G-d and Torah
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What is Torah?
What are we referring to when we use the word ‘Torah’? In order to give you a clear picture of what Torah is, it is necessary to first provide you with a little historical background and context. We read in…
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Let US Make Man
In connection with the creation of man, why does the Torah use the plural (“Let US make a man in Our image”)? The plural indicates that G-d was showing courtesy to the angels in consulting them about the creation of…
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A Gezerah
What is a Gezerah? A Gezerah is a Rabbinical prohibition. Any Rabbinical court can make a Gezerah for the people who accept its jurisdiction. If the court was in the time of the Talmud (or earlier), the Gezerah would be…
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The Soul and the Body
When does the soul enter the body? Where is it until then? According to the Talmud (Yevamos 62a), unborn souls are “stored” in a place called GUF (not to be confused with the usual translation of “GUF” as “body”). The…
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The Old Testament and the New Testament
What is the origin of the terms “Old Testament” and “New Testament”? The concept that the Christian Bible is the “New Testament”, in contrast to the Jewish “Old Testament”, goes back to the earliest days of Christianity; see 2 Corinthians…
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The Dead Sea Scrolls
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? What language are they written in? The Dead Sea Scrolls are the remnants of the library of a Jewish sect. They include most of the books of the Bible and the Apocrypha, as well…
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The Name HaShem
What does HaShem mean? The term HaShem literally means "The Name". This term is used by Jews to refer to God. Jews use a substitute for the actual Name of God because Jewish law forbids the pronunciation of God’s Name.…
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The Torah Starting with a Beis
Why does the Torah begin with the Hebrew letter "B" instead of with "A"? The Talmud Yerushalmi (Chagigah 2:1) says that the Torah begins with a "B" instead of an "A" because the word "baruch" ("blessed") begins with "B", whereas…