Jewish History
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Determining Tribal Lineage
I am trying to discover which of the twelve tribes I descend from. Can you help me with this? Answer: Unless you are a Kohen or Levi (in which case you are a descendant of the tribe of Levi), there…
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Naming a Torah Portion After Yitro
Why is such an important Torah Portion, where the 10 commandments are presented to the people at the Sinai, named after a polytheistic priest Yitro (Jethro)? Answer: Thanks for asking this great question. Yitro was not just a priest. He…
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How Long Were the Ten Plagues?
How long did the ten plagues last? Answer: According to the Mishnah (Eduyos 2:10), the punishment of the Egyptians lasted for 12 months. This implies about a month for each plague; some say that each plague lasted for a week…
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Rebuilding of Jericho
I read the following” Joshua…declares that nobody shall ever rebuild Jericho, nor another city elsewhere called by that name nor one on the same site but with a new name .There is to be no monument to this first conquest,…
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“The Sons of Korach Did Not Die”
I have read that Samuel was a descendant of Korach. If Korach and his entire family fell into the earth (Numbers 16:31-33), how could Shmuel have been his descendant? Answer: In Numbers 26:11 it states, “The sons of Korach did…
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The Names of Yisro
Why did Moses’ father-in-law have three names? Answer: If “chosen” means “in-law”, and not specifically “father-in-law”, there’s no need to assume that one person had three different names. Reuel was priest of Midian when Moses arrived, and Moses married his…
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The Evolution of Jewish Law
Can I have an introduction to the great works of Halachah (Jewish Law) and their authors. For example Mishneh Torah, Tur, Shulchan Aruch, and Mishnah Berurah? Answer: Moshe received the Torah at Sinai, both the Written Law and the Oral…
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Age of Rachel
How old was Rachel when Jacob first met her? When they were married? When she died? Answer: Seder Olam Rabbah 74:4 says that Rachel was 22 when she married Yaakov (Jacob), and this seems to be the primary opinion, although…
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“And Jacob Kissed Rachel”
When Jacob met Rachel by the well, he kissed her and told her who he was (Genesis 29:11-12). I understand that our forefathers kept all of the commandments. How could Jacob be involved in an act that seems so immodest?…