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Why Do We Repeat the Final Words of the Shema? And why doesn’t Chabad recite “E-l Melech Ne’eman”?
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Why Wear Shabbat Clothes When Alone? Since these clothes are worn in honor of Shabbat itself, not in honor of whoever may happen to see you, this applies even when you’re alone.
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Can I Let My AI Agent Run on Shabbat? Can it be likened to a pre-set timer?
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What Happened to Queen Esther After the Purim Story? Precious little is known about this period, but some details may be gleaned from rabbinic sources.
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Why Do We Rise Up During Kedushah? Kedushah reenacts the angels’ praise as we rise toward G-d and acknowledge His unknowable greatness.
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Is Vaping Kosher? Marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking or as tool to stop smoking, it has turned into a widespread practice.
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Where Did Moses Get His Staff & What Happened to It? Moses’ staff figures prominently throughout the story of the Exodus from Egypt and our ancestors’ subsequent sojourn in the desert. But Scripture doesn’t tell us the history of the staff.
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What Is the Jewish View on Assisted Suicide? Life is a divine trust of infinite value, something no person has the right to give up or take away.
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Non-Jews and Shabbat Shabbat, as it is kept by the Jewish people, is thus a unique bond through which G-d sanctifies His chosen people.
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How Long Should Shabbat Candles Burn? What halachic benefit must Shabbat candles provide?
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Is the New “Alt-Milk” Kosher Parve? From a halachic standpoint, would lab-generated milk proteins be considered kosher? And if they are kosher, would they be classified as dairy or pareve?
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Rabbi: What If I Just Bought the Jewels Stolen from the Louvre? Buying stolen goods is described by the Sages as a “grave sin,” since doing so supports and encourages theft. But what if I was unaware?
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Who Chose Simchat Torah as the Day to Start the Cycle? If the Torah was given on Shavuot, wouldn’t it make sense to celebrate the Torah and start the reading cycle then?
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Why the Break Fast? It's Not (Just) Because We're Hungry!
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Can I Knock Down a Drone That’s Invading My Privacy? There’s a concept in halachah called hezek re’iyah—“damage by seeing.”
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What's Wrong With Meat or Wine During the Nine Days? Mourners may partake during shiva, so why is this time different?
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Does Judaism Support Work Requirements for Benefits? Is legislation that ties programs like SNAP and Medicaid to work requirements consistent with Jewish law?
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Why No Entry for 26th of Sivan? While some mark the 26th of Sivan as the yahrzeit of the great Talmudic sage Yonatan ben Uziel, there is little evidence to support this.
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What Blessing Do You Make on Pizza? Is it Mezonot, like cake or crackers, or Hamotzi, like regular bread?
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Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? Would the blessing be Mezonot or Hamotzi?
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Why Learn Pirkei Avot From Passover and On? Many communities study Pirkei Avot each week throughout the summer, all the way up until Rosh Hashanah.
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Why Stay Up on the 7th Night of Passover? In many Jewish communities—both Ashkenazi and Sephardic—there’s a beautiful tradition of staying up late (or even all night) on Shevi’i shel Pesach.
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Do We Really Dip Only on Passover Night? Don’t we dip apples into honey on Rosh Hashanah?
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Why Wash (Two or) Three Times For Bread? The halachic and kabbalistic rationale for washing three times.
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What Does Judaism Say About Tariffs? When did Abraham pay a tariff?
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Maimonides: The Reluctant Doctor Who Changed Medicine The Scholar Who Became a Physician
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Why Do Husbands Open the Ark During Pregnancy? Is this a recommended custom?
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What Should You Do if You Miss Lighting Shabbat Candles? Do you need to light an additional candle going forward?
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Are Alexa and Siri OK for Shabbat? What are the issues with using voice-activated devices on Shabbat?
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Are AR Headsets Considered “Seeing”? Certain Jewish laws require that we actually see something. Does AR count?
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Why Smell Fragrances on Yom Kippur? This custom stems from the obligation to recite 100 blessings each day.
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What Does Jewish Astronaut Jared Isaacman Need to Know? When to pray? When is Shabbat? What to do when time and space are not what they are on earth?
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Why Do Most Jews Not Wear Blue Tzitzit? A small (but growing) minority of Jewish men have begun affixing blue threads on their tzitzit. Should you?
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The Mystery of Excommunication Why and how the ancient Cherem was applied
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Can You Stop AI From Stealing Your Voice? Can anyone generate and use my likeness without my permission?
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Why No “Nun” in Ashrei? Each verse starts with another letter of the Hebrew Alphabet--except for nun.
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Why a Funeral for Burned Torah Scrolls? The respect we give to our human dead is akin to the respect we give to a destroyed Torah scroll.
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Do I Need to Sell My Pets for Passover? Check your pet food to ensure it has no chametz ingredients.
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Which “Scales” Make a Fish Kosher? Are shark scales considered “kosher scales"?
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The Tetragrammaton: Why We Don't Pronounce G-d's Four-Letter Name This name possesses a power that can be easily misappropriated.
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Are There Age Limits for Jewish Leaders? Can a person be disqualified from leadership based on age alone?
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Why Is Kaddish Said for 11 Months? Children say Kaddish to assist the souls of their parents through divine judgment, which is as long as 12 months.
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Take a Deep Dive into Mikvah Construction What is a Chabad (“bor al gabai bor”) Mikvah?
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May a Non-Jew Display a Mezuzah? Halachah is cautious about giving these sacred scrolls to non-Jews. There are several reasons why.
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What’s the Jewish View on Meds for Weight Loss? If your doctor were to prescribe this (or any) medication, it’s a mitzvah to take care of your health and listen to your doctor.
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What’s Special About the Fifth Night of Chanukah? This night is reserved for celebration and (extra) gelt. Here’s the reason why.
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Are Social Media Platforms Responsible for Fake News and Hate Speech? If a social media platform promotes hateful or harmful content, it could be seen as aiding wrongdoers.
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Are Spouses Together in Heaven? You’ll be with your spouse in heaven, but perhaps not in the way that you imagine.
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Why Are Israeli Soldiers Snapping up Tzitzit? Is it just about showing Jewish pride, or is there more to it?
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Can I Build or Take Down a Sukkah on Chol Hamoed? The short answer is that you may both build and take down a sukkah on the intermediate days of Sukkot. But it’s not so simple.
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How Can a Coffee Addict Survive Yom Kippur? Pills, suppositories and other quasi-medical treatment to ease the Yom Kippur fast.
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Is Human Composting Permitted in Judaism? While seemingly akin to traditional burial, human composting presents numerous issues.
