Welcome to Be-True :: Preserving Jewish Identity for Future Generations, Now!

Whose Birth Are You Celebrating?

Question of the Week: As a believing Christian, I made a recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I was profoundly disturbed by the Jewish state and its criminal occupation of the West Bank. How can you justify usurping land that belongs to others? Answer: You are entitled to your opinion on the matter. But I [...]

Lessons from an Lapsed Skydiver

Question of the Week: I jumped out of a plane last week. I won’t do it again. After free falling for a while (which was amazing) I tried to release my parachute. Nothing happened. I tried again. Nothing happened. So here I was hurtling to the ground without a parachute. I thought this was it. [...]

Ask The Rabbi: Why Don’t Women Just Say It?

Question of the Week: Last week you wrote that women are relationship beings, and men are loners. Well if women are such relationship experts, why can’t my wife communicate clearly and just say what she means? It was her birthday yesterday, and when I mentioned it last week, she said, “Don’t you dare do anything [...]

Question of the Week: Palm Reading and Horoscopes

Question of the Week: What is Judaism’s take on looking into our future? I’ve always been under the impression that it is forbidden for us to consult with spiritual ‘mediums’, but more and more I’m hearing of people who are paying big money to find out what their future may hold. Is it possible to [...]

What Are You Smoking?

Question of the Week: I read an article by a professor in Israel who suggests that the revelation at Mt Sinai was actually a drug-induced hallucination. I thought it was a ridiculous proposition, but it did get me thinking. How do we know that it was indeed G-d who spoke to Moses and not some [...]

Is Your Religion the True One?

Question of the Week: Due to my business, I travel a lot and meet many people from different religions. I have met Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians of all denominations, and each and every one believes that their religion is the one true religion and it is the right one to follow. We can’t all [...]

Is Prayer a Waste of Time?

Question of the Week: I have a lot of trouble praying. I sit in synagogue and as soon as I start to read the words, my mind wanders. Even when I read the English I find it hard to focus. I suddenly start thinking about work issues or what’s for dinner, anything but the prayers. [...]

What Should I Say to a Mourner?

Question of the Week: A friend recently lost his father, but I haven’t gone to visit. I have all types of excuses, like maybe he wants to be left alone, and I’m not so close anyway, but the real reason is, I just don’t know what to say in these situations. What can I possibly [...]

Why don’t Jews put flowers by a grave?

Question of the Week: I am going to visit my grandmother’s grave, and was planning to buy a bunch of her favourite flowers. But I have noticed that Jewish graves don’t have bouquets, only stones laid on them. Is there anything wrong with placing flowers on a grave? Answer: The custom to place a stone [...]

Question of the Week: What does G-d look like?

Question of the Week: My kids keep asking me theological questions I can’t answer. Yesterday my five year old insisted he wanted to know “What does G-d look like?” I had no idea what to say…. Answer: Sometimes the best thing you can tell your child is “I don’t know.” You teach your much child [...]