Dear Jew in the City, I recently met my half-siblings online and I will be meeting them in person this summer. Most of my half-siblings are Jewish and some are Orthodox. I have not had many experiences with Jewish people. Could you give me a list of things not to do or say, and ways […]
Dear Jew in the City, Can you please explain Jewish/Muslim relations in the Torah, in particular why they’re so contentious? Sincerely, Itai Dear Itai, Thanks for your question. The Torah has literally nothing to say about Jewish/Muslim relations. To explain why this is, please consider the following timeline: 1312 BCE – The Torah is […]
Dear Jew in the City, Let’s say a teenager wasn’t able to express his real thoughts growing up, because his parents actively silenced him, gave him the message his opinion wasn’t wanted or didn’t meet his emotional needs in a significant way? In order to heal, he’s supposed to go through different stages of emotions. One […]
Dear Jew in the City, Honoring your parents is a Torah commandment that Jews of all backgrounds seem to know well. Jewish guilt is an often joked about stereotype and parents can sometimes become experts in guilting their children to abide by their wishes under the aforementioned commandment. In all seriousness though, part of a […]
Dear Jew in the City, The Calling has the Orthodox detective saying a prayer (Kaddish) over every dead body he finds. Why do Jews pray for the dead? Sincerely, Jon Dear Jon, Thanks for your question. I haven’t seen The Calling so I can’t comment directly on the show, but there seems to be sufficient […]
Dear Jew in the City, How do you inculcate the values of kindness, compassion and selflessness in a society that rewards narcissism, like we often see on social media for example? How should narcissists, especially those in positions of power and influence, be regarded and dealt with in the Jewish community? Sincerely, Chaviva Dear Chaviva, […]
