Cheating on Tests – Repentance- I cheated on a school test recently and I feel guilty about it. What should I do now? Should I confess to the teacher? More »
Children Punished for Sins of Parents- How do we understand verses such as Exodus 20:5 (in the Ten Commandments) that God punishes not only sinners, but their descendants till four generations? How is it possibly fair to punish children for that which they did not do? More »
Court Punishments- I recently heard a rabbi speak about returning stolen funds. He said that rather than calling the police, the money could be returned anonymously. What is wrong with facing any criminal charges that you may deserve? Isn't that a part… More »
Elijah’s Ascent to Heaven- I’m trying to understand what exactly occurred when Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot (II Kings 2:11). The Torah states that he was taken up to Heaven in a whirlwind. Was this a form of death? Elijah is… More »
Getting Started- I am married to a non-Jew. I swing back and forth between "doing" the traditional things and then not doing anything at all. As a Jew, I have decided to focus on Judaism in my graduate program. However, this summer… More »
God's Will- Why do many people say in response to certain situations, "It is God's will." How can any human say with certainty what is or isn't God's will? To know God's will, wouldn't one have to know God's mind? I think… More »
Great Teshuva- My friend and I are having a disagreement about degrees of righteousness in God's eyes. Who is greater: One who is virtuous by inclination, or one who is virtuous by choice - i.e. one who must struggle with his passions… More »
How to Forgive Ourselves- With the High Holidays approaching, I’m trying to come to terms with a lot of my past life choices and mistakes. One recurring issue is that I live with a lot of guilt over some of my past choices. I’m… More »
In the Image of God- Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith states: "I believe with perfect faith that God does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing that resembles Him at all." What, then, is Genesis 1:27 referring to… More »
Intentional Mistakes- I've been enjoying the philosophy articles on Aish.com. The approach to life resonates with me much more than the Western style of consumerism and media hype. Regarding the obligatory nature of mitzvot, however, I think sometimes humans have to disregard… More »
Life's Big Picture- My credo in life has always been: Work hard, plan, and struggle. Yet I find that things often just end up a big mess. The righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. How can the pieces of this puzzle possibly fit… More »
Stolen Funds- In my college days, I stole approximately $300. This was 7 years ago. I have wanted to give it back all this time. But I am too embarrassed to tell the guy I stole from. Also, he might go to… More »
Test of Arrogance- I am a high school student, and have a dilemma that has been bothering me for some time. I hope you can help me. After a test, my teacher posts the highest marks on the bulletin board. I have gotten… More »
The Holocaust: Why?- The pain and tragedy of the Holocaust is so enormous and unfathomable. Why did it happen? More »
Wasting Time- I live in New York City and spend two hours each day commuting. Plus another good chunk of my day waiting in line - at the bank, supermarket, doctor's office. I wish my time were more productive. Any ideas? More »
Why Things Happen- I've been thinking about the whole idea of "why we are here," and it seems to me that the Darwinian attitude of "everything is by random chance" does not lend itself to a meaningful life. How does Judaism view the… More »
You Know More Hebrew Words Than You Think
