There was an entire section of our conversation that I forgot to publish. This was supposed to be part of the first episode with Prof. Saiman. I've added the recordings to that episode and also posted it as a "standalone" episode for people who already listened. 

In this episode we discuss observances - specifically pilgrimages to the grave of Reb Shayale of Kerestir and other kivrei tzadikim in far-flung places, as well as schlissel challah, which are observed during this time of year - and consider the factors that may drive the significant surge in their popularity. 

I am joined once again by Prof. Chaim Saiman, author of Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law, a professor at the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University, and a close friend of almost 30 years.

In this episode we delve into R. Chaim Kanievsky's treatise on tattoos, called Patshegen HaKetav, as an example of how he thought, organized, and wrote. Along the way, we get a bit sidetracked by halakhic questions pertaining to tattoos and even suggest a "mekor" for the mistaken belief that someone with a tattoo cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

Link to the first page of R. Chaim Kanievsky's Patshegen HaKetav: https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=47701&st=&pgnum=58

Link to an article I wrote on tattoos 9 years ago: https://www.jta.org/2013/03/07/ny/the-tattoo-still-taboo

A blog post from 15 years ago in which I discuss the issue and present the responsum of Minhat Yitzhak: http://adderabbi.blogspot.com/2007/04/tattoos.html