Thursday, January 22, 2009
I'm posting these questions to http://rabbijonathanginsburg.blogspot.com/
Go to http://rabbijonathanginsburg.blogspot.com/ from now on. Its an effort to consolidate my blogs so I can update them more regularly
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ok to use a shofar secularly?
Q. I have recently heard the sound of the shofar and I have become infatuated with it. It creates such a large, powerful sound. I have become very interested in using it within my own music. Here is my question to you though; would it be considered sacrilegious/offensive if I was to use the shofar in my music? What if I am not Jewish? Is it still alright to play it? It is not offensive music. I do not play any rock and roll or any popular music, I stick to writing classical, orchestral music, but I wanted to make sure if it was alright to use beforehand. Again, I am sorry if this is an offensive question, I did not mean to be offensive at all.
A. In the mishna, the question is asked whether "hatokea la-shir" fulfills the mitzvah of hearing the shofar on R"H. I read this to mean that whether or not it was common to do so, the tannaim understood that the shofar could be played as a musical instrument
A. In the mishna, the question is asked whether "hatokea la-shir" fulfills the mitzvah of hearing the shofar on R"H. I read this to mean that whether or not it was common to do so, the tannaim understood that the shofar could be played as a musical instrument
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Questions on prayer
1. How would an individual follow the daily prayer services
(shacharit, mincha, arvit) if there is no minyan or public services?
Which parts of the services would not be spoken? Does the individual
just do this at home or at work? Is there an abbreviated individual
service if someone is by themselves?
the parts that are skipped if there is no minyon are: all kaddishes, borchu, Torah service. Usually at home. the minha and maariv take 10 minutes. shaharit is a bit longer
2. I have read that some people do the morning berakot and put on the
tallit and teffilin before going to the synagogue for morning service.
Do they wear them outside while walking to shul?
no and that is rare,we all put them on in the synagogue
3. Why is a blessing to be said when going to the bathroom, yet a
tallit can't be worn in the bathroom (because it has a blessing on
it)?
actually a tallit can be worn in the bathroom-put it has become so popularly believed it ca'nt that al shulls put up a note saying don't. i guess because it feels wrong
4. For the men that wear the tallit katan, do they also wear tallit
gadol (on top of wearing the katan)? Orthodox only when married wear both
5. Siddur Sim Shalom says that mourners do not observe public forms of
mourning on Shabbat. So why do they say the Mourner's Kaddish? that never stops-the rest are viewed as more customs.
(shacharit, mincha, arvit) if there is no minyan or public services?
Which parts of the services would not be spoken? Does the individual
just do this at home or at work? Is there an abbreviated individual
service if someone is by themselves?
the parts that are skipped if there is no minyon are: all kaddishes, borchu, Torah service. Usually at home. the minha and maariv take 10 minutes. shaharit is a bit longer
2. I have read that some people do the morning berakot and put on the
tallit and teffilin before going to the synagogue for morning service.
Do they wear them outside while walking to shul?
no and that is rare,we all put them on in the synagogue
3. Why is a blessing to be said when going to the bathroom, yet a
tallit can't be worn in the bathroom (because it has a blessing on
it)?
actually a tallit can be worn in the bathroom-put it has become so popularly believed it ca'nt that al shulls put up a note saying don't. i guess because it feels wrong
4. For the men that wear the tallit katan, do they also wear tallit
gadol (on top of wearing the katan)? Orthodox only when married wear both
5. Siddur Sim Shalom says that mourners do not observe public forms of
mourning on Shabbat. So why do they say the Mourner's Kaddish? that never stops-the rest are viewed as more customs.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Jewish status question
Just wondering...
My maternal grandmother was born jewish but later converted to catholicism. That being the case would I be considered halachicly jewish or would I need to convert?
A:if you were raised as a Jew by a Jewish mother then you would not need to convert but if you were not raised as a Jew Conservative rabbis believe you should go through reentry with the customary conversion rituals.
