The Land of Israel
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Mixtures of Fibers
Does the Torah forbid all mixtures of fibers? Answer: The “shatnez” mentioned in Lev.19:19 is defined more precisely in Deut.22:11. The prohibition applies only to mixtures of wool and linen; mixtures involving other types of natural or synthetic fibers are…
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Rebuilding of Jericho
I read the following” Joshua…declares that nobody shall ever rebuild Jericho, nor another city elsewhere called by that name nor one on the same site but with a new name .There is to be no monument to this first conquest,…
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Is Israel Palestine?
I am Christian and have visited several different churches in the past few years. I often hear Israel referred to as Palestine. What’s going on here? I don’t find such reference in the Old Testament in my bible other than…
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Studying the Laws of Taharah and Tumah
What is the purpose of studying the laws of ritual purity (TAHARAH), such as the laws about the “red cow” (PARAH ADUMAH; Num. Ch. 19)? Do these laws have any relevance nowadays? Answer: These laws have no practical relevance for…
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The Laws of Impurity
What is an impure person forbidden to do? Can such a person become pure again? Answer: An impure person is forbidden to enter the Temple or eat sacred foods, but currently those things don’t exist. For more than 2000 years…
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Urim and Tumim of the High Priest
What is the Urim & Tumim on the Ephod? How were they used by the priest? And the big question – what happened to them? Answer: Inside the Breastplate was placed God’s sacred names. Ramban (Exod. 28:30) states that Moses…
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Tefillin of the High Priest
How did the High Priest in the Temple wear Tefilin while also wearing a head dress? Answer: The High Priest was able to wear Tefillin – the Sages explain that the golden “Tzitz” band was on his forehead, the hat…
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Precious Stones of the Twelve Tribes
What were the precious stones in the high priest’s garments and how are they related to the twelve tribes? Answer: The ephod had two stones on its shoulder straps, both of onyx (shoham), with the names of six tribes inscribed…
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Moses in the Tabernacle
Genesis Chapter 40 beginning at verse 17 – Did Moses set up the tabernacle by himself? Of course G-d would have been advising along the way but no one else including Aaron would have been allowed in at this point.…