Dear Jew in the City- When it comes to supporting Israel or speaking out against antisemitism, I see some Jews who seem to be throwing us under the bus. On the one hand we are supposed to focus on Jewish unity, and on the other, four-fifths of the Jewish nation didn’t make it out of […]

Dear Jew in the City, In My Unorthodox Life, Julia says in Judaism a man can divorce his wife if she burns his food, but she can’t divorce him even if he beats her. Is this really true? Thanks, Hana Dear Hana, First of all, don’t believe everything you see on TV. The burnt food […]

Dear Jew in the City- I know how to solve the Israeli/Palestinian crisis – make Israel a 51st state of the United States. Let them leave behind that land to the Palestinians and we’ll get them some land here. Could that work? – M.S. Dear M.S. – Thanks for your question. No, that wouldn’t work. […]

Dear JITC- I saw in Shtisel the topic of surrogacy came up. It wasn’t very favorable. Is this across Orthodoxy or just in more right-wing circles? Thanks, G.S. Dear G.S.- Thanks for your question. I’ve never seen Shtisel (and I have no intentions to) but I assume you are referring to gestational surrogacy, in which […]

Dear JITC- What Jewish sources show us that hypocrisy is wrong? Thank you, Dave Dear Dave- I have to say, I really like this question. And, unlike many other questions, I don’t think I’ve been asked this before. The easiest reply might be simply to cite Exodus 23:7, which enjoins us to distance ourselves from […]

Hey JITC- Rivka got engaged at three years old? How are we supposed to understand this? Best, Emily Dear Emily- Thanks for your question. I’m gratified that you said “engaged” rather than married because that’s a huge difference. The idea that Rivka was three is not the only opinion but it’s been popularized because it’s […]