Death, Burial, and Bereavement
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“Yahrzeit” – Judgement for the Deceased
Why do we say that on a Yahrzeit (annual date marking the passing of someone) that a person’s Neshama (soul) should have an aliya (be “raised” to a higher level)? Hasn’t he been judged on the day he died? If…
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Pre-destined Lifespan, Children Who Die
Is it true that the the years we are alive are pre destined? is it also true that when a child is murdered his spirit goes straight to the highest of realms to sit by the foot of the throne…
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Terminal Illness and the Afterlife
A friend of mine is very ill with cancer and she does not have a lot of faith. I want to explain to her the Jewish view on heaven. Thank you very much! Answer: Exactly how you should present this…
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Talking With the Dead
Does it say anything in the Tanach or in the Talmud about talking to the dead through a medium? In I Samuel 28 there is told the story of King Saul going to a medium in order to be able…
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Shoes and Mourning
Why is it that when a person has Shiva (& days of mourning over immediate family), he leaves his socks on his feet, but takes off his shoes? He must only remove his leather shoes. He may wear another form…
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Wearing a Kittel
My son recently gave me a kittel. What days should I wear this? Should I wear it to Shul on the evening of Yom Kippur and to services the next day? Also, are there any other times that I should…
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Suicide in the Torah
What is the Jewish view on suicide? How does this differ from other people? The Jewish view is that committing suicide is prohibited. The Torah states in Genesis 9:5, “I will surely take an account for [spilling] your own life’s…
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Beyond the grave
Some body told me when a person dies, he face problems in his grave, like fire and other dangerous things if he did bad in his life, and he gets rewards in the grave if he was a good person.…
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What departed souls know
I would like to know a little bit more about our souls. When we leave this physical world and we go to the nest world, can our souls see what happens in the physical world? Can souls there see the…