Question
A few years before I was born, my mother had an adulterous affair and got pregnant. My father knew about it and was angry at first, but then he forgave my mother and remained married to her and raised my brother as his own child. My parents kept secret from us for many years that this happened and hid the fact that my older brother is not my full brother. Only after my brother and I grew up did we learn the truth. Presumably a child born from adultery is a mamzer, which would make my brother a mamzer. But I also understand that once a woman has been unfaithful to her husband, she is forbidden to him and they must divorce. Well, my parents did not divorce and have married to each other for almost forty years. My question is, since my mother was already forbidden to my father at the time of my conception, and he knew that but remained in his marriage to her, does that make me a mamzer?

Question
Hello I have a friend who has classes himself as a Jewish Christian. He has entered into a relationship with a woman who has recently had a child with him plus he left his wife and 2 children for. His girlfriend has 2 other children with 2 different men. Now she sees herself as a Viking who doesn't believe in God or Jesus but thinks there are many gods. She says she will not eat the way he eats or try to read the bible or adapt in any way. How do you see this working out marriage wise? I'm really interested Thank you

Question
There are lots of Jews in this world who have a Jewish mother and gentile father. In the eye of Halacha, is there anything different about them from those who have two Jewish parents? Are they treated any differently, or are there any special laws that they or others around must follow? I am curious because in Leviticus 24:10-23 is the story of a man who fits this description, who was excluded and blasphemed G-d, and was put to death.

Question
Dear Rabbi, I have two friends who recently got into a fight over what I consider an insignificant matter. It hurts me to see them angry at each other and I would love to see them make peace. What should I do? Thanks!

Question
If a woman undergoes an Orthodox conversion to Judaism, practices as an Orthodox Jew for a period of time, then abandons Judaism, and after that has children who are not raised as Jews, are her offspring considered Jewish?

Question
So rabbi, some feminists says the Torah prohibits adultery. But all females must have the right to do adultery. Moreover those females who commit adultery never confess that they committed adultery. Now, does what the oral law of Judaism say about adultery?

Question
If during the present time, as Israel goes to war against the enemy, an Israeli soldier meets a woman in Gaza and finds her attractive, and convinces her to convert to Judaism and marry him, would he be required to follow all the steps described at the beginning of Ki Tetze for one who finds a beautiful woman among the captives?

Question
Is one allowed to attend an intermarriage ceremony in order to save a life? My cousin’s son is marrying a non-Jewish woman. My elderly mother is insisting on going to her great nephew’s wedding. She lives independently and is strong willed, and there is nothing I can do physically or legally to stop her. I am familiar with the wedding venue because another relative got married there. It is quite dangerous and has a lot of fall hazards for elderly people, and I am concerned that if I don’t watch her, she could fall and get hurt. I don’t trust anyone else in the family to keep an eye on her the same way I would. I am also invited to the wedding. Normally I would decline attendance at an intermarriage, but I have a strong feeling if I don’t go and stay with her throughout, something bad could happen to her.

Question
I am in charge of signing up new members at the synagogue I attend. The synagogue is in a transition between rabbis now. We are not getting a new rabbi until September and we don’t even know yet who that new rabbi will be. This past Shabbos, a man we saw for the first time ever starting came to services. He says he wants to join as a member. I talked to him on the phone today and he revealed to me that his mother is a convert to Judaism in the Conservative movement, and he had a bris and bar mitzvah. I don’t know if he is really a Jew or not. Can I accept him as a member?