Ask the Rabbi

Due to limited resources, the Ask the Rabbi service is intended for Jews of little background with nowhere else to turn. People with questions in Jewish law should consult their local rabbi. Note that this is not a homework service!

Ask the Aish Rabbi a Question

Torah versus Talmud?

I'm hoping that you can clarify a few terms that are not clear for me. What is the difference between Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, Gemara and Midrash. If... »

Ashkenazi versus Sephardic Jews

Can you explain to me something about the difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewry? What exactly do those terms mean and what are the... »

Moses’s Cushite Wife

Who was the Ethiopian (Cushite) wife that Moses took (Numbers 12:1)? Is she the same wife as Jethro’s daughter Zipporah whom Moses earlier married... »

Why First-borns Killed?

It has always bothered me why all of the first-borns in Egypt had to suffering in that final, devastating plague. There is no mention in the verses... »

Davidic Line Today

I’m wondering what happened to the House of David. After the end of the Kingdom of Judah was there any memory what happened to King David’s... »

Meat After the Flood

Why was man permitted to eat meat after the Flood (Genesis 9:2-3)? Does the fact that at his creation man was not allowed to eat meat indicate that... »