Question
Hi Rabbi, Is a mitzvah, a mitzvah or are there “quality levels” of a mitzvah? For example, does it make a difference whether I use a glass cup for Kiddush or if I use silver? I can afford it but wonder what the difference would be, if any. Thanks

Question
Where I live (and in many other places), it is not unusual for people to sell merchandise that is highly in demand on the streets for a small fraction of the price the identical goods are customarily sold for in a retail store. I have no proof that any of these vendors have stolen their wares, only the ‘too good to be true’ suspicion on the basis that there is no way I know of to obtain this merchandise for such a low price. Even retailers pay more from wholesalers than these vendors are selling these items for. What is the Halacha when it comes to buying from these street vendors?

Question
Is שיהיה שם שמים מתאהב על ידך one of the 613 mitzvos ? Is one required to be מתבונן and look for ways to come across to fellow Jews (and non-Jews) as a reasonable and pleasant person, while being fully observing Torah and mitzvos, or is this just מידת חסידות ?

Question
Dear Rabbi, I am Jewish but not Orthodox. I do not follow all 613 commandments. I do not say all the prayers and I don't keep completely kosher. Too often, I speak improper words and think improper thoughts. My question is this: Am I doing any good at all? Do abbreviated prayers, selective mitzvahs and acknowledged Jewish identity reap any reward at all? Or, by being "Jewish Lite" is it the same as if I were completely non-observant?

Question
Dear Rabbi, Why can’t you cook meat and milk together? I was thinking of making a cheeseburger for a friend who is not Jewish but my mom told me we don’t cook meat and milk together. I thought the only issue is to not eat them together but that cooking them together was okay. Please help! Thanks

Question
I recently had a halacha question that i asked a friend much more learned than me and he gave a wonderful answer; full of details and citations. We continued discussing it when all of a sudden he tells me he does not believe in God. I was shocked for a moment because for the last 20 minutes we were discussing different rabbinic opinions and not only that, he keeps shabbat, kosher, wears a kippah and was even growing his beard out for the omer. But he doesn't believe in God. Blew my mind. It doesn't seem like its from a lack of emunah per se but just that there is no solid proof of God's existence. I studied philosophy, specifically ethics, in college at the same time as I started learning Torah. When it comes to arguing for God's existence, I have all the arguments ready to go from Creator -> God ->HaShem and im very passionate about it. The beauty of mitzvot? I can talk about those too. I've continued my Torah and philosophy studies for a few years after college, even now, as well but I never ran into this situation where someone keeps the mitzvot so well, knows quite a lot, but does not believe in God. I want to keep expanding my knowledge and ability to converse with different type of people but I have no idea what field of Torah/philosophy this would be. I thought about perhaps learning more about emunah but emunah has an emotional root to it and I believe my friends case is more of an intellectual one. Is there something else besides emunah that I can read up on? Does it make sense to ask: Outside of the 13 principles of faith and first commandment, can a person be religious/observant if they don't believe in God?