Question
Dear Rabbi, Will God save us from climate change? Did He punish us with climate change? Is it a natural event or is it a test? Thanks for your thoughts.

Question
Dear Rabbi, In Judaism, what is holiness? Thanks so much!

Question
Shalom, Kavod HaRav! So, a friend of mine brought some little cacti plants from AZ & was suspiciously eager to get rid of them. She originally intended to gift them to Indian family across the street, but they politely declined, citing their culture. As a committed Yid I know (& she knows) that goyishe "spirituality" is a bunch of shtuyot, but she says she now can't shake it off & the cute little cactus plants now seem to be tainted to her. Being a good friend, I took one home. Rabbi Google was silent about their significance in Judaism, but did enlighten me that, according to Feng Shui, they bring bad energy into the home due to pricklies, & some more neutral info actually attributed endurance & resilience to this plant as a symbolic virtue (positive things & very Jewish characteristics, I guess). Have you ever heard of any badness associated with cacti in Judaism? Kabbalistic sources? I just want to ensure I verified all my sources & be able to present my friend with Rabbinic refutation (though she agrees with me in principle that us, observant Jews, don't believe in that narrishkeit). Toda Raba! Please email me at anyemets@hotmail.com with response. -Chana

Question
I know that i’m not allowed to listen to music sang by a women, but if that person considers themselves to be non-binary, than is it okay?

Question
My question lies in the correct interpretation of Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4 as it is written in original Hebrew. I do not know Hebrew, and I go to Church, but I question many things, and I know that the law and prophets are not to be abolished. Therefore I question many things that Paul writes. I say this just to introduce why I have trouble understanding exactly what the Lord intends the reader to understand in Habakkuk's vision. In my NKJV bible chapter 2 verse 4 goes as following "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." It is then followed by "Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man. When I read this, I find it open to the interpretation that the Lord is not creating a juxtaposition between the Just and the faith of the Proud Man, but rather combining them together and stating the Just people in the times nearing the end are following a false prophet - the Proud Man. Obviously this has serious implications for Christianity if it is true, as Paul identifies with the Just in this passage and therefore all who follow him are subject to this warning. I do not know the original Hebrew though, and so I wonder if this interpretation is possible, correct, or incorrect in the eyes of a Rabbi, based on the original text without any translation. Thank you!

Question
Below is the translation (from Hebrew) of my great grandfather's headstone. The translator believes that my grandfather David was a Rabbi. I have records that indicate that he was at one point president of his congregation, but can find no evidence of him serving as a rabbi. I am wondering if this is a misinterpretation, and perhaps the title rabbi was applied more as an honorific, either to just David himself, or both David and his father Zvi. Thanks very much for any assistance! Jeanie Here Lies An honest and honorable man our teacher and rabbi David son of rabbi Zvi Halevi died on Monday 26 on the month of Iyar 5675 May his soul be bound in the bundle of life‏‏‏‏ David – Sigal 1853-1915.

Question
I want to know what to do about this situation. My husband does not follow or even have a relationship with one single rabbi when it comes to Halacha. He ‘rabbi shops’ when he wants something to be permitted. He looks out for a rabbi to permit something that often is largely forbidden. Very often, Rabbi A will say that X is permitted and Y is forbidden while Rabbi B will say that X is forbidden and Y is permitted, so he will follow Rabbi A’s ruling for X and Rabbi B’s ruling for Y. He also frequently uses ‘Rabbi Google’ to find answers to questions of Halacha rather than asking a rabbi himself. If 10 orthodox rabbis have written online that something is forbidden and one says it’s permitted, he will follow the one who says it’s permitted. And he will boast that Rabbi Whoever from Wherever who most people have never heard of says it’s permitted.

Question
Dear Rabbi, Every Friday night after at the Shabbat meal, we say the blessing on the challah and dip it in salt before taking a bite. I don't know how this tradition came to be. Please enlighten me. Thank you