Ask the Rabbi

Downfall of the Enemy - I married a negative person who has a very negative attitude. All these years whenever his meanness or negativity was pointed in my direction, I would scream and cry and pray to God to help me. Never in all my years... More »

History of Palestine - I'm a bit confused about the term "Palestine." Today everyone uses it to refer to Arabs, but my grandfather played in Palestine Symphony Orchestra which changed its name to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra... More »

Is Gaza Jewish? - I had mixed feelings upon seeing the Jewish communities of Gaza and their 9,000 residents being uprooted in 2005. There was the hope of an improved security situation, but on the other hand it seems wrong to declare a... More »

Jewish Claim to the Land - I have heard a lot of anti-Israel sentiment from my friends who support the Palestinians. A good client of mine questions the validity of Israel’s existence, saying: “How do you justify inhabiting an... More »

Land for Peace? - Is it permitted to disengage from areas of the West Bank, which constitutes the biblical heartland of Israel? Through news reports, I am able to keep up with what seem to be very frightening developments that world... More »

Safe to Visit Israel? - I'm a college student and have always wanted to visit Israel. I have the opportunity this summer to come for a free Birthright trip. But my parents are afraid of the security situation. Is it safe to come visit Israel... More »

Security Threat - Between Iran's pursuit of the Bomb, and missiles from Hezbollah and Hamas, I fear that Israel is facing a Holocaust. Should we start running away from there? Or are we going to forget the mistakes of 1939 and wait... More »

Suicide Bombers - Israel has suffered from many gruesome terrorist attacks. What I cannot understand is that a suicide bomber is a human being, born in the image of God. So what makes a person do such a thing? I am trying to understand... More »

Waging War Against Canaan - In 2009, when Israel went into Gaza and killed a lot of people, I was discussing religion with one of my friends, and he said that in the Torah, God told us to go out and murder people that we don't like. The verse he... More »