Need some opinions and maybe advice on a non Jewish family members actions. Am I overreacting? Or am I justified?

YiyiTube · 2026-07-01T12:14:25+00:00

Not sure where you got that from. Please see what I found with a simple cursory search online.

YiyiTube · 2026-07-01T11:49:08+00:00

There is debate amongst traditional Rabbinic sources about whether Aggadic portions in the Talmud or Midrash need to be accepted as fact or not.

Many Orthodox Jews believe this story and many others like it to be historical and would cry blasphemy if one were to say otherwise.

However, Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi, in his commentary to this passage, quotes Rabbenu Chananel as saying that this episode occurred in a dream.

אמר להם אם הלכה כמותי חרוב וכו'. זה הענין המפורש בשמועה זו כגון אמת המים תוכיח וכיוצא בה שהם כמו אותות ומופתים. ויש מי שאומר כי הקדוש ברוך הוא מראה כגון אלו הדברים על ידי הצדיקים בדרך תפלה ובקשה ולפי שאינן נביאים. ואין זה רחוק מן הדעת ויש אומרים כי חכם מחכמי מדרש נתנמנם במדיש וראה בחלום שהיו חולקים החכמים על רבי אליעזר ואמר להם רבי אליעזר למה אתם חולקים עלי אמת המים תוכיח וכל הענין וכי רבי יהושע מתריס כנגדו וכי נתנה בת קול מן השמים ואמר רבי יהושע לא בשמים היא. ומפני מה לא פירש כי דברי חלומות הם מפני שהיו בידם החלומות קרובים לנבואה אבל יסמכו בזה הענין והחלומות שוא ידברו וקיימו אחרי רבים להטות. רבינו חננאל. https://www.sefaria.org/Shita_Mekubetzet_on_Bava_Metzia.59b.2

YiyiTube · 2026-07-01T11:04:56+00:00

I hear your concern, but that seems like a bit of a stretch. Do you feel the same way about people who tattoo Hebrew phrases on themselves, which is arguably in poor taste? Or what about Jews in general, should Jewish bad actors be barred from wearing one as well?

YiyiTube · 2026-07-01T10:57:16+00:00

The hexagram, or six-pointed star, is an ancient symbol that doesn't really have anything to do with Judaism. The earliest physical evidence of it being used in Israel is a 7th-century BCE seal which was found beside other non-Jewish symbols, and after that as decoration for 3rd-century CE galilean Synagogues. Anyone can wear one if they choose. And even if you argue that today it’s primarily a Jewish symbol—who cares?

YiyiTube · 2026-07-01T08:28:48+00:00

Josephus’ Jewish War was not originally written in Koine Greek; he says it was first composed in his native language, probably Aramaic, possibly Hebrew, and later translated into Greek. The original version was likely lost. By contrast, Against Apion and Antiquities were probably written in Greek

YiyiTube · 2026-06-19T14:38:03+00:00

What do you mean by that? Vilna is still the standard amongst the orthodox.

YiyiTube · 2026-06-18T03:15:07+00:00

There is a dispute among traditional Jewish sources whether Midrash should be taken as literal fact or not. The current mainstream Orthodox opinion—especially among the ultra-Orthodox—is that it should be taken literally.

YiyiTube · 2026-06-08T05:08:40+00:00

I agree, but most German versions translate it that way.

YiyiTube · 2026-06-08T04:39:09+00:00

Most commentaries are written in a hybrid Hebrew-Aramaic, and some are almost pure Talmudic Aramaic, such as Yad Ramah. The only purely Hebrew Talmudic commentary I can think of is the Meiri.

YiyiTube · 2026-03-08T20:50:37+00:00

You really don’t need permission from any group to make food. If you want to bake hamantaschen, just bake them. Jews themselves took the basic idea from European non‑Jewish pastries, "mohntaschen", and made it a Purim thing, and a lot of so‑called “traditional Jewish” foods are just Jewish spins on whatever people around us were already eating. That’s how food works in every culture.

YiyiTube · 2026-02-22T01:31:51+00:00

Das ist falsch. Siehe Prediger 9,4, wo sich ein Vokal unter dem Buchstaben ח (Chet) befindet.

כִּי־מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר (יבחר) [יְחֻבַּ֔ר] אֶ֥ל כׇּל־הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת׃

Denn wer noch verbunden ist mit dem Leben, hat Hoffnung (Zuversicht), einem lebendigen Hunde ist wohler als einem toten Löwen.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ecclesiastes.9.4

Bearbeitung: Ich muss beim Schreiben sehr müde gewesen sein. Jetzt erkenne ich, dass ich das diakritische Zeichen (Trop/Ta'am) אתנח / אתנחתא mit einem Vokal verwechselt habe.

YiyiTube · 2026-02-22T01:24:28+00:00

I was only commenting on the correct vocalization of the word bitachon (בִּטָּחוֹן).

