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.

From Ancient Persia to Medieval France, Rabbi Avi Hoffman provides a halachic and historical framework for understanding the role of alcohol throughout the ages. In particular, we focus on Rav Avraham ben Yitzchak M'Narbonah (Teshuvos HaRa'Avi ABa"D, no. 149), and how he ruled in a case of negligent homicide committed while under the influence. 

May a medical student observe a surgery performed on Shabbos? What about a common person who wants to observe it out of curiosity or "entertainment"? R' Yaakov Wolff, host of Shtark Tank, unpacks a responsum from Rav Yaakov Emden (She'ailas Ya'avetz, no. 41) on this topic and contextualizes it within the broader literature.

Check out the Shtark Tank podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/34xll8GhTfu1BiRdhb8AyR?si=nkZT9JV5T8mvliMIxgIC0g

In the lead up to Purim, R. Gil Student analyzes a pivotal responsum of the Maharik (no. 167) regarding an inadvertent infidelity, what we can learn from Esther, and its implications for post-Talmudic hermeneutics. (As the title indicates, we discuss some sensitive topics so listeners' discretion is advised.)

At the end of this episode, Rabbi Student reveals his latest groundbreaking initiative: TorahApp (thetorahapp.org).

Rav Nachum Rabinovitch zt"l was one of the great Israeli poskim of recent memory. In this episode we welcome a talmid of his, Rabbi Yitzchak Sprung, who shares one of his rebbe's responsa (Siach Nachum, no. 30) about shaving and uses it to profile Rav Rabinovitch's unique approach to paskening halacha.

A person can always repent and completely atone for their previous sins, right? In the cases of a penitent ex-follower of Shabbtai Tzvi and a previous "worshipper" of Hindu deities we see that this matter is not so simple.

Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Jewish historian and lecturer, provides us with a remarkable responsum of the Chacham Tzvi (no. 13) and the Noda B'Yehudah (O.C. 2:10) which weigh the individual and communal factors involved in welcoming back such individuals as full members of the synagogue community.

In this episode, Rabbi Michael Freund, a scholar, previous member of the Netanyahu administration, and father of sons serving in the IDF, discusses the religious significance of the land of Gaza, and what it means for the broader Land of Israel.

We explore a teshuvah of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, published by the Machon Torah V'Ha'aretz (cf. Responsa B'Ohalah shel Torah 4:7), who expounds on this topic prior to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.