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May a boy who has his bar mitzvah during Sefirat HaOmer continue counting with a Bracha? Akiva Silvers My son Akiva has the following question: I am 12 years old. At parshat 'Emor' I will be observing my Bar Mitzvah. Until now I have been counting the Omer with a bracha [blessing]. When I reach thirteen I will be counting the Omer as an adult and previously I was only counting as a minor for 'chinuch' [educational purposes]. When I become bar Mitzvah, should I continue counting with a bracha as I do have a certain level of 'Temmimut' [completeness], but on the other hand the quality of my mitzvah is not the same as if I had begun at the beginning? Thank you for your time, Akiva SilversAlan Shear of Yeshiva College South Africa wrote: Dear Rabbi Many people have asked me the following question which can really be a bit perplexing. A boy who has his bar mitzvah during Sefirat HaOmer, may he continue counting with a Bracha? This has practical application here right now, so a timely answer would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks

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We have a custom in our family to color eggs for Lag B'omer, and we know of others around the world that have this custom too. Yet nobody seems to know the origin or source of it. Some people I have asked suggested it is taken from a pagan custom, G-d forbid. Can anyone shed light on this please?

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Dear Rabbi: Happy Passover! It came up at our sedar last night about 600,000 Jewish souls & that there are only 600,000 jewish souls . is this a fact & could you explain it i don't understand how only 600,000 souls are possible with so many more jewish people in the world, please explain, Thank you, Barbara Macks

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In exodus the passover menu is deescribed and we are admonished to do this fo all generetions to come. Why and when was the menu changed? Thanks Shalom

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I am giving a passover sedar to my family members. None of them are practicing jews. I am studying the torah and want to say something inspirational beyond the usualy sedar. Something that will make a non practicing jew feel that they are part of the experience. Do you have any ideas?

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When lighting the chanukiah, do you use the same shamash each of the 8 nights or do you let each night's shamash melt as well and use another the next night? Thanks, Alex

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Hello, Does Hanukkah start this year on the eve of Dec. 25th? Are there any particular prayers to be said as the candles are lighted? Are they different each night? Which renditions of the Hanukkah story do you like best? Thanks