Miscellaneous
-
Determining Tribal Lineage
I am trying to discover which of the twelve tribes I descend from. Can you help me with this? Answer: Unless you are a Kohen or Levi (in which case you are a descendant of the tribe of Levi), there…
-
How to Avoid Thinking of Torah
How can one prevent oneself from thinking thoughts of Torah while in places of uncleanliness where it is not permitted to do so? Answer:Â Thank you for your remarkable question! Most people wonder how they can think words of Torah in…
-
Rebuilding of Jericho
I read the following” Joshua…declares that nobody shall ever rebuild Jericho, nor another city elsewhere called by that name nor one on the same site but with a new name .There is to be no monument to this first conquest,…
-
Personal Health and Hygiene
What are the specific needs that people who follow Judaism have in relation to personal care? Answer: I’ll assume by “personal care” you’re referring to the full complement of activities associated with health and hygiene that are required by Jewish…
-
A Jew Who is British
I live in the United Kingdom. Do I consider myself a British Jew or a Jew who is British. Answer: While loyalty to one’s country is very important (see Jeremiah 29:7) one’s primary job in life is becoming G-dly, which…
-
The Power of Music
What are the potential negative powers of music? Answer: It’s well known that the Vilna Gaon (a great 18th Century Rabbi) taught that one of the essential wisdoms required for understanding Kaballah in its depths is knowledge of the wisdom…
-
Jewish View of Graffiti
I would like to speak to a youth group about graffiti in the Jewish religion. Is it a frowned upon form of art in the Jewish religion? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There are many volumes of the…
-
Who are the Sages and Chazal?
Who and what are the Jewish sages? Answer: When we speak of our “Sages” we are referring to the great rabbis of previous generations. These rabbis were not like the rabbis of today. Today we have to struggle to understand…
-
Laughter
When Hagar and Ishmael are kicked out, it says Sarah saw Ishmael doing something, and uses the verb ‘zadi, chet, kuf’, the same used for idolatry at the golden calf incident, murder in II Samuel and adultery when Potiphar’s wife…