Dear Jew in the City- I was raised to boo Haman and celebrate our victory, but all these people were killed including women and children. What do I do with that? Thank you, E.B.   Dear E.B.- Thanks for your question but I’m not clear on what you’re asking. From context, it would seem that […]

Dear Jew in the City- I was raised to not be allowed to ask questions at my yeshiva, Is asking questions considered to be a bad thing in Judaism? Sincerely, Koby Dear Koby- I wish you had asked this question around Passover because nowhere is the ethos of asking questions more apparent: Maggid, the main […]

Dear Jew in the City- I was raised to believe that eating traif was the same thing as watching a movie. How are mitzvos, minhagim and chumras weighed, in other words, how do I make sense of what is really required of me from the Torah, the rabbis or just by my particular community? Thank […]

Dear Jew in the City, Ex-Knicks player Chris Smith converted [to Orthodox Judaism] and the NY Post said he can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery with his tattoos – is that true? Thanks, Alexander   Dear Alexander- Is which part true? That a former basketball player converted? I hadn’t heard. That the Post made […]

Hi Jew in the City- In my family, my father lights the menorah alone, but in my friends’ family, everyone lights their own menorah. Who should light it? Sincerely, Meira   Dear Meira- Thanks for your question. The prevalent practice among Sefardic Jews is for one menorah to be lit; the prevalent practice among Ashkenazim […]

Dear JITC- It seems that every day another man in power is accused of sexual impropriety and subsequently fired. The adage “power corrupts” appears to be painfully true. Does Judaism believe that power corrupts and if so, does it have any advice on how to not get corrupted? Thank you, G.C. Dear G.C.- Lord Acton, […]