LifeCycle Events
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Walking After Shiva
In my community the custom is for the mourners to walk around the block after completing the Shiva mourning period. Is it merely a custom or is it mandated somewhere? Any idea what, if anything, it is to represent aside…
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Purim for a Mourner
A dear friend lost his father a few months ago. I am aware that he is not to engage in anything celebratory for the following 11 months as part of the mourning customs. What is the story with Purim? Does…
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Who’s a Levi and Who’s a Cohain
The Torah tells us that Aaron and his sons (The descendants of Levi) are the priests. Then, why are the Cohains known as priests? Only Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests from among all of the tribe…
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Artificial Insemination
Is there a Talmudic reference to the topic of Artificial Insemination? Thank you very much for your question. Although I am not familiar with any explicit Talmudic reference to artificial insemination, there are a number of early Talmudic commentaries (11th…
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Relocating After Divorce
It is truth that when a couple divorce one of them has to leave the community? In the olden times when many people lived in homes that had a shared courtyard, it was considered wrong for the divorced partner to…
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A Ring for the Groom
Why doesn’t a bride exchange rings with her groom and say something under the chupah (Wedding canaopy)? Surely in these days of equality, the marriage ceremony should be updated to reflect contemporary reality. The giving of a ring (or anything…
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The Death of a Pet
My cousin’s beloved dog that she had for many years just passed away. She and her young children are having a difficult time. Any suggestions that might help? Thanks for the question. The passing of a pet is a difficult…
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Death of a Newborn
If a baby dies an hour after birth should a funeral take place? why or why not ? A baby requires a burial even if stillborn, however the laws of mourning do not apply unless the baby was at least…
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How Intermarriage is Perceived
I’m doing some research on Judaism. Could a Jewish man marry outside the religion, like marry a Baptist, and still be considered a practicing Jew? No, for an educated Jew to do so would be akin to throwing a Torah…