Mitzvos (Commandments)
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Meat after Milk, not Milk after Meat
Why can you eat meat after you drink milk, but not have milk after you ate meat for 6 hours? Yes, it seems like a strange inconsistency. In fact, there are different customs regarding how long to wait. But the…
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Jewish Law and Relativity
Does fulfilling the same mitzvah vary depending on the person’s talents? Everyone is judged according to his circumstances. It is easier for some to perform certain commandments than it is for others. E.g., someone raised in an observant home will…
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Make the Mitzvah beautiful
I read the following “Torah encourages us to enhance and beautify a mitzvah as much as possible.” 1. What exactly is a mitzvah? I get the impression it’s a command, but perhaps more of an obligation. 2. Where is this…
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Levirate Marriage Today
If Levirate marriage conflicts with the law of the land, eg laws of prohibited affinities for marriage, do (Orthodox) rabbis still solemnise Levirate marriages? If not, when did they stop doing so, and under whose decision? To my knowledge, Levirate…
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Health, Prayer, and Teffilin
What can bring good luck and health? What should one do when facing health issues? Can wearing tefilin for someone who hasn’t worn tefelin in many years make a difference in health and or good luck? It is always essential…
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What is an Eruv?
What is an Eruv and what is its purpose? I have heard many different reasons. The word Eruv means “a combination.” One can have an Eruv of three types: 1) Eruv Chatzeiros or “Combination of Courtyards” – On the Sabbath…
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Fringes for Women
Why don’t Jewish women wear fringes in their garments? This particular commandment is time-bound (i.e., since it’s only binding during daylight hours). There is a general principle in Jewish law that women are only required to observe those positive commandments…
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Number of laws?
I would like to know how many laws/rules or regulations that an orthodox Jew was/is required to follow as stated in the Old Testament? There are a total of 613 basic commandments [many with myriad details attached] that every Jew…
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Happiness and the Purpose of Life
I have recently been reading Mesilat Yesharim (Path of the Just) and according to the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) this life is just a series of tests and sufferings that a person has to endure. Is it correct therefore…