In each session, we will delve into conceptual explorations of halakhic phenomena. From examining the interplay between law and morality in חיוב בדיני שמים to evaluating the significance of subjective thought versus performance in halakhic transactions, or even understanding the transformation of products shaped by violating Shabbat, each discussion focuses on uncovering the legal reasoning behind these scenarios. Our aim isn't practical halakhic application; rather, it is to illuminate the intricate legal logic proposed in each case.
Dr. Elana Stein Hain is the Rosh Beit Midrash and a senior research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Passionate about bringing Torah into conversation with contemporary life, she teaches Talmud from the Balcony, an occasional learning seminar exposing the big ideas, questions, and issues motivating talmudic discussions; she authored Circumventing the Law: Rabbinic Perspectives on Legal Loopholes and Integrity (pre-order discount code: PENN-ESHAIN30) which uses halakhic loopholes as a lens for understanding rabbinic views on law and ethics; and she co-hosts For Heaven’s Sake, a bi-weekly podcast with Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi, exploring contemporary issues related to Israel and the Jewish world. In mid-January, Elana will be starting a new podcast called TEXTing, where she and guest scholars study Torah texts that engage issues of the moment for the Jewish world. She lives in Manhattan with her beloved family.