Question
I just tested positive for COVID. It’s a very mild case. My symptoms are like a very slight cold. I otherwise feel well and I plan to work from home the rest of this week and isolate. This coming Shabbos will be less than 5 days since my symptoms started. I am scheduled to be the Torah reader at my synagogue. The rabbi says there’s no one else around to do it. He is okay with me coming as long as I wear a KN95 mask and he will tell everyone else to wear masks too. The national government guidelines say I should isolate for 5 days, therefore my required isolation ends Sunday. This is not law, but guidance. Who should I listen to, the rabbi or the national government guidelines?

Question
Shalom I have a son named Adrian and someone told me that Hadrian was a Roman emperor who was suppressed the Jewish people in the past. Adrian does not a literal bad meaning, and it means sea and Adriatic. In addition, my son also have a Jewish name, Jacob. My question is, should we change his name? Name changing has caused troubles and may have effects on his spirits. Regards

Question
The prayer of Birkat HaChodesh includes an announcement of when Rosh Chodesh will be. But, originally, the determination of which day Rosh Chodesh would fall out on would depend on the court's declaration. Even though Chazal knew when Rosh Chodesh should fall out, there was no guarantee that there would be witnesses to allow for the declaration to be made on that specific day. It therefore seems that the announcement of when Rosh Chodesh will fall out in the upcoming week is inappropriate.

Question
What is our duty to stand up and speak or act when we see oppression and injustice being done to non-Jews? It seems that many Jews of previous generations concerned themselves with global injustice, bigotry, etc given what has happened to us, but many of us today seem to feel that it is dangerous and unwise to concern ourselves in the affairs of others. I wonder if there is guidance on this? Thank you

Question
I’m doing historical research and found many records of Jewish marriages from the region historically known as Bessarabia. Where there is a record of a dowry amount, it’s always either 48 roubles or 24 roubles if a woman was previously married. This is from what was a large and diverse region and the records mentioning this span from mid 1800s to early 1900s. So it’s unlikely to have been just a local custom. What is the significance or origin of this number and/or custom?

Question
I read of a custom to bless one’s children on Friday night. Would you please tell me a little more about this practice? Thank you!

Question
Dear Rabbi, My son is marrying, God willing, in November, and we have heard of a pre-marriage ceremony called "The Breaking of the Plate." Would you be so kind as to share the significance of this ceremony as well as the actual performance (ritual)? Thank you.