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Chai: Why Do Jews Give in Multiples of 18? Discover the ancient roots and mystical interpretations of the number 18 - a symbol of life, blessing, and mercy.
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Why the Five Hebrew “Final Letters”? Discover the mystical meaning behind the “final letters“ of the Hebrew alphabet.
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Why the Bread and Egg in Ash Before 9 Av? Right before the fast, we eat the seudah hamafseket, bridging deep mourning with the promise of Redemption.
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Why Does the Shomer “Watch” the Dead? Discover the role of a shomer, safeguarding the dignity of the departed and ensuring they are not abandoned.
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Can My Neighbor Make Me Move My BBQ or Bonfire? One is liable for both fire and smoke damages; however, sporadic events like BBQ smoke are permissible if unopposed.
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Can AI Replace Rabbis? Although AI can provide Torah knowledge and data, it will never replace the function of a rabbi, a human being who possesses a heart and soul, and is assisted by G-d.
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Shehecheyanu Before or After the blessing? In practice, we first recite Shehecheyanu, but it's also acceptable to do it the other way around.
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How Many Mitzvahs Are Really in the “Ten Commandments?” The Aseret Hadibrot actually contain 11-15 commandments, depending on how you count.
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What Is the Jewish View on AI and Intellectual Property? The emergence of AI technology raises new questions and challenges for Jewish law to consider.
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What Is the Septuagint? The Septuagint refers to the (Koine) Greek translation of Scripture, thus named because Scripture was rendered by a group of seventy (or 72) elders into Greek.
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Why Taste Shabbat Food on Friday Afternoon? There is a time-hallowed custom to taste the Shabbat food on Friday afternoon to ensure it properly spiced and not burned.
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Why Do We Break the Matzah? It is important to tell the story of Exodus with broken bread over the table, like poor people.
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Who Composed the ‘Kadesh Urchatz’ Rhyme? On the inner significance of the simple-seeming 15-step Seder song
This classic poem is attributed to Rashi. The Kabbalists, including Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Arizal), saw deep, esoteric meanings and lessons embedded in its seemingly simple words.
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Matanot La’evyonim FAQs One of the four mitzvahs of Purim is to give matanot la’evyonim, “presents to [two] poor people.”
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Can a Telemarketer Use a Fake Name? At first glance, this seems to be a simple question of whether one is permitted to lie. But is it so simple?
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Who Were the Khazars? An overview of the history and mystery of the warrior tribe whose leaders chose to adopt Judaism
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What Happened at Marah? Following the Parting of the Sea, Moses sweetened water for the people to drink, and they were given some of the first mitzvahs. Or were they?
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Why Are Tefillin From Animal Hide? Here are two explanations that the mystics give as to why tefillin needs to be made of leather.
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The Fascinating History of Coffee and the Jews This drink was so strongly associated with the Jewish people that the chief rabbi of Egypt referred to it as the “Jewish beverage.”
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Why Celebrate a Baby Girl With a Shabbat Kiddush? There is an old custom that, after a baby girl is born, the parents host a kiddush reception when people bestow blessings on the child.
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Why Is Chanukah 8 (Not 7) Days Long? 13 answers to an age-old puzzle
The 8 days are because it either took 8 days to become pure or to travel to Tekoa to get new oil. But why is the first day celebrated? Here are 13 reasons.
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Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors What is it and why did Jacob give it to him?
Jacob loved his son Joseph more than all his other sons and made him a ketonet passim, commonly translated as a “coat of many colors.”
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Chanukah & Playing Cards, a Complicated History As early as the 15th century, Jewish people were playing cards on Chanukah and rabbis were decrying the practice.
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Why Are Torahs Written With Black Ink Only? What is the reason behind this rule? Here are some of the explanations found in classic sources,
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Why Seven Aliyot on Shabbat? The sages outline the number of aliyot for the Torah reading based on the uniqueness of the day on which the Torah is read.
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When Does the Soul Enter the Body? Traditions vary from the moment of conception or 40 days thereafter, to various childhood milestones. They can be synthesized by understanding the nature of our two souls.
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Why Not Read Tehillim and Other Mikra at Night? The custom of not learning Scripture at night is sourced in the Midrash and boldered by the teachings of Kabbalah.
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Why Did Eve Listen to the Snake? Eve had just one commandment: not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Yet she ate and invited Adam to do the same. The classic commentators discuss why she ever listened to the snake.
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Is Rain on Sukkot a Bad Omen? The Mishnah analogizes rain on Sukkot to a servant who comes to pour wine for his master, and the master pours a jug of water in his face. Here is what this means for those of us who experience rain almost every Sukkot
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Why Ask for Lekach (Honey Cake) Before Yom Kippur? It is customary to ask for and receive "lekach" (sweet cake -- signifying a sweet year) from someone (usually one's mentor or parent) on the day before Yom Kippur.
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Dip the Apple in … Sugar!? Here’s Why The widespread custom is to dip the challah and then an apple into honey on Rosh Hashanah. However, select Sephardic communities have the custom to specifically use sugar.
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Why Yibum (Levirate Marriage) and Chalitzah? When a man dies without children, there is a mitzvah for his brother and widow to marry. If they don’t want, there is an alternative called chalitzah.
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The Mysterious Eglah Arufah (‘Decapitated Calf’) The eglah arufah (“decapitated calf”) was performed when a murdered stranger was found out in the field and the killer was unknown.
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Is Cleromancy (and Divination) Kosher? Cleromancy is defined as “divination by means of casting lots.” Is it a Jewish concept, and is it permitted?
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The Nearly Extinct Friday-Afternoon Jewish Wedding The custom of (not) celebrating Jewish weddings on Friday afternoon has a fascinating history.
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Who Authored the Kinot Said on Tisha B'Av? Some of the authors are well known, some are known by name only, and others are anonymous.
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How Were the Priests Divided? On the 24 Clans of Kohanim
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Can Animals Sense the Paranormal? From being able to detect certain illnesses to
exhibiting
strange behaviors days before an earthquake, animals
exhibit extraordinary senses.
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Why Cover the Head With a Tallit During Prayer? One should make preparations before praying, including preparing special garments, as if one were meeting an important dignitary.
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Why the Notes at the Kotel (and Gravesites)? Once upon a time, visitors would carve their names into the walls. That has since been replaced by placing papers.
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Why the Fast on 20 Sivan? What is Tach veTat?
The
20th of Sivan commemorates a number of tragedies that befell the Jewish people
over the centuries.
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Kosher to Leave Negative Reviews Online? There are times when not only are you allowed to leave a negative review, but it would be your obligation to do so.
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Why Tikkun Over Deep Learning? Why is it that we read the Tikkun rather than delve deeper into Torah study?
