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 Torah Scroll
How is the Torah written, stored, and read? The Torah is written on a parchment scroll. It is kept in the synagogue in a cabinet called the Aron Kodesh ("holy ark"). Sections of it are read at the services on…
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Candles
Why do Jews use candles? Candles are lit before Shabbat because the meal should not be eaten in the dark, and to demonstrate that Ex.35:3 means that fire mustn’t be kindled on Shabbat, but a fire lit before Shabbat is…
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Women Wearing Men's Clothes
Does the Torah forbid a woman to wear a man's clothes? Deut.22:5 says "A man's KELI shall not be on a woman, and a man shall not wear a woman's garment". The word "KELI", which occurs many time in the…
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Celebrating the Birth of a Boy
What is the source of the custom of celebrating on the Friday night after a boy is born? It's an Ashkenazi custom, mentioned by the Rema in Yoreh Deah 265:12. It's done on Friday night because people are available then.…
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Burying things with a Body
Is it permitted to bury things with a body? If something were "offered" to the dead as a sacrifice it would be forbidden; see Psalms 106:28. The things "given to" the dead are being destroyed or buried with them as…
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Shabbos Candles
Why do we light candles on Shabbos? Shabbos lights aren't mentioned in the Bible, but they are a natural part of the enjoyment of Shabbos (Isaiah 58:13). No doubt there were sectarians who prohibited Shabbos lights based on their interpretation…
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The Beginning of the Day
When does the day begin? The Jewish day begins at sundown. The Biblical source for this is Genesis Ch.1, where the Days of Creation are counted using the wording "It was evening and it was morning, one day" (etc.).
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The Creation of Woman
Why was man created before woman? Man was created both male and female; see Gen.1:27 and 5:2. The details given in Gen.2:18-24 explain that the male and female parts, which were originally in one body, were afterwards separated into two…
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Peleg
What does it mean that in Peleg's time "the earth was divided (Gen.10:25)? The verse could mean one of two things: 1. That when Peleg died, the Tower of Babel was built, and the languages of the world were divided.…