Q and A

Tzedakah is not merely an act of kindness; it is a Divine commandment and a cornerstone of Jewish life. Why, then, did the Sages not institute a blessing before its performance?

Dear Rabbi, I feel like a hypocrite living a double life. On weekends, I’m in shul, I do Shabbos, I’m connected to the Torah-observant community, trying to do the right thing. But during the week, my friends and family aren’t involved at all, and I fit ri...

Tracing the origins of a subtle liturgical divide.

Jewish law is not just technical. It is sensitive to the human reality.

The Shema contains 245 words. This is significant because it is just three words shy of 248, the number of “limbs” in the human body according to the Talmudic reckoning. See Mishna Ohalot 1:9; Talmud Bechorot 45b, cited by Maimonides in Hilchot Tumat Met ...

Why Don’t We Dress Like the Jews of Ancient Times? There is no mitzvah to wear the same clothes our ancestors wore. While contemporary Jewish dress reflects historical customs developed over centuries in different Jewish communities, the halachic focus is...

Beef and lamb are well-known examples of meat from kosher animals which may be eaten once the correct process of slaughtering and koshering has been followed. However, not every part of a kosher animal may be eaten. Some fats are kosher, some are not. Che...

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.

A practical solution to a religious dilemma that has grown within certain Jewish cultures.

Can it be likened to a pre-set timer?