Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum
14 answers
Rabbi Nisenbaum is director of the Jewish Learning Connection, an adult education program and synagogue in Cleveland. He has been involved in outreach for over 20 years. He is the author of The Narrative of Faith Haggadah, (Feldheim ), Powerlines: Essays on the Jewish Holidays (Targum) and 49 Steps to Greatness (Targum).
-
Jacob and Israel
After Abraham’s and Sarah’s names were changed from “Abram” and “Sarai” to “Abraham” and “Sarah”, their old names are never used again in the Bible or in our literature. However, When Jacob’s name was changed to Israel why do both…
-
Hatarat Nedarim – Annulment of Vows
What is Hatarat Nedarim? Why is it prayed so many times? What is the importance of this prayer, what do we learn from it? What happens with the promises that we are sure we did but not accomplished? Answer: Hatarat…
-
G-d’s Anger
“The Wrath of G-d came out and brought forth a plague” Korach 17:11 What does it mean that “G-d has wrath”? Does Hashem have human emotions? Why does the torah write it this way? Answer: That’s a good question. It…
-
A Hyphenated G-d
Do we really have to write G-d, or would avoiding using His real names be enough (or should I have written H-s name?) Answer: Shalom, It is not proper to use G-d’s real name unless in prayer. (Even then we…
-
Balaam
When I was reading Numbers 22 – 24 I had a hard time understanding Balaam’s position. Was he a son of G-d or a False prophet? What is Balaam’s history and how can I understand his position? Answer: Balaam was…
-
Women Serving in the Temple
Did women serve in the work in the Holy Temple? If so, in what capacity? Answer: The actual service in the Temple was generally done by the male kohanim and Levites. Women were involved in the building of the Temple,…
-
Blessing Before Planting a Vegetable Garden
Is there a blessing to say before I begin planting a vegetable garden? Answer: That’s an interesting question. Although the Rabbis did institute blessings before benefiting from this world and before performing many commandments, they did not institute specific blessings…
-
Dinosaurs and the Six Days of Creation
In Genesis it tells us what was created on each day. So if on the first day, the Heaven and Earth were created, and at the end of the week, the sixth day, man was created, and man was not…
-
Is Judaism a Religion?
If you had to defend that Judaism is a religion and not a people what would be your main points of discussion? Also, is there anywhere in the Torah that would defend this argument? Shalom. The truth is that Judaism…