Question: What exactly is the Yetzer Hara and Yetzer Tov? Are they angels? Are they spiritual ‘impure’ and ‘pure’ forces inside us that convince us to do bad or good?… Read more »
Category: Consulting on non-halachic issues
How to Beseech Hashem
Question: Hi Rabbi, For quite a long time I’ve felt quite unsatisfied with the course of my life (I am a teenager by the way), often I feel socially isolated… Read more »
Engaging with antisemites
Question: Is there any good reason why a Jew should not waste his time engaging with anti semites either in real life or online? Thank you. Answer: Isn’t you question… Read more »
Why do we still observe mitzvot without the Beit HaMikdash?
Question: Hi Rabbi, Reading the Parasha every week, it seems the bulk of the Torah, at least the Written Torah is composed of commandments we don’t practice anymore, and a… Read more »
Attaining Perfection in life
Question: Let’s say a person sets a goal (in my case the religious field) and NOT because of something or someone, is it possible that one day (future tense) I… Read more »
My husband is working, and koveia itim. How do I come to a greater appreciation of his learning?
Question: Is it OK if I ask a hashkafa question? It’s not that I’m looking for new information, but I’m just trying to internalize some concepts. It’s really hard for… Read more »
Mosheiach
Question: In Yeshiva, I remember learning, that it is asur to say someone is the Mosheiach and/or to follow someone as if they are the Mosheiach. A friend just told… Read more »
Mistakes, regret, from Hashem?
Question: When someone makes a mistake (not regarding a mitzvah or a sin), and suppose it leads to tremendous suffering and regret; they can’t believe how they could do something… Read more »
Hashem is Perfect and He created everything with perfection: Why couldn’t He create us without having to experience suffering?
Question: Hashkafah teaches us that Hashem created a system that involves us, His creations, working for our reward. The reason given is to combat Na’amna d’chsufah (sp?) lit., Bread of… Read more »
Why is being good important, if it causes people to be jealous of me?
Question: I just don’t understand one thing. Why does it say in the Torah to work hard in being and do good. You work very hard to be the best… Read more »
Why do I have difficulties?
Question: Why do you think that a person like me, a baalas teshuva, who never really felt an attachment to the secular path, have to be faced by G-d with… Read more »
I feel confused
Question: BH I feel that everything I do on a daily basis goes wrong, as a family too, I try to work and you don’t leave things to me, like… Read more »
Olam Haba and gehinnom
Question: Greetings. How is it possible that the gemara in Rosh Hashana 17b discusses the existence of gehenom when we know from Pirke Avos that Kol Yisroel Yesh Lo Chelek… Read more »
Telling a son/daughter about Gehinnom
Question: Is there an appropriate age to tell your son/daughter about Gehinnom? Is it ever appropriate to tell your child that if they don’t eat Kosher or do something else… Read more »
Difference of rabbis opinion
Question: Shalom Rav what does one do when he hears of a rabbi in his communtiy who holds differrently to other but is a reputable talmid chacham? recently a rabbi… Read more »
Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat
Question: A group of women would like to do a Women’s only Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat in a synagogue hall , is this allowed? Some communities do allow it however,… Read more »
Is seeing a therapist kosher – in general?
Question: Dear Rabbis, I see that aspects of seeing a psychotherapist (particularly the potential yihud issue) have been discussed here before, but I wanted to ask more generally if there… Read more »
One who sees five generations
Question: What is the source that one who merits to see five generations goes straight to Olam Haba? Answer: My apologies, but I am not aware of such an idea.
Authors of book that live a life of toeiva
Question: It has happened many times that I’ll read a fantastic book, only to discover later on that the author led a life of to’eiva. Case in point: the late… Read more »
The Earth and other planets
Question: Why might the Earth be the only inhabited planet in our galaxy? Out of the planets in our solar system (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto), Earth… Read more »
Hashkafah of Rashi
Question: When Rashi says in the beginning of Bereishis that the world was created for Torah and the Jewish People, does that really mean that the rest of the world… Read more »
humour
Question: dear rabbi, regarding the topic of humour, i wonder if it is important. probably it can – as all kind of laughther be good or be bad. do you… Read more »
Terrible migraines
Question: I recently started having terrible migraines. The pain is very intense even with medication. I have one now and the pain is blinding. I can’t focus on anything else…. Read more »
Kedoshim
Question: Those murdered in the Holocaust are known as “kedoshim”. What is the source for this title? Answer: The term kedoshim does not refer only to those killed specifically in… Read more »
Receiving rebuke
Question: A rav I’ve confided in for several years gave me harsh rebuke tonight. It still stings. I’m trying not to be defensive. What is the right approach to take… Read more »
Disconnection
Question: I don’t know how to properly connect with other people. I am distant. I am constantly glued to my phone/computer (Internet) 24/7 and if not for Shabbos I would… Read more »
Mad imprints
Question: Dear Rabbi, I was a failure of a student in my eyes today because as a child I loved the video arcade. I find that today in davening I… Read more »
Whatever happens is for the best (a lesson to gain) but without the mishap:
Question: When a Jew faces a difficult situation in life, the first existence to most importantly look up for guidance is – G-d. G-d, can’t speak to us (individually through… Read more »
Shiflus vs. Gaavah
Question: I don’t think I have heard of shiflus before. You said it means lowliness and that it’s also bad, like gaava is bad. Please tell me more? Which is… Read more »
Haughtiness
Question: Thank you for explaining. Is it okay for me to remember my accomplishments and be proud of them? Or does that diminish the reward? I think it helps me… Read more »
How to distribute money to ones married children.
