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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Jews Ruling Other Nations
Do the Jews want to rule over other nations? The Jews’ conquest of Eretz Yisroel in the times of Joshua and David was not driven by territorial expansionism; it was a fulfillment of G-d’s promise to Abraham. The Messiah will…
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Destroying Amalek
What are we commanded about Amalek? We are commanded to “remember” what Amalek did to us, but also to wipe out the “memory” of Amalek. Evidently, “memory” is not meant literally here; rather, it refers to wiping out the descendants…
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Why Circumcision?
Why does the Torah require circumcision rather than some other distinguishing bodily sign? Circumcision is a permanent sign in the flesh, unlike a haircut, which grows back. It doesn’t harm the body; in fact, many people believe that it has…
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Shabbos Candles
My relatives are having a Bar Mitzvah in a nearbyhotel and will be eating their meals there. Theywill be sleeping in their house.Where should theylight Shabbos candles? Is it preferable in theplace where they sleep or the place will they…
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MarCheshvan
What is the meaning of the name of the month MarCheshvan? According to the Encyclopedia Judaica (vol.11 cols. 971-2), the word “marcheshvan” is believed to be etymologically related to the Assyrian “arahsammu”, “eighth month”. In the Bible (1 Kings 6:38)…
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The Two Reasons for Shabbos
Why does the Torah give two reasons for observing Shabbos, one in Exodus(20:10: “because G-d made the heavens and the earth in six days, and on the seventh day He rested”) and one in Deuteronomy (5:15: “because you were a…
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Straining a Liquid on Shabbos
Is straining a liquid to remove dissolved impurities permitted on Shabbos? Straining a liquid would be problematic (the melacha is called meshamer) if the straining removed perceptible impurities from the liquid. Thus there would be a problem if the impurities…
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Shefoch Chamascha
What is the origin of “Shefoch chamascha” that we say at the Seder? Shefoch Chamascha is mentioned in one manuscript of the Siddur of R. Amram Gaon, but it’s not mentioned by R. Saadia Gaon or Maimonides, so it probably…