Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Aron Moss
What Is Jewish Culture?
Growing up in a heavily Jewish (but not very Orthodox) suburb in the US, the answer seemed simple enough: Jewish culture could be expressed by peppering your conversations with Yiddish, eating “Jewish” food like gefilte fish and kishke, and knowing the lyrics to at least two or three songs from Fiddler on the Roof. And it made sense.
Will AI Take Over the World?
I'm getting a bit freaked out by this AI revolution. It seems like it's going to take over everything. Surely the Torah has something to say about it. Could artificial intelligence bring about the end of the world? Answer The Torah has a much happier ending to the story of humanity. Not robots taking over the world, but the arrival of Moshiach, a time of peace, prosperity and spiritual enlightenment. And yet, robots may play an important role in that time.
The Mitzvah I Swore I’d Never Keep
If you had asked me when I was younger, growing up in a non-observant home, whether I would ever fully cover my hair after marriage, especially with a wig, I would have said, “Absolutely not!” Not, “probably not.” Not, “maybe one day.” Absolutely not. But today, there is no mitzvah that represents my journey to willingly accept the Torah more than covering my hair. Before I got married and became more observant, I associated covering my hair with becoming someone I wasn’t.
Does a Soul Choose Its Family?
Question I have often heard it said that we choose our parents. Does Judaism believe that before the soul comes down, we are given a choice about who we are born to? Not sure what I was thinking when I chose mine. Answer It’s clever to tell somebody that they chose their parents. We often credit our parents for who we are and blame them for our problems. To flip this on us and say that we actually chose those parents shifts responsibility back on us. But it’s not a Jewish idea.
Am I a Failed Jewish Mother?
I feel like I’m failing as a parent. I want my child to be inspired and spiritually connected, but the more I push it, the more I’m pushing him away. My friends say, “Lay off! Let him be!” But that seems irresponsible. Isn’t my role as a parent to guide my kids? But how do I do that if they don’t want to listen? Answer Sounds like you love your child to death. That may be the problem.
Am I Living a Double Life?
Dear Rabbi, I feel like a hypocrite living a double life. On weekends, I’m in shul, I do Shabbos, I’m connected to the Torah-observant community, trying to do the right thing. But during the week, my friends and family aren’t involved at all, and I fit right in with them too. I feel like I have two faces, and I don’t fully belong in either world. Why am I stuck in the middle? Answer You’re not stuck in the middle. You’re strategically placed, exactly where you’re needed.
Does a Convert Sit Shiva for Non-Jewish Parents?
I am a convert to Judaism. I understand that this means the Jewish people are my new family. But what about my biological family? If, G‑d forbid, my father passes away, do I sit shivah for him? He is not Jewish, and I am. Answer When you converted, you didn’t just join the Jewish club; you were born as a Jewish soul. Spiritually speaking, you are now a child of Abraham and Sarah, the first Jewish couple. Your Hebrew name proudly reads “the child of Abraham and Sarah.” But let’s be clear.
My Seven-Year-Old Is Afraid to Be Jewish
My seven-year-old son doesn’t go to a Jewish school. After hearing some pretty graphic details of the Bondi attack from his friends, he keeps telling me, “Dad, I don’t want to be Jewish anymore.” He’s had counselling and is otherwise doing fine, but he still refuses to attend Jewish events or go to Jewish venues. How do I deal with this? Answer Your son is not rejecting Judaism. He is rejecting fear. In his young mind, being Jewish and being a target have become linked.
Sydney Rabbi: Channel Your Pain
We are devastated. We have lost friends and loved ones. Our children are scared. Our peaceful city feels violated. We are hurt and shaken, stretched and exhausted, trying to help but not sure where to go from here. And all this on Chanukah. The festival of joy and light. The festival of the weak defeating the mighty. Well, right now we feel weak, battling a mighty heaviness looming over us. There must be a message of wisdom—a glimpse of hope—that Chanukah can offer us in our broken sorrow.
What!? I Need to Sit Shivah for My Ex?
Question: I recently attended the funeral of my ex-husband. I wouldn’t have gone for his sake; I’m still angry at him. I went for my kids. I was surprised to be told that even though we were long ago civilly divorced, because I never bothered to get a Jewish divorce, we are still considered married, and now I have to observe the mourning laws, from tearing kriah to sitting shivah.
