Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later

In this episode, we're joined by Rabbanit Ayelet Schlesinger for a fascinating exploration of a recurring question: What happens when minhag (custom) conflicts with halacha (Jewish law)? Using the case study of Friday Night Kiddush, we delve into how three responsa - Yachin U'Boaz  (1:118), Or Zarua (Vol. 1, Responsum no. 752), and Yabia Omer (1:15) - addressed this tension. From the debat...

May later generations disagree with their predecessors? Can religious authority be controlled by a specific locale? Our guest, Rabbi Shmuel Phillips addresses these questions and distills several fundamental lessons from a lesser known responsum of the Rambam (Iggeres no. 18). More info and the best links for buying his books are at www. TalmudReclaimed.com.

Should I Study Biblical Criticism? In this episode, we provide a glimpse into the complex and often contentious world of Biblical criticism, exploring how two prominent theological schools of thought - Conservative and Orthodox - approach the study of our holy Torah. While both sides affirm the general authority of the Bible, they diverge sharply on the role of historical and cultural context, the...

In this episode, we explore the Rambam's Iggeres Teiman (Epistle to Yemen) - a powerful and poignant letter written to the Jewish community of Yemen around the year 1173/1174. Our guest, Rabbi Chezkie Glatt explains how the letter offers words of comfort, encouragement, and hope in the face of heresy and hardship. We provide a general survey of the document to understand the Rambam's messa...

It's finally here! In this episode, we go through YOUR reactions to previous episodes of the podcast and much more! God willing, we will return with more regular episodes following Pesach. Links to references made in the episode: 1) Support the Podcast / Sponsor an Episode - Eichlers Registry . 2) Igros Moshe Series with Tradition Online . 3) Challenging Assumptions (Mosaica Press, 2023) on Am...

The Mishnah ( Beitzah 36b) forbids dancing and clapping on Shabbos/Yom Tov. How do we make sense of the many ostensibly observant people, including Torah scholars, who appear to disregard this explicit stricture? R. Dr. Zvi Leshem, an expert in Chassidic thought, breaks down the unique approach of the Minchas Elazar (1:29) who argues that dancing on Shabbos/Yom tov is not just permissible...it&#39...

Are animals permitted in the synagogue? What if they provide a service, such as guiding those who are blind? R. Dan Margulies, a former service dog trainer, provides a unique glimpse into R. Moshe Feinstein's iconic responsum (Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:45 on the topic, and a critical data point that many of his detractors were missing.

What happens when someone cannot afford to do Yibum but insists on it? What happens when the widow is Ashkenazic and the Yavam is Sephardic? Does it make a difference whether the rabbis are Ashkenazic or Sephardic? Should the mother/mother-in-law's opinion count? In this episode, Mr. Gedaliah Wielgus, who teaches "Shu"T al haDaf", shares with us a head-spinning responsum of the...

Why do we seem to pray for rain at the wrong times? Can we adjust the dates for V'sein Tal U'matar? Who even came up with setting December 4th/5th as a day of halachic significance? Rabbi Elli Fischer shares with us a radical ruling of the Rosh (Responsum 4:10) on this topic and its intriguingly fraught reception. Rabbi Fischer's very own translation of this responsum can be found on S...

In the lead up to Pesach, Rabbi Moses Haber unpacks a seminal responsum of Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechaveh Da'as 1:11) to clarify how many Sephardim obviate potential mixtures of chametz and to highlight Rav Yosef's programmatic approach to the development of Sephardic halachic-public-policy. This episode is dedicated in memory of Rose Nuni Dayan.

Rabbi Zachary Beer presents one of the most iconic responsa of the Rema (no. 125) about performing a marriage on shabbos in extenuating circumstances and what it means for broader halachic methodology. This episode is dedicated liyuli nishmas Yitzchak Elimelech ben Akiva Ze’ev by his family.

Rabbi Drew Kaplan, an aficionado in all things Torah & alcohol related, uncorks a controversial responsum of the Rema (no. 124) about the tenuous permissibility of Stam Yeinam.

In this episode, we go back to one of the earliest examples of responsa literature: The Siddur of Rav Amram Gaon. Yosef Lindell provides us with a framework for understanding the fluidity and development the Haggadah and uses it as a case study in understanding the development of Jewish liturgy, from the ancient Talmuds to the Rabbanite-Karaite controversies, Ashkenazic-Sephardic divergences and m...

