All Questions Answered by
Rabbi Holly Cohn

Question: My wife and I have no sexual relations, which I find frustrating. Masturbating has become the norm. I feel that divorce may be necessary, because I am missing the closeness of a relationship. I am Jewish and she is not. What do you advise?
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Question: There seems to be a tension between the Jewish mitzvah (commandment) concerning marriage (and subsequently being fruitful), and the concept of love (specifically romantic love, as defined in terms of western thought and literature). In times and places where arranged marriages are/were the norm, this was not a concern, but in modern day America, it seems to be a live issue. Is it the view of Judaism that it is more important to marry to fulfill the commandment - even if one does not love that mate, or should one not marry without love even though the mitzvah seems clear that it is obligatory? What does Judaism say, not only halachically (in Jewish law), but ethically and in terms of Jewish values?
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Question: Just wondering if there is a simple and appropriate prayer for friendship. I teach preschool and I was hoping to find a prayer of thanks to others for their friendship.
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Question: Do women have the same obligation as men in regards to daily prayer in Judaism?
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Question: What is the Jewish perspective on stem cell research?
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Question: Why don't some Ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate Yom Haatzmaut? If they have a reason, wouldn't it also apply to other parts of the Jewish world?
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Question: I have several regular charities I give to, but this year I am unable to keep up my level of giving due to salary cuts. Is it better for me to cut out a few charities, or to reduce or minimize my level of giving to all of them?
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Question: What options does traditional Judaism provide to solve the Agunah (chained woman) problem? Why are these not more broadly applied? Is there a chance to solve this issue once and for all?
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Question: I understand that when an infant dies, there is no funeral service. Why is this and what is the threshold for when there is a service?
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Question: November 9, 2010, is the anniversary of Krystallnacht. How should we be continuing to remember the Holocaust today?
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Question: What if someone is experiencing problems at work, such as a hostile work enviroment. Perhaps the employer would rather give an employee a bad time, hoping they'll quit, as opposed to firing them (to avoid paying out unemployment benefits). How does one handle that situation? In this day and age, quiting a job might not be a good thing to do, because the next job might not be just around the corner.
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Question: In the past few decades, there have been more concerns about over-population and the risks it brings to the environment and people. When I raised such a concern to a friend (also Jewish) of mine, he accused me of not trusting in G-d. My concern is that having too many children reduces the standard of living for everyone and ruins the gifts G-d has given us. Where is the balance between "be fruitful and multiply" and protecting our world as well as the people in it? Does adoption fulfill the mitzvah of multiplying?
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Question: What is the Jewish view on obligation to care for aging parents?
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Question: What should a Jewish person do if his or her loved one (also Jewish) wants to be cremated after they die?
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