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.

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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

Question
When I came to synagogue on Shabbat, my makom hakavua was occupied by a visitor who was unfamiliar with the congregation. The only other seat in the vicinity that was vacant was the makom hakavua of man who is temporarily out sick. I sat there because the only other options were quite far from my makom hakavua. While I was sitting there, I felt bad about taking up a sick man’s place. He was hospitalized last week and is recuperating at home. He has already made a full recovery, but did not come in today as a precaution. Are there any issues with sitting in the makom hakavua of someone you know is absent due to illness?

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Hi, I'm wondering if it is permitted to write one's name, last name or something similar on the inside cover of a religious book and if so is there a specific way one should do this? Thank you

Question
If a mother has a large percentage of Ashkenazi ancestry, but never practiced Judaism, is she still a “Jew”?