Basics of Judaism
- Basic Values and Morality
- Chosen People
- G-d and Torah
- Heaven and Hell
- Other Denominations
- Reward and Punishment
- Science and Torah
- Sin and Repentance
- The Messiah
- Who is a Jew?
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Some Meanings Behind “Orlah”
I have a question about Orlah (the prohibition against eating a tree’s fruits for the first 3 years, and restrictions on eating the fruits of year 4 — See Leviticus 19:23-26). Why did God give that law? Was there a…
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Unwitting Jews and DNA Testing
Since Judaism is passed through maternal lineage, the children of a woman who strays from Judaism will be Jewish without their knowledge. Her daughters will marry, and they will have children who are Jewish without their knowledge. This can happen…
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Organ Transplantation
Is organ transplantation permissible for the prolongation of human life? Answer: Organ transplantation is an important, yet complicated, part of Torah law. There are many details and nuances, and each specific case must be dealt with accordingly. In concept, though,…
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Meaning Behind Injuries
Is there significance to repeated injuries to a particular limb of the body? My right arm has had 4 serious injuries. Answer: I’m afraid I’m not nearly insightful enough to provide a definitive response to your question. We do, of…
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Self-Confidence
How does self-confidence have a place in Jewish thought if all is in the hands of Heaven? Answer: The Torah perspective on self-confidence is somewhat complex. As you said, everything is in the hands of Heaven. As such, there is…
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Expressing Faith
What are some things you do to practice faith? Answer: Faith in God’s Torah can be best expressed or practiced by observing the commandments given to us. Each of us, to the best of our individual abilities, can try to…
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Why are We Here?
There are three conflicting answers I heard as to why we were created: 1) True closeness to G-d is the ultimate pleasure, and since G-d is the ultimate good, He wants us to experience the incomparable pleasure of being close…
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Sacrificing One Life to Save Many
Is there a precedent in Jewish law for a case where someone is either forced to kill one person in order to save a group of people? A precedent is found in Shulchan Aruch 157:1, in the glosses of Rabbi…