Responsa Radio

My family are coming in from 1000s of miles away for the eclipse on April 8th, but they won't be around for Pesah on April 22nd. I want to do a mock or model Seder with them, but I know some things are only supposed to be done on actual Seder night. What should I include or exclude? How can I make the mock Seder feel substantive, but at the same time, still a rehearsal and not a replacement of Seder itself?

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I'm organizing my community's reading of Megillat Esther. Can I include English explanations or kids' plays between the chapters? What is at stake in breaking up the reading?

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In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.

Responsa Radio creator David Zvi Kalman's favorite is episode #9: I'm a lawyer who often has to look at crime scene photos. What are the considerations of k'vod ha-met (honor for the dead) that I should be taking into account in my job?

Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at [email protected]

In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.

Rav Eitan's favorite is episode #27: Can I set up my coffee maker on a timer before Shabbat to make my perfect cup on Shabbat itself? And if I can't do that, can I use a French press on Shabbat to get a better cup than instant?

Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at [email protected]

In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.

Rav Avi's favorite is episode #24: Brit Milah is an ancient and well-known ceremony to welcome boys into the world, but there's no such long-standing, equal ritual for girls. How should we think about this, and what are steps for the future when creating rituals like this?

Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at [email protected]

When kids ask big questions, how do you respond? Whether you are parent, educator, or just a curious person, you've probably asked yourself the same questions.

This podcast doesn’t have all the answers, but it can give you language and frameworks to engage meaningfully with these questions. 

Every week, Rabbi Shai Held invites an expert guest to explore a big question: Who is God? Why did God create the world? Why do bad things happen? No pressure.  

I want to be more observant. Where do I start? 

Rav Avi and Rav Eitan reflect on this important question as they also celebrate our 100th episode! 
In honor of our 100th episode, over the next few weeks we will be updating and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes ever. Stay tuned!

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Why might cheese not be kosher even if all the ingredients are? What does this say about relationships between Jews and non-Jews today?

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For centuries, the process of halakhah has relied on a rabbi or posek, someone who is learned in Jewish texts, who has trained for years to be a resource for our halakhic questions. But now, with the release of large language models like ChatGPT, I'm wondering: is the human interaction an essential part of the halakhic process, or can I get my halakhic answers from an AI chatbot?

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If I find myself at a large Hanukkah party or a communal gathering where Hanukkah candles are lit, do I still need light when I get home? If I do, is it okay to say the blessing two times? What if I said the blessing at Ma'ariv while leading the service? Does it matter how late I'm getting home?

Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at [email protected].