Ask the Rabbi

Over the past year, I’ve been writing a weekly column offering insights into the weekly Torah readings based on classical Jewish sources, and I’ve also written occasional articles on issues of morality and religion. During this time, I’ve learned that lots of PJ Media readers have great interest and curiosity about these topics, and also that there are lots of misconceptions and misapprehensions concerning the nature of Jewish orthodoxy, our beliefs, and practices.

I’d love to help answer these questions. So, to greet the coming Jewish new year of 5777, I’ll be starting a regular “Ask the Rabbi” feature here.

A rabbi is not a clergyman in the sense that most Christians think of priests and ministers; one doesn’t require a rabbi in order to conduct worship services, or even necessarily to conduct what are often termed “life-cycle events.” Rather, a rabbi is expected in a traditional Jewish community to be a repository of law and lore, the source to which members of the community turn when they have questions or issues concerning the beliefs and practices of the unique civilization called Judaism.

If you have a question about anything which piques your interest or curiosity concerning Jewish law, tradition, or history, if there is a Bible verse (from the Hebrew Bible, please) which you’d like elucidated, or if there is anything else about which you’d like to hear a rabbi’s perspective, please send your questions to [email protected] or leave them in the comments section below.

Questions will be selected from the submissions, and I will try to the best of my ability to provide substantive, accurate answers.

Remember, this is a column not specifically intended for people of Jewish heritage and faith, but rather for anyone who is curious about Jewish perspectives and values.