What Was So Special About Efron’s Cave?
By Menachem Posner
Question: So Sarah dies, Abraham needs to buy a burial plot for her, and he asks for a cave in a field belonging to Efron the Hittite. What did Abraham know about that cave that he was willing to pay 400 shekels for it? Answer: Allow me to share some ...
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Why Were Humans Created Twice?
By Menachem Posner
As I am sure you can imagine, there are so many ways of understanding these verses where each word is laden with meaning. The key here is that man was created once, but we are told about it twice, once as part of the Six Days of Creation, and once again. ...
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Why Do Pigs Exist?
By Menachem Posner
Question: Why do Jews consider certain animals, such as pigs, to be unclean and therefore not edible? I am under the impression that G‑d made everything, including pigs and other non-cloven-hoofed animals. Whatever G‑d made cannot be unclean, or ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Big Picture » Why Do Pigs Exist?
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What Was Up With the Tower of Babel?
By Menachem Posner
There are a number of fascinating explanations on the subject to be found in the classic commentaries. Let's begin with the Talmud (Sandhedrin 109a) where we find three traditions: In the School of Rabbi Shila it was taught that they built the tower with ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Details » What Was Up With the Tower of Babel?
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Where Is It Written That We Must Yearn For Moshiach?
By Menachem Posner
Question: I would like to know where it is written in the Torah that we should await and yearn for the arrival of a leader who will be the Moshiach. Response: There are many verses in the Torah (you can see some of them in this list of source texts) ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Details » Where Is It Written That We Must Yearn For Moshiach?
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Conversion Process Taking Too Long
By Menachem Posner
Question: I have been in the midst of converting to Judaism for three years now, and the process is taking much longer than I had ever anticipated. I am willing to wait and be patient as long as I know that it is for a purpose, but all the ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Advice » Conversion Process Taking Too Long
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Why Babylonian Names for Jewish Months?
By Menachem Posner
In the pre-Babylonian era, we find in the Scriptures only four months on the calendar that are identified by name: The first month (Nissan): Aviv Exodus 9:31, literally "spring" or "ripening." The second month (Iyar): Ziv I Kings 6:37, literally ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Details » Why Babylonian Names for Jewish Months?
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Why do we drink four cups of wine at the Passover Seder?
By Menachem Posner
For some of the classic answers to this question, see Why four cups of wine by the seder? and What is the significance of the four cups of wine? Allow me, however, to share an interesting idea I just came across in the Marcus Lehmann Haggadah. (Rabbi Dr. ...
Jewish Holidays » Passover » Study & History » Questions & Answers » Why do we drink four cups of wine at the Passover Seder?
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When were the angels created?
By Menachem Posner
In the Midrash Rabbah we find two opinions on this matter: Rabbi Yochanan taught that angels were created on the second day of Creation. He sees this reflected in Psalms 104 where we read in the third verse: "Who roofs His upper chambers with water," and ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Details » When were the angels created?
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What is the fast of Behab?
By Menachem Posner
Behab (בה"ב) is comprised of three Hebrew letters: bet – the second letter of the alphabet; hey – the fifth letter; and again bet. The sequence stands for Monday, Thursday and Monday. (As the Jewish week begins on Sunday, the morrow of the Shabbat, ...
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