Post-Biblical History
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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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Communal Offerings and Synagogue Dedications
In Numbers, ch.28, the laws of the Mussaf offerings [a form communal sacrifices] are discussed. How were the animals, flour, oil, and wine paid for? From Temple funds, or did people ‘bid’ on them, as many congregations do today for…
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The Period Between the Temples
How long was the period between the First and Second Temples? Answer: Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to their land and rebuild the Temple in the first year of his reign, which was about 50 years after Nebuchadnezzar…
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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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6 Million Kedoshim
Please define the term Kedoshim in reference to the memory of the six million who died in the holocaust. Answer: Kedoshim means sanctified ones. Meaning that one who dies because he or she is Jewish is sanctified to an extremely…
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The Rumor that Jews Have Horns
What is the story behind the rumor about why Jews have horns? How did that get started? Answer: To my knowledge, it began with a mistranslation of Exodus 34:29 — “…and Moses didn’t know that his face shone when He…
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The Meaning of Ashkenaz
I was told that over 5000 years ago there was a reservation of people that were led by a man named Ashkenazi, and his people were named “Ashkenazi” after him. These people accepted Judaism. Is this true? Answer: I think…