Rabbi Boruch Clinton
169 answers
Rabbi Boruch Clinton teaches at the Ottawa Torah Institute Yeshiva High
School and Machon Sarah high school for girls. Some of his essays
can be seen here. He
is also the author of the Judaism Primer on Torah.org. You may reach him with comments
and questions at [email protected].
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Washing Hands Before Eating Bread
Why is it that we have to wash our hands before eating bread but not for other food? I’ve heard that the reason for washing our hands is because “physical cleanliness is a prerequisite for spiritual holiness.” If the reason…
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Collective or Individual Punishment
Hi, I was learning Pirkei Avos recently, and came across a statement, which talks about certain punishments G-d gives for certain sins that are done. The commentators speak about this being “Measure for a Measure.” For example, if only a…
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Origins of the Sefer Hachinuch
Who wrote the Sefer HaChinuch, and in what context? The author of Sefer HaChinuch wished to remain anonymous (as did most medieval Jewish scholars). Yet, it is widely assumed that his name was Rabbi Aaron Halevi from Barcelona (Spain), and…
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Religious Kapos?
How could a religious Jew have been a kapo, or a member of the Jewish police, during the Holocaust, ordering the death of other Jewish inmates or treating them harshly? If there were indeed religious Jews among the kapos in…
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Manipulating the “Force” of the Universe
I’m very interested in learning about the systems by which we can manipulate the “force” of the universe. If such methods do exist, can they be used? You are indeed wise to ask about this. As with many ideas, these…
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Overview of Jewish Practice
I am a Jew from Turkey who is very interested in the Jewish traditions and their place in our lives. Yet, all I know about is the Kiddush and lighting candles on the Sabbath. Due to living in diaspora I…
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Interested in Conversion
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I live in rural western North Carolina and I know, maybe, 6 Jewish people. And, unfortunately, the nearest temple is a 45-minute drive away… First of all, Judaism…
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Oldest Torah Manuscript
How old is the oldest surviving Torah manuscript? I’m not sure if this is actually the oldest (and, to be precise, it’s not complete as parts of it were destroyed in a Syrian Pogrom in the 1940s), but a top…