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, […]
Dear Jew in the City- Do we have the concept of soulmates in Judaism? Can you have more than one? Thank you, Annie Dear Annie- Thanks for your question. We do indeed have such a concept in Judaism; most people refer to it using the Yiddish word “bashert” (meaning one’s “destined” mate). And it shouldn’t […]
Dear JITC- I just saw my parents after 13 months since Covid started, since they have now been vaccinated. I remember there being a blessing over seeing someone you are close to after not seeing them for a year. Can you tell me about this? Thank you, Annie Dear Annie- The Sages, who wrote the […]
Hi JITC- People are having a hard time being decent to people they disagree with these days. How does the Torah say we’re supposed to treat our enemy? Thanks, Michelle Dear Michelle- I don’t always have the full context of a reader’s question and am sometimes left to infer some details. In this particular instance, […]
Dear Jew in the City- Does Orthodox Judaism believe that marriages should have romance? Thank you, Olivia Dear Olivia- My wife and I have a friend we’ve known for about three decades. While she’s now the wife of a well-known local rabbi, we met her as a college student going through all the usual dating […]
Dear Jew in the City- How do you balance Kibud Av v’Em when you’ve chosen a different path within Judaism than your family? Sincerely, B.T. Dear B.T.- No joke, this is literally the first “Ask Rabbi Jack” question I ever received, though I received it from the parent. Decades ago, on my very first day […]
