Judaism and Non-Jews
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Cooked, Not Just Kosher, Wine
I have a question to which – up until now – I have not really had a clear answer. Why is it important in orthodox functions to ensure that the wine served is “yayin mevushal” (lit. “wine that is cooked”),…
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I’m not Jewish. Can a marry my Jewish boyfriend?
I have a Jewish boyfriend, but I am not Jewish. Is there any possibility we can marry? What would we have to do? Answer: Hello and thanks for your question. Here are my thoughts: First of all, the vast majority…
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Asnat and Divine Providence
How could Joseph marry Asnat [Hebrew for Asenoth] (Genesis 41:45) if she was an Egyptian? Answer: In truth, Asnat was the Jewish child of Joseph’s sister Dena, and she was adopted by… Potifar’s wife! (She was the woman who tried…
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“Divination” to Identify Spouse
About 1 year ago I went on a date with this amazing Jewish guy. Right away, he made such a great impression on me — simply the best guy I ever went out with. Soon, though, I had to leave…
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The Holy Spirit
Why does the Jewish faith not believe in the Holy Spirit? Answer: Judaism does believe that God’s Spirit (or Presence) is Holy. Judaism does not, however, believe in a separate manifestation of God referred to as the “Holy Spirit”. The…
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Hijacking Jewish Genealogy
I have recently encountered a few individuals who claim that modern Jews are not the true Israelites. There is one group calling itself the Black Hebrews that claims that Ashkenazi Jews are not of Israel because they descend from converts;…
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Being a Jew
I have long wondered how a person is a Jew. I have heard so many different things: That it is something that you are only born to; it is determined by certain personality traits; or it is a spiritual choice.…
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Conversion Far from a Jewish Community
I live in a very remote area, hours away from any Synagogue. I have been reading about, and considering, conversion to Judaism for some time. The problem is my distance from a Jewish community. How would I go about converting…
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Duped Out of Faith?
I was born Jewish to a family that had very limited ties to the Jewish tradition. I married a Christian woman in her church several years ago. The pastor of the church agreed to marry us, but required that I…