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Q. I don’t get it. Was it Cyrus or Herod who rebuilt the 2nd Temple?

A. Neither. Cyrus was the Persian King who gave the go-ahead but it was built by Jews, led by Ezra and Nehemiah. Herod was King (vassal to the Romans) a few dozen years before the Common Era, who despite hi...

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Q. Why is a “Washing-Cup” needed for the ritual hand-washing?

A. The Temple had a special basin designed for ritual washing (called the KIYOR) and in one of the processes of ritual purification it says “put spring water on it, in a vessel” (Numbers 19:17)....

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Q. What Kosher product is derived from a non-Kosher animal?

A. Generally, we have a rule: That which comes from Kosher animals is Kosher, and from non-Kosher animals is not. Honey is an exception. Bees are not kosher insects, yet their honey is Kosher, based on how b...

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Q. Why isn’t there a daily Minyan at UAlbany?

A. Not yet. It depends on student interest, which seems to be growing a bit. There have been times when students put together a Minyan once or twice a week in the Hillel Office in Campus Center, but it all ...

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Q. Is there a difference between the morning ritual hand-washing and the one for bread?

A. Yes – in the morning we wash – 2 or 3 times (depending on custom) – alternatively on each hand. While for bread, we wash 2 or 3 times successively, first on the right hand and then on t...