From Ancient Persia to Medieval France, Rabbi Avi Hoffman provides a halachic and historical framework for understanding the role of alcohol throughout the ages. In particular, we focus on Rav Avraham ben Yitzchak M'Narbonah (Teshuvos HaRa'Avi ABa"D, no. 149), and how he ruled in a case of negligent homicide committed while under the influence. 

May a medical student observe a surgery performed on Shabbos? What about a common person who wants to observe it out of curiosity or "entertainment"? R' Yaakov Wolff, host of Shtark Tank, unpacks a responsum from Rav Yaakov Emden (She'ailas Ya'avetz, no. 41) on this topic and contextualizes it within the broader literature. Check out the Shtark Tank podcast here: https://open...

In this episode, Rabbi Daniel Sayani presents two diametrically opposed traditions of approaching Taharah and other post-mortem religious practices. The Mystical/Sephardic approach found in Responsa Yaskil Avdi (Y.D. 4:24) and the pragmatic/"litvishe" approach espoused by the Igros Moshe (Y.D. 3:135-137). We discuss the later innovation of dipping the deceased into the mikvah and what such practic...

In the lead up to Purim, R. Gil Student analyzes a pivotal responsum of the Maharik (no. 167) regarding an inadvertent infidelity, what we can learn from Esther, and its implications for post-Talmudic hermeneutics. (As the title indicates, we discuss some sensitive topics so listeners' discretion is advised.) At the end of this episode, Rabbi Student reveals his latest groundbreaking initiativ...

Rav Nachum Rabinovitch zt"l was one of the great Israeli poskim of recent memory. In this episode we welcome a talmid of his, Rabbi Yitzchak Sprung, who shares one of his rebbe's responsa (Siach Nachum, no. 30) about shaving and uses it to profile Rav Rabinovitch's unique approach to paskening halacha.

A person can always repent and completely atone for their previous sins, right? In the cases of a penitent ex-follower of Shabbtai Tzvi and a previous "worshipper" of Hindu deities we see that this matter is not so simple. Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Jewish historian and lecturer, provides us with a remarkable responsum of the Chacham Tzvi (no. 13) and the Noda B'Yehudah (O.C. 2:10) whic...

In this episode, Rabbi Michael Freund, a scholar, previous member of the Netanyahu administration, and father of sons serving in the IDF, discusses the religious significance of the land of Gaza, and what it means for the broader Land of Israel. We explore a teshuvah of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, published by the Machon Torah V'Ha'aretz (cf. Responsa B'Ohalah shel Torah 4:7), who expounds on...

May someone who subscribes to a stringent halachic position ask someone else to be his "shabbos goy"? Our guest, Rabbi Mark Glass unpacks a responsum of the Minchas Asher (1:11) to help us understand the difference between stringencies that result from a pious practice versus principled disregard for other opinions.

Recently, we looked at R. Shlomo Wahrman's opposition to women reciting Kaddish. In this episode, we welcome Shalhevet Cahana who addresses the Chavos Yair (no. 222), Teshuvah m'Ahava (2:229) and R. Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (HaPardes, Year 38, Issue 6) - and also shares her personal experience with reciting Kaddish. (See also Igros Moshe O.C. 512:2 for a passing observation about women coming...

In this episode R. Daniel Mann contrasts a personal letter of R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (v'Aleihu Lo Yibol, p. 268) with how it is presented in Halichos Shlomo (Krias HaTorah 12:24) to address how concerned we should be for understanding Hebrew grammar by and what it means for the responsible application of Responsa Literature writ large.

How many people can say that their high school rebbe was a gadol b'Torah (first-rate Torah scholar)? This was the case in HANC (Hebrew Academy of Nassau County) in which our guest, R. Eli Slomnicki - who now serves as the principal of the upper school - had the privilege of learning under Rav Shlomo Wahrman zt"l for many years. In this episode, we learn a piece he published on women recit...

Are Zebu kosher? Wait, what's a Zebu? In this episode, R. Binyomin Fishman breaks down a disagreement between The Chazon Ish (Hilchos Beheima v'Chaya, no. 11) and R. Yisroel Belsky (Responsa Shulchan HaLevi 1:19) on the nature of Zebu, Bison and other marvelous animals - and what their kashrus status means for the broader question of how we determine normative halachic practice. To find ou...