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Do Dates Coincide Every 19 Years? Did I somehow miscalculate my Jewish birthday or is my friend wrong?
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Why No Touching Food Before Morning Handwashing? When a person sleeps his soul ascends heavenward to recharge, leaving only the most basic soul-powers.
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Why the (Four-Headed) Shin on Tefillin? Although the ultimate reasons behind these laws aren’t necessarily knowable, commentaries offer a number of possible explanations for both the regular and the four-headed shin.
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Why Count the Omer Standing Up? Although this teaching is not in the Talmud, it is quoted as having originated in the Mishnaic era.
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Who Authored the Passover Haggadah? The Haggadah evolved over time, starting from the Second Temple period until it reached its present form.
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Why Doesn’t the Chabad Haggadah Have the Post-Seder Songs? Why No Chad Gadya or Echad Mi Yodea?
Many have the custom to sing various post-Seder songs at the conclusion of the Passover Seder.
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Why Is the Law Like Beit Hillel? And why will it change when Moshiach comes?
Iif one of the fundamentals of the Jewish faith is that the
Torah does not change, then how can we say that the halachah will change?
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Was Queen Esther Really Green? What exactly does it mean that Queen Esther was green?
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Why Did Queen Esther Host Two Parties? Here are seven reasons why Queen Esther hosted two parties for King Achashverosh and Haman.
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Is Hillel's Teaching the Same as the Golden Rule? Hillel’s unique formulation expresses a deeper level of the mitzvah of loving your fellow as yourself.
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Why No Tefillin at Night or on Shabbat? Tefillin are worn daily by Jewish men and boys aged 13 and older, except for on Shabbat and Torah holidays.
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Why Are Stillborns' Graves Unmarked? The Zohar explains that proper burial in the ground is conducive to the resurrection process and a reflection of belief in the resurrection of the dead.
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Why Do Some Point at the Uplifted Torah? What are the origins and reasons behind this custom?
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Why Feed the Birds (Before) Shabbat Shirah? How did the custom of feeding the birds, or eating buckweat come to be? Is it allowed?
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What to Do with Mezuzahs Found on Doors? And why are they there in the first place?
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Why Did G-d Smite the Firstborn? Our job is to find the divine sparks hidden within each person, each object and each event, and let that shine.
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Why Mother’s Name for Prayers and Father’s Name for Aliyah? You may have noticed that when we call someone by his or her Hebrew name, there are two variations. Why?
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How Was Jacob Embalmed? Is It Against Torah? "Joseph commanded ... to embalm his father, and the physicians embalmed Israel."
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On the Order of Stacking Seforim (Sacred Books) And why it matters
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Why Candles (Not Oil) for Synagogue Menorah? Rabbi Moses Sofer, known as the Chatam Sofer (1762–1839), writes that in most synagogues that he visited, they lit with beeswax. Was this ideal?
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Why Aren’t Shellfish Kosher? Shellfish do not have kosher signs. But what if they did?
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Can Glass Be Koshered? Does It Need to Be? The question of whether glassware can be koshered, year-round and especially for Passover, is the subject of debate among the early halachic authorities.
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Why Do Torah Scrolls Have Silver Crowns? The crown serves as a reminder to strengthen our commitment to fulfilling the mitzvahs of the Torah.
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Why Are Jews Buried in White Linen Shrouds? Breaking an Ancient Social Stigma
This
dates back two millennia to the times of Rabban Gamliel the Elder in the early
1st century.
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Why Are Mourners Served Bagels and Eggs? The custom of giving round foods is learned from Jacob, who cooked a pot of lentils.
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A Mezuzah For a Car or Mobile Home? Some choose to place mezuzot in their cars, such as mezuzah pendants that hang from the rearview mirror. Is this problematic?
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Where Did the 70 Nations Come From? The concept is found in various passages of the Talmud and Midrash.
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Why No Work on Chol Hamoed? The Talmud lists a number of
sources in the Torah.
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Can I Tie Down the Sechach? Some sechach blew off during Sukkot. I was wondering if I can just tie it down with string. When I asked (and looked on the Internet), I got mixed replies.
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Seudah Hamafseket Why Eat Two Meals Before Yom Kippur?
Before the Yom Kippur fast, we eat a festive meal. Many also eat a festive meal earlier in the day. Why?
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How Did Brisket Become a Rosh Hashanah Tradition? From Ezra to the present: On eating meat on Rosh Hashanah
Where does this tradition come from, and does it have any true significance?
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Why Do Some Tear Challah and Others Cut It? While most slice their bread, there are indeed some who rip on Shabbat, and some do so just on Fridays. Here's why
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Rabbi, Is There a Blessing for the Czar? How about the president?
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Why Does Torah Mandate Loan Amnesty Every Seven Years? Wouldn’t this commandment make people hesitant to lend, knowing that the debtor could just run out the clock?
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Ketiv Vs. Keri: Why Is the Torah Not Always Pronounced as Written? At times, it is only
a slight variance, but at others, it can be a completely different word.
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Why Do We Cover Our Eyes for Shema? It is crucial to have the proper intention when reciting the first verse of Shema, even more so than during other parts of prayer.
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What Is the Significance of King David’s Harp? As a lad David played for Saul, and at the end of his life, he is described as the
“sweet singer of Israel.”
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Who Was Apostomus, Who Burned a Torah Scroll? The Mishnah tells us that he burned a Torah scroll on 17 Tammuz. Who was he, and why was this so significant?
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Is the Snake-on-a-Rod Medical Sign Kosher? Some of us think it is of Jewish origin, while others believe
it comes from the Greeks.
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Must One Honor Abusive Parents? There are many kinds and levels of abuse, and different people can cope with and tolerate different situations and relationships.
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Why Eat Fish on Shabbat? Eleven Answers to One Question
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The Seven Eras of Torah Scholarship How did we get from the revelation at Sinai to the halachah we have today?
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Why Do We Say Yizkor When We Do? Yizkor is recited four times a year: on the last day of Passover, on the second day of
Shavuot, on Shemini Atzeret and Yom Kippur.
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What Happened to the Bar Kochba-Lag BaOmer Connection? Your Lag BaOmer section has no mention of the wars Bar Kochba waged against the Romans! Why?
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Jerusalem Stone: What Is It, and Why Is It Used? I saw that a Jewish organization will be built with “Jerusalem stone.” What exactly is it and is there a custom to specifically use Jerusalem stone?
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Are Bottom Feeders Kosher Fish? There is a commonly held belief that where a fish lives determines whether it is kosher. Is this the case?
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A Mitzvah to Eat Matzah Every Day of Passover? The Torah tells us, “For seven days, you shall eat unleavened bread . . .” Do we take that at face value?
