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What is Hakhel?
Hakhel: Then & Today
A hush falls over the mammoth crowd, as the royally bedecked king of Israel ascends on to a platform and reads sections of the holy Torah. The nation is inspired and invigorated...
Library » Hakhel » What is Hakhel?
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Is it true we don't eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah?
By Malkie Janowski
It is indeed customary not to eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah, although this seems to be mentioned only in Ashkenazi halachic literature.
A practical reason for this is given by the Maharil (Rabbi Yaakov HaLevi Moelin), a talmudist of the 15th century ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Is it true we don't eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah?
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Why can't I use a lemon instead of an etrog?
By Menachem Posner
Question:
How do we know that we must take an etrog as the fruit in the four kinds and that I cannot just use a lemon or an orange?
Answer:
The Torah
Leviticus 23:40 describes the fruit which we must take as פרי עץ הדר – pri etz hadar, which ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Why can't I use a lemon instead of an etrog?
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Why do we blow the shofar so many times on Rosh Hashanah?
By Eliezer Posner
Question:
Why do we blow the shofar so many times on Rosh Hashanah?
Answer:
There are different customs as to how many times the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah. In most communities the shofar is blown 100 times. Here's how we arrive at that ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Why do we blow the shofar so many times on Rosh Hashanah?
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Why do we cover the challah bread on the Shabbat table?
By Menachem Posner
There are a number of reasons for this tradition:
a) When our ancestors traveled in the desert for forty years, they subsisted on the manna that miraculously fell from heaven every day. The challah we eat on Shabbat is actually in place of that manna. ...
Daily Life & Practice » Shabbat » Handbook » Questions & Answers » Kiddush & Challah » Why do we cover the challah bread on the Shabbat table?
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Friend Owes Money
I loaned some money to an acquaintance who was in a really desperate situation. I didn't ask for it back until I knew the situation was better, and then I emailed. I never heard back. I know Judaism teaches that you shouldn't bear a grudge, but don't I ...
Women » Dear Rachel » Friendship » Friend Owes Money
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Can I collect debts after a Shemitah year?
By Eliezer Danzinger
Question:
I am owed money by Jews for goods and services provided over the past few months on credit. I expected all of the outstanding invoices to have been paid by Rosh Hashanah, but it's beginning to look like some will not be paid by then. I did ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Can I collect debts after a Shemitah year?
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Loss of a child
By Tzvi Freeman
Question:
G-d chose to take away my dear son from me. Can I have my son back as a newly born son with G-d's blessings?
Response:
The MidrashMishle 31 tells the story of Bruriah, the wife of Rabbi Meir. The couple was blessed with two boys. Lively and ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Loss of a child
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Why does everything always go wrong?
By Tzvi Freeman
To a mother who was kvetching about everything always going wrong and her life was "full of curses and troubles"
Oy...I'm getting the picture.
Let me tell you what the Rebbe very often told people: Many troubles come because they feel at home. That is, ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » Why does everything always go wrong?
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How do you get a Jewish soul?
By Tzvi Freeman
Question:
My question has to do with the concept of the Jewish soul. I am Jewish but was raised as a devout, strict atheist. We were told by my father, a college professor, "We are Jews. We are G‑d's chosen people. There is no G‑d." Four children. ...
Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » How do you get a Jewish soul?
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