Hey, Rabbi!

Yes, a person with a tattoo can be buried in a Jewish cemetery with full Jewish burial rites (including Kever Yisrael (Jewish Burial), Taharah (Ritual Purification) by the Chevra Kadisha, and recitation of Kaddish).

This is the unanimous position of all major halachic authorities in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities today. The idea that a tattoo prevents Jewish burial is a widespread myth—often perpetuated as a "scare tactic" by well-meaning parents or educators—but it has no basis in halacha.

Bottom line: Getting a tattoo is a serious prohibition in the Torah that requ...

Duration: 00:00:40

In this quick Jewish Inspiration exchange, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explains why there's no kosher McDonald's in the U.S. (unlike Israel): kosher meat requires not just a kosher animal, but proper ritual slaughter (shechita), soaking, washing, and salting to remove blood—a labor-intensive process making it significantly more expensive than non-kosher meat. A fully kosher McDonald's would need all ingredients and equipment kosher-certified, with no cross-contamination. While technically possible, the rabbi doubts profitability (e.g., kosher McNuggets couldn't sell cheaply). Ultimately, it boils down to demand and economics—if profitable, it could happen.
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Question asked by: Reena Free...

Duration: 00:01:01

In this concise yet profound Hey Rabbi! episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe demystifies the term "Chosen People": Jews are called chosen not because Hashem arbitrarily favored one nation, but because—at Mount Sinai—every other nation rejected the Torah when offered, citing commandments they couldn't accept (e.g., "Do not steal," "Do not commit adultery"), while the Jewish people enthusiastically declared "Na'aseh v'nishma" ("We will do and we will listen")—choosing Hashem unconditionally. This mutual choice forms the eternal bond: we chose God, and He chose us in return.

The Midrash illustrates this with non-Jewish prophets (even Balaam, more p...

Duration: 00:01:01