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Hi. My Bible study group at Friendswood Methodist Church in Friendswood Texas is finishing up the NT book of Hebrews. The study book author has brought up some issues, and we were wondering if you could clarify. So…within this book, the issue of atonement came up. And sacrifices. He said that the sacrifices made by the Jews (Hebrews?) BEFORE Jesus (who to us is the ultimate sacrifice) were not made for atonement, and were just a symbolic act foreshadowing the blood sacrifice of Jesus. So, after all those birds, goats, bulls were sacrificed on the temple altar, God said, oh, just kidding, that didn’t count? Your sins are not atoned for? Is that what the sacrifices were for? I always thought they were atoning for their sins. And when did the animal sacrifices end? When the temple was destroyed? Or sometime after? The author of Hebrews is trying to make a point w/ his audience to quit the sacrifices already! Along w/ some other points, too. Thanks for taking the time w/ this. Look forward to your answer.  

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Are we supposed to refrain from reciting our own personal petitionary prayers and just trust that Hashem is doing everything for the best, even when it seems like we are down in the dumps? A video I just saw from a rabbi not known to me sounds like that.

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Hello Rabbi, I hope this message finds you well. I've been grappling with a tough question for a long time now, and I'd really appreciate your insights. Here's my struggle in a nutshell: I'm struggling to understand how there's so much evil in the world if God is all good. The typical response that we can't fully grasp God's plans doesn't sit well with me, especially when I think about events like the Holocaust or recent wars. They're just too terrible to accept as part of any good plan. I found some comfort in Rambam's words about free will, suggesting that evil exists because people can choose to do wrong or because of natural laws that sometimes have bad outcomes. But this leads me to a bigger question about prayer: If we can ask God for things through prayer, it means we're asking for God's intervention in the world. But if God doesn't always intervene, how can I pray and ask for help? and if he is helping through prayer, why we almost never see this? especially considering that horrible events have happened in the past, even when people were fervently praying, and yet were losr (like the Holocaust). Rabbi, I'm feeling really lost and would greatly appreciate your perspective and guidance. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. Warm regards, Ori

Question
Question 1: When reading Shnayim Mikra, what is the correct way to pronounce Hashem’s name spelled with two Yuds? This question is especially applicable when the Possuk uses Shaim Elokim and Onkelos still writes it as two Yuds. For example, in the first Posuk of Bereishis the Targum writes it with two Yuds, even though it’s Elokim (though interestingly when both names of Hashem appear one after the other – like in the beginning of the second Aliya of Bereishis – he does write Elokim). Question 2: When you say Lishaym Yichud or the tefillah after counting sefira do you pronounce it Yud - Key - Bvav - Kay or do you do it that way but hey instead key