Advice

I’m thinking of getting the Star of David. I have heard that tattoos violate Jewish law. What do you think I should do?

Can you advise me on how to best encourage and inspire those I will be supervising?

This destruction of the Temple was a significant event in Jewish history, but it doesn’t seem to have any personal relevance to me. What does a destroyed building have to do with my wedding?

My family and friends won’t accept that I want to wear only skirts. How can I help them understand my choice to dress modestly?

From reading the Passover text it seems that the wise child and the wicked child pose the same question.

Its not how high you're up on the ladder that counts, it's the direction you're moving in--however gradual that may be.

I know that I can't reverse what I have done, but is there some way to alleviate my burden? Or must I resign myself to carrying the guilt with me all my life?

When you love and care about your grandchildren, is there absolutely no place for a mother or mother-in-law to give her child advice (not criticism) for the sake of the well-being of her grandchildren?

My partner tells me I should spend more time chilling out, relaxing, and just enjoying life. And that I should do things purely for entertainment value.

I was just set up on a date with a wonderful young woman. I really enjoyed her company and spending time together. However, I just wasn’t attracted to her . . .

With all the recent news stories about philandering husbands, I am starting to worry about my own. What can I do to help ensure that he won’t cheat on me?

When I try to approach my friend or encourage her to do more, she gets hyper-sensitive and tells me that I am pushing her...

How can I inspire myself so that I will be more excited to do good things?

Rabbi, I appreciate your invitation to join your classes, but I just don’t have time in my life for spirituality right now . . .

If a worker makes a mistake can his boss call him a fool?

Part of my duties was to copy and paste articles from various websites for a weekly bulletin. The CEO wants me to make as if he himself wrote all the articles. I felt that every time I sent out the mass emailing I was committing a crime. I left the position. Was I right?

I have a lot of challenges in my life. What should I remember to help me cope?

My daughters do not stop fighting. One daughter even told her sister that it would not bother her if she dies! This has been an issue in our house for quite some time. Is there any advice you can give me?

I am marrying a man who is divorced with a child. I am nervous about my new role of stepparent. What can you advise me?

My wife and I have two children, an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old. My wife wants to have another child but I think we already have enough work and children - we do not have much time left to our day!

I have been in a spiritual funk for quite a while, actually, and not really “feeling it.” All the things I planned to improve during this past year didn't improve, and I'm hesitant to make a new round of resolutions I know I won't keep.

This past June, I lost my mother, and now both of my parents are gone. This was the first High Holy Days without either one of them. Although I don’t come from an active religious family, nevertheless I do feel a heavy burden of the heart. What is the best way to cope with no longer having my parents?

A friend of mine who is known to burn money and not repay loans is continuously asking me for a loan. I have heard that one should always give a loan when asked. Should I be giving him a loan?

Thanksgiving dinner has been a particularly sticky issue with my mother-in-law, who does not adhere to the kosher dietary laws...

I am looking to get married and I am wondering, what are some good pointers to assist me in my search?

As I grow in my observance, I have stopped taking calls on the Shabbat. I have a friend I would always speak to on Saturday morning. I had a conversation with her and explained that I cannot speak on the phone on Shabbat. But she insists on calling at the same time we would always speak.

I am constantly feeling undervalued and unappreciated at my job. I have a great position with a lot of freedom, which intellectually would seem to suggest that they are happy with me and my work. Yet continuously I feel that I am being marginalized and unnecessary...

In a couple of weeks, my lazy sister will be awarded more than half a million dollars. I, on the other hand, work hard at my job, do many good deeds and try to do the right things in my life. However, I am struggling with bills and expenses in order to maintain my household.

Our 10-year-old son is a very sensitive boy. My husband is not an overly sensitive person. He has very little patience for our son’s gentle nature; in fact, he calls him a wimp...

I have been duly chiding myself, ever-reminding myself that my accomplishments are only possible by G‑d’s good grace, and, if so, why should I feel any more accomplished than the guy next door?

My doctor recommended that I take up some type of meditation, mentioning “mindfulness” as one option. Are there Jewish meditation techniques I could use?

I’m studying for my Bar Mitzvah and really need some motivation for learning to read Hebrew. I'd rather stick to English...why should I bother reading Hebrew? Besides, I don't really understand it.

There is a new electronic toy which costs $499! Many of my son's friends have it, but we have no intention of buying him one. My son is devastated that he cannot have what he wants. How will I explain it to him?

I recently completed a major business deal and made a profit of several hundred-thousand-dollars. I live a rather simple lifestyle and was wondering if you could offer some advice on what I should do with the money.

Each and every one of us needs a spiritual teacher and mentor to help us maximize our soul’s potential in divine service...

Things have flared up between my mother and my wife. My mother insists that the family be together every Friday night dinner at her house, but my wife wants to be able to host dinners at our place too. Where should my loyalty be?

My teenage son plays basketball very well. He plans join the team at an excellent college and hopefully go professional. I am finding it difficult that my son is focused solely on his basketball future. Everything else is secondary to the sport, including his Judaism. So what do I do?

There are no words that can provide enough comfort. All the same, reaching out to others is a good way to begin a healing process.

I have been doing some introspection and realize that I have done things in my life that were wrong, and I have harmed other people. How can I face myself after having done these things? And is it possible do rectify the past?

I have been having nightmares for years, sometimes in batches several days together, about myself, various friends and relatives. They are never true, yet they have greatly tortured and complicated my life. They make me scared, and many times have paralyzed me to inaction.

I know that it is important to help others, but I cannot seem to find time. How can I help people when I’m so busy?!

I am really struggling with a lot of things in life. Work, dating, you know the drill. Sometimes I get depressed about my shortcomings. I sometimes think I am just a big failure.

I am seeing this guy very seriously, but one thing bothers me. How do I know if he is my soulmate? How can I be sure that he is the other half of my soul?