Rabbi Yitzchak Kolakowski
31 answers
Rabbi Yitzchak Kolakowski is the spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Emes in Richmond, VA. He learned in Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim and in Yeshivah Beis Medrash L’Talmud in Queens, NY.
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Jewish View of Graffiti
I would like to speak to a youth group about graffiti in the Jewish religion. Is it a frowned upon form of art in the Jewish religion? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There are many volumes of the…
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Prayers for Livelihood and Well-being
Is there a chapter of Psalms that is a Segulah (spiritual remedy) for livelihood, to pay off credit cards bills? Also for health and finding a marriage partner? How can get my life unstuck? Answer: Sorry to hear about your…
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Ghosts and Psychopomps
I was reading about psychopomps, or ones that guide souls to heaven, and read that the only ones were Abraham, Sariel, Gabriel, Lailah, and either Elijah or Sandolphon. Three questions arose: 1)why are there ghosts if there are psychopomps (I…
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Moses, Pharaoh and Egypt in the Hagada
Moses is mentioned only once, in passing, in the Hagadah. I have learned that the reason is that we want to emphasize that it was G-d who took us out of Egypt and not an emissary or an angel. However,…
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The Mitzvah of Learning About Great People
Is learning about great rabbis such as, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef or Ramban a mitzvah? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. The Torah tells us that we must attach to Hashem, “l’davka Bo” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:20), and that “deveikut” or attachment…
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Two Creation Narratives
The verse states in Genesis (1:27), “And G-d created Man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them.” Then in chapter 2, verses 21-23, G-d creates woman with the rib of…
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The Binding of Isaac and the Seder
What is the connection (if any) between The Binding of Isaac (Akedat Yitzchak) and the Passover Seder? Answer: Thank you for your question. There are some connections between The Binding of Isaac and Passover, although not so directly. The Binding…
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Did an idol cross the Red Sea?
Did the Israelites carry idols with them across the Red Sea? What’s the source for that? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There is some disagreement. If there was any idol, it was certainly only one. There are several…
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Abraham’s Eulogy for Sarah & Eshet Chayil
I was under the impression that Eshet Chayil (“Woman of Valor” traditionally recited before the meal on Sabbath Eve) came from the scriptural book of Proverbs but I was told that it also comes from a Midrash. Specifically Abraham writes…