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Was the Kabbalah Written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai?

Dear Jew in the City- I heard that the Kabbalah was written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Is that the only opinion or are there other approaches? Thank you, Jake Dear Jake- Thanks for your question. Bar Yochai isn’t credited with writing “the Kabbalah” – kabbalah is the entire corpus of Jewish mysticism – he’s […]

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Can Jewish Texts About Past Plagues Help Us Navigate Covid-19?

Dear Jew in the City- Is there anything in Jewish texts from past plagues that could help us navigate the coronavirus? Sincerely, Jamie Dear Jamie- The Torah tells us (Exodus 21:19) that if one person injures another, the offender is responsible to pay the doctor’s bill to heal him. The Talmud (Brachos 60) points out […]

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What Torah Laws Are Broken When People Act With Misplaced Piety?

Dear JITC- We see people who insisted on davening with a minyan now catching and spreading this virus. What Jewish laws are people breaking when they act like this in these challenging times? Do Jewish texts give other examples of misplaced piety? Thanks, Yoni Dear Yoni- You’re being generous by referring to it as “misplaced […]

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Does Coronavirus Mean We’re in the End of Days?

Dear JITC- Does Coronavirus mean we’re in the end of days? People I know say this is the end and either Moshiach or the war of Gog and Magog is imminent. Thanks, Joe Dear Joe- I’m sorry but this question made me shake my head a little because of the things people are telling you. […]

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