A Project Genesis website

Family and Relationships

Basic Values and Morality, General Relationships

Reacting to Someone Who Wrongs You

A friend and I have been studying Proverbs on the weekends. We got up to chapter 25:21-22 where it says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. For coals…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Divorce, Family and Relationships, Marriage

“Get” before Remarriage

Is there any advantage to a man having his ex-wife get a “get” before he remarries? If he is engaged to an observant woman, would she have any reason to want the first wife to have a “get“? A man…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Family and Relationships, Mitzvos (Commandments)

Becoming Observant and My Parents

I have been becoming more observant of Torah law — more so than my family, who is not religious at all. I want to eat only kosher and keep the Sabbath. However, I live at home, and the fifth commandment…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Family and Relationships, Mitzvos (Commandments)

Honoring Father and Mother

In the 5th Commandment, we are ordered to respect our father and mother. However, in Leviticus 19:3, we find the order with a twist… mother first and then father. Is there any meaning to the swiching of order? That is…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Conversion, Marriage and Dating

Matchmakers

Do Orthodox Jews still use a matchmaker (Shadchan) in determining who marries whom? I have heard that matchmakers usually sort people of similar backgrounds for a match; while converts and Jews who are new to observance often get stuck with…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Marriage and Dating

Having Faith and Keeping Calm While Single

I am a 33 year old, single woman. I really want to find the right person and settle down. But it is taking time — a lot of time. I am having an extremely hard time staying calm and having…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Family and Relationships

Educational Responsibilities of a Father

According to the Torah, what are the responsibilities of a father? Specifically, what does G-d do with a man that watches his sons disrespect their mother? Thank you for your question. The Talmud in Tractate Kiddushin tells us of the…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
Family and Relationships, General Relationships

Dealing with an Intolerant Parent

My father and I go “head to head” over many issues. His mother recently died, and ever since then he has become extremely intolerant of any religious views that do not match his own. I know that I am supposed…

Rabbi Chayim Lando
General Relationships, Sin and Repentance

Forgiveness and Psychological Disorders

I have been suffering from severe depression for many years. When I pass-on and my life is reviewed, how will any negative events that I caused be judged when some of those were due to my illness? For example, I…

Rabbi Chayim Lando