. In fact, the Torah notes that Miriam (sister of ... | |
| i feel bad and need someone to talk to... | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: i'm askin' you, rabbi, because i am jewish. i am constantly feeling bad because this is my ... A: It sounds like you're really having a rough time. It doesn't matter how long ago your father passed ... | |
| Rest Room | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I've noticed that when an Orthdox person uses the restroom, He fills up a plastic cup with water ... A: Actually, Jews wash their hands in that manner for various things. According to Jewish custom, a ... | |
| ayuda | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: My father was Jew and my mother catholic. My father took me several times to the synagogal and I ... A: I think the best thign for you to do is to be in touch with the rabbi of that Synagogue. He can ... | |
| Whose People 2 | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: Q- Re Hosea 1:10 -If Hashem prophesies through Hosea to His people that “Israel would no longer be ... A: The "queen" is used in the Talmudic metaphor to represent the Jewish people, as the king is used to ... | |
| career and spirituality--time planning? | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: I find that wanting to have a career which demands about 50 hour work weeks leaves little time to ... A: Sorry for the long delay in responding, it is a very busy time of the year. Our great Talmudists ... | |
| Whose People? | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Q- Re Hosea 1:10 -If Hashem prophesies through Hosea to His people that “Israel would no longer be ... A: The famous commentator, Rashi, refers us to a Talmudic discussion of these juxtaposed verses. The ... | |
| Creating a Torah based physical education program | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I have recently been approached to create a PE program for a new elementary school. There is a range ... A: This sounds like a wonderful idea! I am unaware of a precedent for this sort of program, but ... | |
| Conversion, Orthodox vs. Conservative | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: My girlfriend is considering conversion through either the orthodox or conservative sects. Can you ... A: Conversions tend to be quite personalized, so the way things work in one city is not identical to ... | |
| Jewish hats | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I was wanting to know what you call a hat that is about 5" wide and has brown fur around it. I moved ... A: There are various sects within Orthodox Judaism, including a number of groups called Hassidim. These ... | |
| Zebulon | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: Q- Can you tell me....is the tribe of Zebulon ddescendants of Ham? It is said that the "IBO tribe ... A: Zebulun is one of Jacob's sons, so his tribe are essentially descendants of Shem. There are a ... | |
| Forgiveness | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: Q- What exactly “desecrates” the Sabbath, and is there “forgiveness” if one does? A: That's a good question. There are 39 categories of "work" that a Jew may not do on the Shabbat (or ... | |
| This Day | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: Q- Why is Yom Kippur called the “Day of Repentance”…when every day is an opportunity to repent ... A: Yom Kippur is called "one (day) in a year". That means that repentance is available every day, but ... | |
| Future Sight | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: Q- Where does the Tanakh say prophecy will not be possible until the Moshaich and what specifically ... A: The Tanach does not say there will be no prophecy until Moshiach, the Talmud does. Certain classical ... | |
| 70 soul families | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: I am very intrigued by the idea of there being 70 soul families, and I'm interested in learning more ... A: I should have anticipated that this was the direction of your question... Well, it's tricky. ... | |
| 70 soul families | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I am very intrigued by the idea of there being 70 soul families, and I'm interested in learning more ... A: You surely know that there were seven nations that the Children of Israel conquered when they ... | |
| Hell(?) in Judaism | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: Is there such thing as an idea of "Hell" in Judaism? It seems to be a popular motif in other ... A: The way most people (and religions) view Hell is a place of eternal damnation and punishment. ... | |
| Brazeness 2 | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: The brazen sinner was barred from the sanctuary, and had to bear his own iniquity because of his ... A: Within Judaism, there is always scope for repentance, which essentially means "righting" what a ... | |
| Brazeness | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: The brazen sinner was barred from the sanctuary, and had to bear his own iniquity because of his ... A: The sin offering was designed to complete the process of atonement. Clearly, if a person brought the ... | |
| Sarai | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: I was reading about the visit of the angels to Abraham under the Oaks of Mammre and about Sarai's ... A: There are two types of laughter described in that account. Sarai laughed AND stated her disbelief ... | |
| Order | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: R.Shishler- I was waiting for your response on this (2nd time) Re this passage: 2Ch 35:5 And ... A: That's strange, I don't have this as a pending question... Apologies. The Passover sacrifice was ... | |
| Gabriel 2 | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: Q- Is the Angel Gabriel considered to be the “guardian” of Israel? ANSWER: Hi R Michael is the ... A: To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what you meant by "guardian", which is why I gave both options. ... | |
