Down The Rabbi Hole

Roundup of interviews and lectures (links in the notes)

R. Yosef Shaul Natansohn, the Shoel UMeshiv

Picking up the Pieces: On the Oven of Akhnai

Some Thoughts on the Purim Story and Senator Lieberman zt"l

Radbaz vol. 1, no. 40 - Ransoming Captives

Krakenfruit (the Buddha's Hand Etrog)

Public and Private Penance (Responsa Maharam Lublin)

Book Journeys, Some Updates, and the Hoshanot Mosh Pit

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Part III: The Debate

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, Part II: The Return to Yavneh

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai and his Generation, Part I: The Debacle and the Challenge

Chacham Tzvi vs. Chasam Sofer on Marror

Counting a Golem for a Minyan: Two Responsa from a Father and Son

Using Non-Jewish Names - a Close Reading of Rav Asher Weiss's Essay

Radbaz (1479-1573) on the Status of an Abyssinian Jew

Chavos Yair 222 on Women Reciting Kaddish

Names Matter: How Turkey became Kosher (and Corn became Kitniyot)

Yom Kippur and Collective Bargaining

The Invention of Elluuulllll, Part II

How Elul became Elllluuuuullll!!!!!

Understanding the "Break" in Birkat Hamazon: A Halakhic, Aggadic, and Historical Journey

Bonus Episode with More Discussion of Yom Haatzma'ut Practices with Prof. Chaim Saiman

Shlissel Challah, Reb Shayale, and the universalization of niche observances

The reception of Yom Ha'atzma'ut 'Halakhah'; the value of halfhearted observance; considering how customs develop - with Prof. Chaim Saiman

On the Origin of the Custom to Avoid Kitniyot; thoughts on Ha Lachma Anya, Yachatz, and Afikoman

Tattoos According to R. Chaim Kanievsky and... Lenny Bruce (lehavdil)?

On Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l and on the "New" Role of Sar HaTorah

Rav Melamed and Peninei Halakha 4: Responsa vs. Codes, Wholesale vs. Retail Halakha

R Melamed and Peninei Halakha 3: Codes, Commentaries, and Responsa

Rav Melamed and Peninei Halakha II: R. Melamed's "Civilizational" Approach to Halakha

Rav Eliezer Melamed and Peninei Halakhah I: Introducing a Phenomenon

The Torah's Rhetoric/Punishment Gap on Sexual Transgression; Thoughts on Responses to Walder

Down the Rabbinate Hole II: Halakhah and Hierarchy

Down the Rabbinate Hole I: Conversion in the State of Israel

Episode 7: A Little on Nittel

The 8th of Teves and Chasam Sofer's Fascination with it

Judaizers

Rav David Zvi Hoffmann, part 4 (and final)

Rav David Zvi Hoffmann, part 3

Rav David Zvi Hoffmann, part 2

Rav David Zvi Hoffmann, part 1