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 relationship between human and Divine authorship, and the implications of scholarly inquiry for faith and practice. 

To illustrate this, our guest, Rabbi Steven Gotlib, presents a responsum from Conservative scholar R. Prof. David Golinkin and contrasts it with Rabbi Jonathan Sack's letter to Rabbi Louis Jacobs (author of Theology in the Responsa).   

Let us know if you liked our exploration of this unique teshuva topic in the comments. Enjoy!

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.

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:

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's a mitzvah!

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.

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.