Why did the Torah allow the impoverished to be sold into slavery, instead of forcing the rich to support them? And how can we learn to deal with thieves from the Torah?
The laws relating to Jewish converts are most astounding. Despite the criticism directed at the Jewish people on the grounds that Judaism is racist, the Torah teaches us that any non-Jew who earnestly seeks to join the Jewish people may do so.
As a rule, women are obligated to observe the commandments of the Torah just like men, with the exception of positive time-bound precepts. Yet, if a woman wishes to voluntarily perform a positive time-bound commandment, she receives merit for this.
Essentially, men and women are created equal and both are graced by the divine image through which every human being is created. Likewise, the unalterable chosenness of the Jewish people and their innate holiness embraces men and women alike.
According to most authorities, women are no less obligated to pray than men. Therefore, they must pray “Amida” in the morning and the afternoon (“Shacharit” and “Mincha”). The evening Amida prayer (“Maariv”), on the other hand, is voluntary.
How early may one begin praying in the morning? When is it too early to recite the Shema? When is it too late? Should mountains be taken into account when calculating the sunrise? Rabbi Eliezer Melamed addresses these and other pertinent issues.
Through Brit Mila we declare to the entire world that we, the Jewish people, continue to be firm in our faith and ready to sacrifice ourselves until we have reached the materialization of all of our upright and just aspirations.
One must be on guard against the prohibition of "gnevat da'at," or deception. For example, it is forbidden to use an expression like, "I am opening this bottle of wine in your honor," when, in truth, you had at any rate intended to open the bottle.
The Sages of the Mishna teach: "Captives should not be ransomed for more than their value, for the sake of the general welfare." The enactment of such a law was necessary in order to keep kidnapping from becoming a lucrative trade.
Many people ask, “What does Jewish law have to say about smoking? Is it permissible or forbidden? Is it permissible for a non-smoker to demand that a smoker refrain from smoking in his presence on the grounds that the smoke bothers him?”