Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
91 answers
Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld graduated from Stanford University with degrees in Classics and Anthropology. Having exploring numerous traditions, he began his return toward a Jewish path after living for two years in rural Mississippi, “surrounded by folks who knew my people’s book better than I did!” He eventually journeyed to Israel, where he studied for seven years and was ordained. After three years in Northern California, he relocated with his wife and children to Baltimore in order to launch a national project of revitalizing Jewish education. Rabbi Seinfeld engages audiences from all Jewish backgrounds with his humor and depth of insight into spiritual and philosophical topics.
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View of Non-Jews
Can you explain how Jews view Christians, especially from the standpoint of an afterlife? Thank you for your time. We believe that the righteous all have a share in the World to Come, regardless of birth. For a non-Jew, the…
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Genesis
Do the Jewish accept Genesis as actual fact or parable? When was Genesis written? It is fact that must, like the entire Torah, be interpreted. We believe that the world was created in six days, but what is the meaning…
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Spirited Animals
Do animals have a spirit? They have an “animal spirit” (and so do we) – it is that aspect of soul that animates them. This animal soul is called “nefesh” in Hebrew and is the lowest of the five levels…
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Meat after Milk, not Milk after Meat
Why can you eat meat after you drink milk, but not have milk after you ate meat for 6 hours? Yes, it seems like a strange inconsistency. In fact, there are different customs regarding how long to wait. But the…
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One G-d
Do Jewish people, Christians and Muslims worship the same G-d? We think so. Jews and Moslems do for sure. Christianity may be more complicated because it includes the worship of a person (Jesus) and some of its forms include worshiping…
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200,002 Resurrections
I am Jewish. A non-Jewish friend asked me who were three people in the Old Testament who were resurrected. Can you tell me where I can find the answer? There are more than three – more like 200,002 as far…
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Deuterocanonicals
Deuterocanonicals is in the Catholic bible. It is not in other Christian bibles. Do Jews use Deuterocanonicals as texts? No, we do not consider these religiously authoratative.
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Interpreting signs
I beleive in signs. However, I have been reluctant to interpret signs, rather I’ve chosen to approach signs as a kind of “reassurance” if you will. By reassurance I mean that there is a reassurance that all is well, there…
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Pornography
On the radio today, Dr. Laura had a call from a woman whose husband “occasionally” views pornography. This woman has been married 30 years to the same man, and has two adult children. Dr. Laura was shocked that this woman…