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 History of Potato Latkes
What is the history behind the custom of eating Potato Latkes [pancakes] on Chanuka? Were potatoes eaten by the Jews of the second Temple era? Answer: Potatoes latkes [pancakes] are not involved in the story of Chanukah, and have only…
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Importance of the First Born
What is the importance of the first born? Answer: The first born have been important since earliest times; Abel sacrificed the first born of his flock (Gen.4:4), G-d smote the Egyptian first born (Ex.11:4ff), and we are commanded to sanctify…
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Rabbi Avraham Danzig
Who was Rabbi Avraham Danzig? Answer: Rabbi Avraham Danzig was born in Danzig, Poland (which today is known as Gdansk). He studied in Prague. It appears that he lived in Vilna for most of his life where he served as…
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Why Choose Abraham and his ancestors?
Out of all the people of the ancient world, why did Gd choose Abraham as the ancestor of the ‘chosen people’? And why did he chastise the Israelites through death so often? Answer: There is one answer to both of…
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Advice for Prosecutors
What advice does the Talmud have for a prosecutor? Answer: The Talmud’s statements about prosecution were made in the context of a legal system rather different from ours; they dealt with a judge who is arguing for conviction before his…
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Genetic Engineering and Kashrus
What are the implications of genetic engineering for kashrus? Answer: Transplantation of a few genes from a non-kosher creature into a kosher creature doesn’t make it unkosher, because its basic identity hasn’t changed. (Also, gene transplantation isn’t cross-breeding, and isn’t…
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Jews as Vegetarians
Wouldn’t it be better for us to be vegetarians? Answer: Adam was in fact not permitted to eat meat (Gen. 1:30); but Noah and his descendants were given permission to eat animals after they are killed and their blood removed…
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The Period Between the Temples
How long was the period between the First and Second Temples? Answer: Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to their land and rebuild the Temple in the first year of his reign, which was about 50 years after Nebuchadnezzar…
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Why the Temples were Destroyed
Why were the Temples destroyed? Answer: G-d caused both Temples to be destroyed because of our sins. The Talmud tells us that a particular reason for the destruction of the Second Temple was baseless hatred of Jews by their fellow-Jews.