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We just purchased two presumably new, unused Mikasa Pottery Art dinner plates online. Do they need to be toevaled? Thank you, [Name Withheld] Phoenix AZ

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Book Research question: Levirate marriage. Easy to find and understand the basics. I am looking for info regarding the cultural practices of the Saul-David era. What I am wondering and cannot find is once the heir is born, what exactly is the standing of the levirate wife and husband, socially, legally? What standing/position does the son have? Is he excluded from inheritance laws of the biological father since he is considered the son of his ima’s deceased husband and inherits his land and wealth? How would the community see this situation? Would mother and son be treated with honor or humiliated or looked down on, considered less? There’s not much to go on regarding the aftermath, what life was actually like for the mother and child after the legal transaction was complete. It probably depended on the husband I suppose. What I can glean seems like it was very different for Ruth than for Tamar, and Abigail, if indeed David’s offer was of a levirate nature, another situation entirely. I would appreciate any insight you may have on this topic to shed light on the cultural realities of the ancient practices. תוֹדה רבּה לך

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Shalom, Rabbi. We have obligation to pray. However, it is obvious that HaShem knows what we need and want before we pray. Then, why do we have to pray? Isn't it heresy to pray because it is an action of denying the fact that HaShem knows what we want before we pray? Isn't it denying omnisience of HaShem?

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Our shul on shabbat starts shachrit at 930 and usually we dont get home till 1pm. I am usually up much earlier (6/7am) and say the karbanot and say shema to make zman. We have young kids as well. We usually say kiddush/hamotzi and have breakfast before going to shul. Is this allowed? If it isnt allowed, how can we make it permissible given waiting till 1pm to eat breakfast is painful. Thank you!

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In the tanakh, Hashem commands the Jewish nation to exterminate the Amalekites and brutally attack the caananites. How ought one go around explaining the ethics of this to a non religious person (or a person of another religion like Buddhism or paganism)?