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I just read what was sent to me as a Midrash Chanuka. It told the story about Matityahu's daughter Hanna who was getting ready to marry and at her wedding she undressed and scolded her brothers and others for them being more concerned about seeing her naked than worrying about her impending rape by the Greek governor that night, as was custom. Did this really happen? Thanks

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Are the 2 Chira's brought down in Tanach the same person? I'm referring to the Chira mentioned in Parshas Vayeishev who Yehuda befriended and the second Chira who's mentioned in Sefer Melachim towards the beginning. Thanks, Allan

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Hi again Rabbi. Thanks for quickly answering my post. This is a followup to your answer to my question about Jews having (supposedly) 50% DNA of ancient Canaanites. You said that that was because Canaan and Shem are very closely related (that Canaan's father was the brother of Shem), through Noach, so they would share DNA. But wouldn't that mean (since everyone is related to each other through Shem, Cham, or Yafet, and has a combination of all three) that everyone would have extremely similar DNA? Most people today don't have a lot of Canaan's DNA even though he was everyone's "uncle" or "brother" nation. Please clarify. Thanks again, and may God give you blessings.

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Hello again, Rabbi(s). I have heard that a 2020 study proves that Jews are descended from Canaanites. They say that -- consistent across various Jewish and even Arabic groups -- Jews' DNA originates from Canaanite samples in ancient sites. Biblically, Canaan is Cham's son, whereas Yisrael and Yishmael (Arabs) are Shem's descendants. In your tradition, is there an explanation for these findings? Thank you.   https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/jews-and-arabs-descended-from-canaanites/ https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/2020/05/dna-from-biblical-canaanites-lives-modern-arabs-jews

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In most English translations of Zechariah 3:9, it says, “I will remove the iniquity of that land…” My question is about the article “that.” Is there a clear distinction in scriptural Hebrew between articles such as “a,” “the,” “this,” and “that?” Would it be incorrect to translate the verse as “the land,” rather than “that land?”

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Hello rabbis. I'm a non-Jew asking again a question to you here. This is about Zoroastrianism: In Persia (and this was also during the Jewish exile in Persia) the prominent religion was Zoroastrianism, for a very long time. And many have noted the many similarities between Zoroastrianism and Judaism, such as: a story of a forefather who rejected the religion of the time, Zoroastrianism is closer to monotheism than many other ancient idolatrous beliefs, many similar laws, like priesthood, separation from a female during menstruation, etc. The main, "scholarly" view that you mostly see is that Jewish tradition developed off from Zoroastrianism. Does your Jewish tradition offer any information as to the origin of Zoroastrianisn? Do you think "Zoroaster" (Zarathustra, really) -- their prophet -- and his story, is just a mangled, messed up version of the story of Avraham? Because I know how the ancients' various worldwide flood stories are all just mangled, messed up versions of the real event, the story of Noach's ark. Thank you. Simon

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Genesis 25:32 And Esav said, Behold,I am at the point to die: and what "profit" shall this "birthright" bring me? Why did Esav hate Yaaqov? Esav willing forfeited his first born blessing for lentils. Genesis 25:34 Then Ya aqov gave Esav bread and cottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink,and rose up and went his way: thus Esav "despised" his birthright. Did Esav intend to keep his vow to his brother? If so, why was Esav angered when Yaaqov received the promised blessing? Would this oath between the brothers been binding in Isaac eyes? Yaaqov wore a rough hairy garment to deceive. This raises the question of the legitimacy of the vow according to Torah law.