Lech Lecha
A Torah-based plan for a safer Israel and Middle East — a new course from ChabadU! New Course from ChabadU! Enroll Here Enroll
The Hostages Are Back. Now What?
For two years, we prayed for the hostages to be released. We prayed at shul, at home, with our children at bedtime. We said Psalms, cried, begged, and pleaded. Now, thank G‑d, all the living hostages have come home and we couldn’t be happier. The posters are being taken down, the urgency is gone. But I feel strangely empty. We put so much heart into this. Now what? I am overjoyed, but also a little lost. Answer We owe it to the hostages that their story should change us forever.
Does G-d Really Care If I Don't Keep Kosher?
I love being Jewish and believe in G‑d, but find it hard to believe that He really cares if I eat non-kosher food, watch TV on Friday night, or pray every day. Am I really supposed to believe that this is what G‑d wants from me? Answer You don’t have to believe, you just have to listen. G‑d expressly told us what He wants in the Torah. And if they are things you would least expect, that is a sure sign that G‑d really asked for them. It’s a bit like your wife.
Why No Archeological Evidence of Passover?
By Aron Moss (Chabad.org)Why is there no archaeological evidence for the Israelite slavery and Exodus from Egypt? If over two million Jews miraculously escaped after centuries of being slaves, wouldn’t they have left a trace of evidence? Answer You are right. Whenever my family has spent even a few days in a place, there is lasting evidence of our presence. So there should be plenty of archeological evidence for our time in Egypt. And there is.
Why No Archeological Evidence of Passover?
Why is there no archaeological evidence for the Israelite slavery and Exodus from Egypt? If over two million Jews miraculously escaped after centuries of being slaves, wouldn’t they have left a trace of evidence? Answer You are right. Whenever my family has spent even a few days in a place, there is lasting evidence of our presence. So there should be plenty of archeological evidence for our time in Egypt. And there is.
How Could G-d Let Them Kill Shiri, Kfir and Ariel?!
I’m struggling with faith after the Bibas tragedy. How do we reconcile a kind G‑d with the killing of innocent babies? I know this atrocity was committed by human beings (if they deserve to be called that), but how does G‑d allow it? It just doesn’t make any sense. Answer No one can answer that question. No matter how smart we think we are, some mysteries are beyond our human comprehension. Even the wisest of all men, King Solomon, could not fathom the suffering of innocents.
Mitzvot & Jewish Customs
ב"ה Why do we keep kosher? Why so many "don'ts" on Shabbat? What is the deeper significance of the Tallit? Why do Chassidic Jews wear those long black coats? 61 items in this section Show all Sort By: Everything you need to know about the daily practice of studying three Jewish texts: Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. Could it be true, I wondered, that there really is no mitzvah to help people? I tried to consider how what I already knew (or thought I knew) fit in with the speaker’s narrative.
Miscellaneous - Chabad.org
ב"ה How old is the universe? Is psychoanalysis kosher? Why the big picture of the Rebbe in your living room? What does Judaism say about the aliens from outer space? 56 items in this section Show all This amulet of a hand, often with an open eye, is common in some Jewish circles. Is it kosher? Shomer (plural shomrim) is Hebrew for “guard” or “keeper,” and it is used in a variety of ways and contexts in Judaism and Torah. There is no tradition banning sunglasses.
Marriage & Family
ב"ה Why have children? What's the Jewish view on arranged marriages? Why does a bride wear a veil? 51 items in this section Show all Sort By: When it comes to your identity—who you are, your core beliefs and values—there can be no compromise. What drives these parents to have large families? A love for kids? Determination to rebuild post-Holocaust? Some innate affection for Honda and Toyota minivans? Boy meets girl at a party. They like each other. He makes her laugh. She makes him feel good about himself.
Jewish Identity - A collection of key essays on the topic
ב"ה A collection of key essays on the topic Who are the Jews? What does it mean to be a Jew? Is there a difference between Judaism and Jewishness? Is it a religion, a family, a tribe, a nationality or something entirely different? 67 items in this section Show all Sort By: The homeland of the Jews (also called Israelites) is Israel, which means literally, “One who struggles with G‑d.” What is Judaism? Who is it for? What are the basic Jewish beliefs, texts, and sacred places?
