Question
Dear sir Jesus tells a parable using a picture of 10 virgins going with oil lamps to meet a groom. The groom comes at midnight. Can you please explain what part of a first century Jewish wedding this refers to? Thanks. Jonathan

Question
Is it permitted to marry a hermaphrodite in Jewish law? Can a hermaphrodite marry?

Question
Since the Talmud says one becomes liable at the hands of heaven at age 20 is it a Seudah mitzvah when you turn 20 (like bar mitzvah is)?

Question
Some Jews have the minhag to fast on day of wedding as it is analogous to Yom Kippur when sins are forgiven. Does this minhag include other Yom Kippur restrictions like melacha and bathing etc. or just fasting?

Question
Is chuppah an actual obligation, or just minhag? Is it biblical or rabbinic? Also is there a minimum height of the chuppah?

Question
Is it problematic at all in Halacha with Jews reciting yizkor prayers for non observant parents who have died? Or no, even if they weren’t particularly observant or religious is it still preferable to say after they’ve passed?

Question
Our 24-year-old son is socially drawn to older women who have ‘motherly’ personalities rather than young men his age. His entire circle of friends is like that. His best friend is a divorced Jewish woman in her 50s who has two sons of her own around his age. He is not romantically involved with her and has no desire to be. Their friendship is purely platonic. He just considers her his best friend and they hang out together and talk on the phone a lot. This makes us uncomfortable, but we have no control over him because he is legally an adult. And his friend is older than both of us. He is planning on taking a long road trip with her this coming summer in which they camp out most nights in separate tents, occasionally stay in separate hotel rooms, and see the national parks and Disneyland. He thinks this behavior is kosher. We think otherwise. He ignores our instructions not to do this, and legally we have no recourse. What do you think as a rabbi?