Mendel Bluming | Blogger

Question:   I don't want my children to be small-minded and look down at others, so I haven't given them a Jewish education. They have been brought up without any religion; they are free to choose whatever beliefs they like. I try to live by the words of John Lennon: Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for / No religion too, Imagine all the people / living life in peace...  Doesn't that sum it all up?  Answer:  I admire your passion and idealism. You have obviously given some thought to your children's moral future, which is a credit to you. But I don't see how the philosophy you have espoused is any less closed-minded than fundamentalist religion.  You don't want to force your ideals on your children. But by denying them their spiritual heritage, you are doing just that. They are missing the chance to explore their Jewish identities during their formative years. They didn't choose tha...

Question: Why on earth do we still keep two days of Yomtov outside of Israel? I know the history: in ancient times people didn't have calendars on their phones, because the calendar was not set in advance, but rather month by month. When witnesses saw the new moon they reported it to the rabbis in the Temple, and the rabbis would declare that a new month had begun. It would take a couple of weeks for the message to reach outlying communities, so they could never be sure of the correct date to celebrate the festivals. So the diaspora communities kept two days to be on the safe side. That made sense back then, but for heavens sake, we have calendars today! Why do we still keep two days in the diaspora for every festival that is one day in Israel? Come on, it's like the World Jewish Council of Rabbis can't be bothered to overturn it or discuss it. Or perhaps they fear a backlash from Jewish bakers, butchers and grocers around the world who like having more Jewish festiv...

What's the message in apples dipped in honey traditionally shared on Rosh Hashanah? Apples rot quickly; here today gone tomorrow. Honey never goes bad. Dip your fleeting life in everlasting values and make it eternal! Shanah tovah! Rabbi Menachem Mendel Bluming and Chabad.org