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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What is a Tzadik?
I’ve learned that only Joseph and Noah are called Tzaddikim – the term for “righteous.”, in the entire Torah. What is the similarity in the way they completed their missions for Hashem that allows them both to have this title?…
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Mass Murder in the Torah
The Torah is filled with stories of the early Jews making war on the various locals as they enter the “promised land”, and killing every man, woman, and child in a given village. In some cases they even killed the…
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Why isn’t there Sotah for men?
My questions are: “Is the article below suppose to relate to now-modern times? Or is it just the biblical background on adultery? And most importantly to me as a woman, why isn’t there anything mentioned about adultery as it pertains…
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Rabbi Akiva’s Students
[See this article for the background of this issue – Ed.] Question: How come Rabbi Akiva’s students all died from not having respect for each other if they were the students of the man who exemplified that? Answer: That could…
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Torah Sanctioned Slavery and Morality
Why did the Torah permit slavery even if the system was better than the prevailing practice? Answer: Forgive me for writing so briefly about such an important issue. I have, by the way, dealt with a similar question in an…
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Two Types of Slaves
My professor pointed out that many people who have been slaves, often became slave owners themselves, and to illustrate this he cited Deuteronomy where Jews who were slaves in Egypt, and upon reaching the Promised Land became slave owners. I…
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Talis for Women, Kitniyos, Diversity and Contradictions
I have become confused by what I see as contradictions in Jewish law. I’ve read some comments in the Talmud about women wearing a tallit (I do, personally as does my mother, though sometimes I wonder if I should). Some…
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Minutiae of Mitzvos
I have a friend who wants to know why we have to keep the Mitzvos in their minute details. Can you please give me a detailed reply that I can share with her. Also, can you refer me to any…
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Fear Blinds
Is there a source in the Torah that expounds on the idea that “Fear can blind a person. So much so that the person can’t think and his clarity is gone”- or is that a bogus theory? Answer: While the Talmud…