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1. What is the origin of the signs and accents that appear throughout the Hebrew Bible?

During the medieval period, it was generally believed that the signs of cantillation as well as the signs of vocalization had been originated by Ezra and the members of the Great Assembly who flourished several centuries before the Common Era. Ben Asher, the 10th century masoretic scholar of Tiberias, who devoted many years to preparing an accurate Bible manuscript with all the traditional marks, speaks of the accents as the contribution of the prophets to whom the interpretation of every word was revealed. In all likelihood, it was the scholars known as the Masoretes who were responsible for the signs and accents, known as trope.

The trope help provide the tune for every word in the Bible. The tune not only served as a teaching and a memory aid, but as a practical system of accentuation and pronunciation.

2.Who wrote the Yigdal prayer, which concludes the Friday evening service?

Yigdal, sometimes also used as an opening hymn in the daily morning service as well as in some siddurim on Friday night, was composed by Daniel ben Yehudah of 14th-century Rome. It consists of 13 lines that summarize the Thirteen Principles of Faith as formulated by Moses Maimonides in his Mishneh Commentary on Sanhedrin 10:1. The 13 principles include:
There is a Creator
God's oneness is absolute
God has no body
God is eternal
Only God is to be worshiped
The prophets are true
Moses as the greatest of the prophets
The entire Torah was divinely given to Moses
The Torah is immutable
God knows all of the acts and thoughts of a human being
God rewards and punishes
The Messiah will come
There will be a resurrection of the dead

3.What is the meaning of the word "minhag"?

A minhag is a custom or usage handed down orally from generation to generation. Although the halakha (Jewish law) was developed in great detail by the talmudic authorities, the minhag always assumed the character of binding law. "Everything should follow local custom" is an oft-quoted statement in the Talmud. (Baba Metzia 7:1) Some authorities have said that custom overrules law. Most synagogues have their own peculiar minhagim. For example, whereas the minhag in some synagogues is to have women cover their heads when in the sanctuary, others do not have this requirement.

The priority of custom stems from the fact that people are emotionally attached to customs, cherished from early youth, and adhere to them more devotedly than to express commands. It's very difficult, therefore, to get a minhag changed.

4. What can you tell me about angels in the Jewish tradition?

I wrote a book on the subject of angels called "Ascending Jacob's Ladder," which you can find in your local library. In a nutshell, the angels in the Hebrew Bible are messengers of God conveying the divine commands, promises and the like. Some angels appear in the guise of humans, while others have wings and spew forth fire from their mouths. Some angels even have names. Michael and Gabriel occur in the Book of Daniel for the first time. Michael is describe as Israel's representative in heaven.

Among the Essenes, the Jewish ascetic sect that disappeared after the destruction of the Second Temple, angelology was a highly developed system of theological thinking. A still more mystical character was given to it by the Kabbalists in the medieval period. The High Holy Day Machzor is filled with reference to heavenly beings, offering their chorus of praise to God as Ruler of the World.

5. What is the so-called Jewish day of love that falls out during the summer?

I believe what you are referring to in your question is to Tu b'Av, the 15th day of Av. Originally a post-biblical day of joy, the 15th of Av served as a matchmaking day for unmarried women in Second Temple times. In recent years Tu b'Av has become re-noticed and celebrated, slightly resembling Valentine's Day in English speaking countries. In recent decades Israeli civil culture promotes festivals of singing and dancing on Tu b'Av with the entertainment and beauty industries working overtime on this date.

Rabbi Isaacs' forthcoming book is "Have a Good Laugh: Jewish Jokes for the Soul" (Ktav Publishing). Rabbi Ron Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom, a Conservative congregation in Bridgewater. He has recently published biographies of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Judah Touro (Torah Aura Productions). Contact him at www.rabbiron.com or "Ask the Rabbi," c/o Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 6007, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807.