How Can We Recognize a True Prophet?– How do we know to trust the past prophets of Israel – or a future one if one comes along? I know that we consider the Revelation at Sinai historically credible because it occurred so publicly. But all the other…More »
Location of Prophecy– You wrote previously that Israel is the only land conducive to prophecy, the highest level of communion with God. All the prophets either received prophecies in Israel, or prophecies that related to the Land of Israel. Yet the prophet Ezekiel…More »
The Lying Spirit Which Deceived Ahab– I Kings 22 records a very strange incident. Ahab wanted to go to battle in Ramot Gilad and all his prophets predicted he would succeed. But then another prophet comes and says that God sent a “lying spirit” to the…More »
Kabbalah Versus Magic– If the Torah forbids witchcraft and magic, how come there were great Kabbalists who would change nature and perform miracles, such as creating the Golem?More »
Wearing Red Thread– On our recent trip to Israel we noticed at several sacred locations that there were ladies selling red threads, to be worn on one’s wrist. I believe it was claimed to ward off the “evil eye”. I tend to be…More »
The Nazirite Vow– The Torah (Numbers 6) talks about the nazir. A man who fears that his appetites dominate his judgment vows not to cut his hair and not to drink wine. Then at the end of thirty days, he shaves his hair…More »
Lillith– Someone recently showed me a copy of "Lillith," a Jewish feminist magazine. Is the name Lillith mentioned in the classical Jewish texts?More »
The Book of Job and Satan’s Power– I recently began studying the Book of Job and several things strike me as strange right from the start. God praises Job before Satan, and Satan is unimpressed, claiming that he is only righteous because his life is so comfortable.…More »
What Was the Serpent?– What exactly was the Serpent of the story of Adam and Eve? What it a snake as we think of it? Or was it Satan or some mythical creature? The Torah also teaches us that it was cursed for tempting…More »
Mazal Tov!– Every person is born underneath an astrological field, a particular energy-flow that determines many specifics of life – personality, circumstances, potential. Now in Hebrew this is called "mazel" – literally an alignment of stars. But it can also mean "luck,"…More »
Astrology, Horoscopes– Does Judaism believe in astrology? Is there any validity to it or is it just pagan nonsense – some of which made its way into Jewish teachings? Along the same lines, is there anything wrong with reading one’s horoscope in…More »
King Saul Conjuring Samuel’s Soul– How was King Saul permitted to go to a witch and have her conjure up Prophet Samuel’s soul (I Samuel 28)? Aren’t such practices forbidden? That story altogether has some details which I couldn’t really understand, such as how the…More »
Number 176– I was looking through my Jewish library and noticed something really incredible: The longest chapter in Psalms (chapter 119) has 176 verses. The longest parsha in the Torah, Naso, has 176 verses. And the longest tractate in the Talmud, Baba…More »
Relying on Miracles– With the ongoing problems in Israel, do you believe that God will intercede on the Jews’ behalf? And if He has done so many times in the past, why are the Jews not relying on that level of faith?More »
One Night of Chanukah?– This year during Chanukah I will be on a wilderness survival trip, and it will be very difficult to properly celebrate the holiday. I certainty won't be able to bring along a Menorah. So if I am going to celebrate…More »
The Plagues: Why the Staff?– Many times throughout the story of the Exodus God tells Moses to take along his staff and to use it to perform one of the miracles – such as to wave it at the water to make it part (Exodus…More »
Reincarnation and Dreams– I have been reading about the Jewish idea of reincarnation and this has raised a few questions: Does reincarnation explain why it is believed that we were all at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah? Secondly, how do we explain…More »
Significance of Dreams– I have recently been having a disturbing dream involving someone close to me. The dream has repeated at least once. What does Judaism say about this sort of thing? Is there anything I can or should about it?More »
Music & Spirituality– I love heavy metal music and as I have become more drawn to Torah and religion, I am wondering: Is it okay to listen to Black Sabbath?More »
Playing Music on Shabbat– I have a question concerning playing music on Shabbat. My uncle is a wonderful guitar player and singer. He writes many songs and aspires to share his music with the world one day. On a recent Shabbat, we were at…More »
Pop Music– For the past few months, my colleague at work has been listening to Christian pop music. Over time, I have grown to enjoy it very much and even sing along! My conscious is telling me this is not okay. Any…More »
You Know More Hebrew Words Than You Think
