Good morning, First, shalom (just bageling!) to R's Becher, Kohl and Rietti (in alphabetical order only) who presented a terrific program in Newport a couple of weeks ago--my first Gateway experience. Second, I wanted to follow up with R' Becher on my request for the name(s) of people I might ask for a blessing in the NYC area. Finally, I wanted to ask something about the historical records (or lack thereof) of the gentile world regarding the miracles of Passover. Doesn't it seem very odd that our tradition records these 10 spectacular events, happening one after another with 3 precisely weeks of warning before each one, affecting only the Egyptians while leaving the Jews in their midst unscathed--and yet the Egyptian record of events is silent on such a magnificent (or, tragic from their perspective) turn of events? And even if we posit the seemingly unrealistic premise that 100% of the Egyptians, who were on the losing end of this story, collectively omitted the story from their documentation of the day, still we should find stories of this specific chain of obviously related clear miracles meeting the exact descriptions of the plagues among Egypt's surrounding neighbors (i.e., those countries through whom the wild animals of the world commuted to maul Egyptians as part of one of the plagues). Also, our tradition notes that when we crossed the Sea of Reeds all waters in the world split--even the drink in a cup of water. So why don't we find a common story dating to that period from the Chinese, Irish, South Africans, etc. noting that miraculous day when the water split? After all, there are cultures with recorded history stretching back at least that far. Part of where this question is coming from is the belief that our religion's claim to authenticity is for me rooted in the claim that the entire people interacted with G-d at Sinai--a hard/impossible claim to invent and successfully pass down; so, if we can find that the entire world's population shares in our story of waters splitting our case is even stronger (but at the same time, what does it mean if our claim of worldwide waters splitting is uncorroborable in the accounts of the non-Jewish majority from that time?). Thanks in advance for your help with this, and please let me know if my question is unclear. David

is a jewish woman allowed to have an abortion? why does a married woman have to cover her hair? what is so special about hair? why do men go to the mikvah? why do many go at the same time... unlike women who go one at a time?

Is one permitted to have a non-Jew attend a seder? A Shabbat or yomtov meal? A brit? If the answer to any of the above is no, I would appreciate a full explanation so I can convey to my Gentile colleague why it isn't possible.

I am a 32 year old living in South Texas, I grew up in a very strict, fanatical christian family. At one time, I was also very charismatic and had plans to become a Pentacostal minister like other members of my family. I won 3 state bible championships and went to nationals. Then I enrolled in bible school. Suddenly I began to question the church and could not come to terms with some of it's beliefs. To hide my new found ideology, I moved to San Antonio. I recently moved back home when my father died, and now I find myself once again in the midst of unbearable fundamentalism and intolerance. However, I cannot share with my family my disapproval of thier doctrine, for fear of expulsion. My question are, other than gathering the dispersed of Israel, and rebuilding the temple, what are some of the other characteristics and prophecies required of the Moshiach that Yeshua did not fulfill. And, though I was not born Yehudim, I would like to know more about your faith and perhaps even convert. I have started learning hebrew and began the Daf Yomi. Please respond and pray for me. Shalom!

is moses sole fish kosher from Israel