Dear Jew in the City- Is secular education permitted according to Jewish law? Do parents have any responsibility according to Judaism to give their children the knowledge to be able to make a living and get around in the world? Thank you, Rebecca Dear Rebecca- Thanks for your question. I think that I – and […]
Dear Jew in the City- I’ve been wondering why matrilineal descent is how people are considered to be born Jewish. Do you have an explanation for it? Sincerely, Cameron Dear Cameron- Thanks for your question. Overly simplified, matrilineal descent means that “religion follows the mother.” A lot of people mistakenly think that, Biblically speaking, we […]
Dear Jew in the City- What’s with the business of a man being “koneh” a woman and the way the girl’s father gives ownership to the husband with the kerchief at the wedding? Thank you, Z.C. Dear Z.C.- The first thing to know is that words don’t mean the same thing in all times, places […]
Dear Jew in the City- Jacob Steinmetz and Elie Kligman both just made history as the first Orthodox Jewish players to be drafted to the MLB. Steinmetz plays baseball on Shabbos but Kligman doesn’t. How can both be considered “Shabbos observant” with this difference? Thank you, JL Dear JL- The answer to this question is […]
Dear JITC- What prophecies are we supposed to be seeing during the times of Moshiach that we may be seeing right now? Thanks, MM Dear MM- Thanks for your question, though I don’t love it and you’re probably not going to love my answer. The reason I don’t love your question is because it presupposes […]
Dear Jew in the City- What’s the difference between Hasidic vs. Orthodox Jews? What about the Jews on Shtisel vs. Hasidic Jews? Thanks, Michael Dear Michael- Thanks for your question. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I haven’t seen (and have no plans to see) Shtisel, so I can’t address that. But I can address […]