The Environment
Are there any issues I should be careful to avoid when approaching religious Jews on the topic of sustainability? The commandment of Bal Tashchit—do not destroy or waste—has long been considered central to a Jewish environmental ethic. What is the basis for the commandment? Ecology is a highly practical branch of science: nothing could be more “down to earth” than preservation of the planet. Yet there is a facet of ecological awareness that is often overlooked: the spiritual dimension.
Questions & Answers about Moshiach and the Redemption
ב"ה Who is Moshiach and how will we know when he's coming? Is the world really getting better? Could global warming be a sign that the Messiah is about to arrive? I learned that the Torah predicts that in the future the “covering of the sun” will be removed, and wicked people will melt in the intense heat. Maybe this is describing the hole in the ozone layer.
Torah & Science Q&A
It's more than a question of which theory or theology is more convincing. Beliefs have consequences Can I Believe in Both Science & Torah? Genesis, Darwin and Life in Two Worlds A new science that sees consciousness not as an epiphenomenon, but as a building block of existence Do We Say a Blessing for the Solar Eclipse? Also, some claim that eclipses are a bad omen of things to come. What is the Jewish perspective on eclipses?
G‑d and Us
ב"ה Hasn't belief in G-d caused as much evil as good? If G-d knows best, what's the point of prayer? How can we have "free choice" if G-d already knows what we're going to do? Do (Normal) Jews believe in prophesy? Are we supposed to be afraid of G-d? 99 items in this section Show all Sort By: I feel uncomfortable with the idea that G-d is always watching me. It seems stifling to think that I am under constant surveillance. I envy people who have faith, with their strength and clarity.
Men & Women
ב"ה Why aren't women and men treated the same in Jewish law? Why is Torah law so restrictive of contact between the sexes? Why do men and women sit separately in the synagogue? Are Women More Spiritual? I have often heard that Judaism sees women as more spiritual than men. Is it not just a patronizing way to avoid the issue of the different gender roles in Judaism?
Shame; Humiliation
Feel blessed if you are shame-bound rather than shameless! For you, the outlook is positive. Getting rid of excess shame is a like losing weight—it takes awareness and discipline. Go slowly, as this is a difficult “addiction,” probably the mother of all a... Community & Family » Health & Wellness » Abuse Yes, you have battle scars, but they are proof of your strength, wisdom and courage...
Nice Guy, Won't Keep Kosher
I’ve finally met a guy I actually like. At my age, that’s a big deal. But there’s a huge issue: He doesn’t keep kosher and says he never will. He insists on bringing non-kosher food into my home, something I have never allowed before. Now I’m in a bind. Does G‑d want me to stay single and kosher, or compromise and be happy? Answer Compromise is necessary in every successful relationship. Two humans sharing intimate space is a balancing act which can only work if each makes room for the other.
The Kabbalah of the Tallit
Question: What is the deeper significance of the Tallit? Answer: The main idea of Jewish prayer is to connect to G‑d. But how can a finite, limited human being connect to an infinite, unlimited G‑d? Really, it should be impossible. But G‑d wants a relationship with us, so He “limited” Himself. He did this by expressing Himself in creation. The world we live in is actually an expression of G‑d.
Is It Ethical to Regift?
Question: Is it wrong to regift? My uncle just came back from Hong Kong and brought me a very expensive green tie with red zigzags. I would not be caught dead wearing it. But I have a friend with the same taste as my uncle who would love it, and it’s his birthday next week. Is there any issue with me passing it on, rather than letting it gather dust in my closet? Answer: You need to think this through. A gift is given to be yours. That means you can do with it whatever you wish.
What Does Israel Mean?
The homeland of the Jews (also called the Israelites) is the Land of Israel. Excuse my ignorance, but what does the word “Israel” actually mean? Answer That’s an important question. Names are significant; your name is your essence, your true self, your mission. And the name of a nation describes its collective character. If we are called the Children of Israel, that must define our destiny. Which makes the meaning of the word Israel quite surprising.
