What is the point of Prayer When God Knows What We Want?

Dear Jew in the City, Why does Hashem need our prayers, especially when He already knows what we want and need? Why is prayer so important? Sincerely, Rachel   Dear Rachel, Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, you’ve got things backwards. God is complete and perfect; we’ve got nothing to offer Him that He “needs.” Sure, […]

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What’s The Jewish View On Suicide Vis-a-Vis Mental Illness?

Dear Jew in the City, I know that suicide is technically prohibited in the Torah, but what about people with mental illness? Is ALL suicide prohibited equally? Does Jewish law consider mental illness a justification for suicide? How do we reconcile the Torah’s prohibition of suicide with our modern understanding of mental health? Thanks, C.S. […]

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New Pope: How Do Jews Handle Leadership Transitions?

Dear Jew in the City, With all the recent media attention on the Vatican and the process of selecting a new pope through a conclave, I was wondering—does Judaism have anything remotely similar? Is there a historical or halachic equivalent to locking leaders in a room until a decision is made? How are major religious […]

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Why Do We Still Count the Omer When We Don’t Have a Holy Temple?

  Dear Jew in the City- If there’s no Temple anymore, why are we still counting an Omer that’s not even being brought? Didn’t other Temple-related actives just cease after its destruction? Thanks, Losing Count Already   Dear Count, That’s a pretty good question. Let’s first explain what “counting the omer” is. Leviticus chapter 23 […]

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