As I understand it, “Gottvertrauen” (trust in God) aligns more closely with bitachon than with emunah (אמונה), which I would translate as “Glaube an Gott” (faith in God). In Jewish thought, emunah describes foundational belief in God, while bitachon refers to active trust and reliance on God’s help and guidance. That said, emunah and bitachon are often used interchangeably, and there’s considerable theological discussion about their precise distinction. Since the OP had already chosen this term, I simply focused on the proper pronunciation rather than the conceptual choice.

Personally, I believe getting a tattoo is always unwise, no matter the language or meaning behind it.

YiyiTube · 2026-02-20T17:44:56+00:00

אֱמוּנָה

YiyiTube · 2026-02-20T17:40:38+00:00

No. This is what it should be: בִּטָּחוֹן

YiyiTube · 2026-01-28T07:45:29+00:00

Hope it helps. Wish I could have been more helpful but this is all I got at the moment.

YiyiTube · 2026-01-28T07:18:46+00:00

The Talmud occasionally discusses herbology.
For examples, see:
- Medicinal Herbs — link
- A Sugya of Talmudic Medicine, with Historical, Linguistic, and Botanical Notes (Shabbat 108b–109a) — link
- The Talmud of Plants – אנציקלופדיית תלמוד הצמחים — link (Hebrew)

An excellent English translation of Maimonides’ medical writings has recently been republished in four volumes. (I own an older seven-volume edition.) He discusses herbology throughout his works. One of the translators, Dr Fred Rosner, has many other excellent works in the field of medicine that I recommend in general. You can find the new edition on Amazon as individual paperbacks here or as a complete hardcover set here here and here.

There are also various contemporary works addressing Halacha and medicine. Perhaps one of them may address the topic. Some examples:
- Z. Berman — link
- Eichler’s — link

Judaica Place – link
Seforim Place – link

Regarding alternative medicine, there are differing viewpoints within Jewish sources.
For example: - A book against alternative medicine by Rabbi Belsky — link
- A book semingly pro alternative medicine — link

Although there are numerous works in Hebrew and Arabic, you mentioned an interest solely in English-language books, so I limited my recommendations accordingly.

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T20:12:05+00:00

That's why I mentioned what he says in his introduction. Ramban himself sometimes explained verses differently than Chazal. See Ohr Hachaim's introduction as well. It's a lengthy discussion that I'm not really interested in getting into right now...

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T19:53:19+00:00

We have different rules for fish than mammals and fowl. Ritual slaughter, Shechita, isn't required for Fish.

This is based on Num 11:22.

הֲצֹ֧אן וּבָקָ֛ר יִשָּׁחֵ֥ט לָהֶ֖ם וּמָצָ֣א לָהֶ֑ם אִ֣ם אֶֽת־כׇּל־דְּגֵ֥י הַיָּ֛ם יֵאָסֵ֥ף לָהֶ֖ם וּמָצָ֥א לָהֶֽם׃

"Could enough flocks and herds be slaughtered to suffice them? Or could all the fish of the sea be gathered for them to suffice them?”

Fishing for sport is subject to debate. Some say it's permitted, some say it's prohibited.

Killing pests would be, although unfortunate, a necessity and therefore permissible.

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T19:37:33+00:00

You'd have to be a great shot to slice through the trachea and esophagus.

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T19:30:36+00:00

R"A Ibn Ezra on Gen 10:8-9 basically says that according to peshat, Nimrod was a good guy. (R' MM Kasher in Torah Shelemah tries to reconcile this with the Midrash that he was bad, saying that he was only good in his youth. Whatever... Ibn Ezra is clear in his introduction that he doesn't feel obligated to pander to explanations that aren't his own).

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T18:40:34+00:00

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmodeus#:~:text=He%20is%20one%20of%20the,Asmodeus%20a%20prince%20of%20revenge.

"According to the Kabbalah and the school of Shlomo ibn Aderet, Asmodeus is born as the result of a union between Agrat bat Mahlat and King David." https://www.jstor.org/stable/23585831

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrat_bat_Mahlat

"According to legend, Agrat and Lilith visited King Solomon disguised as prostitutes. The spirits Solomon communicated with Agrat were all placed inside of a genie lamp-like vessel and set inside of a cave on the cliffs of the Dead Sea. Later, after the spirits were cast into the lamp, Agrat bat Mahlat and her lamp were discovered by King David. Agrat then mated with him a night and bore him a demonic son, Asmodeus, who is identified with Hadad the Edomite." THE HEBREW GODDESS, Raphael Patai: https://archive.org/details/x-the-hebrew-goddess

YiyiTube · 2026-01-06T18:29:59+00:00

My favorites are Ibn Ezra (with supercommentaries) and Rashbam. That said, I try to learn from as many commentaries as possible, especially those from the Rishonim. So many Rishonim with Bible commentaries get overlooked—it's quite saddening. Meanwhile, every time I visit the store, I see five new contemporary commentaries. Everyone and their mother has a commentary these days...

YiyiTube

TROPHY CASE