Torah

Note: I suspect that this (anonymised) question via our website was posed by a Christian critic of Judaism. We share it here partly in the spirit of “know how to answer the heretic”. Dear Rabbi Simon Deut. 4:2 says, “You shall not add anything to or take anything away from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your GOD…

Dear Rabbi Simon If someone gives me an interpretation of a posuk (biblical verse), how do I know if it is correct? I am not referring to a specific posuk but generally. Many thanks, Marsha Dear Marsha, Thank you for your interesting question. It is well-known that there are multiple facets to the Torah (70 in the Talmudic reckoning), so there…

Dear Rabbi Simon Are there any specific examples of meditation among biblical personalities? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ed Dear Ed, Thank you for your question. Many commentators regard meditation as a propaedeutic to and potentially a means of achieving prophecy. In this view, the great prophets would have practiced meditation as a means of achieving prophetic inspiration. For…

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can you please explain why in Ancient Israel Hebrew slaves were freed in the 7th year (Exodus 21: 2, Deuteronomy 15:12-18) but Gentile slaves were not freed (Leviticus 25: 44-46)? Many thanks, Salvador Dear Salvador As is well-known, slavery was de regueur in the ancient world, and servitude was generally for life. Indeed, it was passed down…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering, besides Abraham & Moses, what are the names of others that would be considered “elders”? Many thanks, Danny Dear Danny, Thank you for your question. I am not certain of the context of your question, but if you refer to the Elders of Israel mentioned in Ex. 4:29, it would seem that we do not know…

Dear Rabbi Simon, In Parshas Toldos we learn that Yitzchak wants to bless Eisav, and so tells him, “And make for me some tasty food,כאשר אהבתי, like I love.” On a superficial level it would appear that Yitzchak craves the physical pleasure of eating. How can this be for a Tzadik like Yitzchak? Thanks, Tzvi Dear Tzi, Thank you for your question, posed…

Note: This parshanut (Torah interpretation) Q&A relates to last week’s Parashah (VaYishlach). We are sharing it here for the interest of our learned readers. Dear Rabbi Simon, Please see Gen. 34:1. Rabbeinu Bechaye quoting Midrash Tanchuma presents the view that women should stay at home and that Dinah was at fault for going out. Does this not transpose the victim…

Note: We always read the portion of Ki Tavo on the penultimate Shabbat of the year, so that we do not enter Rosh HaShanah with the harrowing curses ringing in our ears. We present here an interesting Q&A relating to those curses. Dear Rabbi Simon, Please see Dt. 28:65 (towards the end of last week’s Parasha): “And among those nations…