Mitzvos (Commandments)
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The Ten Commandments
Please explain each one of the 10 commandments and the Mitzvot included in each one. Is G-d’s name mentioned in the commandments” where and why is it mentioned? Answer: To make my job easier, I’m quoting the whole thing, from…
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Gid HaNasheh – The Sciatic Nerve and Chickens
I understand it is not permissable for jews to eat the area around the hip of a chicken, is this true and why? Answer: You are on the right track but not exactly right. The law of “*Gid Ha’nashe”*, commonly known…
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Mixtures of Fibers
Does the Torah forbid all mixtures of fibers? Answer: The “shatnez” mentioned in Lev.19:19 is defined more precisely in Deut.22:11. The prohibition applies only to mixtures of wool and linen; mixtures involving other types of natural or synthetic fibers are…
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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…
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Studying the Laws of Taharah and Tumah
What is the purpose of studying the laws of ritual purity (TAHARAH), such as the laws about the “red cow” (PARAH ADUMAH; Num. Ch. 19)? Do these laws have any relevance nowadays? Answer: These laws have no practical relevance for…
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The Laws of Impurity
What is an impure person forbidden to do? Can such a person become pure again? Answer: An impure person is forbidden to enter the Temple or eat sacred foods, but currently those things don’t exist. For more than 2000 years…
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Debts, Shemitah, and Jubilee
What does it mean exactly that the debts and land are given back after 49 years ? Answer: Debts are actually canceled every seven years, at the end of the Sabbatical year (“shemitah“) — see Deuteronomy 15:2. At that time,…
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Laws of Money and Clothing
In what way are money and clothes kosher? what are the laws concerning money and clothes? Answer: You are asking a very good question, about a topic that many people don’t know. The Torah forbids us to wear clothes made…
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Constructive Slander
In a meeting yesterday in trying to explain my husbands mentality, I’m afraid I spoke Loshon Hara (slanderous speech) on people I never knew and are no longer alive. If my husband would know it would be a disaster…. What…