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Why 18 Minutes for Matzah? From when do we count and why we count at all
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How Traditional Are Matzo Balls? The unusual history of the kneidel
Known in Yiddish as a
kneidel, the matzo ball has become a staple in many
Ashkenazic Jewish homes. Here's why.
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Why Do Some Put Earth From Israel in the Coffin? Placing some earth from Israel in the coffin helps the soul find some measure of forgiveness and is related to the resurrection of the dead.
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Why Did Mordecai Not Bow to Haman? An in-depth read on the heroic defiance of a Jewish leader
Only one justification is recorded in the Megillah: “Because I am a Jew.” The Sages unpacked what this means.
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Why Does the Jewish Calendar Follow the Moon? Our sages tell us that the Jews count based
on the moon and are compared to the moon.
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Why Read the Megillah Twice? Why do we read the Megillah twice every Purim, once at night
and once during the day?
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Would Judaism Condone Smashing Ancient Figurines? The Torah tells the people of Israel to destroy idols. How about museum pieces that have historical significance?
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Who “Invented” the Holiday on 15 Shevat? When did Tu Bishvat become a thing, and why specifically now?
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Why Is the Firstborn Donkey Holy? On the mitzvah of peter chamor, “redeeming the firstborn donkey”
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Why Write "G‑d" Instead of "G-o-d"? Like many Jewish publishers, we are particular to not spell out the name of
our Creator, even in English. Here’s why.
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Why Is Alexander a Jewish Name? The name
Alexander is unique in that its origin is
definitely not Jewish.
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Can I Use Vaccines Made From Fetal Tissue or Non-Kosher Animals? We will start off with the question of non-kosher ingredients and work our way to vaccine made with fetal tissue.
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Is the Temple Menorah Hidden in the Vatican? There is much controversy and misinformation
surrounding this question, so let’s begin by clarifying the facts of the story.
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Can I Join a Zoom Menorah Lighting? Many of us will be particpating in Zoom Chanukah celebrations this year. Read here what works and what doesn't.
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Can We Add Our Own Jewish Holidays? Chabad.org lists some newer “holidays.” How can we add holidays?
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Did Abraham Really Invent Monotheism? What About the Yeshivah of Shem and Eber?
One doesn’t have
to look hard to find individuals who recognized and served “the
one G‑d.”
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Why Are the Jews Called “People of the Book”? Throughout history,
Jews have been called the “People of the Book” (or “Am HaSefer”) by both Jews and non-Jews.
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Why the Simple Pine Casket? Long ago the wealthy would be buried in expensive materials, and the poor were embarrassed.
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Why Were There Famous Rabbis Called Ishmael? Is Ishmael (Yishmael) a Jewish Name?
Don't
we have a custom not to name a child after a wicked person?
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Why Is the Torah Read at Shabbat Minchah? Ezra also instituted that there be an additional communal reading every Shabbat during the afternoon Minchah service. Here's why . . .
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Why Do Some Letters in the Torah Have ‘Crowns’? Many of the letters are topped by
small spikes, called tagin or ketarim. Here is why.
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Why Circle 7 (or 3) Times on Simchat Torah? The earliest known source for specifically going around seven times is Rabbi
Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal (1534-1572). But he provides no source.
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Why Start Yom Kippur With Kol Nidre? Contrary to what
one may expect, Kol Nidre is neither flowery nor inspiring (at first blush).
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Why No Nuts on Rosh Hashanah? And which nuts are included?
There are different reasons given
for this custom, each impacting the parameters of what (and when) exactly we
refrain from eating.
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Why Are Chassidim Called Chassidim? The term itself predates the Chassidic
movement and seems pretentious and presumptuous, to
say the least.
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Shofar Over the Internet During Elul? Due to the pandemic, I’m
currently unable to attend service. Can I fulfill this custom by listening to
the shofar over Zoom?
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Why Does a Husband Stay Home During the First Year? “When a man takes a
new wife, he shall not go out in the army…”
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Is It OK to Swim on Shabbat? It was scorching hot this past Shabbat, and we were wondering if we were allowed to go swimming in the nearby lake to cool ourselves off. What is the halachah?
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Why Is the Ketubah Written in Aramaic? Why was it originally written in Aramaic, not Hebrew? And why is it still written in that language today?
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Why Was Jerusalem Chosen? How did King David know where to build
the Holy Temple?
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When Were the Walls of Jerusalem Breached? Was it on the 9th or 17th of Tammuz?
According to some, this confusion goes back to the time when
the walls were breached and the Temple was destroyed.
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Why Isn’t Poultry and Dairy Kosher? Contrary to popular misconception, the rabbis were not
afraid that a piece of chicken has the same appearance as a piece of meat
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Saying Psalms According to Your (Loved One's) Age Do not underestimate the power and benefit of reciting psalms in general and, more
specifically, the psalm corresponding to your age.
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Why Sing About Elijah After Shabbat? What is the
connection between Elijah the Prophet and Saturday night?
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Why Only Ten Commandments at Sinai? If there are 613 commandments, why were ten
commandments specifically given at Sinai?
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Why Do We Light Bonfires on Lag BaOmer? The earliest
mention of this custom is found in a letter written by Rabbi Ovadia of
Bertinoro (c. 1445–c. 1515), known for
his classic commentary on the Mishnah.
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Why Does Only Pesach Have a Make-Up Day? Discover the historical and mystical reason why this is the only holiday observance that can be made up one month later.
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Why Is a Minyan Needed for Kaddish? In
this new era of COVID-19, when virtually all synagogues are closed, many are tempted to say the Kaddish even while alone.
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Is Tzaraat Leprosy? According to many historians, the disease known as leprosy did not exist in the Middle East in the times of the Torah.
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When Is a Child ‘Old Enough’ to Fast? There is a persistent myth that children should begin
fasting on the three fasts before their bar/bat mitzvah, no earlier and no
later.
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Do Rabbis Need to Be Married? Historically,
many communities traditionally included in their bylaws that they would only accept married candidates as their
rabbis. Why?
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Make a Shehecheyanu on Fruits Available Year-Round? Guidelines for making the blessing on new fruits
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Why Is 70 Special? And ten instances in Jewish tradition where 70 is significant
It appears several times in the Torah: seventy elders of the Jewish nation, seventy languages and nations of the world, and seventy members of Jacob's family.
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Why Are Grasshoppers (Locusts) Kosher for Some Jews? With the exception of very few and specific communities, we don’t find that
Jews eat locusts—and it doesn’t just have to do with taste.
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Why Lift the Bride and Groom on Chairs at Jewish Weddings? Many of the
great sages in the Talmud would dance and do all sorts of tricks to entertain
the couple.
