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

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 know [...]

Israel’s Relationship with God

By Rabbi Yisroel Blumenthal
It wasn’t always this easy to be a Jew in a Christian country. In the 21st century, the Church’s age-old desire for the soul of the Jew can only find expression in the realm of the discussion. One of the few weapons that remain in the arsenal of the missionary is the [...]

Jesus In The Talmud

Jesus In The Talmud
Written by Gil Student
Bastard
Harlot
Died Young
Balaam
Beginning
Conclusion
Historians
Jesus in Hell

The Accusation
Insults Against Blessed Mary, Sanhedrin 106a
. Says Jesus’ mother was a whore: “She who was the descendant of princes
and governors played the harlot with carpenters.” Also in footnote #2 to
Shabbath 104b it is stated that in the “uncensored” text of the Talmud
it is [...]

Who Owns Judaism?

Why the Desert Was the Most Suitable Space for Torah
The Desert
This week’s Torah portion, named “Bamidbar,” which means “in the desert,” is always read preceding the holiday of Shavuos, when we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Sinai, more than 3,300 years ago, in the year 1313 BCE (1).
One reason for this is because [...]

My Lesson on Anti-Semitism

My Dad Teaches Me a lesson in Yankee Stadium. www.chabadofbelair.org

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 be right. [...]

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 say [...]

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 on a grave [...]

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 more by being [...]

Matzah Scam Rocks Israel

Growing up in New York in the ‘50s I was naïve to scam artists. We knew to respect our parents and be helpful to our neighbors. The police were heroes we looked up to. At the same time we also knew that some things were sacred.
I remember my mother preparing me a special lunch to [...]