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

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If a person only has enough money in the bank to pay rent, should they still give maaser first? Or wait till they can pay it without it compromising other expenses?

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Please accept this as a sincere question from someone who believes he has some Jewish ethnicity but isn't/hasn't practiced the Judaism. I am interested in learning more about the distinction (for lack of a better term) between Jewish ethnicity and Judaism. I apologize in advance if I word some of this in an inappropriate or insensitive way. I am an American male in my mid-70s. The basis of my question arises from some of the shared family history on my mother's side. Her maiden name was Wygold (spelled "Wiegold" a few generations back). My maternal grandfather was named Daniel Wygold, and his father spelled his last name Wiegold. The family history I learned as a child was that my mother's family fled Poland sometime between WW1 and WW2 to escape religious persecution. My religious upbringing, looking back to it now as an adult, seems to have been some rather random blend of customs from Jewish, Catholic and Protestant faiths. For instance, as a child we celebrated Christmas but also always ate kosher when visiting my grandfather, uncles and great uncles. Whatever answers or insights you may be able to offer will be appreciated, with me fully recognizing that it probably will have no real impact in my daily actions at this stage in life. I have always just been a little confused about Judaism as a religion as opposed to Jewish as an ethnicity. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. John

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My name is Charles Lord. Today I checked my mail to find an envelope, addressed to my residence, but to a Charles Lochotski. I was wondering if you might be able to shed some light on it's possibly intended recipient, or if perhaps it's a prank of sorts?

Question
I am studying to become a pastor of my protestant faith. In a textbook I am currently assigned it says that worn-out manuscripts were ceremoniously destroyed, but it does not go into a detailed method. I was wondering what the method of destroying a worn-out Torah was and any significates to each step in the process including any ceremony for its replacement. Discovering the Old Testament: Story and Faith Hardcover – March 15, 2003 by Robert Branson (Author), Timothy M. Green (Author), Jim Edlin (Author), Alex Varughese (Editor) page 29