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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The Sadducees
When did the Sadducees split off from mainstream Judaism? How did they get their name? According to Rabbinic tradition, the Sadducees split off from the Pharisees around 200 BCE. Their first leader may have been named Zadok, or they may…
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An Eye for an Eye – Part I
Did the Jews ever literally enforce the rule “an eye for an eye”? The Oral Torah contains many details that were not included in the Written Torah. For example, the Fourth Commandment (Ex. 20:10) forbids work on the Sabbath; the…
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The Number of Each Letter in the Torah
How many times does each letter occur in the Torah? Alef – 27,057 Bet – 16,344 Gimel- 2,109 Dalet- 7,032 He – 28,052 Vav – 30,513 Zayin – 2,198 Chet – 7,186 Tet – 1,802 Yod – 31,530 Kaf –…
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“Judeo-Christian”
Should we use the term “Judeo-Christian” to refer to things that Jews and Christians have in common? We shouldn’t use the term. It may suggest a process of development from the former to the latter, since it makes “Judeo” a…
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Wild Oxen
What is the “wild ox” (re’em) referred to in the Torah? Wild oxen still existed in Biblical times. They were proverbial for their strength and for their ability to gore their opponents; see, e.g., Num. 23:22 and 24:8; Deut. 33:17.
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Behemoth
What is a “behemoth”? A “behemoth” is a huge wild ox (Targum on Psalms 50:10).
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Literacy
In Biblical times, could ordinary Jews read and write? There’s not much detail in the sources about instruction in reading and writing in Biblical times. It’s possible that in the average home, instruction was oral. But an interesting piece of…
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The Things that are Never Satisfied
What things are never satisfied? Four such things are listed in Prov. 30:15: The grave (sheol), the barren womb, arid land, and fire.
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The Start of the Calendar
When does the Jewish calendar start? The Jewish calendar starts with the Creation, which occurred 5763 years ago. The year is calculated by adding up lifespans of people mentioned in the Bible.