My maternal grandmother was born jewish but later converted to catholicism. That being the case would I be considered halachicly jewish or would I need to convert?
A:if you were raised as a Jew by a Jewish mother then you would not need to convert but if you were not raised as a Jew Conservative rabbis believe you should go through reentry with the customary conversion rituals.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Ezekiels' dry bones
View my complete profile
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Question on dry bones
Rabbi,
I was interested in Ezekiels dry bones story and you were one of the few utube videos I could find on the subject. I found your comments to be enlightening and interesting that you present many perspectives on the subject.
Could you help me on a question? Are there any Jewish commentators in the first century or before that consider the regathering of Judah and the rebuilding of the temple in the book of Ezra to be the fulfillment of Ezekiel s dry bones?
Thank you for any help on this matter, and thank you for your information on you tube.
A:The second half of that chapter 37 is read as seeing the first half of the chaspter isd a metaphor for that discussed in the Talmud Sanhedrin 92b
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Question on dry bones
Rabbi,
I was interested in Ezekiels dry bones story and you were one of the few utube videos I could find on the subject. I found your comments to be enlightening and interesting that you present many perspectives on the subject.
Could you help me on a question? Are there any Jewish commentators in the first century or before that consider the regathering of Judah and the rebuilding of the temple in the book of Ezra to be the fulfillment of Ezekiel s dry bones?
Thank you for any help on this matter, and thank you for your information on you tube.
A:The second half of that chapter 37 is read as seeing the first half of the chaspter isd a metaphor for that discussed in the Talmud Sanhedrin 92b
God's name
Q: Hi
I was just wondering, where does the name Yahweh come from? Because as I'm sure you know, the name he gave to Moses at the burning bush was ''I am that (who) I am'' which is, when transliterated, Ehyeh asher ehyeh. So, my question is how do you get Yahweh from Ehyeh asher ehyeh? And also, in the tetragrammaton how did they (I believe it was the Masoretes) get Yahweh?
A: if you take the tetragrammaton without any vowels and try to sound it out, it spells yahweh. Ehyeh twice each has the last 3 letters of yud heh vov heh in the tetragrammaton. Yahweh is not a Jewish or hebrew word or name. We never use it. We say adonai or elohim for yud heh vov heh soince we don't know how to pronounce it and don't try. only the High Priest knew and said it once a year
I was just wondering, where does the name Yahweh come from? Because as I'm sure you know, the name he gave to Moses at the burning bush was ''I am that (who) I am'' which is, when transliterated, Ehyeh asher ehyeh. So, my question is how do you get Yahweh from Ehyeh asher ehyeh? And also, in the tetragrammaton how did they (I believe it was the Masoretes) get Yahweh?
A: if you take the tetragrammaton without any vowels and try to sound it out, it spells yahweh. Ehyeh twice each has the last 3 letters of yud heh vov heh in the tetragrammaton. Yahweh is not a Jewish or hebrew word or name. We never use it. We say adonai or elohim for yud heh vov heh soince we don't know how to pronounce it and don't try. only the High Priest knew and said it once a year
Friday, December 19, 2008
Tell me about hannukah
My 8 youtube.com videos on Hannukah
Menorah Hanukah lighting rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg jewu 452
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate JewU 3
Jews, Hanukah, and the Christmas dilemma JewU 290
Hanukah message don't let the lights go out JewU 312
Hannukah songs and blessings sung JewU 69
How to play Chanukah dredyl JewU 281
Chanukah miracle needed today jewu 305 Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
Hannukah The real story JewU 31 Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
Menorah Hanukah lighting rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg jewu 452
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate JewU 3
Jews, Hanukah, and the Christmas dilemma JewU 290
Hanukah message don't let the lights go out JewU 312
Hannukah songs and blessings sung JewU 69
How to play Chanukah dredyl JewU 281
Chanukah miracle needed today jewu 305 Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
Hannukah The real story JewU 31 Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
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