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Why Did Non-Kosher Animals Become Jewish Names? This seems strange, since the sages place great significance on a
person’s name.
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(Why) Must a Bar Mitzvah Boy Read From the Torah? There is a prevalent custom for boys to read
the weekly Torah portion when they become a bar mitzvah. Here's why.
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Why Give Gifts Every Night of Chanukah? An underlying theme of Chanukah (and Chanukah gelt) is Jewish education.
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What Is a Maggid? From fire and brimstone to the rise of the Chassidic movement
A maggid is a title most commonly held by preachers
who flourished in Poland and Russia during the 17th and 18th centuries, most
notably the Maggid of Mezrich.
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Why and When Did Mourners Start Saying Kaddish Together? In
the past, only one mourner was honored with the task of saying Kaddish, which
makes sense
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Why Is Eating Melaveh Malkah Important? The sages in the Talmud tell us to “always set the table after Shabbat even to eat small
amount of food." Here's why.
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Why Do You Not Wear Black at a Jewish Funeral? At one point in Jewish history, some had the custom to wear black as a sign of mourning. What changed?
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Why Is There a Sandek at a Brit? One of the highest honors at a brit milah (Jewish circumcision) is holding the baby on one’s lap
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Why Stay Awake the Night Before a Brit Millah? The mystical origins of the 'Vach Nacht'
The custom can be traced back to the Zohar, where we read that the sages stayed up learning Torah the night before a circumcision.
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What Happened to Noah’s Ark? Throughout the ages, the location of Noah’s Ark has been a subject of fascination, with some even claiming to have found it.
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Why Flags (With Apples and Candles) on Simchat Torah? Many old-timers
recall the custom for children to carry a candle stuck into an apple on top of
a flag.
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What Is Sechach? The holiday is celebrated with materials typically left on a threshing floor or winepress, such as straw, stalks, and reeds.
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Why Do Those With Parents Leave for Yizkor? Customarily, those whose parents are still living leave the sanctuary for the duration of
this short prayer. Why?
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Why Can't I Feed Fish at Tashlich? On the “custom” of throwing bread into the water on Rosh Hashanah
Contrary to what some believe,
feeding the fish is not part of the Tashlich
ritual.
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Why Put Your Head Down After Amidah? Nefilat Apayim in Tachnun
It looks almost as if everyone is taking a short nap. What’s up with that?
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Why Are Tefillin Square? The Talmud gives no actual reason but the Kabbalah provides clues.
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What Was the Manna? The manna was the miraculous edible substance that fell each day from heaven during the 40-year period between the Exodus and the conquest of Israel.
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Why Two Versions of the Ten Commandments? Why Is Deuteronomy 5 Different From Exodus 20?
In a strange twist, there are some significant differences between the original text in Exodus and the repeat recorded in Deuteronomy. The rabbis explained why.
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Who Was the Exilarch (Reish Galuta)? This title was given to
the political head of the (at times) semi-autonomous Jewish community in Babylon, who traced his lineage to King David.
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Why Is Moshiach called a Metzora (Leper)? Isn’t it a negative term?
One who was afflicted
with the malady was considered impure and had to undergo a purification
process.
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Why Is There (Sometimes) a Silent "S" in Yissachar? There are four general customs regarding how to pronounce this name.
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Why Ketoret Incense in the Temple? And what exactly was it anyway?
The ketoret consisted of a special blend of herbs and balms whose precise ingredients and manner of preparation were commanded by G‑d to Moses.
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Why Is a Tallit So Often (Mostly) White? the
overwhelming majority of tallits have
historically been white, often with stripes. There are a number of reasons for this.
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Why Are Women Exempt From Certain Mitzvahs? The Mishnah tells us that women are generally exempt from all obligations that must be fulfilled at a specific time. Why is that?
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Kohanim Visiting Museums or Hospitals Nowadays, there is really no reason why a person would prevent himself from becoming ritually impure. An exception is the male kohen, descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses.
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"The Trolley Problem" in Judaism Sacrifice One Life to Save Many?
Ethics professors often frame this conundrum as a battle between “utilitarianism” and “deontology.” What does Torah say?
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What Was the Omer Offering (Korban Ha’omer)? And what does it have to do with counting to Shavuot?
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Why Do We Spill Wine at the Seder? While this custom is simple enough and pretty universal, its reason is far from elementary.
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Why Some Repeat Barechu and Others Don’t To get some understanding of the varying
customs, let’s begin by explaining why some repeat it at all.
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The Origins of the Grager: Why We Boo Haman Rabbi David Abudraham (14th century, Spain) writes that there had been an
earlier custom for children to draw a picture or write the name of Haman on
wood or stones
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Why Say “Chazak” After Finishing a Book of Torah? At the conclusion of each of the Five Books of Moses, the congregation stands and calls out “Chazak, chazak, venitchazek!” (“Be strong, be strong, and we will be strong!”).
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What Was the Mysterious Tachash? The exact identity of the tachash has been a matter of great speculation. Learn about its history in this well-researched article.
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From Golems to AI Can Humanoids Be Jewish?
The concept of man-made men (golems),
and the question of their humanness (or lack thereof) has been discussed since
Talmudic times.
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Why Did Moses Go Up on Mt. Sinai for Forty Days? The significance of the number forty
After the Giving of the Torah, Moses went up Mount Sinai for 40 days. What’s up with the number 40?
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Are Dangerous Sports Like Football and Wrestling Kosher? Does the possibility of serious brain injury (CTE) mean that playing in the NFL isn’t kosher?
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What Is the Blessing on Bananas, Strawberries, Grapes, Berries Etc.? On the Halachic Definition of a Tree
The definition of a tree according to Jewish law affects our everyday Jewish observance.
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The Mystery of Miriam’s Song Did the women actually sing? And why the musical instruments?
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Why Is Tanya Called "Tanya"? The secret hidden within the title
You may be familiar with the Tanya, the fundamental text of Chabad Chassidic philosophy. But why is it called by that name?
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Why Can't a DNA Test Determine Jewish Status? Tribal affiliation follows the direct paternal line, while the question of Jewishness follows the maternal line. Does this mean that genetic testing is a valid way of ascertaining whether one is Jewish or a kohen?
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Why Chickpeas & Beer at a Shalom Zachar? The refreshments almost always include chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and beer. To understand why, we need to understand the main reasons behind the shalom zachar.
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Why Is the Holiday Called Chanukah? People love to joke about the many ways to pronounce and spell Chanukah. But what does chanukah actually mean?
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Why Does the Bride Circle the Groom Seven Times? At the start of the chuppah marriage ceremony, it is customary for the bride to circle the groom counterclockwise (three or) seven times.
