Dear Jew in the City, According to verses in Vayikra, how do we understand men and women having a different value? Sincerely, MM   Dear MM, Thanks for your question. What you’re talking about is parshas Bechukosai, the last parsha in sefer Vayikra (the book of Leviticus). Most of the parsha is dedicated to the […]

Dear Jew in the City, The second paragraph of Shema seems to say that God’s love for us is conditional. That’s a troubling parent-child dynamic. Is there any other way to understand this? Sincerely, Moshe Dear Moshe, Thanks for your question, though I must admit that I don’t see in that paragraph what you see […]

Dear Jew in the City, My family’s Pesach traditions are so strict and burdensome that I don’t want to observe the holiday anymore. The work is too much and I’m starving the whole time. Is there room for me to be more lenient? -A.E.   Dear A.E, Thanks for your question. As I mentioned last […]

Dear Jew in the City, I saw in Unorthodox a kitchen covered in tin foil. Why do Orthodox Jews do this? Thanks, Brad Dear Brad, Thanks for your question. Whenever I receive a question that starts “Why do Orthodox Jews…,” my initial reaction is, “They don’t” because such questions usually represent gross generalizations. This was […]

Dear JITC- What is Modern Orthodoxy? Thanks, Meredith Dear Meredith, Thanks for your question. In order to explain what Modern Orthodoxy is, I think we first have to explain what Orthodoxy is. It begins with a history lesson. In the year 2448 from the Creation of the world, corresponding to 1312 BCE, the Jews who […]

Dear Jew in the City- Are two witnesses really required in order to report  physical or sexual abuse? Thanks, Sara Dear Sara, Thanks for your question, though I legit have no idea what you’re talking about. The Torah says, “Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be executed based on the testimony of witnesses, but […]