Rabbi Daniel Fleksher
58 answers
I am an open-minded person with a great love and respect for the Torah, our traditions, and our leaders. I also see great value in secular knowledge and am always looking to synthesize the two.
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Custom of Wearing Tzitzit
Why do Jewish men wear Tzitzit (fringes/strings on 4-cornered garments) if the commandment is based on affixing strings to a 4-cornered garmet? It would seem that not possessing a 4-cornered garment would exempt a Jew from this. Thoughts? Answer: That…
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Punishment for False Prophecy
What is the punishment for being a false prophet? Answer: The portion regarding the false prophet is found in “Re’eh” (Deut. 13:2-6). In verse 6 the Torah explicitly states that the false prophet shall be put to death (“yu’math”). However,…
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Forty Years in the Desert
I was talking to a friend who claimed that the Jews were wandering in the desert because they were afraid to enter the promised land due to giants, and other things like that. I grew up believing that the Jewish…
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Karaites
Is there a particular denomination or sect of Jews which abides only by or strictly reads and studies the Torah (only the first 5 books of the Bible)? Answer: Not that I am aware of. There is a small group…
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Why does G-d need us to serve Him?
Why does G-d need us to serve Him? What is the actual purpose of creation? Answer: Your question addresses a complex, yet fundamental, concept in Judaism. R’ Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (aka RaMCHaL) in his work, *Derech Hashem* (The Way of…
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Adam’s Garments
What were the heavenly garments that G-d made for Adam (Genesis 3:21)? Answer: That is a great question that several of our Sages have addressed, and I will share with you some of their answers. Indeed, according to our understanding…
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Cloning II
What is the Jewish stance on cloning? Answer: It is a bit complicated since, as one might expect, many extrapolations must be made to get from the ancient Rabbinic literature to cloning. Much of what I read was based on…
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A General Perspective on Stem Cell Research, Cloning, Etc
I’m trying to find out info about the Jewish stand with regard to the following related topics: Stem cell research Cloning GMO’s – Genetically Modified Organisms (eg. corn, wheat, cattle and other agricultural organisms). Pharming – Genetically breeding organisms that…
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A Married Woman Covering Her Hair… in Private?!
I know that married, Jewish women must cover their hair when in front of other men. Yet, why do some women cover their hair in front of their husbands or when they are alone at home? Answer: You are correct…