Mitzvos (Commandments)
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Three Commandments to Die For
What are the 3 sins that a Jew should be ready to die for? Answer: There are three sins for which one is always required to die rather than transgress: idolatry, severe sexual misconduct (sexual immorality prohibited by Torah) and…
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Punishment for False Prophecy
What is the punishment for being a false prophet? Answer: The portion regarding the false prophet is found in “Re’eh” (Deut. 13:2-6). In verse 6 the Torah explicitly states that the false prophet shall be put to death (“yu’math”). However,…
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Symbolism of “Chai”, 18
What is the significance of the number 18? What is its importance and what is the meaning of the word Chai? What lessons can it teach us today? Answer: In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value. The number 10…
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What’s Allowed Vs. What’s Right
If something is permitted in Jewish law does that mean that its right? Answer: Not necessarily. The Ramban (Vayikra 19: 2) writes that the Torah itself requires us to make an effort to avoid moral self-destruction caused by over-indulgence in…
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Spiritualism and Harry Potter
Is Judaism against mediums, fortune tellers, witches, sorcery , etc? I was told that this was a problem and that it was in the Old Testament. Is this true? I mean I love Harry Potter books and fantasy/sci-fi. If this…
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Meat with Milk and the Oral Law
I still don’t understand the law of milk & meat. If the Torah states that we are not to “cook a kid-goat in the milk of its mother,” why do we extrapolate and forbid any form of meat combined with…
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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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Basic Values and Morality, General Relationships, Marriage and Dating, Mitzvos (Commandments), Modesty & Sexuality, Women’s Issues
Casual Contact Between Men and Women
Is there a law that a Rabbi cannot touch a woman at any time, excluding his wife, of course? Answer: Thank you for your question. Before I answer your question though, I would first like to give a brief introduction…