The Chazon Ish, one of the last generation's gedolei hador, apparently held that shaking a woman's hand was a yehareg v'al yaavor.  From here, f.n.14

In other words, a man should choose death rather than shake my hand. People take this seriously, see here, comments 25 & 26.

But BTs are not going to be told that. They will be told that this custom ( Read more... )

So, when I used to ask the typical question about mamzerim (not fair, why should child be punished for the sins of the parent, etc.), I would most often get a response along the lines of "it's not a punishment, just a spiritual consequence, like a mother who is on crack giving birth to a less than functional child. It's not the child's fault, it's ( Read more... )

Say I am an average gentile woman. Maybe I'm a college student, maybe I'm a soccer mom or a physician. Anyway, I don't know anything about Jews and have no opinion of them one way or another.  For all I know, Jews are wonderful, friendly people who have contributed a lot to society. In high school, I had a Jewish boyfriend who celebrated Chanukah ( Read more... )

So let's talk about organ donation. I am sure you know about the Halachic Organ Donation society. Are you a member or otherwise registered organ donor?

If not, is it because you:

a.) Think that Hashem will not be able to resurrect you when Moshiach comes if you were not buried with all your organs intact? 
b.) Think that goyim are not worthy enough ( Read more... )

So I went to a shabbos class this week. It was at my friend's house and I had to go ( Read more... )

If you just read chumash Bereishis straight, it sounds like the quite a few of the avos and their children were morally corrupt and petty people. Yaakov acquires his blessings from his father through lying. Leah and Rochel keep fighting over who has more children and whom Yaakov will sleep with tonight, Rochel steals the terafim,Shimon and Levi ( Read more... )

 A little while ago, a chabad site posted an article written by Rabbi Manis Friedman about the spiritual dangers of assisted reproduction and the possible ill effects on the child. I wrote about it here. It was posted on another site as well, many people wrote in to complain and he has graced us with a response.

I am writing in response to ( Read more... )