Rabbi Michoel Reach
145 answers
Rabbi Michoel Reach was a member in the Yeshiva Derech Chaim
Kollel in Brooklyn, NY and the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in
Baltimore, MD for many years. He has taught advanced classes on the
Chumash (Five books of Moses) for three years in Baltimore and is the
author of a not yet published book on Chumash. He also has a Bachelors
in Physics and Math from the California Institute of Technology and a
PhD in Math from the University of California Berkeley with a
Dissertation on the Recursion relation for K-Soliton solutions to the
Schroedinger Equation. He is presently a database consultant for the
Pathology Data Systems Department for the Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine.
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Baby Naming
Aside from tradition and custom, is there any written laws proscribing the manner of how a newborn child should be named? Must the child be named after a deceased relative, or can the name be chosen and used as the…
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The Indispensable Oral Tradition
I am reading the Torah for the first time in about 10 years and have been considering it carefully over the past year. I have been wondering about the oral tradition and where it comes from. I have not yet…
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Choosing a King: Judah vs. Joseph
Why did Jacob anoint Judah, and not Joseph, as his heir apparent? Joseph clearly was Jacob’s favorite, and the one that Jacob was begging to see before he died. Instead, Jacob said that the kingdom of Israel would spring through…
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Hanukah and the Burning Bush
What are the similarities between the burning bush and the Hanukah candles? Fascinating question. The burning bush describes the difference between something that’s burning, and a wick. If the bush were to be its own fuel, it would be quickly…
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The Fish and the Flood
Why did G-d choose to destroy with the flood all Cattle and animals that creep upon the earth and all fowl and animals that fly but chose to leave all fish and other sea creatures unharmed? Why are the fishes…
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Human Suffering – Some Resources
The Jewish scriptures give no satisfactory explanation for human suffering. I wanted to hear your view on the matter. Answer: Hi! I guess it depends on what you mean by “satisfactory”. No explanation will make the suffering go away. But…
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Adam, Noah, and New Species
In Gen 2:18-20 it talks of G_d bringing all the animals to Adam to name. In the story of Noah’s ark it says that all the animals came in pairs (except the clean animals for eating). With all of the…
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The Forbidden Fruit on the Tree of Knowledge
I would like to know what the teachings have commented regarding the significance of the tree of knowledge bearing the forbidden fruit. My concern is how could seeking knowledge be presented in such a negative context? Wow! Quite a question.…
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The Six Days of Creation
Why did G-d create the earth in seven days? why not eight? why not six? Hi! You’re asking a very interesting question. I should say that I’m tempted to just brush it off, by giving an answer that Maimonides used…