Question: After an abortion, what happens to the soul of the unborn child? Should our concern be focused on the child’s soul, or are we asking the wrong question? RAMI: This is a question that occasionally arises when discussing abortion, particularly among people who believe that every human life is connected to a Divine purpose. From a Jewish perspective, it is understandable to wonder about the fate of the unborn child's נשמה (neshamah – soul). If every soul comes from G

Question: What does it mean when someone is described as being “OTD” in the Chabad or Orthodox Jewish community? RAMI: OTD stands for “Off The Derech.” The Hebrew word דרך (derech – path, way) refers to the Torah-observant way of life. When a person is described as OTD, it generally means that they have left, or significantly departed from, the religious lifestyle in which they were raised. The term is most commonly used within Chabad and other Orthodox Jewish communities. It

Question: My rabbi is heavily involved in interfaith theology and speaks about other religions as though they are different but equally valid paths to HaShem. This troubles me because the Torah repeatedly warns against foreign worship and theological compromise. How should I respond when a respected rabbi appears to teach something that seems contrary to Torah? RAMI: The first thing to understand is that Judaism does not require blind loyalty to rabbis, institutions, or title

Question: I do not like the denominations; Orthodox, Conservative, Modern, G-D forbid, Reform, etc. There do not seem to be any synagogues anywhere that are simply Torah observant. They all appear to have decided which portions of the Torah they will follow. Why is this? RAMI: Your discomfort is understandable because the Torah itself never speaks in terms of “denominations.” There is no verse in the Torah where HaShem divides ישראל (Yisrael, Israel) into Orthodox, Conservati

Question: Do I need to fast before studying the Talmud? RAMI: No. There is no general requirement in Halakhah to fast before studying the Talmud, including מסכת חולין (Masechet Chullin — Tractate Chullin). The idea that one must fast before learning Gemara is incorrect and has no basis as an obligation in Torah law. Judaism is not built upon inventing restrictions that the Torah and our sages did not establish. There are specific fast days commanded or instituted within Judai

Question: Why does it matter if I use “foreign” words? RAMI: It matters far more than most people realise, because language is not neutral—it is a vessel of identity, memory, and covenant. When a Jew replaces words like תהלים (Tehillim – Psalms), שמות (Shemot – Names), or דברים (Devarim – Words) with foreign substitutes, he is not merely translating—he is displacing meaning. The Torah was not given in translation. It was given in לשון הקודש (Lashon HaKodesh – the Holy Tongue)

Question: May one answer Amen to a blessing recited by one who desecrates Shabbat? RAMI: When a blessing is recited by one who publicly desecrates שבת (Shabbat – the Sabbath) and stands outside the framework of תורה (Torah – Divine instruction), the blessing itself is not regarded as possessing the sanctity required to obligate a response of Amen. Hagaon Harav Moshe Feinstein זצ״ל, in Iggerot Moshe (Orach Chaim 2:50), addresses this directly in the context of those who have r

Question: What is the Halakhah regarding receiving a blood transfusion? RAMI: The Halakhah is clear that the prohibition on consuming blood applies specifically to eating or drinking blood in the normal manner of consumption, as outlined in ויקרא (Vayikra – Leviticus). A blood transfusion, however, is not an act of eating; it is a medical procedure in which blood is introduced into the body through the veins. Therefore, it does not fall under the Torah prohibition of consumin

Question: What is the Meaning Behind Schlissel Challah? RAMI: The custom of baking a key-shaped challah, known as Schlissel Challah (from the Yiddish “key”), is observed on the first Shabbat following פסח (Pesach). This timing is not incidental—it carries a profound spiritual message connected to the transition we undergo after leaving Egypt. During פסח, we are lifted above nature through open miracles. Our sustenance is symbolised by מצה (matzah), the bread of faith—אמונה (e