Dear Jew in the City- What’s the history of Selichos? Why did it come about? Best, Mark Dear Mark- Thanks for your question. As far as the liturgy goes, Selichos are fairly contemporary. By that I mean that they are measured in mere centuries, rather than millennia. Some of the prayers we recite, like Shema, […]

Dear Jew in the City, I hear people in the Orthodox community sometimes talk about tznius (modesty) for a woman like it is her MOST important mitzvah. Like what she exists for. While I’m a fan of tznius, this perspective on it does not sit well with me – that our greatest goal in life […]

Dear Jew in the City, The month of Elul is a beautiful concept, but can be hard to relate to. What do I do actionably in Elul? What should we be trying to accomplish pre-teshuva? Best, Matt Dear Matt- Thanks for your question. First, let’s examine what Elul is. You might not realize how much […]

Dear Jew in the City, A few weeks ago, you discussed when Moshiach will come. What will happen when he gets here? Sincerely, Incredulous   Dear Incredulous- Ah, a follow-up question! I love a good sequel as much as the next guy but with rare exception, they’re usually not as satisfying as the original. Here, […]

Dear JITC- There’s a new movie called “The Dark Tower” (based on a Stephen King book) about parallel worlds/alternate realities. Does such a thing exist in Jewish thought? -SciFi Junkie   Dear SciFi- Thanks for your question. I haven’t read the “Dark Tower” series, and I don’t intend to see the film, but I am […]

Dear Jew in the City- When is Moshiach coming? Sincerely, Y. E.   Dear Y.E. Ah, nothing like the easy ones! Happily, I don’t have to answer this question on my own because the Talmud discusses it in great detail. The subject is examined in tractate Sanhedrin on pages 97a-99a, with occasional tangents for related […]