Dear Jew in the City, Why is Sukkot the holiday of happiness over other holidays? Best, Raphael Dear Raphael, Thanks for your question. Let’s assume you were jaded and cynical. I know that doesn’t apply to anyone here, but if you were jaded and cynical, you might think, “Well, when the Rabbis composed the […]
Dear Jew In the City, This year Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat. What are the halachot concerning this? Thanks, Eliza _ Hi Eliza, Thanks for your question. When Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos, what’s different? Quite a bit when it comes to Shabbos, but surprisingly little when it comes to Yom Kippur. Shabbos is different […]
Everything has a season, and for Jews this is the season of introspection, making amends and beginning anew. The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are our chance to start over again. It’s not the kind of fresh start that is as if nothing has happened, because if you’ve lived a year, […]
Dear Jew In the City, Israel seems to have hit Hezbollah hard this week with blowing up their technology. How do we balance celebrating defeating our enemies with not taking too much joy in the death and destruction of human beings? Sincerely, Jonathan _ Hi Jonathan, Thanks for your question. We have addressed questions about […]
Everyday during the month of Elul, the month proceeding the days of Awe, we say the following chapter of psalms that begins with L’dovid Hashem Ori: Of David, The LORD is my light and my help; whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, whom should I dread? When evil men […]
Dear Jew in the City, I was angered to read the updated Wikipedia definition of Zionism. They write that it “is an ethno-cultural nationalist movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century and aimed for the establishment of a Jewish state through the colonization of a land outside of Europe.” Surely Zionism is […]
