Basic Values and Morality

Why do first born donkeys have to be redeemed, but not firstborn of other nonkosher animals? It would seem that the laws of the first born should apply to all unclean animal species, not just to donkeys (see Num. 18:15);…

Is neutering of pets forbidden? The Biblical prohibition of neutering (Lev. 22:24) applies to all species. The Talmudic sages disagreed as to whether it applies to both males and females (Tosefta Makkos 5:6). The accepted view is that "indirect" methods…

What is the Jewish view about the value of human life? The view can be found in Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5: "Man was created singly to teach us that anyone who destroys one person is regarded as if he had destroyed…

Do animals have souls? Animals and humans have many similarities, but they also have many differences; in particular, we believe that animals have no souls. This belief is derived from sources such as scriptural passages, not from logical arguments. The…

What is the meaning of "salt" in connection with a covenant? Using salt (or bread and salt) to "seal" a treaty or agreement was an ancient practice in many cultures. Since salt is used to preserve food, associating it with…

What are the laws about cursing someone? How is "cursing" defined? "Cursing" isn’t the same thing as using improper language; it means saying something like "may G-d smite you" (see Deut. 28:22,27,28,35). "G-d damn you" would probably qualify as a…

What is an “ethical will”? An ethical will is a document in which a parent urges his children to live good lives after he is gone. The two-volume collection “Hebrew Ethical Wills” (edited by Israel Abrahams; Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia,…

What does Judaism teach us about our relationships with friends? The value of friends, and how we should behave toward them, are summed up in two passages: 1) Talmud, Ta’anis 7a: "I have learned much from my teachers, but from…

Must the Torah be observed only for its own sake? A person who wants to follow the Torah is at a higher level than a person who follows it because he feels compelled to, or because he knows that he…