Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #678 Why is bar/bat mitzvah at their specific ages and educating children
# Bar and Bat Mitzvah, Jewish Education, and Identity: Understanding Religious Responsibility in a Modern World **What is the difference between bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah ages in Jewish law?** In Jewish tradition, a child becomes personally responsible for observing mitzvot (commandments) at a specific age. This milestone is known as *bar mitzvah* for boys […]
The Book of Leviticus Chapter 18:4 Part 5 Be honost with all your actions
# Keeping Mitzvot Beyond Logic: Divine Command, Ethics, and Spiritual Growth in Jewish Life **How does Leviticus chapter 18 frame the idea of keeping mitzvot even when we don’t understand them?** The discussion of Leviticus (Vayikra) chapter 18 centers on a foundational idea in Jewish philosophy: mitzvot (commandments) are binding because they come from God, […]
Ethics of our fathers Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 58 Staying religious in a turbulent world
Pirkei Avos and the Battle with the Evil Inclination: Free Choice, Faith, and Spiritual Growth Based on Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) Chapter 2, Mishnah 16 What is the “evil inclination” and why does Jewish philosophy focus on it so strongly? Jewish philosophy describes the yetzer hara (evil inclination) as an inner force that […]
Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #677 How does reward and punishment work?
# Divine Judgment and Free Will in Jewish Thought: Understanding Moral Consequences and Spiritual Responsibility **What does Judaism teach about divine judgment and why events in the world are not random?** Jewish philosophy views the world as morally structured rather than chaotic. In this framework, divine judgment means that events—whether personal hardships or large-scale historical […]
The Book of Leviticus 18:4 Part 5 Be honest in all your actions
**Why does the Torah expect us to keep mitzvot even when we don’t understand them?** A central theme of this Torah study was the idea that mitzvot (commandments) are not merely ethical suggestions or spiritual self-help tools, but *divine decrees*. In Jewish philosophy, some laws make immediate sense, such as prohibitions against theft or dishonesty, […]
Pirke Avos (Ethics of our fathers) Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 58 Staying religious in a turbulent world https://www.youtube.com/live/6ahY4Jps1qs
Understanding the Yetzer Hara: A Conversation About Jewish Faith, Free Will, and Spiritual Growth What is the yetzer hara in Judaism, and how does the evil inclination work against spiritual growth? The yetzer hara—the evil inclination in Jewish thought—operates through a fascinating double strategy that targets our relationship with Hashem and Torah observance. It doesn’t […]
Pirke Avos (Ethics of our fathers) Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 57 Repercussions for our actions
# Pirkei Avot Chapter 2 Mishnah 16: The Evil Inclination, Teshuvah, and Hope in Jewish Spiritual Growth **What does Pirkei Avot teach about the evil inclination (yetzer hara) and serving God seriously?** Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) in Chapter 2 Mishnah 16 highlights a foundational idea in Jewish philosophy: a person’s spiritual life is […]
Ask the Rabbi-Q/A #676 Seasons greetings or happy holidays and praising professional athletes
# Jewish Law, Holiday Greetings, and Idolatry: Navigating Non-Jewish Culture Through Torah Values **How does Jewish law guide interactions with non-Jewish holidays and greetings?** Jewish law (halachah) is deeply concerned with how Jews engage the surrounding culture while remaining faithful to Torah values. One common modern question is how to respond when a non-Jew offers […]
Ask the Rabbi-Q/A #675 Why is lending with interest so bad and reincarnation
# Jewish Law on Loans, Interest, and Moral Responsibility: Understanding Torah Values in Everyday Life **What does the Torah teach about lending money with interest between Jews?** One of the clearest financial prohibitions in the Torah is the ban on lending money to another Jew with interest, a concept known as *ribit* (interest). In Jewish […]
Pirke Avos (Ethics of our fathers) Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 56 Living in the real world
# Pirkei Avot Chapter 2, Mishnah 16: Finding Purpose, Overcoming the Evil Inclination, and Living a Meaningful Jewish Life **What does Pirkei Avot teach about the evil inclination and spiritual growth?** Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) frequently addresses the inner struggle at the heart of Jewish spiritual life, and this teaching highlights the role […]