Question
Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. In the Artscroll "Pirkei Avos Treasury" they bring a story on the mishnah "All Israel has a share in Olam Haba." Someone asked the Chofetz Chaim if all Jews have a share in Olam Haba, why should they do Torah and mitzvos, since anyway they are guaranteed a share in Olam Haba. The Chofetz Chaim answered that it is analogous to a factory owner paying everyone, regardless of what they actually produced in the factory. But the one who did no work will have to sheepishly answer, when asked what he did in the factory, "I took a check." Is this story mentioned anywhere in the Chofetz Chaim's seforim or letters? And if so, which one? I know it is found in Moshe Yoshor's Hebrew biography of the Chofetz Chaim, but I would like to know if it is found in any of the Chofetz Chaim's seforim or letters that he wrote. Thanks a lot.

Question
I shouldn't go anywhere on Shabbat, but I should go to synagogue on Shabbat - I'm confused.

Question
Please answer for me the meaning of the word Sabbath (Shabbat) in Hebrew. I have read that "Sha" means "The Eternal One," "Ab" is the root word for "Abba" or Father, and "bath" or "beth" means "house of" or "sign of," which would give the meaning of the word Sabbath as = "Sign of the Eternal Father." Is this right? And if not, please correct where it is wrong. For instance, could it be "bat" or "bet" instead of "bath"/"beth"? Thank you!

Question
Hello, I hope you are well. I have been searching for an answer to a literary question. It's one that has various answers across the internet and I cannot find a consensus. It's regarding Steinbeck's East of Eden. In the book, he threads the idea of a word he claims has been mistranslated in Christian bibles, Timshel. He says that some scholars translate it as, "thou shalt," and others as, "do thou," but the true translation is "thou mayest." The word appears in Genesis 4:16 according to Steinbeck. Here is a link to the passage in the book, http://timshel.org/timshel.php In my research, I've had scholars tell me that he's correct, or that "thou shalt" is the correct translation, and even that the word Timshel is not a real word in Hebrew. I love the passage and the sentiment in the book and would like to know if I should love it from a historical/faith perspective or only a literary perspective. Thank you for your time

Question
Did the Old Testament's sacrificial lamb have to be white or could it be a black or brown lamb? Please note the Book and verse. Thank you.

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Hi Rabbi, Is Judaism able to identify the descendants of King David in the modern world? If 'Yes' — who are they? And if not, when did the line end? Thank you.

Question
Dear Rabbi, why is there a custom that some people say to others, “May you live until 120”? Why that number? Thanks!