by Joel Rich
Why didn’t Yeshoshua ask HKB”H (or do so himself) to appoint a successor as his teacher Moshe Rabbeinu had done?
A note to a podcaster:
I’ve listened to most of your podcasts and find them of great interest. I may have missed it but I’m surprised you haven’t had a religious thinker on who would answer some of your questions such as why do religious people grieve on loss or why is the Bible not a book of evil treatment of certain subgroups. Similarly how your approach of everyone deciding on their own what matters might lead to negative results. Perhaps Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik might be a good candidate as a “name” (I think many non-names would do to inform you but probably aren’t podcast draws.
Regards
Any explanation why when the brothers reported back from Egypt, Yaakov’s first response was why did you tell the viceroy you were family/had a brother? What was the value at that point?
- תורה ומוסר: עבדות כמקרה מבחן, מפי ד”ר אלי חדד
Are the Torah’s laws of avdut reflective of a natural need for some individuals or is a more egalitarian approach (based on tzelem elokim) the eventual goal, with avdut reflective of the needs of times gone by?
- טבע ונס, תנ”ך והיסטוריה – חנוכה מאימתי, מפי הרב יואל בן נון
The date (25 kislev) of Chanukah goes back to the chag of adam harishon. We made it holy, they not so much. It’s reflected in Nach, Talmud and Jewish history up to and including the state. A very intricate development provided.
- הצו האלוקי והצו המוסרי, מפי הרב עזרא ביק
Is there an ethic outside of halacha? Yes and we must act on these dual sources since they are both emanations of HKBH’s will.
- Rabbi Michael Rosensweig-Yahrtzeit Shiur – External Light and Inner Illumination: Neiros Chanukah in Times of Crisis
It seems the lighting of the Menorah in the house was due to dangerous conditions outside. Why didn’t the practice revert to lighting outside? Why under dangerous conditions wasn’t the mitzvah suspended or an extraordinary effort required?
Perhaps lighting outside is pirsumei nisa for others but beito (home) is important too. The inner realization of our dependence on HKB”H overflows to the outside but sometimes we have to focus and renew ourselves. Hence lighting inside is symbolic of the ner ish ubeito focus.
- Rabbi Baruch Simon-Chanukah Shiur and Q and A 5781
Different mitzvot may involve pirsumei nisa but the menorah is the highest level and is very result oriented.
Q&A include random questions (praying for careless, job reviews, chazarat hashatz….)
- Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein-Inducing Mitzvot- Good or Bad?
Negative kavanah as a tool to allow (me-encourage?) multiple brachot applications include Menorah (when multiple ones being lit in same house) Kiddush, Shechiyanu, Sfira and Hallel. Perhaps it’s all about “stam” kavanah?
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-The Synagogue Council in Memoir Literature
Different parties have different memories of the Rav’s true feelings on the SCA (Synagogue Council of America). R’Rakeffet provides the correct answer!
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Kashering or Using Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Cookware
Pre-seasoned cookware – can you trust the company if they say they used kosher oil? If not, can you kosher the cookware?
- Rav Asher Weiss-בענין החיסון החדש לקורונה
If you can get immunized, that’s the halachic thing to do for almost everyone. We do rely on outside experts!
- The Tikvah Podcast-Mark Gottlieb on Rabbi Soloveitchik’s “Everlasting Hanukkah”
R’YBS on understanding the dialectic of Chanukah – physical and spiritual strength go together.
- Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom-THE MYSTERY OF SOLOMON’S WISDOM
Shlomo’s insight on the baby’s real mother was based on his careful listening to the exact formulation of the mothers’ claims.
- Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb-Rav Asher Weiss on Chanukah: The Clash Between Greek Philosophy and Jewish Thought
Interpreting medrash – bottom line – Greeks were ok with us as long as we didn’t maintain am segula (exceptionalism) status.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Mikeitz 5781a>
Parsha insights including: Pharaoh’s dream in order that Yosef be released; Not always clear in Tanach when something happened vs. being a dream ur a metaphor; Tzvei dinim is sometimes overdone!; What does Yerushalayim is the highest mean?; R’YBS changed his content and delivery based on his audience; Always have a positive outlook; and Yaakov’s fear for ason for Binyamin was mita bydei shamayim.
- HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky,HaRav Hershel Schachter,Dr. Alan Kadish,Dr. Jeffrey Bander-12/19/20 – Show 302 – Should we take the Covid Vaccine?
Are you obligated to vaccinate? Is it Safe? Can schools mandate it? Is it permitted to jump the line? Who should we listen to Rabbonim or Doctors?Follow the medical community’s recommendations on inoculations as your Dr. sees fit (me – don’t look for the one who says no one should inoculate). You have a responsibility to the community as well, schools can demand it and line jumping is forbidden. The risk/reward profile speaks for itself.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-Economic Efficiency in Jewish Law
An analysis of R’A Levine’s work on whether halacha reflects a theory of economic efficiency. Not your standard shiur, very much TUM oriented. I wonder though whether we sometimes try to retrofit modern paradigms onto chazal. (me – not quoted – the medrash on Yaakov going back for pachim ktanim)
- Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh-Pesachim perek 1 shiur 28 (אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה, הבודק צריך שיבטל)
Ein mukdam u’muchar – Ramban vs Rashi – when do we say this, how does it work and why. Then on to the connection between bdika and bitul plus the meaning of daatei elaveh.
- Rabbi Yechezkel Hartman -The Halachot of Assara Betevet that falls on Friday
Analysis of proper practice when taanit (yachid or tzibbur) falls on Friday. Bottom line – not much different than other days.
- Rabbi Dr Aaron Glatt-The Covid Vaccine: Halacha and Public Policy, A Communal Conversation
A history of the Covid vaccine (it’s safe) and why its halachically required to take it and observe government rules.
- Link to join R Reisman’s Whatsapp group Vayigash
Kavanah can extend a mitzvah (e.g. proper intent after saying the words of shma). Machshava makes kedusha and is kovea who you really are.
- Rabbi Avishai David-Asara BeTeves – Halacha and Agada part 1
Some thoughts on the uniqueness of Assarah Btevet
- Link to join R Reisman’s Whatsapp group Vayigash
Little pieces of your neshama go back to shamayim on a continuous basis – this explains a lot of things.
Yahrtzeit is a day to be mitakein and to be marbeh zchutim. Everything we experience is for self-improvement. Give more to tzedaka and spend less on visiting the grave!
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-The Hegelian Dialectics – Seeking The Synthesis
Using a recent book on MO, R’Rakeffet contrasts the opinions on whether orthodoxy should be engaging with or withdrawing from other streams of Judaism. SCA, conversion; and NY Board of Rabbis used as examples.
- Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-Takkanat Yehoshua ben Gamla (1)
The gemara allows a teacher to open classes in a residential courtyard but does not allow all other businesses to do so. Why? Part I of an analysis.
- Rabbi Shay Schachter-Asara B’Teves & Common Questions for a Public Fast Day
A few insights into the laws of public fasts (e.g. kids, medicine, start time…)
- Rabbi Noach Goldstein-Torah Law and Government: Real and Ideal
The Tzitz Eliezer wrote on hilchot medinah trying to evolve a theory on how we could have a Torah u’mishpat state. Think of Drashot Haran and separate Sanhedrin/King law tracks (aspirational vs. practical).
- Rabbi Larry Rothwachs-אדם לעמל יולד: The Torah Imperative of Self-Improvement
Improving ourselves is a lifelong task. It’s not often easy and not often kind (HT – Lovin’ Spoonful). Imitato Dei!
- Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-Takkanat Yehoshua ben Gamla (2)
When the gemara says 25+ students as a measure of class size, is it focusing on the students benefits or the drain on communal resources or both?
Are there two related yet distinct requirements for educating children, parental and communal?
- Rabbi Judah Kerbel-Mitzvah of the Week: Taking Torah on a Journey
What was behind Yosef’s directive to his brothers, “al tirgzu baderech”? There are a number of possible implications for us (e.g. time management, distractions, public perception)
- Rabbi Aryeh Sklar-Where Does the Basis of Religion Spring From?
Are we religiously motivated by internal drives or external command? (me – both)
- Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh-Pesachim perek 1 shiur 29 (גלוסקא יפה, פירורין, בעלות באיסורי הנאה)
Finishing up daatei illavei and moving on to the status of crumbs and eino makpid (something you don’t care about) is it like hefker? Then onto understanding halachic ownership is it defined philosophically or practically
This is a cross shas issue.
Please direct any informal comments to [email protected].
