Question
Dear Rabbi, I am puzzled about the symbolic nature of lions in Judaism. I recently saw a Synagogue with lions on the Ark’s curtains on either side of the Ten Commandments. I would like to understand this practice. Also, I wonder why it isn’t distasteful having the Ten Commandments surrounded by non-kosher animals. Thanks!

Question
do we know anything about menashes mother other than she was the daughter of Yeshaya Hanavi? when the gemara says that Chizkiyahu knew "thru Ruach Hakodesh" how come we seem to understand it as he knew thru nevua when they are two different ways of coming to know things? how can we hold Menashe responsible for his actions? does the Gemara that describes Chizkiyahus wife serving wine at his meal with the babylonian messengers have what to do with why Menashe was who he was? what is the meaning behind the story of Chizkiyahu throwing Menashe and Ravshakeh off his shoulders? (berachos 10, hagaos haBach)

Question
Shalom, I would like to hear from a Rabbi (using the Tanakh, not the internet), the names of the Patriarchs listed in order from Adam to Noah, and especially the meanings of their names listed in order. For instance, in Bereshit (Genesis) - Chapter 3 verse 20 "And the man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all life" seems to imply that the Tanakh itself defines the name Eve as meaning "the mother of all life". https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8167/jewish/Chapter-3.htm Adam appears to mean man (in my humble opinion, but cannot point to a specific definition verse as explicitly stated for Eve). Actually Bereshit (Genesis) - Chapter 5 verse 2 may be an acceptable definition for Adam means "man" https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8169/jewish/Chapter-5.htm Please show (at least 1 verse for each Patriarch) where the Tanakh defines their name meanings. Thank you very much.

Question
It is recorded in Torah that Jews got stronger and stronger under the persecution of Pharao in Egypt. There are great influence of Jews to the Western society where persecution against Jews was very severe. While in China, where there was almost no persecution, Jews have had almost no impact to that civilization. This is so unique, because most of the nations tend to be prosperous when they are lived by the surround, and decline when they are persecuted. By contrast Jews get greater when there is persecution. Why is it so? Why are Jews more thriving when there is persecution?

Question
Shalom rabbi. I have noticed racism is a worldwide problem. Anti-Semitism is racism as I heard. I have faced racism also. Not only me, many people are facing problem for racism. When I and my friends comment in youtube, many racists attack us without any reason. I have noticed that most of the racism is expressed in facebook and youtube comments. When I began to ask them are you racist, then they tell me that no, "you are racist". That is like the matter a thief caught red-handed and telling the witness that I am not a thief, you are a thief! Does anti-Semitism come as a result of jealousy?

Question
I have heard before that Pharaoh died 50 days after the exodus. This would make the date of his death Shavuot and also the day the Torah was received at Sinai. Is that accurate? And what are the circumstances surrounding his death?

Question
How long did it take for the Israelites to travel from Goshen (Egypt) to Mount Sinai? I just read an article in my local Jewish newspaper. The writer states that the Israelites left Egypt and arrived at Mount Sinai 50 days later. Please explain where in the Torah dates are specified to corroborate his statement.

Question
In Birkat Kohanim, the first line has 3 words, the second line 5 words, and the last line 7 words. The steps the kohanim descended from the altar in the Temple were the same numbers. We know that those numbers add up to 15, the numerical equivalent of a Hebrew Divine name, Yod Hey. Centuries later, those numbers were repeated in the Tower of London of all places. What is the origin of these numbers?

Question
I wish I could make aliyah in order to fulfill the mitzvah of living in Israel. I very much love Israel. And I have visited often. But aliyah would mean moving far away from my family and friends and the community I know and everything else that is familiar to me. Is there any mitzvah in visiting Israel every several years if you don’t live there permanently?