http://www.jewishanswers.org The Ultimate Ask-the-Rabbi Service Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:15:23 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-2817/first-passover/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3609/mentsch/ 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) ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3587/was-abraham-jewish/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3608/why-only-24-books-in-the-bible/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3592/science-and-torah-cannot-conflict/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3606/handicaps-and-our-mission/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-922/gift-bags-on-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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-721/why-wasnt-a-megillah-written-for-chanukah/ 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3309/divorce-and-grief/ Question: Did the Israelites carry idols with them across the Red Sea? What's the source for that? 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3354/did-an-idol-cross-the-red-sea/ Question: Can you tell me what traditional Jewish opinion on women Rabbis is? I know that certain branches of Judaism do not allow it. How come? Could you give me any scripture references from the Torah? Answer: We must understand that although commonly we refer to Jewish clergy as Rabbis, ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-2469/women-rabbis-2/ Question: I'm 65 years old and I am now thinking about being Bat Mitzva'ed. What benifit would it have for me? 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 ... http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-3579/bat-mitzva-at-65/