Jewish Law & Thought Archives - Page 20 of 20 - Dallas Area Torah Association

Keeping the Essence of Chanukah Throughout the Year & It’s Connection to Joseph

December 10, 2020 No Comments

Two questions: how do we preserve the message of Chanukah throughout the year?
Secondly, I was studying last week’s Torah portion, and was bothered by a question. When relating the story of Joseph and his brothers, the Torah says that they threw him into a pit, “…the pit was empty, no water was in it”. I have always been taught that the Torah doesn’t use extra words; if the pit was empty, obviously there’s no water in it. Isn’t this statement redundant?

Brain Death: The Marlise Munoz Case

January 18, 2020 No Comments

I am sure you have heard of the situation of Marlise Munoz in Ft. Worth who was brain dead, but the hospital kept her alive since she was pregnant.
My questions are:
What is the halachic position on this?
Can a body be kept on life support to keep a fetus alive?
Is there a point in the life of the fetus when the body must be kept alive (anywhere from 2 weeks of the first sign of pregnancy to term at 38 weeks)?
Can the family intervene and at what point does one party overrule the other: hospital, family, legislature, or the deceased person’s medical power of authority?

Conquering Anger

February 18, 1999 No Comments

I have an anger problem which is affecting my home, office and relationships with friends. Until recently I blamed it on others, but now I realize it’s me. Before getting involved with expensive counseling, I would like to know if anger is discussed in Jewish sources, and if I could or should attempt to help myself by studying them.