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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A Gezerah
What is a Gezerah? A Gezerah is a Rabbinical prohibition. Any Rabbinical court can make a Gezerah for the people who accept its jurisdiction. If the court was in the time of the Talmud (or earlier), the Gezerah would be…
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Cruelty to Animals
What do the Jewish sources say about cruelty to animals? The basic source for the prohibition of cruelty to animals (tzaar baalei chayim) is Ex. 23:5, the commandment to help unload an overloaded animal. The Talmud discusses it in Bava…
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Repentance, Prayer, and Charity
What is the relative importance of repentance, prayer, and charity? Teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity) are three powerful religious concepts. They are all called “great” in different contexts; on the greatness of repentance see Talmud Yoma 86b, on…
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Avoiding Risky Situations
Where do we derive the obligation to avoid risky situations? The verse “Guard yourself and guard your spirit”, “hishamer lecha u-shemor nafshecha” (Deut. 4:9), is cited by Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Murder and Protection of Life 11:4) as a…
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Ben-Zion Halberstam
Who was Rav Ben-Zion Halberstam? Rav Bn-Zion Halberstam, the "Bobover Rebbe," was a great-grandson of Rav Chaim Halberstam, the "Sanzer Rav." Rav Ben-Zion was one of the major leaders in Galicia (southern Poland), and was at once a chassidic rebbe,…
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The Number 40
What is the significance of the number 40 in the Bible? The number 40 occurs most conspicuously in connection with the Flood (40 days), with Moses on Mount Sinai (40 days, during which the Jews made the Golden Calf), and…
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The 13 Articles of the Jewish Faith
What are the 13 articles of the Jewish faith? In brief, they are: 1) G-d’s existence 2) His unity 3) His incorporeality 4) His timelessness 5) His rulership 6) Prophecy 7) Moses’ prophecy 8) The Divine origin of the Torah…
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Women in the Bible
How many women are mentioned in the Bible? Answer: In the book of Genesis alone, over 40 woman are mentioned as individuals, though not all of them are named. Here is a list: Eve (3:20) Cain’s wife (4:17) Adah, Zillah…
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The Word Daven
What is the origin of the word "daven"? It may be derived from the Latin "divinare"; the Oxford English Dictionary has a quotation in which "divine" refers to "sacred song". Another possibility is that it derives from the Arabic "diwan",…