Born to a Jewish mother, deriving from a distinguished Sefardic family, and a non-Jewish father, I was raised as a Jew in a way that could be described as "reformed" while these denominations do not officially exist in Germany where I live until today. At the age of 20 (I'm 30 now) I became deeply interested in Judaism, took an active part in the community, started to study Torah and learn to pray, attended services, travelled to Israel each year and attended Aish in Yerushalayim for a while etc. etc. As my Jewishness evolved so to say and put me in close contact with many conservative and orthodox Jews around the world, many of which became good friends, I always felt that carrying a non-Jewish family name made me different because everyone around me had a Jewish name. "Is this a Jewish name?", is a question that I have answered many times in my life during these past ten years. Also, when I started to do some research into the history of my maternal family I felt great pride and of course the desire to show that I am Jewish also through my name, the name of my Jewish ancestors. All these reasons and others influenced me when I decided to use the family name of my mother as a pseudonym when I became a writer and published books and articles etc. under this name. Now, another stage in my life is about to begin, which adds even more significance to the question of my family name as I was accepted into a rabbinical seminary here just some weeks ago where I will start to study soon: this is why I feel that the right moment has come to make a legal name change i.e. adopt the name my mother was born with. My wife shares this opinion and as my father passed away about three years ago the name change will not hurt him although I am quite sure that he would have understood my motivations anyway. Do you think that changing the name is the right step? Are there any halachic or historical considerations that you would like to share? Should a rabbi (or a future rabbi) not carry a Jewish family name to be accepted by community members anyway? Of course I know that many names are carried by both Jews and gentiles, however my name is so typically German that it would not be considered Jewish. Thank you very much indeed for your help.

Just what is the LXX, when and by whom did it come into being?

Hi Rabbi, I just spent the weekend at the Gateways President's Day retreat this weekend and met someone who asked two interesting questions which I do not know the answers to and, honestly, just didn't have time to ask at the retreat. So here it is... This person told me that he believed that G-d and Satan/Lucifer are one face...one thing. I obviously understand this is not the case...but it was phrased interestingly.. He said.. if g-d created each of us in his image..and each of us has potential for good or evil (altghough never complete since within every evil there is still potential for good (teshuvah) and vice versa) then that would mean that G-d is evil as well. We are in His image after all so if we have that potential then so does G-d. I tried to explain that G-d is not something...He is everything and all inclusive..but it's a hard concept to grasp and accept. So who is Lucifer? Who is Satan? How do you explian that G-d and Satan are not one 'face'- one and the same? I found this online...is this correct?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer#Lucifer_and_the_Hebrew_Bible The second question is when did conversion begin? When did Jews begin? Did Jews begin with Abraham? Was he the first Jew or the first Monotheist? All Abraham did was take people who believed what he believe into his collective..he didn't have a conversion process..etc. Did Jews begin when the Torah was given and that is when the conversion process began? If so, then why did King Solomon have so many wives that were not Jewish and did not go through conversion... The question actually began because we were talking about why someone whose father is a jew but mother is not, why this person should not be considered a Jew? Just because of the fact that it is a blood lineage by the mother? But that would be for religion sake. How about Judaism as a Nationality. If a person believe, and really is, part of the Jewish nation since his Father is Jewish then why can't he consider himself Jewish as a Nationality? Where in the Torah does it say that he has to convert? With all the rituals and mikveh, etc. Can a person be Jewish by Nationality but not by Religion? (By default isn't it a religion since it is bound to the bible? how could it be anationality without it being a religion? This must be a modern philosophy) So that is kind of it. Sorry to bother you but I would love to have in writing something to pass on to him to let him know what our side thinks :) He is pretty bright and will most definitely come back with more questions to counter the answers that will be given but at least the process begins :) THANK YOU!!! Luba Please don't publish my name! Thank you

I saw a very large purple banner on Delancey Street, which is what brings me to you. I understood the banner to mean ask ANYTHING or does it mean just religion-related questions. Actually, I am having a sort of identity crisis whereby I need Judaism (but I was raised by a musician and we were not at all religious). In my quest, what comes to mind at the moment are the people I work with.. Long story short, I want to get out of there, but am over (much over) 40 and know the job market isn't even good for 20-year olds. Maybe some spiritual guidance is what I need. Sincerely, Helene (Hensaw) Laist

I am doing a leeson on the book of Esther ,and I have been told that Hathach is the prophet Daniel. Do you have anything that can comfirm this.