Yeshayah, Week 54: 38:1-3 - Chizkiyahu's Childlessness, the Book of Cures - Apr 28, 2020 - How do the Sages know that Chizkiyahu intentionally held back from producing children? And what is the story behind the hiding of the "Book of Cures"?

Avodah Zarah 74a-b - Mixed Issurei Hanaah/Kashering a Winepress - Apr 26, 2020 - The impact of yayin nesech on a cistern full of wine; Cleaning and kashering a sealed winepress. And the meaning of "halachah l'maaseh".

Shemuel #60 - 16:1-3 - Shemuel and Yishai - Apr 23, 2020 - Introducing Chapter 15. The difference between Shemuel of Chapter 15 and Shemuel of Chapter 16. And who is Yishai?

The Metzora: Ear, Thumb, Big Toe? - Apr 22, 2020 - Why do we place blood and oil on the right ear, thumb and big toe of a metzora during the purification process? And is there anything in the resemblance to the miluim service which dedicated the mishkan and the kohanim?

Shoftim 12:8-10 - The Short Stories / Ivtzan - Apr 21, 2020 - Showing how Tola, Yair, Ivtzan, Eilon and Avdon (and not Shamgar) are a set. Ivtzan is Boaz?

Yeshayah, Week 53: 38:1-3 - Chizkiyahu's Illness and Prayer - Apr 21, 2020 - Why was Chizkiyahu struck with an illness? The text seems to indicate it is from G-d, and Chizkiyahu certainly seems to think so, but why would G-d do this? Three approaches.

Avodah Zarah 74a - Issurei Hanaah in a Mixture - Apr 19, 2020 - The first mishnah, and the gemara's discussion on it. How do we reconcile this mishnah with the one on 73a?

Pandemic Ethics 1 of 3: Endangering One's Self to Treat Others - Apr 13, 2020 - May a healthcare professional risk contracting COVID-19 in order to treat others? What about where a spouse objects? What about where a family member has special vulnerability? What about delaying treatment of a patient to don PPE? Not psak, of course.

Pandemic Ethics 2 of 3: Principles of Triage, The Universal DNR - Apr 13, 2020 - How do we decide which patients should receive scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic? Rav Hershel Schachter's definition of "simultaneous" patients. Adding a new patient to a ventilator which is already hooked up to an existing patient. Using a blanket DNR for patients to avoid infection and/or use of PPE resources during CPR. Not psak, of course.

Pandemic Ethics 3 of 3: Experimental and Unproven Treatments - Apr 13, 2020 - A non-comprehensive approach to treatments like hydroxychroloquine for COVID-19. What criteria do we use when deciding whether to use an unproven treatment against a lethal pandemic? When is it prohibited, permitted or required - for the medical professional or for the patient? What if a patient wants a treatment and the medical professional thinks it isn't indicated? Not psak, of course.