Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #682 Jewish burial customs and why a non-religious Jew cannot be sandak at a bris
Jewish Burial, Torah Study, and Circumcision: Exploring Core Values in Jewish Law and Spiritual Growth 1. Why does Jewish law emphasize burying the dead quickly, especially in Jerusalem? Jewish tradition places deep importance on kevod hamet (honoring the deceased), which includes burying the body as soon as possible. In the discussion, Chaim explained that according […]
The Book of Leviticus Chapter 18:4 Part 7 Making boundaries and sports addiction
Navigating Torah Observance in the Modern World: Boundaries, Conversion, and Jewish Identity How do Torah study and mitzvot guide a Jew living in a modern, distracted world? The session on Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 18 explored exactly this tension. Chaim’s discussion focused on the challenge of remaining faithful to Jewish law while immersed in contemporary culture. […]
Pirke Avos (Ethics of our fathers) Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 59 Appreciate life
# Evil Inclination and Spiritual Growth: Lessons from Pirkei Avot on Resilience, Gratitude, and Wake-Up Calls **What does this teaching from Pirkei Avot reveal about the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and daily spiritual struggle?** The discussion opens with a focus on the yetzer hara, the inner force in Jewish thought that pulls a person toward […]
Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #681 Be careful with kashrus and when is ignorance bliss?
Kosher, Truth, and Responsibility: Navigating Jewish Law, Belief, and Personal Accountability Why is kosher supervision so important, especially in Jewish-owned or Jewish-named businesses? The discussion opened with a strong emphasis on kashrut (Jewish dietary law) and the real-world challenges of relying on appearances. A business may have a Jewish-sounding name or present itself as “kosher-style,” […]
Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #680 Surrogacy and infertility in Jewish law
# Jewish Law and Surrogacy: Fertility, Marriage, and Family Identity in Halacha **What does Jewish law say about surrogacy and who is considered the mother?** In this Q&A, Rabbi Chaim Coffman explains that according to Jewish law (halacha), the woman who gives birth is considered the legal mother, even if another woman provided the egg. […]
The Book of Leviticus Chapter 18:4 Part 6 Trampling on easy mitzvos
# Yetzer Hara, Spiritual Growth, and Preparation for Observant Jewish Life: Lessons from Pirkei Avot 2:16 **What does Pirkei Avot teach about the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and why is this so relevant to spiritual growth today?** The discussion on Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) Chapter 2, Mishnah 16 focused heavily on the yetzer […]
Pirke Avos Chapter 2 Mishna 16 Part 59-Dealing with Difficult Life Challenges
# Overcoming the Yetzer Hara and Building Spiritual Resilience: Insights from Pirkei Avot Chapter 2 **What does this lesson from Pirkei Avot teach about the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination)?** The discussion centers on how the Yetzer Hara works quietly and strategically to weaken a person’s sense of purpose. One of its most damaging tactics is […]
Ask the Rabbi – Q/A #679 How to honor parents
# Honoring Parents and Raising Confident Children: Jewish Values for Family Relationships **What does Jewish tradition teach about honoring and respecting parents across generations?** Jewish tradition places enormous importance on *kibbud av va’em* (honoring father and mother). This value shapes how parents raise children and how adult children relate to their parents later in life. […]
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, […]