Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky shares with us the scholarship of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, who was a leading figure in Modern Orthodoxy known for his ability to bridge traditional Jewish law with contemporary thought. R. Dr. Sinensky highlights a particularly challenging case that he addressed: whether a kohanim who did not observe Shabbos could duchen (perform the priestly blessing). R. Dr. Lamm's ruling represents a hallmark of his nuanced approach. Through this lens we better understand his commitment to a compassionate and pragmatic application of Jewish law, even in the face of broader communal complexities.  

"Which way is Mizrach (East)?" is a common refrain we hear at pop-up minyanim. The intent is to face Jerusalem, and more specifically the Temple Mount. But does a New Yorker facing East actually directing his prayers toward the holy city or to somewhere in central Africa instead? R. Yosef Weisenfeld, author of Derech Ha'Ir, addresses this and many other questions through a responsum of the Matai Moshe (no. 7).

To purchase his sefer, please click here: https://www.judaicaplace.com/derech-hair-hardcover/9781680256727/ 

While our podcast is on a brief hiatus, we feature an episode from our friends at "Shtark Tank" in which Rabbi Yaakov Wolff interviews Rabbi Shalom Rosner about the legacy of his illustrious father, R. Dr. Fred Rosner zt"l.

If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to Shtark Tank, here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/34xll8GhTfu1BiRdhb8AyR?si=VMsfrrg9Tvy7bm-0omCxCw

This is a very special episode for me, in which we discuss my Rebbe, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Dovid Tendler zt"l. We are joined by one of his granddaughters and a longtime colleague of mine, Rachel Rosensweig. She provides a synopsis of the Conjoined Twins ruling he was involved in and speaks more broadly about more personal aspects of Rav Tendler that many are likely unfamiliar with.

Bio: Rachel Rosensweig teaches Gemara and Halacha at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, New Jersey, where she also coaches the school’s Torah Bowl team. Rachel received her B.A. in Judaic studies and biology from Stern College for Women. She holds an M.A. from Yeshiva University’s Graduate Program in Advanced Talmud and Tanach Studies (GPATS) as well as a dual M.S.-M.A. from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education and Administration and the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Judaic Studies. She was honored to receive the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholarship as part of Class 33, the final cohort of the program. Rachel lives in Washington Heights, NY with her husband Moshe and daughter Miriam Shifra.

In this episode we are joined by R' Yitzy Tanner who shares with us a responsum of the Beis Dovid (no. 71) about Kohanim - or any Jewish male - serving in their country's armed forces. We also learn about the author, Rav Zev Wolf Leiter zt"l, who was a local rabbi in Pittsburgh, but who earned an international reputation.

We are joined by Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, medieval scholar and the translator/annotator of the Feldheim edition of Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s Kuzari, who takes us into the story of a community in arms over whether and when to permit the study of secular knowledge. By looking at several responsa of the Rashba (1:415-417; Kisvei Yad no. 150) we get a glimpse into the age old question of how Judaism ought to interact with the broader world around it. 

Can I drink beer and Scotch on Pesach? Don't get your hopes up just yet, but Rabbi Yehoshua Domosh, a trained Kashrus professional, takes us through some fascinating halachic analysis (Responsa of Rivash, no. 255) about why distilled alcoholic beverages might not be so bad afterall - and also why an innocuous, unflavored seltzer may indeed have some potential issues bubbling just under the surface....

Rabbi Yehuda Halpert takes us 5 years back to the COVID Zoom Seder controversy, contrasts the different rabbinic responsa, and unpacks their significance for the post-pandemic era.

Stay tuned for his upcoming book: Speaking to an Empty Shul: Timeless Lessons from Unprecedented Times (Mosaica Press, 2025).

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky shares with us a whimsical, yet real, case adjudicated by the Beis Yitzchak (E.H. 1:23) about a man who "purchased" for himself the Kohen status...which sounded good at first, until it had serious ramifications for his marriage. We delve into the principles of halacha which govern speech, deed and much more to understand how this case was resolved and how it served as a precedent for future batei din. 

In this episode, Rabbi Barry Gelman shares with us a personal case he dealt with regarding a family who was adamant about reburying their deceased six feet under. Rabbi Gelman shares with us the responsum he received from Eretz Hemdah (B'Mareh HaBazak 7:81) and how it made its way into a Texas courtroom. This is a fascinating discussion that incorporates Halacha, the American legal system and a regrettable family drama all wrapped up together.