Mitzvos (Commandments)
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Tzaraas, the Biblical Skin Blemish
Is the Torah’s description of Tzaraas, skin blemishes, related to our own negative impurities, pertaining to our character and behavior, in which we need to purge from our soul, in preparation for following the Torah? Answer: It’s an interesting thought.…
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Jewish Ritual for the Skeptical
 A friend of mine is disgruntled with organized religions. He believes that all the festivals and rituals and holidays are antiquated nonsense. When asked why Jews needed the rituals and festivals and what relevance they held in order to…
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Judging Favorably
I’m having trouble understanding “judge everyone favorably”. If I turn a blind eye and I don’t use my mind and say “he’s a honorable, he’s correct he only does what’s right, he doesn’t have bad character”, then that means I…
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Tefillin of the High Priest
How did the High Priest in the Temple wear Tefilin while also wearing a head dress? Answer: The High Priest was able to wear Tefillin – the Sages explain that the golden “Tzitz” band was on his forehead, the hat…
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First Fruits
How is the First Fruit offering practiced in today’s society? Answer: Great question! For the First Fruits, one would go out to the fields when the fruit buds would begin to grow and designate the first fruits. One could designate…
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Understanding Idol Worship
What was so attractive about idol worship that our ancestors occasionally engaged in it? From the descriptions of it, child sacrifice, etc. it seems reprehensible. Without a Temple today we are faithful to G-D so why in those days when…
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Fishing for Sport
Since fishing for food is permitted is fishing for sport permitted? When a fisherman goes fishing he can not determine if his catch is going to be kosher or not. Is he permitted to fish for sport (ie the fish…
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Men with Long Hair
Are men allowed to grow their hair long for locks of love? Answer: Some Rabbinic authorities maintain that long hair for a man poses an issue of “chatsitsa” or separation between the scalp and teffillin (phylactaries) that are worn during…