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Why No Talking After Washing for Bread? To understand why, we first need to examine why we wash our hands in the
first place.
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Why Don’t We Invite People to a Brit Milah? Many have the custom to simply make the time and place known, without inviting anyone in
particular to attend. Here's why.
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Why Can Mere Humans “Bless” G‑d? What exactly are we saying? I can understand blessing people, but does G‑d, the Creator and Master of all, really need our blessing?
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Why Is the Rainbow a Sign of Peace? Although
many see the rainbow as a beautiful symbol of peace, its biblical origin is not
all that positive. Let’s take a look.
|
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Where Is the Garden of Eden? Where Is the Garden of Eden located? Learn the literal as well as esoteric answer to this age-old question.
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Why Did Jonah Run Away? Jonah wasn’t some average Joe who decided to go his own way and not to listen to G-d. Why then did he disobey?
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What Is a "Machzor"? The High Holiday Prayerbook
The word “Machzor” has come to refer to a prayerbook specifically for the High Holidays.
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Why Can't Jews Attend Church Funerals? What’s the big
deal about entering a non-Jewish place of worship to show respect?
|
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Blood Moons, the Lunar Eclipse and the 15th of Av Once we have reached the middle of the month, it is now time to work on the ego
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Why We Avoid Danger During the 9 Days The reason for this is that it is an especially
ominous time, as can be seen from the many tragedies that befell the Jewish
people
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Why Look at Our Fingernails at Havdalah? The basic reason is that one should be close enough to the flame's light to benefit from it.
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Why Do We Wash Hands After a Funeral or Cemetery Visit? Whenever holiness departs, negative forces try to fill the void.
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Why Are Kosher Pickles “Kosher”? Even if a pickle jar is marked as containing “kosher pickles,” it does not necessarily mean that the pickles are actually kosher to eat.
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What (and Who) Is Rabbi Meir Baal Haness? And why do we give charity in his name?
In a time of need, some have
the custom to give charity for Israel (called tzedakah of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness) and pray, “G‑d of Rabbi Meir,
answer me!”
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Why Didn't the Rebbe Ever Visit Israel? Over the years, many have asked the Rebbe, why he—a staunch supporter of Israel—never moved there or even visited. Here is how the Rebbe responded.
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What Shape Were the Luchot: Round, Square or Rectangular? The main source for this erroneous image seems to come from Christian art during the Renaissance . . .
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Where Is Mount Sinai? The fact is that no one knows for sure. By looking at the story of the last person to visit, we can understand why.
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Does Judaism Believe in the Apocalypse? “Six thousand years is the world, and it is in ruins one [thousand], as it is stated: ‘The L‑rd alone shall be exalted on that day’”
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Why Men Immerse in the Mikvah Every Day But how about men immersing regularly in a mikvah? There are two primary reasons
why, even nowadays, many men immerse.
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Why Is the Day After the Holiday Called Isru Chag? The name is based on the verse in Psalms, “Bind [the] festival [offering] with cords to the corners of the altar.”
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Why Is Passover Seven (or Eight) Days Long? The
Midrash connects the seven days of Passover to the seven days of the
week. But, why?
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Was Moses Purged From the Haggadah? 10 Approaches Why isn’t Moses part
of the Haggadah’s Exodus narrative?
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What Is the Meaning of the Charoset on the Passover Seder Plate? The Talmud gives several reasons, which serve as the basis for the recipe and
texture of this Passover paste.
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Why Give Half-Shekels to Charity on Taanit Esther? Why do we give a haf-shekel to charity, and why is it done on Taanit Esther?
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Why Do Torah and Haftarah Have Different Trope? Most communities
use six different kinds of trope throughout the year…
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Are Imitation Crab, Pork and Cheeseburgers Kosher? Even if the Torah forbids a food, one is still permitted to eat kosher food artificially flavored to taste like it. However, if it closely resembles the non-kosher food, it may be necessary to mark it as an imitation.
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Why Is Challah Braided? The long-standing Jewish custom is for Shabbat
breads to be braided. Here's why.
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Why Are There No More Prophets? With the death of the latter prophets Chagai, Zechariah
and Malachi, “the spirit of
prophecy departed.”
|
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Why Don’t Jews Write ‘This Book Belongs to…’? The custom is attributed to Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid
(“the pious”), 1150-1217.
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Why Eat Latkes and Sufganiyot (Doughnuts) on Chanukah? The earliest mention of this custom seems to have been
made by Rabbi Maimon
ben Joseph, father of Maimonides.
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Why Were They Called "Maccabees"? The word has become synonymous with the small
band of Jewish freedom fighters who freed Judea
from the Syrian-Greek occupiers…
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Aufruf: Why Is the Groom Called to the Torah Before His Wedding? Traditionally, the chatan (groom) is honored with an aliyah at the Torah on the Shabbat before his wedding. This is known as an aufruf, Yiddish for “calling up.”
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Why Is Tefillin Worn on the Left Arm? The sages of the Talmud take it as a given that tefillin are put on the left arm (or the
right arm of a lefty) and offer several reasons…
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Twins in the Bible The first, and perhaps the most famous, twins in the Bible are Jacob and Esau. The only other set is Peretz and Zerach.
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Why Do Mourners Tear Keriah on Their Garments? Tearing garments upon the death of a close relative, "keriah" in Hebrew, dates back to biblical
times.
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What Are Archangels? The term “archangel” doesn’t actually have a Hebrew equivalent in Jewish Scriptures.
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Why Is There a Chair for Elijah at a Brit Milah (Circumcision)? During the period when the nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms, Elijah the prophet had a showdown at Mt. Carmel with 450 false prophets of the Baal idol . . .
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Why Is the Olive Branch a Symbol of Peace? Long before the ancient Greeks, the Bible recorded that the dove brought an olive branch to
the ark.
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Kittel: The White Yom Kippur Robe There is a custom to wear white clothing, or more specifically, a white robe-like garment called a kittel, on Yom Kippur.
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Why Is Rosh Hashanah Challah Round? Many have the custom
to begin the Rosh Hashanah meals with round challahs, often filled
with raisins and sweeter than usual. Here's why.
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Why Do We Sometimes Read a Double Torah Portion? And when do we double them up?
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Why Do Many Hasidic Jews Wear Shtreimels (Fur Hats)? And why doesn’t Chabad wear them?
|
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What Is Rashi Script and Where Did It Come From? Can you please explain
the origins of this script? Did Rashi have his own unique Hebrew script?
