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 Scapegoat
Was the scapegoat sent away to wander freely in the desert? The Torah, in referring to the sending away of the scapegoat in the desert (Lev.16:22), uses the term “eretz gezerah”. Targum Onkelos translates “gezerah” as “uninhabited”, but Targum Yonasan…
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The Fire on the Altar
How was a fire kept buring permanently on the Altar? A large supply of wood was kept on hand, and the ashes were periodically cleaned away. There was plenty of room on the altar to keep the fire burning in…
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Rabbi Shmarya ben Elchanan
Who was Rabbi Shmarya ben Elchanan? R. Shmarya ben Elchanan lived in Egypt in the 10th century C.E. His father R.Elchanan was chief rabbi of Fostat. R.Shmarya was sent to Pumbedisa to study under R.Sherira Gaon. He was highly regarded,…
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Rabbi Yitzchak of Acco
Who was Rabbi Yitzchak of Acco? R.Yitzchak (b.Shemuel) of Acco was born in Eretz Yisroel in 1250 C.E. When Acco was conquered by the Egyptians in 1299 he apparently remained in the area, but in 1305 he was in Italy,…
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Elijah
What can you tell me about the prophet Elijah? His activities are described in 1 Kings, Ch. 17ff. As told in 2 Kings Ch. 2, he didn’t die, but was taken up to Heaven. Since that time he has been…
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Zechariah
What can you tell me about the prophet Zechariah? Zechariah was one of the last prophets; he lived at the time of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile. In Ch.14, the last chapter of his book, he…
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Noah After the Flood
Where did Noah live after the Flood? The Torah doesn’t name the place where Noah’s family settled after the Ark landed on the mountains of Ararat. The Book of Jubilees (Ch.7) tells about three cities near Mount Lubar that Noah’s…
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Day and Night Before the Sun was Created
How can there have been “days” and “nights” before the sun was created? Before light was created on the first day, there was darkness (Gen.1:2). The terms “evening” and “morning” are used to describe the transitions between the first, second,…
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Abraham not Protesting the Akedah
Why didn’t Abraham protest when he was told to sacrifice Isaac, when he did protest about the destruction of possible righteous people in Sodom? 1) For a (relatively) disinterested person to protest against possible injustice is one thing; to disobey…