What is the basis (if any) of the tradiion of bringing sweets (cakes/cookies) to a shiva call?

Just today I was asked to pray for a person undergoing surgery. Recently there was a study published and reported on in the ny times (mar. 31) that concluded that there was no benefit to an ill person who was being prayed for by strangers. Do we believe that praying for strangers is beneficial to that person? What is the source? If yes, can that hypothesis be studied in a scientific manner such as in the published study? If yes, please comment on the results of that study? Did they reach valid conclusions? If not, why not? If the efficacy of prayer cannot be studied, why not?

Rabbi When we started our business corp. our lawyer found that we had to change (alter) our business name because someone else had it already. He also found that the person with the name we wanted had let the name registration lapse 3 times but each time reregistered again. we got a call from our lawyer and he told us that he had been tracking the register and that the person let the name lapse again and we could get the name. That would mean that this person could not use the existing name for his business or advertising without at the very least altering it. What we are asking is, would we be doing wrong by grabbing the name? Something inside me says G-D might not be happy if we grabbed the name. Others including our lawyer do not think its a big deal and that we should just take the name. Please advise Thank You Rabbi Gil

Does the prohibition against speaking Loshon Hara apply to non-Jews? If not, are there other similar Halachos that apply to our speech regarding non-Jews? I ask specifically because I read in an email from the Chovetz Chaim Foundation in Shmiras Haloshon Yomi: "it is forbidden to speak rechilus, even if it means losing one’s job." I was wondering if in a situation as described in the email one would be required to lose their job for a Jewish person as well as a non-Jew? Thank you, Chaim

(Follow-up to previous question about a face being in the public domain) Dear Rabbi Newman, I don't remember who said it, but as I remember it, the idea is that your thoughts may be private, but everybody can see your face. In a sense, everybody "owns" your face. Therefore, not only is it very important to greet everyone pleasantly, and with a smile, but it is a person's obligation. Otherwise, it may be considered a form of stealing. I hope I got the explanation right. Did you hear anything along these lines? Have a good day. Aaron