Question: Chalom Someone got an unexpected sum of money. He wants to distribute it to his children all of them are married with children (one with 7 one with three… Read more »
Why 12 months in Sheol
Question: Shalom Rabbi I was always wondering how do rabbies know that the soul of the departed, except for Czadikim who meet G-d immediately, go to sheol ( ie. purgatory)… Read more »
Life insurance
Question: Life insurance – Is it recommended? I would like mekoros if possible. Answer: The poskim say that taking out life insurance is a correct hishtadlus, and it is… Read more »
kapara through suffering
Question: If a person is granted kapara through suffering and then the suffering stops, is the kapara taken away too? Answer: When a person goes through suffering because of an… Read more »
Is there hope for a baal gaiva?
Question: Is there hope for a baal gaiva? What if the person doesn’t want to be a baal gaiva and they try to change but they keep getting stuck in… Read more »
Clarification of some phrases
Question: Kindly would you be so good as to clarify for me what the phrases noted at the bottom of this message mean. These are out of this webpage: Rabbi… Read more »
Generation
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am seeing new things with new generations. Todays young chassidic student for instance shaves the top of head and applies of course still side curls. What… Read more »
Do not like grandmothers name
Question: Hi, my grandmother recently passed away and we are iyh expecting a child. I simply do not like my grandmothers name. What can I do if we have a… Read more »
Mechalel shabbos
Question: Hi rabbi in short ive been married to a man for 12 years. Not only have i found proof of hos infidelities etc but i found out he is… Read more »
Watching videos of pranks
Question: I have a friend who enjoys watching videos of pranks on You Tube. He laughs as a person trips over the slippery floor, sits on wet paint, or gets… Read more »
Din v’cheshbon on someone suffering from mental illness?
Question: If I am suffering from mental illness (e.g. depression) is there a din v’cheshbon on me for my actions or lack of actions? I feel like I simply cannot… Read more »
Are their any special tefilas to help us to get pregnant.
Question: My husband and I have been married for almost 6 years. We have been trying to have children now since my blood sugar is controlled being a type 1… Read more »
Golem
Question: Hi, I have to write a paper on the Golem of Prague. Looking into it, I couldn’t find any good sources that it existed. What is our take on… Read more »
Moshiach, Techiyas HaMesim, and Olam Habah in Tanach?
Question: Are there sources for the concepts of Moshiach, Techiyas HaMesim, and Olam HaBah in Tanach? Thank you. Answer: Sure there are. Regarding Moshiach the Nevi’im are full of it…. Read more »
good vs evil
Question: My inspiration in life was a man that told me about the forces in life that can be used for good or bad. There is a light and a… Read more »
Why should we daven if Hashem knows best and gave this to me?
Question: I’m a little confused about prayer. Hashem is only good. He only does good to us, and gives us things for our ultimate benefit. If someone has a medical… Read more »
Learning Hebrew or learning Torah?
Question: A baal teshuva who BH has made great progress in learning, especially in the realm of practical halacha, but he does not read Hebrew or even know the aleph-beis… Read more »
Sadness at health and smoking
Question: Dear rabbi, I smoked cigars for six years and am now concerned with the worst health. No diagnosis has yet been made but I suspect laryngeal cancer and have… Read more »
Learning Moreh Nevuchim
Question: I am 18 years and have many questions about the existence of G-D. (I believe in G-D and the Torah but my deeper questions about how G-D exists often… Read more »
Is he my Rabbi?
Question: I was chozer beteshuva 2 years ago and I really needed a rabbi to help me go on the right path and learn Torah. Finally a year ago I… Read more »