Hi JITC- Can I cover my sukkah if it rains? I heard there is something called schlach? Thanks, Aidel Dear Aidel- Thanks for your question. You’ve created a portmanteau of two words. Schach is a mass noun (i.e., a thing whose discrete components are not counted); the roof of your succah is made from schach. […]

A friend did a great kindness for my family and me, so I went to buy her flowers. White hydrangeas, pale yellow roses and bright yellow spray roses adorned my cart at Trader Joe’s as I proceeded to do my weekly shop.  Somewhere along the way, I jarred the flowers while I was loading up. […]

Dear Jew in the City- What does it mean that every soul was at Har Sinai but there are more Jews today then there were then? Thank you, Shanie Dear Shanie- Thanks for your question. You seem to understand that midrash to suggest that all the souls were there bodily but I don’t think that’s […]

Dear JITC- Doesn’t kosher for Passover bread defeat the purpose of Pesach? Thank you, Ron Dear Ron- To answer this question, I’d like to quote a 1973 episode of The Brady Bunch, “Greg Gets Grounded.” When Mike and Carol Brady discover that their oldest son, Greg, was driving irresponsibly, they decide to ground him as […]

Dear JITC- How will Covid affect Purim this year? Thank you, Rachel E. Dear Rachel E. – “I am no prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet….” – Amos 7:14 In other words, “How should I know?” Honestly, last Purim did any of us have any idea what Pesach would look like? Or […]

Hi JITC- Is there prohibition with a Jewish person enjoying Christmas lights since it’s not our holiday? Thank you, Ben F. Dear Ben F.- Here’s the thing about Christmas lights: pretty much everyone likes them. They’re pretty and they’re only around for a brief time so we don’t get too used to them. Objectively speaking, […]