LifeCycle Events
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Burying a Tattooed Person in a Jewish Cemetery
According to Halachah, may a person whose body has tattoos be buried in a Jewish cemetery? Ho whose body has been pierced? Answer: It is not prohibited to bury someone who has tattoos or body piercings in a Jewish cemetery.…
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Skirts, Wigs, and Feminine Modesty
Why do religious Jewish women have to wear skirts? Why isn’t a married woman supposed show her hair? Is this connected to a particular Mitzvah (Commandment)? Answer: There are several aspects to Tznius — modesty in dress and deed. One…
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Understanding Shiva
Recently my father died and I had to sit Shiva. I felt totally out of place and it felt strange to me. I sat Shiva once before when my grandfather died, but I was only 12 years old and I…
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Obituary for the Living
My daughter has been assigned to interview a living person and write that living person’s obituary! I was horrified when I heard of this assignment. She feels it is “creepy’ and I feel it is in some way against Jewish…
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Intermarriage Between Jewish Tribes
Is there scripture or command found in Torah which forbids marrying out of each tribe? In other words, could the daughters/sons of the tribe of Judah marry someone from any of the other tribes? How would they know this in…
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Horseback Riding for Women
Is there something wrong with horseback riding for women in Jewish law or is this just an area of sensitivity in Tznius (Modesty). I was never able to get a clear answer and that makes me think there is something…
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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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Jewish Wedding Guide
What happens at a Jewish wedding? Answer: Thank you for sending us your question. Here’s a guide designed to be distributed at a Wedding inserting the names of the Bride and Groom. [It is written by Dr. Elliot Shimoff, of…