Bintel Brief
Our top 7 Jewish questions and answers of 2020
2020 was hard, and we were in desperate need of advice — so we reincarnated our long-running advice column. Here a few of our faves.
My husband is Jewish — or he was. Now a DNA test says he’s not. What now?
His father died when he was young, but his mother said he was Jewish. But was he not? Was there an affair? What does it mean?
I’ve stopped praying — but I can’t tell my students.
How can I tell them that I’ve lost the very practice I’m encouraging in them?
I’m a rabbi who is accidentally dating a non-Jew. What now?!
His name is Josh and he joked about Hebrew school! How is he not Jewish?!
I keep kosher but I’m losing motivation. Should I just make a normal turkey?
That Kamala Harris turkey recipe with thyme butter under the skin sounded good…
When I hear about antisemitic violence, I just feel numb. What’s wrong with me?
Numbness is a natural response to trauma, the brain’s attempt to protect itself.
I grew up poor; now I’m not. How do I teach my kids about money?
I want my kids to know that money does grow on trees. But I struggle to tell them no.
Do I have to wear a skirt to an Orthodox rabbi’s house?
It depends on how much you hate wearing a skirt.
Now that weddings are all on Zoom, must I really buy a gift?
After spending two hours staring at my computer, do I really owe the couple a set of plates?
I fed my guests non-kosher food. Do I have to tell them?
It was an accident, but I didn’t want to ruin the meal with new friends so I kept my mouths shut.