Basic Values and Morality
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Volunteer Work
Does the Torah mention anything about the importance of volunteering one’s time to their community? One’s assets, including time, are amongst the many things one can and is required to contribute. In our liturgy before the Mussaf service on Shabbat…
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Save the Jew or the NonJew?
If a both a Jew and a non-Jew were drowning in a lake (they do not differ in any other respect), are you obliged to save the Jew? If all things are indeed equal and there is no option of…
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Worrying about money
I was reading either Birnbaum’s Mishne Torah or Ganzfried-Goldin’s Kitzur Shulchan Arukh and I remember seeing something to the effect that we shouldn’t worry about money. I’d like to know if there is-or isn’t- such a law, what is it,…
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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…
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When the enemy suffers
I find it disturbing that many of my friends, and often myself, find pleasure in hearing of catastrophies, such as an earthquake, in countries where anti-Semitism is rampant. Is it permissible to rejoice over the deaths of one’s enemies in…
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Born with a Clean Slate?
According to Jewish belief it is my understanding that all human beings are ‘bad’ but have been created since they have the potential to be ‘good’. Therefore even babies – who come ‘clean’ to this world – are in the…
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A Good Person
Why can’t I, a Jew, be a good person without Judaism? You might try to be good without Judaism, but you will have a hard time determining what is considered good. Do you decide what good is, is it based…
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Talmudic interpretation of “why we are here”
Can you tell me how the Torah or Talmud addresses the question: “Why was I born”, or “Why am I here”? Or even, “What is my purpose”? I am a Lay Leader in a small community, the question has been…
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To save one human being is to save the entire world
Can you please tell me the source and meaning of this quote: “To save one human being is to save the entire world.” Thank you. There are several slightly different versions of this quote found in Talmudic sources. The way…