| Tempting? | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: Q-Re: Numbers 14:20-22 -What does Hashem mean by saying in vs. 21 “All the earth shall be filled ... A: The "glory" of G-d means His Divine Presence (this is a great example of the impact getting lost in ... | |
| Comment | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: When Moshe made this comment: "I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you who are ... A: I think the context is important. The preceding verses say that G-d had gathered THOSE people for ... | |
| Wedding Confusion | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi Ari Shishler, I am planning on getting married in June 2008. I am learning and studying about ... A: Firstly, Mazal tov for your wedding. I hope that everything goes well for you and your fiancé. It's ... | |
| Gentile/Israelite | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: Gen 10 tells us that the descendent of the sons of jepath are all Europeans (kittim,javan,,meshesh ... A: The Ashkenazim and Sephardim of today are descended of the original Jewish People, referred to in ... | |
| Gentile/Israelite | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: Gen 10 tells us that the descendent of the sons of jepath are all Europeans (kittim,javan,,meshesh ... A: The reference to Jews as Asheknazi or Sephardi is a recent reference to refer to their main places ... | |
| Why Angels? | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I have not heard of this being mentioned in the Tanakh anywhere...is there such a notion? "And the ... A: I am assuming that you have encountered angels in the Tanach and that your question is specific to ... | |
| Mysterious He-Goat? | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi Shishler: I was told by your colleague “R. Eli Hadar that you may be more qualified to answer ... A: Very interesting questions! The normal process of atonement, whether for an individual or for the ... | |
| Mysterious He-Goat? | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi Shishler: I was told by your colleague “R. Eli Hadar that you may be more qualified to answer ... A: On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol would represent the entire Jewish people to receive atonement from ... | |
| Furnace2 | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: Q-R. Shishler, I’d like to ask again regarding your prior response regarding the meaning of “UR OF ... A: The Midrash relates that Terach was a senior member of his pagan society. He even owned an idol ... | |
| Furnace? | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: Q-R. Shishler, I’d like to ask again regarding your prior response regarding the meaning of “UR OF ... A: I am impressed! I had toyed with the idea of including this in my original response... The Midrash ... | |
| Exodus 6, 7, 8 and 9 | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what it means to bind them upon the hand and shall be between your eyes as ... A: This verse refers to "Tefillin" (a.k.a. phylacteries), which males over 13 wear daily for prayers. ... | |
| adultery | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I would like an answer, with supporting authorities, on whether, in Orthodox Judaism, halakha ... A: For a start, Orthodox Judaism bans any Jewish person from having a relationship with a non-Jewish ... | |
| Descendants | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: Q-Re Be’reshis 10:6-8 Why does the Torah specifically mention “CUSH” descendants? -Why not ... A: 1) The Torah often alludes to an entire story with a word or two. When Hashem makes the "Covenant ... | |
| Descendants | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: Q-Re Be’reshis 10:6-8 Why does the Torah specifically mention “CUSH” descendants? -Why not ... A: The Torah only provides information that is important to know- either as a lesson for us, or because ... | |
| Daniel 9 | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: Who is this Messiah that is spoken of in Daniel 9:24-26? The JPS TNK calls him an anointed one and ... A: I know you probably imagined I just gave up on your question. Truth is, that I had answered off the ... | |
| Daniel 9 | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Who is this Messiah that is spoken of in Daniel 9:24-26? The JPS TNK calls him an anointed one and ... A: Daniel 9 is one of the most difficult passages in the Tanach to study. It's quite enigmatic, and ... | |
| Daniel 9 | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: Who is this Messiah that is spoken of in Daniel 9:24-26? The JPS TNK calls him an anointed one and ... A: Has Moshiach ben Yosef come already? I'd love to say yes, but I don't know that it is cut and dry. ... | |
| Question | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: I'm having trouble understanding Judaism's stance on the after life? what are your views on this ... A: If you could be a little more specific, I could probably help you more. Very basically, Judaism ... | |
| Daniel 9 | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: Who is this Messiah that is spoken of in Daniel 9:24-26? The JPS TNK calls him an anointed one and ... A: The term "Mashiach" is often rendered in English as "Messiah", while the correct translation is ... | |
| veracity of judaism | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: Does judaism hold that is the only true path to spirituality? And if so, why should I believe in ... A: Nope, it's not only the amount of witnesses that makes an event true, but it does play a role. ... | |
| veracity of judaism | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: Does judaism hold that is the only true path to spirituality? And if so, why should I believe in ... A: As Jews, we believe that the Torah is 100% true. That's not because one or two people told us so, ... | |
| veracity of judaism | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: Does judaism hold that is the only true path to spirituality? And if so, why should I believe in ... A: We were chosen as a special people at the time of the giving of the Torah. In other words, that's ... | |
| Psalm 110 | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: I am discussing this Psalm with a Christian friend of mine. I'm sure you know their take on the ... A: Sorry for the delayed response, I only checked the site after the Chagim. The Ibn Ezra (well-known ... | |
| veracity of judaism | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: Does judaism hold that is the only true path to spirituality? And if so, why should I believe in ... A: Judaism doesn't claim to have a monopoly on spirituality. We believe that there are 70 soul ... | |
| Akedat Yitzchak | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: So was the act of the Akeidah (all the motions, not necessarily following through even) necessary to ... A: Shem and co. were all great people, but none measured up to the unique greatness of Avraham. For a ... | |
| Idols? | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: Q- Psalms 81 speaks of: "Oh, Israel, if you would but listen to ME. There shall be no strange god ... A: According to Jewish mysticism, the worst type of "foreign god" is ego. The Talmud refers to an ... | |
| Noah | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: The Torah says that Noah had his sons at the age of 500, and the flood was over when he was 600 ... A: After the Flood, there's a story of how Noah got drunk and was harmed (various interpretations of ... | |
| True prophet | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: Sir, Do the jews await for a new prophet to come or had he already come?. How can the people ... A: Jews believe that there have been a number of true prophets that have come. We also look forward to ... | |
| Ephraim 1 | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: Q- It was understood that, "Joshua's task, (Tribe of Ephraim) was to lead the people in and conquer ... A: Not sure what happened, but I've submitted the answer twice already, and it did not go through. ... | |
| Ephraim | 3/14/2007 |
| Q: Q- It was understood that, "Joshua's task, (Tribe of Ephraim) was to lead the people in and conquer ... A: After the death of King Solomon, the Jewish nation was split into two kingdoms: Judah and Israel or ... | |
| Creation 2 | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: Shishler.. Yes, this answers my question, but since the passage in Exodus speaks of the "mixed ... A: That's an interesting point that you raise. The issue here is that Shabbat observance comes with a ... | |
| Rites | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: What are the procedures to go through during a Barmitzfah? A: The truth is that a young man becomes Barmitzvah automatically at 13, even if he does nothing about ... | |
| Akedat Yitzchak | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: OK so after thinking about it here are my few objections. Firstly, I do not agree that there are no ... A: No problem, being insistent is a healthy Jewish trait :) The Muslim example is not good enough, in ... | |
| Akedat Yitzchak | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: So was the act of the Akeidah (all the motions, not necessarily following through even) necessary to ... A: Apologies for taking so long with this one, my internet was knocked out by lightning (it's still not ... | |
| Jews about Angels. | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: Does the Judaism endorse belief in angels such as Gabriel, Michael etc. ?. Also does Judaism endorse ... A: Jews certainly believe in Angels, including Gabriel and Michael (as per various references in the ... | |
| Kosher Dining | 3/9/2007 |
| Q: I am thinking about becoming kosher and I want to know what are the kosher rules on going out to ... A: I think that's a very bold move on your part- all strenght to you! The main rule about kosher ... | |
| Creation | 3/8/2007 |
| Q: I see that Genesis 2:2, 3 tells us that God rested on the "seventh day" after his work of creation ... A: Interesting question! Jewish understanding teaches that the 7-day Creation cycle repeats every ... | |
| Akedat Yitzchak | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi Shishler, I feel a little disappointed at your answer because I expected I guess something ... A: I guess I didn't explain myself clearly enough, apologies. We all appreciate that Hashem doesn't ... | |
| Akedat Yitzchak | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi Shishler, there is a question that I have asked many rabbis and scholars but was unable to ... A: The story of the Akeda is a very pivotal piece of Jewish history and a defining moment in its ... | |
| Matrilineal descent | 3/1/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi I believe I have found a great teacher in you - are you sure you're not Rabbi Akiva Tatz? ... A: Firstly, sorry for my delay in responding, the preparations for, and celebration of Purim left me ... | |
| Pinehas 2 | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: Okay R. Shishler, I don't quite understand your reply to this question asked earlier... Q-Was ... A: Sorry, maybe I should have been more specific. When G-d introduced the concept of being a Kohen, ... | |
| Matrilineal descent | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: What is the deeper reason - beyond the practicality - of why a person is a Jew only if his/her ... A: Great question! You must know the old Jewish saying that Jews always answer a question with a ... | |
| Pinehas | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: That helps much R. Shishler, but for further understanding: Q- what exactly do you mean by saying" ... A: You're welcome. 1) When you say someone else "atones for you", it implies that they do all the work ... | |
