Dear Jew in the City, Are Jews allowed to pray on the Temple Mount? Sincerely, AJ Dear AJ, Thanks for your question. The answer is both halachic and political. Before we get to the question of praying on the Temple Mount, let’s first address whether Jews may even ascend the Temple Mount. Short answer: it’s […]

Editor’s note: After publishing this article, a reader asked us to clarify the following points: The article below is not attempting to discuss the modern day halachic understanding of the issue of child sexual abuse. In modern times, child sexual abuse is prohibited additionally given its devastating effects on its victims – depression, anxiety, PTSD, […]

Dear Jew in the City, Why do Orthodox Jews do circle dancing? Sincerely, Kayla   Dear  Kayla, Thanks for your very interesting question. It might surprise you to learn that circle dancing is not exclusively Jewish, let alone Orthodox. Circle dances can be found the world over, from Armenia to Sweden, from Greece to Germany, […]

Dear Jew in the City, How did Jewish law handle unjust governments in past eras and how does that apply to America in modern times? Sincerely, Sam   Dear Sam, I’m going to be honest, I’ve sat on this question longer than I’d normally like. I kept kicking it down the road because I didn’t […]

Dear Jew in the City, Are there any Torah sources that address PTSD and how to deal with it?  Sincerely, Hindy Dear Hindy, Thanks for your question. For sure, the Torah doesn’t mention PTSD by name because the term “posttraumatic stress disorder” didn’t appear until 1980, in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical […]

Dear Jew in the City, Are boys supposed to learn all day or get a job? Are Jewish men expected to be employed and provide for their families? I have read of some Orthodox men who shun work and study Torah all day while the wife is the breadwinner and raises the children. Sincerely, Stephanie […]