Dear Jew in the City- Are the mistakes of youth (teens) counted differently in Judaism? Thanks, AJ Dear AJ- Thanks for your question. In Judaism, the age of an offender is certainly taken into account, in a number of ways. The first and most obvious example is the concept of bar and bas mitzvah, that […]
Dear Jew in the City- What are the benefits of a kosher diet, strictly from a health perspective? Thanks, Shira Dear Shira- Thanks for your question. Not to be glib but, who says there are any? I’m not saying that a kosher diet doesn’t have health benefits, just that such is not necessarily the reason […]
Dear Jew in the City, What is the difference between a pilegesh (concubine) and a wife in the Torah? S.D. Dear S.D.- For the answer to this, let us turn to tractate Kesubos in the Talmud Yerushalmi (5:2). There, the gemara asks your exact question. Rabbi Meir explains that a wife has a kesubah (marriage […]
Dear Jew in the City- Doesn’t being the “Chosen People” make it easier for Jews to be arrogant? Sincerely, Brock Dear Brock- Thanks for your question. We discussed the whole “chosen people” thing a few months ago, so let’s recap what that’s about. I have very dear friends and their kids are special to me. […]
Dear JITC- What is the Jewish perspective on dreams? Are we meant to take them as any form of prophecy or is it just an exercise of the subconscious? Thank you, Auri Dear Auri- Oh, boy. Here we go again. The reason I say that is because, as we have discussed before, there are shivim […]
Dear JITC- Does the animism of Marie Kondo’s popular KonMari method present any problems for observant Jews? Thanks, Ella Dear Ella- Thanks for your question. Let’s skip to the bottom line: you would be best served asking this of your own Orthodox rabbi, not a stranger on the Internet. Now let’s take the scenic route. […]
