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Shalom I have a question on why so many people are punished with death in the Bible. Some examples are Elijah calling on bears to maul children who made fun of him. That seems pretty thin skinned of him to me. Also, why was Tamar threatened with burning at the stake, especially with two children in her belly! I understand she committed adultery, but death by burning at the stake seems really extreme to me, and would be roundly condemned today. And what of her unborn children?! Not only that, but look at the history of the Israelites destroying whole civilizations as they took the land. They even killed children and cattle. What was their sin? Moreover, killing someone who violated the sabbath seems pretty harsh as well. Is there any Jewish person who doesn't violate the Sabbath, if even in a small way? Should they be killed as well? All in all, death seems a very casual thing in the scripture. And then there is the idea that a father can sell his daughter into slavery. Would anyone do so today? Thankfully not. It is illegal and morally repugnant to do so. I simply don't get this. I believe in a Higher Being, but the one in the Bible is hard for me to believe in. I want to believe in the scripture, but these things are a road block for me. If anyone did any of these things today they would be roundly punished and condemned. Why would a just and loving God permit and condone these things? Can you help me please? This is an honest search for truth and answers. Thanks for your time, Rich

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I have heard before that it is one is not allowed to have boys and girls share a bedroom. Is that really true? My situation is, under emergency circumstances, I am adopting my nephew and niece next week who my sister became unable to raise, which is a long story. They are 6 and 4. This was sudden and unexpected. I am 28 and I live in a small, one-bedroom apartment and there is no choice but to have them share a bedroom. I plan to sleep in the living room and give them the single bedroom. I cannot afford any other dwelling at the present time and probably won’t be able to for the foreseeable future. Just raising these kids will be a struggle. I have no other relatives who can take them in. I plan to try to give these kids the best life I possibly can, which will not be easy. This is not what I wanted, but it’s the right thing to do. It’ll dim my prospects of ever getting married because not many men want to marry a woman who already has children. Any suggestions what to do?

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Hello Rabbi, Would you explain the significance of having a mezuzah on your house and its power to guard the household? Thank you!

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Hi, I was wondering if I do a mitzvah without fully believing in God, does it mean anything? Or is it meaningless, or maybe even hypocrisy? I feel like starting to say the “Grace after Meals” blessings in Hebrew or English, but I’m not sure if it’s worthwhile since I don’t observe and believe everything at the moment. Thanks.

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Are there Rabbinic traditions related to Isaiah 58:6-7, turning it into a list of Mitzvot? Here is the passage: "Is this not rather the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?" (Isaiah 58:6-7) It is set in the middle of verses where God is saying, through the prophet, that fasting with lack of love is not what He wants, and it gives a list of ways to help one's neighbor. The direction I am trying to pursue is whether this passage has ever been identified for Mitzvah/Mitzvot like the Catholic tradition has done for Matthew 25:34-44, which is very similar, talking about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, etc. I have been researching the Catholic list for Corporal Works of Mercy and want to find out if the above passage has a similar theological tradition of being identified and then turned into a cultural tradition and recommended to those who wish to please God? For example, Catholic children learn the Corporal Works of Mercy (and the parallel Spiritual Works of Mercy) in grade school, and often have to do service projects related to such lesson materials.

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Hello there. I'm a practicing Jewish man of the progressive kind. I'm interested in many things, but also interested in the occult and witchcraft. As you know, this is a nature spiritual path with a reverence for the earth. My question is this: Does having esoteric interests compromise my position as a Jew in any sense of the word? I'd like to know if it does. Thanks, Brian

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Iyov 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam,by hiding my iniquity in my bosom. Adam had his first sewing lesson making fig leaf aprons hiding their nakedness yet revealing their iniquity. He like Esav wasn't remorseful just ashamed that he'd be found out. As hypocrites do,he began playing the blame game. Eve was deemed the proverbial scapegoat and mastermind of their dastardly deed. Adam also respectfully reminded G-d, He'd given ishshah to him. If he'd acknowledged his sin, would the pair still have been banished from G-d's presence and exiled from Eden? Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto Thee,and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto YHVH; and Thou forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Job 13:16 For an hypocrite shall not come before Him. Would Adam & Eve been evicted from Eden if they'd repented and returned to Hashem? Or was their fall irrevocably FINAL?

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Iyov 31:33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam,by hiding my iniquity in my bosom: I've often pondered if Adam had confessed, would he still have faced banishment from the PRESENCE of G-d? Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto Thee,and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto YHVH, and Thou forgave the iniquity of my sin. Celah Torah declares we are to fear (awe respect) G-d,and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (adam) Ecclesiastes 12:13 Micah 6:8 G-d has shown man (adam) what is good; and what does G-d require, to do justly, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with G-d? Though Adam through disobedience failed to meet the guidelines. Would his outcome been different if he'd repented in his heart?