The Twelve Minute Shiur
von Freehof Institute
Neueste Folge
#96 - The Introduction to Rambam's Mishneh Torah, Part 1
#96 - The Introduction to Rambam's Mishneh Torah, Part 1
Über diesen Podcast
Byte-sized audio learning from the Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah
Folgen
Die neuesten 20 von 96 Folgen
- #96 - The Introduction to Rambam's Mishneh Torah, Part 1 · 12 Min.We begin our close reading of Rambam's הקדמה (Hakdamah), the Introduction to the Mishneh Torah, his great compilation of Jewish law and arguably *the* most impressive work of…
- #95 - Rabbi Moshe Feinstein: The Theory of Halakhic Decision, Part 2 · 13 Min.The second and concluding installment of our look at Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's introduction to his collected responsa, where he sets forth his theory of why the contemporary posek…
- #94 - Rabbi Moshe Feinstein: The Theory of Halakhic Decision, Part 1 · 12 Min.Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the leading Orthodox poskim(halakhic authorities) of the 20th century, was certainly no liberal or progressive. But his theory of halakhic decision…
- #93 - Just Who Is a "Kosher" Witness? · 13 Min.Most Orthodox poskim will tell you that, to be a valid ("kosher") witness, a person must be an Orthodox Jew, that is, observant of ritual halakhah according to Orthodox…
- #92 - A Family Trauma in the Halakhic Literature? · 12 Min.It's a typical halakhic discussion among the rishonim (medieval Talmudic scholars): an analysis of texts concerning the laws of aninut, the period of time that extends from the…
- #91 - Piyyutim and Creative Worship · 12 Min.Do you like creative liturgy - poems and thought-pieces and readings that add to or replace the traditional siddur text ? If you do, you probably know that Orthodox Jews claim…
- #90 - Standing Up and Sitting Down for the Sh'ma · 12 Min.Reform congregations make a point to recite Sh'ma on their feet: they either rise or remain standing, if able. Most everybody else recites it in a seated position. Many say…
- #89 - Why Must We Use a Plain Wedding Ring? · 12 Min.It's a well-known minhag (custom) to require that the wedding ring be a plain band, with no precious stones. But is this a requirement of halakhah? Most authorities say "yes,"…
- #88 - How Many Matzot on the Seder Plate? · 13 Min.Most say "three." Some say "two." Why the disagreement? And what's behind the two positions? We go back to the Mishnah and survey 1500 years of debate. Not so bad, we not-so…
- #87 - El Melekh Ne'eman · 13 Min.In traditional Ashkenazi siddurim, you'll find this instruction, right before Sh'ma Yisrael: "when praying in private, add 'El Melekh Ne'eman.'" Is this a big deal? Well, when…
- #86 - Counting Children in a Minyan? · 12 Min.We all know that a minyan, the quorum needed for communal prayer (t'filah b'tzibur), is composed of a minimum of ten adults. Children, who have no obligation (yet) to fulfill…
- #85 - What makes a Marriage a Marriage? Part 3 · 12 Min.In our last installment, we saw that Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that Reform weddings do not create halakhically valid marriages. In this installment, we'll see that another…
- #84 - What Makes a Marriage a Marriage? Part 2 · 11 Min.In this installment we consider the (in)famous decision of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the preeminent 20th-century Orthodox posek in North America, concerning Reform Jewish weddings…
- #83 - What Makes a Marriage a Marriage? Part 1 · 13 Min.Two Jews walk into a church (stop us if you've heard this one!). They get married there, in a Christian ritual, with a priest as the officiant. Does halakhah recognize this…
- #82 - The Problem With Expertise · 13 Min.We hear much these days about "the death of expertise," a growing tendency to ignore and cast suspicion upon the counsel of physicians, scientists, economists - trained experts…
- #81 - Three Blessings of Thanksgiving · 12 Min.We liberal Jews are quite familiar with the b'rakhah known as "Shehechiyanu." It's our all-purpose blessing of thanksgiving. We recite it all the time, over almost every…
- #80 - Students of Torah and Military Service: A Responsum of the Tzitz Eliezer · 13 Min.In this installment, we look at a t'shuvah (responsum) from 1948 by a leading Orthodox posek on the question of draft exemptions for Torah students. We doubt that his opinion…
- #79 - Are Students of Torah Exempt from Military Service? · 12 Min.In Israel, as estimated 60,000 full-time students at chareidi (ultra-Orthodox) yeshivot are exempt from giyus (the draft). It's a bitterly contested issue, especially during a…
- #78 - Why Do We Recite B'rakhot? · 13 Min.The birkot hanehenin, the blessings we recite before deriving material benefit from Creation: why exactly do we recite them?
- #77 - Birkat Eirusin, or: Is Marriage a Mitzvah? · 13 Min.At the moment of kiddushin, the inception of marriage, we recite the b'rakhah known as birkat eirusin, "the betrothal benediction." What does the text of that b'rakhah tell us…