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Why Is Impurity Not Observed? The Torah contains a complex code of purity laws. Why
are Jews not careful about these laws nowadays?
|
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Why Sleep With Tzitzit? I was under the impression that the mitzvah of wearing tzitzit only applies to the daytime. But then I heard that many have the custom to wear tzitzit during the night as well. Can you explain the reason behind this?
|
Why Say Shema at Bedtime? Didn't we just say it in Maariv?
Shema is included
in the evening service. Yet the Talmud states that before one goes to sleep
to sleep, he should recite the Shema. Why?
|
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Why Two Rollers for a Torah and One for a Megillah? Why does a Torah scroll
have two poles or rollers, while the Megillah (Book of Esther), which is also
read from a scroll of parchment, only has one rollers (or none at all)?
|
What Is the Jewish Approach to the Apocrypha? The 24 books of the Bible were
canonized by the Anshei Knesset Hagedolah. Any later works are not
considered Divinely inspired.
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Matzah on Pesach Sheini: When and Why? The Paschal lamb was consumed
on the evening of Iyar 15, but the custom is to eat
matzah on Iyar 14. Why?
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Four Holy Cities of Israel: What and Why? The terms “four holy cities of Israel” or “four lands of life” refer to Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias.
|
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Why Wait Eight Days for the Circumcision? Although the verse
itself does not reveal why we are instructed to circumcise specifically on the
eighth day, many possible explanations are offered . . .
|
For Real, How Rare Is a Red Heifer? A heifer is simply a fancy name for a young cow that
hasn’t yet borne a calf. And the red is not ruby
red.
|
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Why Was Non-Kosher Dye Used to Build the Mishkan? How could they use impure animals for the holiest of places?
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What Is the Authentic Ancient Hebrew Alphabet? Ketav Ivri vs. Ketav Ashurit
I recently read about some ancient writings that were in a
script called Proto-Hebrew, which the Jews supposedly used to write in before
the current Hebrew script.
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What Is So Special About the 7 Species of Fruit With Which Israel Was Blessed? The Significance of the Shiv'at Haminim
This isn’t just a
flowery verse. These seven species are specifically connected to the Land of
Israel . . .
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Why Get an Aliyah (or Maftir) Before a Yahrtzeit? Before addressing this question,
let’s recount a story that underscores the importance of a mourner reciting
Kaddish and reading the haftarah throughout the year of mourning.
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Do Jews Believe in Magic or Witchcraft? If yes, how and why does it work?
The answer seems simple enough: The
Torah itself references witchcraft . . .
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The Difference Between Sepharadic and Ashkenazic Pronunciation The Great “Shabbos” vs. “Shabbat” Debate
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Why Is Hallel Sometimes “Whole” and Sometimes “Half”? The Talmud explains that as a very general rule, Hallel is recited on days that are called a mo’ed (holiday) in the Torah . . .
|
7 Jewish Classics Originally Written in Arabic Although current relations between Jews and some Arabic-speaking countries are a bit strained, to say the least, it was not always so.
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Why the Straight-Branched Menorah? Despite the depiction of the Temple menorah on the Arch of Titus, many prefer the menorah with straight, diagonal branches. Why?
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Is It OK to Wear a Mezuzah Necklace? There are records of people using mezuzot as amulets since ancient times.
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Why Do We Face East When Praying? Or Do We? How to calculate mizrach
Even when our compass or map shows that Jerusalem is to the east
of our location, we still may end up facing another direction. Sounds
confusing? Let’s start from the beginning.
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Why Do We Say L’Dovid Hashem Ori (Psalm 27) During the Month of Elul? The earliest mention of
the custom seems to be the work Sefer
Shem Tov Katan, published in
1706.
|
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Why Do Jews Cut Their Fingernails Out of Order? And when are we to cut our nails?
|
Why (and When to) Give Charity Before Prayer? Says the Talmud, Rabbi Eleazar used to give a coin to a poor man
and immediately begin to pray.
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Why Pray With Our Feet Together? The Talmud tells us that when we pray, we should resemble the angels, about whom it is said, “Their legs were a straight leg . . .”
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Why Write B”H or BS”D at Head of a Letter, and What Does It Mean? The habit of peppering our ordinary conversation with thankful mentions of G‑d was even displayed by our forefather Jacob.
|
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Why Say "Bli Neder," and Does It Help? I have a friend who, whenever he says that he will or will not do something, always adds the disclaimer bli neder (lit. “without an oath”). What’s up with that?
|
Why Sing Eishet Chayil on Friday Night? Although I have not seen it documented, it seems that this originated with the mystics of Safed.
|
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Why Hold Tzitzit for Baruch She'amar? I understand why we hold the fringes during the Shema, which mentions the mitzvah of tzitzit, by why for Baruch She’amar?
|
Why (and How) Does the Firstborn Get a Double Inheritance? Why is that? Also, does the firstborn always
inherit double, or are there some limits to this clause?
|
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Why Do People Take Off Their Shoes When Visiting the Ohel? What’s the source of the custom not to wear shoes at the Ohel? Is it just a Chabad thing?
|
Why Candles at the Chupah? Let’s shed some light on the reasons for these
candles, as well as why the bride and groom are each escorted with two candles.
|
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Why Do Jews Fly Their Dead to Israel for Burial? The custom of burying our loved
ones specifically in Israel is as old as the Jewish nation
itself.
|
Why Do We Wash Differently in the Morning Than Before a Meal? In the morning, we alternate. But for bread, we wash each hand three times
consecutively. Why the difference?
|
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Why Is Hebrew Called the Holy Tongue (Lashon Hakodesh)? The Hebrew language is extremely potent. The Torah tells us
that until the incident of the Tower of Babel, all of mankind spoke the same
language: Biblical Hebrew.
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Why So Many Customs of When to Mourn During the Omer? Why so many customs? How did it all develop?
|
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Why the Big Deal About the Kotel (Western Wall)? The Western Wall is one of the four
walls that supported the Temple Mount. Why is it considered more special than
the other three, all of which are clearly visible?
|
Why Does the Chazzan Repeat the Amidah? I recently started attending synagogue services on a regular basis. After we pray the Amidah silently, the chazzan (cantor) repeats it word for word. Why?
|
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Why the Big Deal About the Death of Rabbi Akiva’s Students? Why do we make such a big deal about this tragedy in particular?
|
Why Is Matzah So Bland? The short and simple answer is that another name for matzah
is lechem oni—“poor man's bread” or
“bread of poverty.”
|
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Why Can’t We Start the Seder Early? I’m having lots of guests from very
different backgrounds over for the Seder, and I don’t want people to have to
stay out too late.
|
Why the Egg (Beitza) on the Passover Seder Plate? I know all
about the reasons for the matzah and maror (bitter herbs), but why an egg?
|
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Why Can't We Bring a Passover Sacrifice Nowadays? Is there a real reason we are still missing this vital part of the Passover celebration?
|
Why Is Passover on Nissan 15, Not Nissan 14? The Bible states that Passover is on the 14th of Nissan, yet the Jewish calendar shows Passover starting the following night!
|
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Are Mordecai and Esther Named for Pagan Gods? I could see why Esther would need to do that. But why would Mordecai, a righteous, observant Jew, be named after a Babylonian deity?
|
Why Is Work Permitted on Purim? I have been told that you’re allowed to work on the holidays of Purim and Chanukah. Why are those holidays different than Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot, when most work is prohibited, almost like Shabbat?
