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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How Can I Be Happy in Our Times?
How is possible live in peace, love and health these days? There’s so much war, pain, so much poverty, and people feel so along! Answer: No one could possibly deny that there is terrible suffering in the world. I’m not…
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What’s Allowed Vs. What’s Right
If something is permitted in Jewish law does that mean that its right? Answer: Not necessarily. The Ramban (Vayikra 19: 2) writes that the Torah itself requires us to make an effort to avoid moral self-destruction caused by over-indulgence in…
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Angry With G-d
I cannot forgive G-d for the pain He has caused me over my mother’s lengthy and very painful death. This is what I am asking advice on. Answer: Sorry it’s taken so long to get to your important question. I…
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Descended From Which Tribe?
Having recently found a Jewish connection through my mom’s lineage descended from Spain, I’m having trouble finding out what tribe or tribes the Conversos during the Inquisition are most often found to be from. Answer: It is most likely that…
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Spiritualism and Harry Potter
Is Judaism against mediums, fortune tellers, witches, sorcery , etc? I was told that this was a problem and that it was in the Old Testament. Is this true? I mean I love Harry Potter books and fantasy/sci-fi. If this…
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Did Moses Receive the WHOLE Torah at Sinai?
According to my sources, when Maimonides said “All of the Torah now in our hands was the same one given to Moses at Sinai” [inexact quote] he was referring to the Tanach (24 books of the Bible), Mishna and Talmud.…
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Rapist Must Marry the Victim
Is it true that if a man rapes a girl he is obliged by the Torah to marry her?! Answer: It’s true…but the rapist is ONLY obligated to marry his victim IF she wants him to – in other words,…
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Cruelty in the Conquest of Canaan
It is my impression that, during the conquest of Canaan, the Israelites were often commanded to destroy entire populations. This was certainly carried out in the case Jericho (Joshua 6:21-25), with the exception of Rachav and her family. My question…
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Pornography
I have to give a talk to students about watching or looking at pornography, and i would like to know what i should basically say is it allowed or not? Answer: There is no ambiguity in Torah sources: pornography is…