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Hello again, Rabbi(s). I have heard that a 2020 study proves that Jews are descended from Canaanites. They say that -- consistent across various Jewish and even Arabic groups -- Jews' DNA originates from Canaanite samples in ancient sites. Biblically, Canaan is Cham's son, whereas Yisrael and Yishmael (Arabs) are Shem's descendants. In your tradition, is there an explanation for these findings? Thank you.   https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/jews-and-arabs-descended-from-canaanites/ https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/2020/05/dna-from-biblical-canaanites-lives-modern-arabs-jews

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In most English translations of Zechariah 3:9, it says, “I will remove the iniquity of that land…” My question is about the article “that.” Is there a clear distinction in scriptural Hebrew between articles such as “a,” “the,” “this,” and “that?” Would it be incorrect to translate the verse as “the land,” rather than “that land?”

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Hello rabbis. I'm a non-Jew asking again a question to you here. This is about Zoroastrianism: In Persia (and this was also during the Jewish exile in Persia) the prominent religion was Zoroastrianism, for a very long time. And many have noted the many similarities between Zoroastrianism and Judaism, such as: a story of a forefather who rejected the religion of the time, Zoroastrianism is closer to monotheism than many other ancient idolatrous beliefs, many similar laws, like priesthood, separation from a female during menstruation, etc. The main, "scholarly" view that you mostly see is that Jewish tradition developed off from Zoroastrianism. Does your Jewish tradition offer any information as to the origin of Zoroastrianisn? Do you think "Zoroaster" (Zarathustra, really) -- their prophet -- and his story, is just a mangled, messed up version of the story of Avraham? Because I know how the ancients' various worldwide flood stories are all just mangled, messed up versions of the real event, the story of Noach's ark. Thank you. Simon

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Genesis 25:32 And Esav said, Behold,I am at the point to die: and what "profit" shall this "birthright" bring me? Why did Esav hate Yaaqov? Esav willing forfeited his first born blessing for lentils. Genesis 25:34 Then Ya aqov gave Esav bread and cottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink,and rose up and went his way: thus Esav "despised" his birthright. Did Esav intend to keep his vow to his brother? If so, why was Esav angered when Yaaqov received the promised blessing? Would this oath between the brothers been binding in Isaac eyes? Yaaqov wore a rough hairy garment to deceive. This raises the question of the legitimacy of the vow according to Torah law.

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Dear Rabbi, I am a 3/4 goy with no jewish culture preserved in my current family so I apologize in advance for my ignorance. Recently I was digging into the David star (magen David), nazi jewish badge, nazi badges used in KZ-Lagers and the flag of Israel issue and I got completely lost in the fine details. Can you shed some light on these issues? I got really confused by the role of the David Star in jewish tradition. I understand that it is one very old symbol going back to probably King Solomon. I can not tell how important this symbol is. Is it just one "seal" or "talisman" among many others or is it some very fundamental symbol? I ask this in historical context. The jewish badge was very prominently used by the nazis to mark jewish people. I refer to the yellow hexagram, which is similar to the magen David. What was the reason this badge was chosen? What was the "message" and "motivation" of the nazis? I also got confused by the badge system used by the nazis in the KZ-camps. As I understand it, they used colored triangles to indicate the group that the inmate belonged to (jewish, gay, gipsy, etc.) and a second colored triangle indicating the crime that the inmate is guilty of (socialist, common criminal, etc.). For a very long time I assumed that the yellow star was actually two of these triangles, both yellow, combined. Somewhat supporting this, there was the yellow-red combination to indicate socialist jews, etc. Does this theory hold any water? Either inside the camps or outside in the streets. Why was the magen David chosen to be part of the flag of Israel? Would it have happened without the nazi holocaust? I go back to the original first question: how important is this symbol, what does it mean and what did it use to mean many centuries ago? Is there any fundamental difference between the solid David star I see and the outline of a hexagram in the flag? Sometimes I see a three dimensional magen David, with well articulated, intertwining triangles. Sometimes a plain hexagram like the flag of Israel. Is this just "decorative" or is there a deeper meaning to this? Thanks in advance and sorry for the ignorant questions,   Gyula  

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Ecclesiastical 1:9 declares what has been will be again; and there is no new thing under the sun. We are living in turbulent times filled with lust, greed, gluttony, and unimaginable violence. Could this be the "evil time spoken of in Amos 5:13 ? Therefore, the "prudent" shall keep "silence" in that time; for it is an " evil time." Who would be considered prudent today? Why are they warned to keep quiet? Your insight is invaluable.