http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=12372 Newest articles written by Shmuel Kogan Copyright 2005, Chabad.org - Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, all rights reserved. http://www.chabad.org/media/images/50/CtRx507451.gif 130 52 http://www.chabad.org Thu, 7 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST Thu, 7 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=635389 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=635389 I've been told that each one of us has a specific, individual mission in life. How do I know what mine is? Thu, 7 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691677 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691677 Question: I was born Jewish; both my mother and father are Jewish. But when I was a teenager I rebelled and I went and was baptized in a Catholic Church. Am I still Jewish? And do I need to convert back to Judaism? Answer: Can one ever extinguish the flame that lies latent in a flint stone? How long does a stone have to soak before the spark that it contains washes away? The spark that a stone creates, as the spark of G‑dliness that you contain inside of you, is always there. It may be hidden, concealed from view. You might not feel it at all times, yet it is there. It waits for the moment of reawaking, when it can burst into a flame once again; when it can express itself and be what it truly is—a Jew. Instead of focusing on the past, on that time that you didn't feel that spark inside of you, better focus your energy on fanning the flame. Express your Jewish identity. Pick one of the Jewish rituals that seem to tickle your fancy, do it, study it and make it part of you. Get in touch w Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=681556 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=681556 Question: It says in the Torah that one should not touch the carcasses of swine. Does this mean that we should not wear Hush Puppy shoes (made of pigskin) or play football or rugby with a ball made of pig skin? Answer: In short, there is no prohibition against using or touching such items. Here's the longer version of the answer: I am assuming that you are taking the prohibition against "touching" a pig – or any non-kosher animal for that matter – from Leviticus 11:8, where it states: "You shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you." Understanding this verse in its most literal sense leads one to the conclusion that it is forbidden to touch any part of a non-kosher animal's carcass. Rashi, the classic commentator to the Scriptures, foresaw this misunderstanding. He explains that this verse is referring only to the three pilgrimage festivals – Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot – when all Jews were required to maintain a state of ritual pur Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=644985 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=644985 Question: Why is it so important that we learn about mitzvot that have no bearing on our life any more; e.g. all the provisions for sacrificing animals—although we have not sacrificed animals since the destruction of the Temple? Answer: That is an excellent question. What is the purpose of studying something which has no practical application? Should I pursue an area of medicine that studies a disease that no longer exists? Not if my goal is to treat today's patients. Why doesn't the same logic apply to the Torah? Here are a few thoughts on this topic: a) The Torah in its entirety is G‑d's wisdom. It is a condensation of G‑d's understanding applied to words on paper. By studying any aspect of Torah, practical or not, one gains an insight into G‑d's wisdom. Undoubtedly, such insight provides messages and guidance for all areas of life. b) According to chassidic teachings, Torah study's ultimate benefit isn't the practical knowledge gained, but the unity it creates between G‑d and the on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=630900 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=630900 Question: Please help me to understand. If the foundation for G‑d's forgiveness and atonement was initially the sacrifice on the altar in either the Tabernacle or later the Temple, how does one now find forgiveness and atonement since the Temple and physical sacrifices no longer exist? Answer: You ask an excellent question. Are we at a loss with regards to our ability to attain forgiveness from G‑d due to the loss of our Temple? I'd first like to point out that this question isn't specific to sacrifices. There are many mitzvot that we cannot perform today because of our exiled state (see Nowadays, how many of the Torah's commandments are still in force?). Among the other mitzvot we cannot observe today are pilgrimage to the Temple for the festivals, many tithes, any many laws associated with ritual purity and impurity. While we are deprived of these many mitzvot, G‑d gave us alternative ways to realize those benefits that these mitzvot afforded us (albeit not in their most ideal form—o Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=640945 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=640945 Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. May it be an everlasting edifice built on the foundations of Torah and mitzvot. The union between husband and wife is truly one of holiness inasmuch as it resembles the union between G‑d and His people. Thus, your question concerning a blessing prior to consummating the marriage is apropos. A blessing is recited under the marriage canopy before the kiddushin—the betrothal which is effected by the giving of the ring. This blessing, which thanks G‑d for sanctifying us with the mitzvah of betrothing before consummating the marriage, is recited by the rabbi who is presiding over the wedding. This blessing effectively covers the consummation of marriage as well. Chapter 23 of Psalms is traditionally said as a prayer prior to the union between husband and wife. It is a prayer to insure that such a holy experience remains holy and pure. (Follow this link for Psalm 23.) I hope you had the opportunity to learn about the special laws of Family Purity as Tue, 1 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=610721 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=610721 Shmuel Question: Lately I've been thinking that Life after Death is a fairy tale created by man to give people hope that once we die, consciousness continues to exist (it's a frightening thought to think otherwise). My gut tells me that the brain and body is what controls everything around me, and that once they shut down consciousness ceases to exist. I even ask myself why I am writing this to you because I know that no one can prove the existence of an afterlife and what happens next, but I guess I have nothing to lose. Answer: Thanks for expressing your thoughts. Thinking about life beyond this material existence is daunting to say the least. What is existence after I pass on? What type of "life" will it be? Will I be ready for it? These are the type of questions I ask myself when pondering this subject. Perhaps, better than asking what life is after death, one should ask what life is prior to death. Is life merely a material existence that I live for today, for the here and now? Is Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=606660 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=606660 Why should a Jew need to incorporate symbols and rituals from the outside to add beauty to his home and traditions? There is so much depth and meaning in the rich heritage of Judaism... Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=585406 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=585406 Shmuel You ask an excellent question. Let me preface my response with a couple of questions of my own. From what point are parent obligated to feed their child? At what age are parents required to begin providing clothes for their child? Just as a child begins to grow and mature, absorb and ingest, immediately upon entering this world – and even beforehand – so does our obligation to educate our child and provide for his/her spiritual nourishment and needs begin at that point. Immediately upon entering this world, and even beforehand, we must ensure that the child is surrounded by a positive spiritual environment. The child should be exposed to only positive sights and pleasant sounds. Certainly, we cannot compare newborn infants to toddlers or older children; their needs and the way they absorb, comprehend and process information are very different. Thus, for example, the educational requirements of an infant or toddler are different than that of a teenager in adolescence. When a chil Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=582353 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=582353 Shmuel I assume that your question comes from the understanding that living in this world, most jobs or responsibilities require us to report to someone in one way or another. The banker reports to his bank manager, the mailman reports to the postmaster, a soldier to his general, etc. This is the way the world runs so as to ensure quality control in all that we do. But what about those responsibilities that we have to ourselves or to our families? Who ensures that we do a good job there? Are these responsibilities less important and therefore do not require quality control? Yes, there are government agencies that oversee these issues as well, but how much do they know of what is going on in my home or yours? This is where religion and G‑d come into play. G‑d is the eye that sees all and the ear that hears all. He has instituted certain guidelines of morals and ethics that He requires us all to follow. Ultimately, we report to Him in this regard. When we say the Shema (lit. "hear"; the Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST