by R. Yitzchak Blau What role does human need play in halakhic rulings? In this characteristically nuanced presentation, Rav Lichtenstein zatza”l addresses this topic. Among other important issues, R. Lichtenstein discusses why a posek is not a supercomputer (pages 6-8),pluralistic themes in the halakha (pages 10-11), the Rav’s approach to these questions (p. 11-12), rulings regarding morally difficult halakhot (p.15-17), Hazal’s ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau I feel deeply privileged to have spent several years of my yeshiva career hearing shiurim and sichot from Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zekher tzadik le’vracha. R. Lichtenstein was a bastion of intellectual depth, a model of authentic piety, and a pillar of ethical excellence. As the shiva comes to a close, it is certainly an appropriate time ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau In a famous passage in the Yerushalmi (Terumot 8:10), R. Yohanan and Reish Lakish debate when a Jew can be surrendered to a besieging army. Can the community save themselves by handing over an individual as long as the oppressors single the person out or only when that person is liable for the death penalty? In ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau Modern technology generates a host of new halakhic questions including difficulties in determining parenthood due to new reproductive options. If one women donates the egg and another carries the fetus, who is the mother? That debate highlights larger methodological issues. Should we utilize legal parallels even if they seem farfetched? For example is the halakhic status ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau A symposium from Summer 1998 entitled “The Sea Change in American Orthodox Judaism” asked participants five questions and our summary will highlight responses to two of them. The variety of responses proves quite interesting. Participants were asked why charedi rabbanim could address RCA conventions in the 1950’s but this would not happen today. Rabbi Marc Angel ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau Professor George Schlesinger studied in Yeshivas Chevron, was a yeshiva high school rebbe in Kfar Haroeh, and then taught philosophy for many years in the University of North Carolina (see the obituary Dr. David Shatz wrote about Prof. Schlesinger here: link). In the following article, Prof. Schlesinger confronts the problem of contemporary skepticism. Many moderns are ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau In this essay, Dr. Moshe Simon analyzes the usage of different types of irony in the Book of Esther. The language of the Megilla  emphasizes Ahausuerus’ kingship, yet he is constantly directed by others. The term “law” appears frequently to describe a lawless society. Over the top descriptions, such as the extravagance of the opening party and the size ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau In this essay. Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein assesses the impact of her father, R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, on twentieth century Jewry. R. Soloveitchik gave confidence to an Orthodoxy struggling in the mid twentieth century. He stood for full participation in society while remaining steadfast in commitment to halakha. Dr. Lichtenstein highlights her father’s emphasis on sacrifice (differing ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau The most widely discussed article in the last thirty years of Tradition might be Dr. Haym Soloveitchik’s “Rupture and Reconstruction.”   Dr. Solovetchik’s justifiably famous essay explores Orthodoxy’s move towards greater chumrot in halakhic observance and the shift from a mimetic tradition in which people imbibe halakhic practice in the home and the community to a book ...

by R. Yitzchak Blau One of the pioneering articles about women and Judaism appeared in Tradition in the fall of 1973 (link – PDF). Among other significant questions, Rabbi Saul Berman discusses the rationale for women’s exemption from various mizvot. He denies that the explanation can be related to being bound by time since there are so many exceptions to ...