Is It OK to Tell Kids About the Tooth Fairy?
My wife and I disagree about the tooth fairy. We both know it doesn't exist; that's not the debate. The debate is whether it is a dangerous thing to teach our kids. She says it’s harmful to fool kids because when they discover it is not true, they won't trust you. But I think it’s important to develop a child's imagination, and the world of fairies does just that. What do you think?
Can There Be Judaism Without Torah?
We all know that the Jewish future is under threat, with many of our youth leaving the fold. In all streams other than the fervently Orthodox, the outlook is grim. But we can't all be religious. So other than Torah observance, what can we teach the next generation to inspire them to stay Jewish? Answer Sometimes a question itself contains the answer. Like when a fish asks, “Other than in the water, where else can I survive?” You have the answer, you would just prefer a different one.
Do You Wish Mazal Tov to a Pregnant Woman?
Question: I just found out that a friend is pregnant. She is quite observant so I want to do the right thing. Is it appropriate to say Mazal Tov to a pregnant woman? Answer: Conceiving a child is like conceiving an idea. A new idea is very exciting, but until it has been brought into the concrete world and actualized, it is too early to celebrate. So too with pregnancy. Becoming pregnant is an awesome and wonderful event.
Does My Son Need a Traditional Bris?
Our baby boy was born yesterday and we are deliberating whether to do a traditional bris with a mohel, or have it done by a surgeon in hospital. Now the question I have is, would you accept me and my son into your community if he is not snipped by a mohel? Answer Mazel tov on becoming a father! I hope your wife is doing well and wish you both only happiness and much nachas. Let me say outright, you and your son will always be welcome, no matter what you choose.
Does My Son Really Need a Traditional Bris?
Our baby boy was born yesterday and we are deliberating whether to do a traditional bris with a mohel, or have it done by a surgeon in hospital. Now the question I have is, would you accept me and my son into your community if he is not snipped by a mohel? Answer Mazel tov on becoming a father! I hope your wife is doing well and wish you both only happiness and much nachas. Let me say outright, you and your son will always be welcome, no matter what you choose.
Passover 1946 - Explaining a perplexing passage in the Haggadah
There is a passage in the Haggadah that always confuses me. Just after we read about the four sons, it says: One may think that [the discussion of the Exodus] must be from the first of the month. The Torah therefore says, “On that day.” “On that day,” however, could mean while it is yet daytime; the Torah therefore says, “It is because of this.” The expression “because of this” can only be said when matzah and maror are placed before you. Sorry, can you explain what’s going on here?
Why Is There Antisemitism?
It seems like anti-Semitism is everywhere these days, and almost becoming acceptable again. Why do so many people hate Jews? Why is anti-Semitism still flourishing today, even in modern society? And what can we do about it? Answer: The deepest analysis of anti-Semitism can be found in a deceptively simple Talmudic passage discussing the Purim story, and its wisdom still rings true today. Haman was an anti-Semitic minister in ancient Persia who wanted to see the Jews annihilated.
Is It OK to Hide Being Jewish?
I am having a debate with a friend. He has a good job in a big company, but he has not told them he is Jewish. He thinks his boss is an anti-Semite, and by hiding his Jewishness he is able to get away with things. Like Friday afternoons the staff all go out for a drink, and he leaves early. He says it's because he doesn't drink alcohol, so they let him off the hook. If he said it was for Shabbat they wouldn't accept it. I think it's wrong to hide who you are just to keep your job. Don't you agree?
Your Questions
There comes a time when a Jew has to state openly and proudly who they are. Tefillin are worn daily by Jewish men and boys aged 13 and older, except for on Shabbat and Torah holidays. Sometimes a vacuum serves as a force that draws more, as in a syringe — The Lubavitcher Rebbe's message to his Chassidim on Simchat Torah of 1977, when a heart attack he suffered prevented his participation in the festivities
Can Observant Jews Be Climate Activists?
I am a climate activist trying to galvanize support for sustainable living from the observant Jewish community. My question is, are there any no-go areas, red lines, or issues I should be careful to avoid when approaching religious Jews on the topic of sustainability? I want to be sensitive to people's beliefs while raising awareness about this vital cause. Answer The Torah-observant community should be your easiest customers.
