Rabbi Azriel Schreiber
855 answers
Whenever possible, JewishAnswers.org tries to include the name of the author on every post. However, at certain times, we make significant changes to the answers posted. In that case, we will often sign the post with our generic “pen name” – Rabbi Azriel Schreiber. This “pen name” may also be used when a writer declines to have his name published.
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Hair Cutting Customs
I’ve noticed different ways Jewish cultures style their hair, and for different reasons. Teimoni call them Sinomim; and from their literature it seems it was a forced custom by the Muslim Arabs; and they shave bald on all corners by…
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The Princess Who Saved Moses
Movies call her “P’tira” but that is a joke from an editor of one of the movies I presume. Are there any historical references to her name? The Midrash says that Bisyah the daughter of Pharaoh, mentioned in 1 Chron.…
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Walking After Shiva
In my community the custom is for the mourners to walk around the block after completing the Shiva mourning period. Is it merely a custom or is it mandated somewhere? Any idea what, if anything, it is to represent aside…
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Purim not Being Mentioned in the Torah
Why do we celebrate Purim when it isn’t mentioned in the Torah? Moses was commanded about many holidays, but not about the ones that celebrate events that occurred after his time, such as Chanukah and Purim. Both of these holidays…
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Basic Values and Morality, Criminal Law, Judaism and Non-Jews, Laws of Damages, Reward and Punishment, The Jewish Legal System
Death Penalty and Noahide Laws
I was studying something which quoted the Talmud as saying that all seven Noahide laws are capital crimes. What do I make of this? Does Judaism say that a non-Jew is supposed to be executed for any crime, including, for…
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Kabbala Center
What is wrong with going to a Kabbalah center? thank you very much.. If Kabbala is studied under a teacher who is not sufficiently knowledgeable in the subject there are some critical dangers. These dangers are not necessarily because you’ll…
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Who Was Jesus?
Who was Jesus according to Judaism? We are not certain about the correct history of Jesus. The gospels were written by people who had never met or heard from Jesus. They wrote their accounts based on stories that they had…
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Understanding the Homosexuality Prohibition
I understand that homosexuality is called an abomination in the Torah, but what are the conceptual reasons that homosexuality is wrong? The Torah doesn’t mince words when it describes its condemnation towards what’s become known as an “alternative lifestyle.” I…