Daily Life

I noticed a difference in weekday Modim and the Modim for Shabbat. In the weekday Modim it says - hey, mem, reish, chet, memsofit. In the Shabbat one, there is a vav added to the beginning. Do you happen to know why the difference? It essentially adds "and" but I do not know why (apologies, the keyboard I am using does not have Hebrew on it).

Can I pray at any time or is bathing from the river is obligatory before doing this?

Dear Rabbi, Firstly, a huge yeshar koach on this website; I feel you are providing an invaluable service to the Jewish community worldwide. My question is as follows: My city is blessed with multiple frum yeshivos, each with a slightly different hashkafa. I am currently in my final year of a 4-year post high school Bais Medrash program. I would like to know whether: Once I complete my program, I’m allowed to switch to a different rav in the city for general and specific guidance in life—a rav who has a generally more liberal hashkafa (but is still solidly within the Torah framework). And if so, do I need to obtain my current rav’s (Rosh Yeshiva’s) permission? (Reason for my question: When I enrolled in my Bais Medrash program, I wasn’t aware at the time how “right wing” and strict the yeshiva was compared to most other yeshivas in my city. Just to cite an example: The hashkafa of my Rosh Yeshiva is that bochurim should ONLY look for a wife who can financially support their full-time Torah learning. I, on the other hand, don't want to restrict my options. As much as I love learning, I also have other interests/passions and I don't see the harm in starting my own business, for example, while learning a bit in the mornings and a bit at night. Another example is regarding the use of the internet; my Rosh Yeshiva, in my view, is overly strict in his approach) Thank you! ps. On a totally unrelated matter, I noticed that on this template there is a error that you may want to fix: "Do you need a video to description the problem better ?" Should be "to describe".  

Hi Rabbi, A friend showed me a verse in the Torah that says: “All God asks is that you do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.” I am not Orthodox but am trying to learn about my Judaism and want to understand what would make me a good Jew. Is it really enough to “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God” to be a good Jew? Thanks!