I Ate Non-Kosher Food, Now What?
Dear Rabbi, I am so embarrassed; I don’t know what to say. Last week, I bought a tomato sauce that I thought was kosher. I always buy this brand, but this time it seems I chose a different flavor than usual. After cooking with it and feeding my family, I read the ingredients, and to my horror, the sauce wasn’t kosher! I will do whatever I need to make my kitchen kosher again. I know that can be fixed. But what devastates me is that I ate it and fed it to my family.
I Ate Non-Kosher Food, Now What?
Dear Rabbi, I am so embarrassed; I don’t know what to say. Last week, I bought a tomato sauce that I thought was kosher. I always buy this brand, but this time it seems I chose a different flavor than usual. After cooking with it and feeding my family, I read the ingredients, and to my horror, the sauce wasn’t kosher! I will do whatever I need to make my kitchen kosher again. I know that can be fixed. But what devastates me is that I ate it and fed it to my family.
Sukkot - Magazine
Dear Friend, Along with spending time in the sukkah and waving the Four Kinds, a central observance of the holiday of Sukkot is holding festive evening-time celebrations. Known as Simchat Beit Hashoevah, they harken back to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, when all-night dancing, singing and acrobatics would accompany the joyous drawing of water that was poured on the altar every day of the seven-day holiday.
Got the Post-Yom Kippur Blues?
I think I have the post-Yom Kippur blues. Every year I get all inspired by the fast, and am sure that I will be more committed to Judaism in the year ahead. But somehow it dissipates pretty quickly (like around the third mouthful after breaking the fast). I don’t want to lose it again this year. Any suggestions? Answer: I know just what you need. You need to be swaddled. A newborn baby, moments after birth, is taken by a midwife and wrapped in a swaddling cloth.
Got the Post-Yom Kippur Blues?
I think I have the post-Yom Kippur blues. Every year I get all inspired by the fast, and am sure that I will be more committed to Judaism in the year ahead. But somehow it dissipates pretty quickly (like around the third mouthful after breaking the fast). I don’t want to lose it again this year. Any suggestions? Answer: I know just what you need. You need to be swaddled. A newborn baby, moments after birth, is taken by a midwife and wrapped in a swaddling cloth.
Happiness is Not Being There
Eve came to the world. She became wrapped up with a snake. Noah came to the world. What happened to him? "He drank from the wine and was drunk." Sarah came to the world. She descended and she came back up, as it is said, "And Abram came up from Egypt, he and his wife with him." For this, Sarah earned transcendental life . . . that life belonged to her. —Zohar 1:122b It’s a passage from the Zohar, and—as to be expected from the Zohar—very enigmatic. What is the sequence?
Who Are “The Mourners of Zion and Jerusalem”?
Question: I was wondering about the traditional words of consolation said to mourners: “May the Almighty comfort you amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.” What exactly is the consolation in those words? How is comparing the loss of a loved one to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans two thousand years ago supposed to make me feel any better? Answer: There are several parallels between the fall of Jerusalem and the passing of a soul.
Why Break a Glass at a Jewish Wedding?
Question: I understand that the reason I will be breaking a glass with my foot at the end of the wedding ceremony is to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. This was indeed a significant event in Jewish history, but it doesn’t seem to have any relevance to me. What does a destroyed building have to do with my wedding? Answer: The destruction of the Holy Temple has extreme personal relevance. It happened to you.
Who Are “The Mourners of Zion and Jerusalem”?
Question: I was wondering about the traditional words of consolation said to mourners: “May the Almighty comfort you amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.” What exactly is the consolation in those words? How is comparing the loss of a loved one to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans two thousand years ago supposed to make me feel any better? Answer: There are several parallels between the fall of Jerusalem and the passing of a soul.
Why Do Jewish Women Cover Their Hair?
Question I heard an anthropologist talking about shaitels (wigs). He said how ironic it is that observant Jewish women wear wigs. In biblical Judaism, the rule was that married women should cover their hair in order to be modest and unattractive. In more recent times, women wear wigs, which are sometimes more attractive than natural hair.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Aron
Contact Aron, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack