Question: When was the first Passover?

Answer: 1312 BCE. This was the year of the Exodus. The first Seder took place the night before the Exodus.

Take care,
Pinchas

Question: What is a Mentsch? I understand in German it means a person, however in Judaism, Mentsch has more meaning. It is a good person – one who helps others. Where in the Torah does mentsch come up? 

Answer: A Mensch is a person who behaves in a proper and dignified way, both externally and internally. Most of the major Jewish characters in the Torah were mensches, ergo, the Torah does not describe a Mensch but one studies these people to learn how a mensch behaves. By the way, a Mensch isn’t perfect, and can err just like anyone else.

Regards, Eliahu Levenson

Question: Was Abraham a Jew?

Answer: Hi! “Was Abraham a Jew” is an interesting question, and one that may be impossible to answer. It comes down to definitions. He wasn’t a party to the covenant made at Mount Sinai, and thus he wasn’t given the full set of 613 commandments (Mitzvos) that define Israel’s obligations.

On the other hand, that covenant at Mount Sinai, and all those Mitzvos – they were themselves an outgrowth of the covenant G-d made with Abraham. He was the founder of Israel, and everything that G-d did with them came from his relationship with Abraham. And since G-d’s goal in this world is to bring it and Israel to full completion – I think you could fairly say that everything that G-d does in the world, period, he does in order to fulfill the promise he made to Abraham.

Our sages say that Abraham kept the entire Torah before it was given. Whatever that means, it says something very significant about him.

There is actually a fair amount written on exactly which obligations did apply to Abraham and his descendents before the Torah was given. Not marrying people from Cana’an, circumcision, not eating from the sciatic nerve, the seven Noachide commandments as they differ from Torah obligations for Jews … One famous source is called the “P’rashas D’rachim”, if you’re interested in further research.

As I said, you’re asking a hard question.

Best wishes,
Michoel Reach

Question: Why was it determined by the Rabbis that the 24 books of the Bible only include those books and not more?Why weren’t other holy books, written later in time, included in the Bible ?

Answer: The Bible (Tanach) isn’t a collection of holy books. It is the collection of prophecies that were given to Israel for all generations. There were other, more local prophecies (such as when Saul went to ask the prophet where his father’s donkeys were). But the ones that were for the whole nation became the Tanach.

When the period of the Second Temple began, the world was on a very different spiritual level and prophecy had ended. There were many holy books written afterwards (the Mishnah, the Talmud, the Shulchan Aruch…), but they are in a different category.

Best wishes,
Michoel Reach

Question: Judaism believes that the Jewish calendar begins at the time Adam is created on the 6th day (because time is for people). Currently this time is 5770 years, the Jewish year. How does Judaism reconcile civilizations around the world that archaeologists scientifically determine to be thousands of years older than 5770 years old ? If man has only been on Earth for 5770 years how could there be groups of people older than Adam, the first person ?

Answer: Well, I’m not sure I’m going to be of much help. I always remember what my Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg z”l, said: Whenever there is an apparent conflict between Torah and science, we will have to work out whether the science needs to be fixed, or our understanding of Torah needs to be fixed, or both. I’m not an expert in the science, and presumably scientists will refine their views in the future too. As for the Torah, there are a number of ways to understand it. Just as an example, the Ibn Ezra said close to a thousand years ago that a “day” in the creation may well refer to a stage of the process, however long it took. I don’t know that that is the normative view today, but all these type of things will be clarified eventually. (I don’t know if that would affect how the calendar is set up.)

Best wishes,
Michoel Reach

Question: How does God view me as a deaf person?

Answer: God places every person in the world with a task to be accomplished. In Hebrew this accomplishment is called a Tikkun. It is a task which only the soul possessed by that individual can accomplish. Your accomplishment of that task brings your soul to completion and gives great satisfaction to God.

Your task is one that you could not possibly accomplish if you had the ability to hear normally; as such, God made you deaf. I realize that may not be easy to accept, but that too is one of the challenges God gives us; the need to learn to accept what we cannot easily comprehend.

By seeking out God’s wishes for you, I have no doubt you are already accomplishing part of your Tikkun and raising the spiritual level of your soul.

Best Regards,
Rabbi Azriel Schreiber

Question: Is there a traditional “gift bag” that is given to friends on Purim, and what is in it?

Answer: On Purim, Jews have a commandment to share gifts of food with each other, as a way of increasing kindness between us. In Hebrew, this commandment is referred to as Mishloach Manot, and you must give two or more kosher, prepared foods to one person. Of course, if you want to give Mishloach Manot to more than one person, you are certainly able to do so.

Have a Happy Purim!

Question: Why did the Sages not write a Megillah to commemorate the miracle of Chanukah, as was the case with the miracle of Purim?

Answer: A possible answer to your question is that the books of Tanach (Hebrew Bible) were written by prophets, all of whom were able to write with “Ruach HaKodesh” (Lit: “Holy Spirit,” that is, a certain level of prophecy). According to the Talmud, the ability to receive prophecy ended around the time of the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash (Temple in Jerusalem). By the time the miracle of Chanukah occurred (2nd Century BCE), there were no more prophets left, and thus no one around who had the ability to write a book worthy of canonization in the Hebrew Bible.

Question: Has Judaism developed any rituals or guidelines for guiding people through the grieving process after they divorce their spouse? I am thinking of a process parallel to the traditional rituals for mourning the death of a loved one.

Answer: Sometimes divorce can be as emotionally traumatic as losing a loved one and the intense feeling of sadness and confusion needs to be addressed. If Judaism views marriage as a fusion of two individuals into one flesh, then divorce is akin to having an amputation. That is why we only resort to it when there is no alternative. You don’t amputate a limb unless it is posing a threat to the rest of your body.

Yet, not all catastrophes mandate formal grieving. The process of Shiva when mourning the loss of a loved one gives the mourner an opportunity to reflect on the life of the deceased, recall their attributes, accomplishments, and legacy. When the mourner can internalize some of this, he takes part of the deceased with him, and that is a great source of comfort. It gives meaning to his life, creates a bond and immortalizes his existence.

Similarly, we annually mourn the destruction of the Temple, and contemplate its meaning, significance, and centrality in our lives. We gain insight into what has been lost, what we can do to compensate, and yearn for its rebuilding.

However, in a divorce, as unfortunate as it may be, one must strengthen himself to get up and move on. You don’t dwell on the past, just look to the future. What it beholds might make you forget about your tears.

Sincerest condolences,
Shlomo Soroka