Jewish Texts
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Moses’ Cushite Wife
Does it say somewhere in the Torah that Moses’ wife was black? The answer to your question is found in Bamidbar (Numbers) 12:1, which tells us of the “Cushite” woman that Moses married. Cush is the area we call Ethiopia…
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Rabbi Yosef Caro
Can you give me a brief biography on Yosef Caro? Rabbi Yosef Caro was born in Toledo, Spain in 1488 and died in Safed, Israel in 1575. As a child he fled with his family to Constantinople, Turkey, due to…
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Lot’s Wife and Salt
Why was Lot’s wife turned to salt (Genesis 19:26), of all things? According to the Midrash (Beraishis Rabba on that verse), as soon as the 3 Angels entered Lot’s house, his wife left the house and went around to all…
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The “Rabbinic Judaism” Myth
I think the holier than thou attitude of Jewish Orthodoxy is rather funny. Orthodoxy is not at all similar to traditional Judaism. Real traditional Judaism was based on the Temple, with a special class of people, Priests, making animal sacrifices.…
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The Author of the Book of Kings
When was the book of Kings written? Who wrote it? What was happening to the jewish people at that time? The Talmud records that the book of Kings was composed by the prophet Jeremiah. While it is difficult to determine…
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Miriam’s Daughter
I wanted to find the name of Miriam’s daughter. I found that she was married to Caleb. Caleb had a daughter Achsah. Somewhere I read that Achsah was a child of Miriam and Caleb. Although our Sages teach us that…
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The Feet and the Shoe of Boaz
Why did Ruth uncover Boaz’s feet (Ruth 3:4)? What is the significance of taking off the sandal (Ruth 4:7-8)? Boaz had intimated that he intended to marry Ruth. Now he needed to either do so, or make it clear that…
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Ruth’s Conversion and Levirate Marriage
The Rashi commentary on Ruth (1:12) writes that Ruth converted after her husband died. How could there be a concept of Yibum (Levirate marriage) later on in the story when marriage to a non-Jew does not establish a bond that…
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The Book of Job and Us
Was G-d so confident with Job when he let Satan test him so harshly? I also wonder personally, am I living through now the same experience that Job had? Why? Thank you for your very interesting question. The Torah works…