Reward and Punishment
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Faith and Dealing with Cancer
My son has been diagnosed with brain cancer. I’m considering giving a talk to a group about my experience. How can I relate our hope and the comfort we receive from Prayer and the Torah. I want to share our…
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Reincarnation In a Nutshell
Is their life after we die? Or will we come back in another person. Reincarnation is debated by the great scholars of the Geonic period (circa 6th to 10th Centuries). Some do not accept it at all while others do…
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Is evil genetic?
As Judaism doesn’t believe in original sin, is it possible to adhere to Jewish teachings yet believe that being evil is genetic? By evil I mean someone who does awful things. I believe that doing such depends on how a…
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“Kina Hora” and the Evil Eye
Could you please explain the etymology of the words “Kina Hora” and/or “Ein Kina Hora”? Are they Yiddish or Hebrew or a combination of both? How is this expression applied? The phrase to which you refer can be pronounced either…
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Human Suffering – Some Resources
The Jewish scriptures give no satisfactory explanation for human suffering. I wanted to hear your view on the matter. Answer: Hi! I guess it depends on what you mean by “satisfactory”. No explanation will make the suffering go away. But…
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What does Satan look like?
Does the Satan look evil, with a tail,horns and reddish skin? No, of course not. The Satan is a spiritual force that tries to test people’s free will, whether or not they will keep G-d’s will. He, simply speaking, isn’t…
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Moses, Repentance, and Punishment
Why was Moses denied entrance into the Holy Land (for failing to listen to G-d’s instructions at Meribah-Kadesh when wandering in the desert), when Moses obeyed so many of G-d’s commands and did so much for the people of Israel.…
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Free Choice and Natural Inclinations
My 9 year old grandson’s teacher described Esau as a “evil” & Jacob as a “righteous” when discussing their birth. When my grandson asked how that could be if there is free will to be good or bad, the teacher…
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“Yahrzeit” – Judgement for the Deceased
Why do we say that on a Yahrzeit (annual date marking the passing of someone) that a person’s Neshama (soul) should have an aliya (be “raised” to a higher level)? Hasn’t he been judged on the day he died? If…