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Why Is Tachanun Longer on Mondays and Thursdays? There are many fascinating accounts of the origin of this prayer.
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Why Are Shabbat Candles Lit 18 Minutes Before Sunset? We go out to receive the Shabbat even before she arrives . . .
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Why Are Some Stores Considered "Glatt"? What does “glatt kosher” mean?
|
Why Do Jews Eat Lox and Bagels? I always thought that lox and bagels on
Sunday mornings is as “Jewish” as apple pie is “American.”
|
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Why Don't Jews Have Open-Casket Funerals? I always appreciated getting one last look at the deceased . . .
|
Why Is Tu BiShvat in the Winter? Why celebrate trees when nothing is growing?
|
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Why Do You Learn Kabbalah Before the Age of 40? Is There Really a Ban?
|
Why Do We Smell Aromatic Spices? Learn some reasons you may have known, as well as some that are bound to surprise you.
|
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Why Do Jews Carry in an Eruv on Shabbat? How can a few barely visible wires make a difference?
|
Why Do People Shout "Mazal Tov" When Dishes Drop? Is this just an outgrowth of the wedding custom, or is there something more to it?
|
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Why Do Jews Pray Three Times a Day? Why do we all say the same thing, and why do we do it at those specific times?
|
Why Is the Talmud in Aramaic? Why wasn’t it written in Hebrew, like the Bible and the Mishnah?
|
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Why Do I Hear Blessings at Public Menorah Lightings? Now, isn’t the mitzvah just to light the menorah at home? So why were the blessings recited at the public ceremony?
|
Why Can't I Use an Electric Menorah? I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn’t get into it, but I would still like to know: what is the story with electric menorahs?
|
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Why Do Jewish Brides Wear White? I recently read that this actually originated with Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century.
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Why Eat Kugel on Shabbat? I’m a bit of a picky eater. So, I’d like to know: is there a deeper reason for me to be eating this stuff?
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Why Do Sephardim Keep Their Torahs in Cylindrical Cases? I recently had occasion to pray in a Sephardic synagogue, and they kept the Torahs in some kind of ornamental cylindrical case with the scroll in the upright position. Then, when it came time to read the Torah, they simply set it on a flat table and cracked open the case.
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Why Wear Both a Kippah and a Hat? Why do I see Jews wearing a hat in addition to their kipah when they pray?
|
||
Why No Vowels in the Torah? Why is that? Is it just to make it super-hard to become a Jewish adult?
|
Why Eat Stuffed Cabbage on Simchat Torah? I was wondering, what’s the connection between stuffed cabbage and Simchat Torah? Or is it just something my mom did?
|
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Why Blow Shofar Following Neilah After Yom Kippur? There are a number of reasons given for blowing the shofar at this time. Here are some of them . . .
|
Why All the Symbolic Rosh Hashanah Foods? Why are we rational Jews doing something that seems superstitious?
|
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Why Do Selichot Follow Such an Odd Schedule? You’re going to have to clue me in on this one, Rabbi.
|
Why Are Shofars from Rams' Horns? I understand that that the Torah tells us that there is a mitzvah to blow a horn on Rosh Hashanah, but why is it specifically a ram’s horn? Is that a mitzvah, or just tradition?
|
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Why Do We Light a Yahrtzeit Memorial Candle? We Jews light a whole lot of candles for the dead. What is the reason behind the candle, and when did the custom begin?
|
Why Do We Dip the Challah Bread in Salt? At first I thought it was just a flavor thing, but then I saw it done in multiple homes. What’s the reason for this?
|
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Why Are Jewish Weddings Under a Chupah Canopy? Everyone knows that Jewish weddings take place under a chupah under the open skies. But no one I ask seems to know why. Is there a reason for this?
|
Why Are Tefillin Black? I always wondered why tefillin need to be black. Why not just natural leather, or at least something light and cheerful?
|
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Why Haven't Jews Rebuilt the Temple Yet? Why don’t I see the rabbinic leaders in Israel spearheading a building campaign?
|
Why Do Jews Put Stones on Graves? It is a common Jewish custom to place a small stone upon the gravestone of a loved one when visiting the cemetery.
|
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Why Wait Between Eating Meat and Milk? What’s up with the buffer zone?
|
Why Do Jews Toast L’Chaim—To Life? Is there a uniquely Jewish reason for this custom?
|
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Why Don't Fish Need Shechitah? Why is there a ritual way of slaughtering and preparing all kosher animals except for fish?
|
Why Isn't the Day the Sun Stopped for Joshua a Holiday? Tammuz 3 was Friday, and fearing that the battle might extend into the
Sabbath, Joshua prayed that the sun would not set until the battle had been
won.
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Why Must a Tallit Have Four Fringed Corners? Immediately following the commandment of the tallit, the Torah states, “I am the L-rd, your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt to be your G-d . . .”
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Why Do Some Chassidic Jews Have Long Sidelocks (Peyot)? Since many idol-worshipers used to cut off the hair on the sides of their head, we are required to maintain a physical appearance that distinguishes us.
|
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Why Are Bar and Bat Mitzvah at 13 and 12? And why do boys lag behind by a year?
|
Why Don't We Recite the Ten Commandments Every Day? And why are they so special in the first place?
|
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Why Do Jews Sit Shivah for Seven Days? Did you know that mourning for seven days is an ancient custom that predates the giving of the Torah? Learn all about it here.
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Why Do Jews Still Insist on Speaking Yiddish? Why are Jewish people living in the United States speaking German? Can’t they speak in English, or at least Hebrew?
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Why Do We Make a Blessing on Fire at Havdalah? The story of the havdalah candle goes back to the very first Shabbat in history
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Why Do We Write Hebrew from Right to Left? Learn the answer to this simple-seeming question in the light of history, Jewish law, and kabbalah.
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Why Do We Count the Omer Specifically at Night? Join Rabbi Shurpin for a fascinating halachic discussion of why the preferred time for this mitzvah is during the night.
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Why Do We Hide the Afikomen? It’s something we do every year, and it forms a big part of the family Seder tradition. But why do we do it?
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