| Pinehas | 2/20/2007 |
| Q: Shalom R. Shishler- Q- Was Phinehas already of a “priestly family”…and what is meant by the ... A: Shalom R 1) Pinchas was in a unique situation. When Hashem appointed Aaron as a kohen/priest, the ... | |
| FalseProphet | 1/26/2007 |
| Q: Follow-up again.. Ok, R. Shishler regarding your comments: "This would fit with the Deuteronomy ... A: The Rambam refers to the Daniel reference you originally quoted (I hadn't checked the Rambam when I ... | |
| Psalms | 1/26/2007 |
| Q: Q- Can you help me PLEASE help me understand Psalm 72:1-15 and 72:17-19 It speaks of a king that is ... A: It's great to see someone doing meaningful research into Torah :) As the opening verse of Psalm 72 ... | |
| FalseProphet | 1/25/2007 |
| Q: yes it does help me..but for a bit more of clarification can you further explain your last ... A: 1) Firstly, the term "peritzei" used by Daniel is commonly understood to mean rebel against G-d (the ... | |
| FalseProphet | 1/24/2007 |
| Q: Shalom R.Shishler- A question was asked…....Is JC referred to in the Jewish Bible, the answer ... A: Shalom R I think one must always be cautious about making Scriptural references (or inferences). ... | |
| Followup | 1/23/2007 |
| Q: My apology, here is there reference to the above inquiry: Numbers 16:38 “The censers of these ... A: Ok, now I know what you're referring to. The "sinners" in the first instance is not a general term, ... | |
| gods | 1/23/2007 |
| Q: Where does Judaism teach about the Muslim and Christian gods? Are they the same as the Jewish god, ... A: Judaism believes that there is only one G-d. He is the source of all life, both spiritual and ... | |
| Question | 1/22/2007 |
| Q: Ari Shishler- Q-I have these questions on these passages: -Who were the “sinners” in these ... A: but I need a little more detail. I'm not sure which passages you're referring to. The "sinners" may ... | |
| philo | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: "The role of these righteous individuals or prophets is twofold. They assist us in making contact ... A: The righteous individuals I mentioned teach the methodology of prayer. They also direct individuals ... | |
| philo | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: I have been reading the ancient writings of Philo and am trying to understand the Jewish concept of ... A: Judaism believes that every human being has a direct connection to G-d. This connection works both ... | |
| Adam & Eve | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: Rabbi, Here's an article I wrote several years ago that touches upon our conversation. Please let me ... A: So, we have proof that Eve was a Jewish wife : ) I like your article, but have to make a few ... | |
| Adam & Eve | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: Welcome to AllExperts! What do you believe would have happened if Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree ... A: and for your intriguing question. The truth is, your question is highly hypothetical. I mean, women ... | |
| Sabbath observance | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: Without telling my religious history, I am trying to become a better Jew. I have not observed ... A: Firstly, sorry for the delayed response. You obviously posted your question before Shabbat began, ... | |
| converting | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: I am currently dating a man who's father is Jewish but mother is not. I am Jewish and he knows how ... A: Firstly, I think it's always important to put conversion in the correct perspective. As Jews, we ... | |
| Converting from Reform to Orthodox? | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Is it unusual or rare for someone who has converted to Reform or Conservative Judaism to later ... A: It's not that unusual. I guess it depends on where a person lives. Certain communities have a strong ... | |
| the laws | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: When we read the some of the Torah, there are laws that tell us to do harsh things; to stone ... A: I've just come across your question. The main issue here is context. When the Torah taught these ... | |
| Question | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I am a Philosophy student and a Christian, but I am very interested in Judaism as well as ... A: I've just come across your question. Here are some thoughts: The one and only time that Satan is ... | |
Orthodox Judaism
Answers by Expert:
Rabbi Ari Shishler
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am a rabbi who loves teaching, through writing and speaking. In 1999, my wife and I started our own Chabad House and it's grown exponentially. I'm also the learning director at Chabad House of Johannesburg, a high school teacher and the father of young children. As you can imagine, I get to answer lots of questions every day. I'd be glad to answer your questions on Judaism, Jewish spirituality and practice.
Experience
I have been a practicing Orthodox rabbi since 1997 and have headed my own community since 1999.
I teach Talmud at a religious high school in Johannesburg and give daily lectures to adults on Jewish practice, spiritualty, Chassidic philosophy and Kabbalah.
I'm the campus rabbi at our two major universities in Johannesburg.
Organizations
Chabad-Lubavitch
South African Rabbinical Association.
Publications
Monthly column in Jewish Life magazine, South Africa.
Jewish Tradition, South Africa.
Jewish Report, South Africa.
South African Union of Jewish Students annual Holiday guide.
Jewish Observer, South Africa.
Nshei Chabad Newsletter, NY.
Jewish Online Magazine.
www.chabad.org
Education/Credentials
After completing high scool, I spent six years studying in Rabbinical seminaries in South Africa, Israel and New York.
Past/Present Clients
www.chabad.org
www.askmoses.com
ChaiFM (www.chaifm.com)
Jewish Life magazine
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