The IJN's advice column - your questions answered with humor and wisdom by the Engel brothers - Rabbi Yisroel of Denver and his twin brother, Rabbi Shloime of Montreal. Email
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. Dear Tzviling,
My uncle enjoys your column, and sends them to me after he reads them. I enjoy reading them. You’re so humorous, it’s not even funny.
Here’s my question for you. My son began attending a Jewish day school and enjoys the Hebrew studies, especially the Talmud. He loves learning the meaning lessons behind the mitzvos. Why is it so important to learn all the reasons. Isn’t it enough just to do the mitzvos?
Yoran, Great Neck
Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 August 2010 10:03 )
Read more...Dear Tzviling,
We are a very religious family from Flatbush, NY, and heard about your column. You must help me. You see, my 11-year-old son never listens to me.
Never. What do I do?
Did I mention that he never listens to me?
Malkie, sent by e-mail
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 July 2010 00:59 )
Read more...Dear Tzviling,
I am going to visit my grandmother’s grave and was planning to purchase a bouquet of her favorite flowers. But I have noticed that Jewish graves don’t have flowers, only stones laid on them. Is there anything wrong with placing flowers on a grave?
Wendy, Denver
Dear Tzviling,
Last Sunday, I treated my mother to a five-course gastronomania at the local deli. I read that you do not believe in Mother’s Day. Please tell me it’s not true.
Bewildered (sent by e-mail)
Dear Bewildered,
I do believe in Mother’s Day, but to me, every day is Mother’s Day. I don’t believe in waiting until Mother’s Day to remember.
Dear Tzviling,
I recently became engaged to a wonderful young girl from Israel and we’re starting to make plans for our wedding. We met with the rabbi and reviewed the entire ceremony.
One thing, however puzzles me. At the chupah after the blessings, I will be smashing a glass beneath my foot. This, I understand, is to commemorate the destruction of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. What I don’t understand is, why should the glass be smashed — a sobering moment, indeed — precisely at the greatest moment of joy.
Can this not be done a bit later, perhaps after the meal?
Avi, Aurora