Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Whoa!! You guys are keeping your foot on the gas... some good, tough questions. Keep 'em coming.

But, how about some easier ones like
"Whatcha smokin' Rabs?":D

good stuff

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Wow Rabbi, as a "Bad Catholic" I really hope there is no hell. Maybe there's hope for me after all.;)

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Just keep doing acts of goodness and kindness, and check out the noahide laws above or here; www.noahide.org. This is guaranteed for success!!

quote:
The Seven Laws of Noah demonstrate that almighty G-d has rules and laws for all human beings ...and that G-d loves us all. He does not leave anyone, Jew or non-Jew without guidance. To the non-Jew He has given the Seven Commandments.

Maimonides states "Whoever among the Nations fulfills the Seven Commandments to serve God belongs to the Righteous among the Nations, and has his share in the World to Come.".

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Hey Rabs, is it true a Rabbi, coined the phrase
( it wont be long now ) :D

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

No. It was a Mohel.





Go Sox.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Can I get a tattoo?

I never will, but just asking since i've heard a few different answers.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

No. Your body is not yours to do with what you want, but rather it is on loan to your Soul, by G-d.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Wisdom mit a bissel humor. I love it!
:tu

For what it's worth Rabbi, you make me want to be a better Jew.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Rabbi,

Perhaps you can enlighten me on a religious point. I have studied as much as I can find at the used book store and the library which isn't nearly as much as I wish. My background is Christian, Baha'i, and now a cynical agnostic. My question is about the nature of Satan. From what I've read, the duality of good and evil was greatly changed once the Jewish nation came in contact with Zoroastrians in their exile in Babylon. From what little I have read, Satan was Ha-Satan or the greatest servant of G-d and tested the servants of G-d. He was not a diametrically opposed being of once angelic origins. The story of Job makes a lot more sense to me when I heard about this context. For some reason there is a... misconception or evolution of the character of Satan from greatest servant to diametrically opposed evil incarnate a la Zoroastrian Angra Mainyu at least in the modern Christian view of Satan. Is there a fall of Satan in pre-Babylon writings?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Is it offensive for a non-jew to refer to a jew as a jew (in a non-deroggatory manner)?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Can a non-circumsized man become jewish without becoming circumsized?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

OK,
Whatcha Smokin Rab's?! :)

Seriously though, nice thread. I too have learned from it.

(Lew, you are too much, but I already knew that!)

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Do jews ever remorsefully discuss Jesus' death?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Baruch HaShem. That's the goal.

It does my heart good.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Ok here is a gimmi, are cigars purchased from B and M's better than cigars purchased from on-line stores?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Is there such a thing as "too much garlic"?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Matzoh balls: hard or soft?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I used to be a hard matzoh ball fan, but when I got married I saw the advantage of light & fluffy... now we just go with whatever comes out, as my wife's matzoh balls rock!!

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

no.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

What's the question - of course!!:r

Does B&M stand for bowel movement?! Jewish mothers have to make sure you are regular.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

no.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Good stuff! Learning is the point!

Just went on a CC kick with a box-split of RASCC and H.Upmann Coronas Major - (cheaper stuff 'cause of my high Rabbi income:rolleyes:) that are delicious. I am really impressed with both ROTT.

I really, really love Illusione MK's right now. I also like NHC house blend londsdales. Last week, I had a Tat Cojonu 2009 that was great and a eo601 Mi Barrio that was nice, thick smoke. I want to get my hands on some more Esencia cigars, as I really liked the 2 I had a while ago.

I am slowly growing away from Padron's and even many DPG's that taste very similiar. I am kind of really getting into specific cigars, rather that tasting what is new out there, as I have been a little disappointed and strapped for cash, but I always cycle back.
I want to try some different CC marcas that I have never had SCdlH, Cuaba and some H.Upmann.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I don't believe so.

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Not necessarily. Jewish is fine. Anything non-derrogatory hopefully shouldn't/wouldn't be considered degrading.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Sounds like you have been reading Harold Bloom... not that that is a bad thing.

The scenario you portrayed about "Satan's fall" is not something discussed in any Torah-true Jewish text that I have come across, mystical or otherwise. HaSoton (with an 'uh' not an 'ay' as it is pronounced in hebrew) is merely the name for the evil inclination that resides within a person, which they must overcome and transform to do good.

Great story...

When G-d was creating the world and He created the evil inclination (aforementioned) He had to come up with a name. So first G-d called him the "yetzer horah" - evil inclination. He came back to G-d and said no one will listen to me if I am called that, who wants to really do EVIL - Rah? So G-d sent him back with the name "soton" - that didn't work either, they all new it was a negative proper name. uh-uh they said. So G-d called him the "nefesh habahamis" - the animal soul. But still he came back saying no one wanted to associate with him because they are people, not animals, why get involved with something below us. Then he was called the "sitra achra" - the other side, Oy! who wants to be on the "other side", I want to be on the right side!! So this went on and on until he got the name "Yesh" - literally to exist, but meaning ego. He said "Aha!" - this is a good name I can trick people into doing wrong with, everyone wants to exist and be validated and hold themselves as independent (especially from G-d). People will say "I AM SOMETHING" and their ego and self-aggrandizement will lead them astray, and so it was...

