There was recently discussion on the radio about the will of G-d for people to be sick and doctors treating them. If G-d made them sick, how can a doctor “play G-d” and cure them, seemingly in contradiction to His will? I know we Jews go to doctors, but is there an answer to this question?
My son has been living with his Jewish girlfriend for the last two years and is now talking about having a child. All my urging to get married first are falling on deaf ears, as they don’t see what they’ll gain by being married over how they’re living now. They don’t accept my argument that the baby would be considered illegitimate. I would much appreciate any insights you have for me to relate to them.
My son has been living with his Jewish girlfriend for the last two years and is now talking about having a child. All my urging to get married first are falling on deaf ears, as they don’t see what they’ll gain by being married over how they’re living now. They don’t accept my argument that the baby would be considered illegitimate. I would much appreciate any insights you have for me to relay to them.
I’m a happy single Jewish guy and don’t, personally, see a reason for getting married. I’ve been in very meaningful relationships, some of them long lasting, and I feel all I would want to get out of life and marriage I get from them. I don’t feel the need to go through all the hassle of raising children. As you can imagine, I’m put on a guilt trip at least once a month by my mother, but I’m not planning to get married out of guilt. Do you have a good reason why I am wrong?
Who was Maimonides and what are his “principles” that I’ve often heard references to?
I’ve often wondered why the Jewish calendar is lunar, unlike the secular calendar which is solar. Is it that we have some connection to the moon rather than the sun?
You once wrote at the end of a column, “best of luck.” As far as I know (from my own understanding and from hearing the teachings of a Rabbi on the subject), Jews do not believe in “luck.” The rabbi’s reasoning is that “luck” actually requires randomness, fortuitous “chance” and an assumption that nobody and nothing is in charge. Judaism’s core is “Ad-noy Ehad,” “ein od mi lavado,” there’s no power but G-d. G-d is the very fabric of all there is, and is continuously re-creating all. Luck is a contrary belief to His omniscience. I’m sure you know all that, but I write just because I always find it interesting when our language, even of trivial phrases, runs against our actual understanding.
Some of us have been discussing the meaning of love, which, it seems, is a pretty elusive concept. Could you give us a Jewish definition of love?
I was recently married to a wonderful man; from the moment we saw each other it was one of those “love at first sight” stories you think only exists in fiction. Now that we’re married, I’m more concerned that the love should continue “at second sight.” I know too many people for whom it didn’t last, and I want to do things differently. Is there a Jewish way to help ensure that our love should endure?
In your previous article, “Love of G-d,” you mentioned: “The more we give of ourselves to Him, the more we will feel connected & become as one.” Please expound on that idea – how do we give of ourselves to G-d?