Question
Dear Rabbi, I only have a secular name from birth but I’m strongly considering receiving a Jewish name also, and go by my new Jewish name. Would you please tell me what I should do? God bless you!

Question
Dear Rabbi, What is Judaism’s attitude towards how converts to Judaism should be treated? Someone I spoke to said that he thinks they are to be treated like second-class citizens compared to native-born Jews. Is he wrong? Thank you

Question
Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. In a situation where one is allowed to take medicine on Shabbos, is one also allowed to say the Yehi Ratzon that one says on taking medicine, or should this not be said because we don't say refuah shleimah on Shabbos. Thanks a lot.

Question
Dear Rabbi, I’m considering becoming observant in Jewish lifestyle and practices, but something is on my mind. If I go ahead and follow Jewish Orthodoxy, will I be looked down upon as a “second class citizen” by others who were born observant? Thanks.

Question
Do the bad people can cause good things in good peoples lives without intentioning it? If a bad person (bad in every aspect and a non-jew) can cause growing and healing in our lives, even they cause us to be good jews and motivates us (without intention) should we forget about them and turn to our depression? Or this is just our lust and illiusion?

Question
Unfortunately, too often, it happens that our Jewish communities have various disagreements about various issues leading to splits in synagogues and communities. Sometimes the local rabbis split up - different ones taking different sides. Some of these rabbis will have either self-proclaimed or recognized statuses within the community as "leaders" or as "rabbinical counsels." At least sometimes, neither side is completely right on any one issue, and both sides may do things that likely they should not (note when couples fight almost always neither side is "right" and both MUST make concessions for the relationship to move forward in a positive direction - at least that is the current thinking in modern day couples therapy, which would seem relevant, but perhaps it's not relevant). These machlokes' sometimes affect the livelihoods of various people or access to other necessities of various parties. Often various congregates are asked to take sides on various issues. Perhaps sometimes it is appropriate for some congregates to take a position, and perhaps, depending on the degree of a particular "transgression" that is appropriate, perhaps not). Perhaps you could give some general guidance. I think this could be useful for many communities at different times. For example, how to disagree with respect. When should one go to beit din vs. a court or the press to resolve issues (and of course the importance of seeking compromise rather than an actual din Torah)? As some possible examples of some specifics that may or may not be worth discussing, sometimes it may be appropriate (possibly for a rav or possibly someone else) to shame someone into doing the right thing (if there is no other way), but of course, if one errs on this issue, they may be guilty of lashon ha ra or even a chilul hashem. Although the specifics of these situations will of course change what the appropriate action to take is in any given situation, some at least minimal, general advice divorced from the specifics of any situation might be useful. Thank you in advance for addressing these difficult issues.

Question
Dear Rabbi, We find that several acronyms are quoted from verses in reference to the month of Elul. For example, the first letters of the words "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li – I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3) – spell "Elul" and are seen as a reference to the God's closeness to us during the month of Elul. But isn't "Elul" a Babylonian word? Is it authentic that verses in the Torah would be alluding to words that aren't Hebrew? Thank you