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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Rape and Seduction
What does Jewish law say about rape and seduction? The Torah specifies fines for a man who rapes or seduces a woman, and he must also marry her; see Ex.22:16-17 and Deut. 22:28-29. But Rabbinical courts are no longer qualified…
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Genetic Engineering of Plants
Is genetic engineering of plants forbidden? According to many Rabbinical authorities, gene transplantation performed on plants, and hybridization of seeds, do not violate the Biblical injunctions against “mixing” plants (kilayim). This view is attributed to the late Rabbi S.Z.Auerbach in…
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The Power of Repentance
How effective is repentance? The Talmud says that if a person sincerely repents, his former deeds are counted as if they had been good deeds (Yoma 86b). Thay may be why in the world to come, those who repent are…
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Daniel 8:23
Who is the “fierce-featured king” in Daniel 8:23? There’s wide disagreement over the identity of that king. Rashi says he’s Titus, the Roman who destroyed the Second Temple; Ibn Ezra says he’s Antiochus (Epiphanes), the Seleucid who polluted the Second…
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Daniel 9:27
What is the “shikutz (me)shomem” in Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11? “Shikutz” means a loathesome, detestable, or abominable thing. The root SH-M-M usually refers to desolation, and “shikutz meshomem” is often translated “abomination of desolation”; but in Daniel (9:16) “eshtomem”…
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Marital Disagreements
Why do spouses often disagree? The last two words of Gen.2:18 mean “assistant” and “opponent”. A good relationship has both aspects; working together requires interaction, and produces friction as a byproduct.
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Omens
Is a person allowed to make decisions based on “signs” or “omens”? It’s not necessary to ignore coincidences; they may be meant to attract our attention. But we should have good reasons for any decisions that we make as a…
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Non-Jews at the Seder
Can a non-Jew attend a Passover Seder? Non-Jews were forbidden to participate in the Passover sacrifice (Ex. 12:43-48), but that doesn’t imply that they’re forbidden to attend a Passover Seder nowadays.
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Counting Days
When the Torah mentions a period of days, are they complete or partial days? There’s a Talmudic principle that “part of a day is like a day” (Pesachim 4a); this means that part of the first or last day of…