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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Fish and the Angel of Death
Does the angel of death come when domestic fish in an office fish tank die? Only if it’s a Gefilte fish… Actually, animals do not have the same kind of “soul” as the one which G-d breathed into humans. There…
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Wells
What is the significance of Wells in the Torah? Wells are symbolic of something hidden beneath the surface, often internal. Therefore, when the Torah describes our Forefathers as digging wells, aside from the simple meaning, it is also an allegory…
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Leaning on the Arm in Prayer
During prayer now-a-days why do people bow their heads and lean on their arms? What’s the purpose of this and how did it originate? This is done during a service called “Tachanun” – literally “Supplication”. It seems that bowing in…
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King David
Can you give me some information about the King David’s personality? What was his greatness? King David is best known for his humility, sensitivity, Torah scholarship, and faith in G-d. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint him as the…
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Who’s a Levi and Who’s a Cohain
The Torah tells us that Aaron and his sons (The descendants of Levi) are the priests. Then, why are the Cohains known as priests? Only Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests from among all of the tribe…
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When the Son of a Levite Converts
There is someone’s who’s father is a Levite, but whose mother is not Jewish. Would he be considered a Levite if he chose to convert? The title of Levite is passed down paternally, as you might know. However, one who…
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The Calendar and Creation
Why do we not count our days according to the Torah from the month of Nissan and when the Jews left Egypt instead of using the human calendar going back to Adam and Eve? That is an interesting question. I…
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Retirement
What do the Jewish Texts and thinkers say about retirement? That is an interesting question. Certainly, we can understand that everyone reaches a point in their lives when their profession is too difficult or too tedious to continue. However, while…
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Black Stripes on the Prayer Shawl
What is the significance of the black stripes on the Talis? When did these stripes find there way on the Talis? I’m sure you know that the mitzvah of Tzitzis in the Torah obligates one to tie four strings on…