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

Take care,
Pinchas

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There is some disagreement. For sure there was only one idol crossing, if there was any at all.

There are several issues involved. In Exodus 12, the commentary of Rashi says that before they brought the Paschal lamb, they removed themselves from idolatry. Thus it would seem that they did not have any idols at the Crossing of the Sea.

There is a Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 1:238) that days that the angels called the Israelites idolators at the crossing of the Red Sea. However, this does not prove that they had actual idols, rather the angels were accusing them of the sin of idolatry, which they had in their past.

There is another Midrash which indicates that one idol may have crossed with the Israelites over the Sea. There is a narrative in the book of Judges chapters 17 and 18 about a man named Micah who had a shrine to an idol. There is discussion about where this idol cames from in Rabbinical literature:

One passage (Midrash Exodus Rabba chapter 24) says that the idol of Micah passed with them over the Sea. Another passage (ibid. chapter 41) says that the metals that were later used by Micah to make the idol passed over the sea with him. This is also echoed in Babylonian Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 103b.

According to another Midrash (Tanhuma, Yelammedenu 1 100), Moses saved Micah as a child from being killed by Pharaoh. Moses later used a parchment containing the words “rise oh ox” to raise the bones of Joseph from the river where he was interred so he could be brought to Shechem where he is buried. Michah took the parchment and used it to create an idol later, according to many, the golden calf. It would seem that it was not in idol form when they crossed the sea according to this opinion.

It should be noted that this Micah was not the same Micah who was a prophet later in history.

All the best,
Rabbi Kolakowski

Answer: We must understand that although commonly we refer to Jewish clergy as Rabbis, there are many different types of Rabbis, often varying by denomination. For example, the typical “Orthodox” Rabbi that existed in Europe and exists today in many communities in America and throughout the world, are ordained based on a tradition that has been handed down from Moses at Sinai, and exercises certain powers within the community, not only to answer queries regarding Jewish Law and adjudicate disputes, but even to make edicts that are binding on the whole community. On the other hand, although we also commonly refer to Reform and Conservative clergy as Rabbis, very few have such powers, but are really employed to officiate at weddings, Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs, and deaths, and are more like counselors and social workers to their congregants.

Regarding the first type (which I’ve stereotypically called Orthodox, although there are many Orthodox Rabbis that actually fit the second category), Maimonides (Hilchot Melachim 1:5) rules that a woman may not be appointed to such a position. This is based on the verse in Deuteronomy 17:15. Regarding the second type, we really don’t find that women should be restricted from a “social worker” type role. Although many people might feel that calling any person in such a role a Rabbi is a misnomer – that is really a question of semantics. But if a Reform congregation wishes to appoint a woman as their clergy, I don’t know of anyone who would object to this alone. They may object to calling her a Rabbi – but that objection would also be applicable to calling a male in the same position a Rabbi!

Take care,
Rabbi Aaron Tendler

It’s truly inspiring to hear that you’re thinking about rekindling your Judaism and starting from scratch, as it were. But I’ll tell you – traditionally, Bar/Bat mitzvahs are only done at 13/12 for boys/girls. The point is to celebrate and inspire ones self to embark on a path of closeness to G-d which is why G-d put us here. I.e. to become perfect and G-dly so that we experience the ultimate pleasure of connection to G-d.

Therefore, it seems that an appropriate way of celebrating would be to choose one Mitzva, one of G-d’s laws for living, which you will be scrupulous about doing from now on. An idea might be to start every day by studying one Torah thought in a book or website. I mention this because Torah study is the most central Mitzva of Judaism. I hope it goes well!

Best Regards,
Rabbi Meir Goldberg
Maimonides Leaders Fellowship,
Rutgers Jewish Xperience
Rutgersjx.com