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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A Father's First Born
Why don’t the laws of the first born apply to a father’s first child? The laws of the first born apply to (some) animals as well as to people, and in the case of animals, fatherhood is usually not known.
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The Jewish Holidays
Why don't the Jewish holidays occur on the same secular dates every year? The Jewish year is usually 12 lunar months long, but 12 lunar months add up to only 354 days. To keep the Jewish year in step with…
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Going to Jewish Courts
How do we know that Jews should be judged in Jewish courts on matters related to Jewish law? The requirement to go to Jewish courts can be derived from Deut.17:8-11.
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A Hora'as Sha'ah
What is a Hora'as Sha'ah? It is a temporary halachic ruling that is issued for emergency reasons.
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Names of Angels
What angels are mentioned by name in the Bible? Gabriel is mentioned in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21; Michael, in Daniel 10:13,21 and 12:1. Those are the only angels mentioned by name in the Bible. Of course, other angels are mentioned…
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Those Who Have No Share in the World to Come
Which sinners have no share in the World to Come? The Mishnah in Sanhedrin lists three kings (Jeroboam, Ahab, and Menasheh) and four others (Bilaam, Doeg, Achitofel, and Gechazi) who have no share in the World to Come. The kings…
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Numbers
How are numbers written in Hebrew? There are no symbols for numbers (1,2,3…) in Hebrew; the letters of the alphabet have been used, since earliest times, to represent numbers. The first nine letters represent the numbers 1-9; the next nine…
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The Shema in Bed
Is the Shema recited on going to sleep in the daytime? A person who sleeps in the daytime doesn't recite the beracha "ha-mapil", but he does recite the shema; see Mishnah Berurah 239:8.
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Modim
Why do we use a female form ("lach") in Modim? "Modim anachnu lach" is used in Divrei ha-Yamim I 29:13. In Modern Hebrew "lecha" is masculine and "lach" is feminine, but it Biblical Hebrew "lach" can be masculine as well…