Dear Rabbi

Welcome to Dear Rabbi, the podcast where we explore Jewish traditions and practices! 

Terrorists murdered 1,400 Jews in cold blood while recording their massacre on their GoPros. Over 200 people were taken hostage, including women, children, babies, and the elderly, some of whom were Holocaust survivors. "Never again" is now.While the Nazis tried to conceal their crimes against humanity, Hamas is live-streaming them.The world's silence is deafening, as some "enlightened" individuals from prestigious institutions are celebrating and supporting terrorism either openly or through their silence. The world appears to be growing darker. How can we bring light to this very dark world and help our brothers and sisters in Israel from so far away?

Dear Rabbi, my kelev ate my kippa, does it need to go to Ganiza?

Dear Rabbi, why does God want some distance, even when we draw close with broken hearts, in prayer?

Dear Rabbi, do Jews who live in Israel say "next year in Jerusalem"?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why don't Jews mix milk and meat?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, is Israel an apartheid state? Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, if a person dies in the Hebrew month of Adar, do we celebrate the yerzheit on the 1st Adar or the 2nd?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, is it anti-Semitic to be anti-Israel?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, is there anything wrong with buying a mezuzah online or in a giftshop?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, I saw an article this week in the USA Today and the article says TuBishvat is celebrated at this time of year because in Israel it is Spring even though in the United States it's the Winter. Since Israel and the United States are in the same hemisphere, wouldn't the seasons be the same?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, can a person with a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery? https://www.aish.com/sp/ph/Three-Misconceptions-Jews-Have-About-Judaism.htmlTake a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, in the Torah it states one is prohibited to add or subtract from a mitzvos. How then did the Rabbinic mitzvos come to be?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why don't Orthodox Jewish men wear wedding rings?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, can or should Jews drive Volks Wagon or other German made vehicles?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why are Jews allowed to charge interest to non-Jews?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, do Jews believe in reincarnation?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why are there so many Orthodox Jews that are unvaccinated? Is there a Jewish source that seems to prevent them from being vaccinated?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, is the custom to give out presents on Chanukah really a Jewish idea, or is it just a way of competing with Christmas?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, what does Judaism say about the Trolly Problem?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, my company has a Covid Vaccination mandate, one of my coworkers has a religious exemption that she got from her Rabbi. I'm curious what aspect of the vaccine does Judaism find objectionable? Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, do you give out Halloween candy?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why does the Jewish concept of day start at sundown?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why don't we find any mention of dinosaurs in the creation dialogue in the bible?To learn more, visit geraldschroeder.comTake a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, essentially, how can someone die in the days of awe, as you were written in the book of life in 5781 and the book for 5782 has not yet been sealed, what is the Jewish thought about death during this time?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why is Abraham considered the Father of the Jewish people?Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, was Abraham the very first Jew? If so, what makes him the first Jew and not Adam or Noah?

Dear Rabbi, why don't Jews believe in Jesus as the Messiah?

Dear Rabbi, if our job here in life is to do Mitzvot and we are re-incarnated again and again until all our mitzvot are fulfilled, why don't we leave some unfinished so we can stay in this world and serve Hashem?

Shouldn't Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) come before Rosh Hashana (the Day of Judgment)?

Dear Rabbi, why do we read the Torah on certain days of the week but not others? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, some Jews seem to have an issue with the concept of Jews being spoken of as "the Chosen people." They feel it confers some type of exalted privilege that we do not deserve; and that this is exclusionary, divisive, and fosters Antisemitism. What is your answer to this criticism? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, as we struggle with the new reality of a post Covid world how do we make sense of God's role in all of this? Why would he want us to suffer like this? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, we keep kosher in our home and always have. We invited friends over for Thanksgiving and my friend's husband explained that they dont eat turkey for kashrut reasons. I explained that I bought it at the kosher deli and even showed him the kosher symbol. He still insisted that he doesn't eat it. Is he yanking my chain? How can it be not kosher if they are selling it at a kosher store? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, I read somewhere that there is a belief that when Moshiach comes, it will be on Tish b'Av. Is this true? I also heard that the laws of kashrut may be suspended after Moshiach comes (bring on the bacon!). Is that true? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why do some women cover their heads for the Shabbos candle blessings and others do not? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, we are supposed to have 2 challot on Shabbat Eve dinner to remind us of the double portion of manna that fell in the desert...but what about the Saturday Shabbat lunch.?..Are we expected to again have 2 loaves! Didn't we fulfill the ritual on Shabbat evening? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why do Jews say to 120? Where did that come from? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Does Judaism offer any guidance on dealing with COVID? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

When I went online to order the 4 species for sukkot I was presented with all kinds of alternatives that I never heard of before…What do they mean and why so many choices? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, what's all the fuss about re-opening Synagogues? Why do we need to pray in Shul anyway? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, if God is all loving, why would God let Satan turn us astray and inflict pain on people? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, what's up with the Jewish Calendar? I was born on Hanukah and my birthday is December 2. Last year Hanukah was at the end of December and a few years ago it was over Thanksgiving! Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, what is the best way to get started in wanting to be more involved Jewishly? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, where did the stereotypes come from that all Jews are rich? While I'd love for it to be true in my case, I can assure you that it is not. Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, I was sitting on a plane a while ago and saw an Orthodox Jew sitting next to me drinking Coke. Is Coke Kosher? I didn't see a Kosher symbol on it. Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, if all salt is kosher why is kosher salt called kosher salt? Is it more kosher? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, why does "seraphim" mean angels & snakes? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, among the many disturbing scenes in Unorthodox, the scenes of intimacy were some of the most startling. Aside from the blatant abuse, do Orthodox couples really have sex with their clothes on? I thought they had a sheet with a hold in it so that they didn't need to? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, how come some people say Shabbat and others say Shabbos? I heard that Shabbos is Yiddish. Is that correct? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi

Dear Rabbi, what's the point of prayer? God already knows what I need, doesn't He? Are we trying to change God's mind? Are you a wondering Jew? There are always things we want to ask but for whatever reason we don't. Whether we're embarrassed or simply don't know someone we can ask.  Take a few minutes a week to learn more about Judaism and clear up some misconception with Dear (R)Abbi! You can submit your own questions at https://www.joidenver.com/dearrabbi