Jewish Texts
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Forbidden Fruit and the Apple Myth
In school we learned that the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from wasn’t actually an apple like I always thought, but grapes, figs, or wheat. So why then do so many people assume it is an apple? Are…
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Punishment for False Prophecy
What is the punishment for being a false prophet? Answer: The portion regarding the false prophet is found in “Re’eh” (Deut. 13:2-6). In verse 6 the Torah explicitly states that the false prophet shall be put to death (“yu’math”). However,…
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Eden’s Talking Snake
How did the snake communicate with eve? Answer: Hi! It’s a very interesting question. But you know, the world then was very different, in so many ways. It’s not too easy for us to relate to. The Da’as T’vunos by…
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Who Built the First Altar?
In Genesis, when Noah comes out of the ark (Gen 8:18-20) he immediately builds an altar to the Lord. I was just wondering how he knew to do this…. this seems to me to be the first time in scripture…
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Order of Creation of Man and Animals
In Genesis 1:20-23 it speaks of birds and creatures being created by G-d on the 5th day and in Genesis 1:24-28 it speaks of G-d creating man and letting man rule over beast on the 6th day. This however contradicts…
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The Daughters of Adam and Eve
How is it possible for Cain to have a wife if he, Abel, and Seth are the only children of Adam and Eve and they are the first people created by G-d? Answer: Hi! Thank you for your interesting question.…
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Abraham’s Accomplishments
Can you give me a quick overview of the accomplishment of Avraham (Abraham)? Answer: Avraham was the first Jew. He was born in the Jewish Year 1948 (that’s 1,948 years after G-d created Adam & Eve, corresponding to the secular…
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Joseph’s Wife Asenath
It is said in the Scriptures that the Egyptian wife of Joseph with whom he fathered two boys was the daughter of a priest of On. “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him a wife Asenath the…
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Forty Years in the Desert
I was talking to a friend who claimed that the Jews were wandering in the desert because they were afraid to enter the promised land due to giants, and other things like that. I grew up believing that the Jewish…