Jewish History
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Historical Pharoah of the Exodus
Who was the historical Pharoah at the time of the Exodus? Was it possibly Tutankhamen? Answer: There are 2 schools of though regarding the Egyptian Pharaoh at the time. Some, based on the reference to the cities of Pithom and…
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Torah Source for Chanukah
When did the celebration of Chanukkah begin? Is it in the Torah? If so, what portion of the Torah is the story located? Answer: The celebration of Chanukah occurred too late chronologically to be included in the canon of the…
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Was the Chanuka War With the Greeks?
Why do Rabbis always speak about a war between the Jews and the “Greeks”? The historical record shows amicable relations between Jews and Greeks, until the dissolution of that empire. Even assuming historical accuracy of Talmudic accounts we were at…
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The 12 Tribes Today
Why do we presume that all Jews alive today, with possible rare exceptions like in China and India, are Judah? Wasn’t there still a mixture of tribes in the Babylonian Exile and also in the Roman Exile? If someone were…
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Why are the Hebrews or Israelites called Jews?
Why do people refer to the Hebrews/Israelites as Jews? As far as I know there were no reference to Jews in the old testament. Answer: The term, Jew, is derived from Judah, son of Jacob. When the Kingdom of Israel…
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Origin of the Jewish Star
What is the origin of the Jewish Star? Answer: The hexagram (six-pointed star) has been used as an ornament, and possibly as a magical sign, in many cultures since ancient times. It was used by Jews as well, but was…
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Name of Lot’s Wife
In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, what is Lot’s wife’s name? I could not find it mentioned in the Torah portion. Answer: The name of Lot’s wife was Eidis (possibly related to the secular name Edith). Her name is…
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Babylonian Exile
I am a little confused as to when the Babylonian exile began and ended. Did the seventy years prophesised by Jeremiah begin whith the destruction of the Temple? What were the years of the exile (from when to when)? When…
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Joseph’s Bones in the Nile
When the Jews left Egypt for the promised land how did Moses know that Joseph was buried in the Nile? What prayer did he say that brought up the coffin up after about 400 years? Answer: Serach, the righteous daughter…