We can't see ourselves a independent from G-d or immediately we fall down the slippery slope.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I know the Catholics have come to declare that extraterrestrial life would not interfere with the Catholic faith. That is, the Pope has said that he sees nothing wrong with the theory that life (intelligent as well) exists on other planets...How do jews feel about aliens?

Rad thread by the way.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

"Men make plans...G-d laughs."

Not to be confused with "THAT" slope...right? :confused::D

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

:tpd:

Thanks for the thread. You rock! Also, what is your position on ghosts?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Rabbi,

TKs so much for doing this for us. I'm finding this some very interesting reading and very informative also. Here's my simple question.

My daughter is just over 2 now and for family reasons that I don't need to get into here we to this point haven't done a baby naming for her. Is this a problem or will it be a problem later when we enroll her in Hebrew school and look to have a Bat Mitzvah for her?

Tks so much.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Wow...Great Response!! Keep it up!

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Thanks brotha.

The discovery of ETs would pose no more of a threat to Judaism than would the discovery of a new species of rabbit.

It would be limiting G-d's power to say that He could not have placed life on other planets. In fact, there is a reference in the biblical Book of Judges (5:23) to an inhabited place called Maroz, which the Talmud identifies as a star.

But Jewish thought has always believed that the most weird and wonderful creatures are to be found right here on earth. We can explore the remotest extremities of space but still remain alien to our own humanity. The real secrets of the universe lie hidden in the depths of the human soul.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

:D

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Yes, I do.

There is/was a concept called a "dybbuk" in certain Jewish literature and mystical texts. This might or might not be the equivalent of what is commonly referred to as ghosts.

Do souls sometimes stick around? Yes. Is in the conventional way of a "ghost"? Kinda, Sorta, Maybe. Mystical Judaism is rife with even much more mind-blowing concepts than "ghosts". I guess, define "ghost"...

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

my x gf has asked me to pay for a boob job for her and its to make them smaller not bigger should i say no nicley to her or call her a insane wench and say there is no way i will pay for a boob job ?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

My daughter is also just over 2, as well. Good stuff!!

A Jewish child can be named at any point in their life. In fact, my wife's grandmother was named in her 80's. For a girl, she should be named over the Torah in Shul, a very simple, meaningful prayer is said and BAM! she's got a Jewish name. This should be done at the most immediate Torah reading after her birth. The Torah is read in synogogue ever Mon, Thurs and Shabbos AM. One usually has a small kiddush in her honor on Shabbos. It is never to late, do it ASAP. If you need any further help with this let me know. If you need help with a name, place to go etc. or I could even do the prayer for you...

(side note: Boys are named at their Bris, hopefully on the eigth day after they are born)

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Is it a health issue?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

no she just thinks thay are 2 big and thay anoy her when she wants to play tennis and so on

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Maybe she should play racketball, where the racket is smaller.

or squash, or badminton, or paddle ball with one of those weird solid wood rackets and the little hard plastic ball on the beach.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

lol but shoud i say no niceley or say no way behatch

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Always be nice.


adampc22's engaging questions have begun to put the Rabbi to sleep for the evening...

Gut Nacht! Lilah Tov! Gooood Night!

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

good night sir

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Most of this I'm well aware of but thanks for your advise. One question though I always thought, but could be remembering wrong isn't the Torah also taken out and read from on Sunday's with typhillon (sp?)? I could have sworn when I was young they took the Torah out Sunday mornings when I used to go with my dad and then have breakfast afterwards there.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I'm surprised noone has asked this yet, so I'll pose it:

Is there a brucha (blessing or "grace" for those who don't know) you say before lighting a cigar? What is it?

And do I really have to smoke 8 cigars on the last night of Hanukkah?:ss

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

The Torah scroll is ONLY taken out and read on Monday, Thursday and Shabbos (and on Festivals, First Day of Jewish Month, and Fast Days). Tefillin are worn by men every morning, except Shabbos and Festivals.
a great Mitzvah indeed!!

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Sorry, there is no Brocha - Blessing over smoking cigars. But utilizing them for good, as many of us do, in aiding relaxation, clarity of mind, forming social bonds etc. is all good.

No you don't have to smoke 8 cigars on the last night of Chanukah, but u can bomb someone with 8 cigars! ;)

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Keeping the Rabbi busy!!!!! Just checkin to see if you are doing okay today?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I looked into this and not only is this Maroz place inhabited, but its people are cursed. That's pretty neat.

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

I think you did a good job answering the question, but I the ghost I was refering to can be defined as "The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats."

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Is it kosher to eat Bacos?

Re: Ask The Rabbi!!
 

Hello Rabbi, I hope you are well.

When I was studying to be a chef I had many lessons in "Food Safety".
One of my chef instructors mentioned that many dietary laws from different religions are based on what is safe to eat and what is not. (Considering the days of little science and no refrigeration.)

My question is, when people ask you why something is or is not Kosher and how did these things get that way, is there a resource you direct them too? Perhaps a website or book that explains why. (Such as no shellfish, because we know shellfish from contaminated water can kill you.)

As a chef and a fat man that loves food, the Kosher dietary laws have always fascinated me. I hope you can point me in the right direction as to the why.

Thank you so much.:)