Category: Current Jewish Questions

Ep. 164 Current Jewish Questions 52 – Flawed and Fallen Rabbis

כִּי אָדָם אֵין צַדִּיק בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה טּוֹב וְלֹא יֶחֱטָא
For there is no one on earth who is righteous, who does only good does not sin – Ecclesiastes 7:20

In the wake of Yet Another Rabbinic Scandal, Rabbi Yuter examines the effect of a Rabbi’s actions on his ability to be a source for teaching Torah.

Current Jewish Questions – Flawed and Fallen Rabbis Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions 52 – Flawed and Fallen Rabbis




Ep. 163 Current Jewish Questions 51 – Valuing Lives / Self Defense

As Israel is engaged in yet another military operation, Rabbi Yuter examines to what extent Torah treats all lives as equals.

Current Jewish Questions – Valuing Lives / Self Defense Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Valuing Lives / Self Defense




Current Jewish Questions 1-50(ish) – The Stanton St. Shul Years

One of the great joys I’ve had in my time as the Rav of The Stanton St. Shul is the opportunity not just to teach Torah, but to do so in ways which may be more meaningful and relevant to people than they’ve previously encountered. The intent behind my Current Jewish Questions series was to start with real-world examples and explore some laws or ideas particular relevant to an actual situation. In this way, even obscure or difficult texts become accessible and relatable.

None of these classes were intended to be comprehensive – I’m constantly updating my own source sheets as I come across new material – but I hope they can serve as a useful introduction to many of the questions Jews encounter while living in the modern world, even if we cannot provide (or intentionally avoid) giving definitive answers.

Below is the complete list of all the Current Jewish Questions classes from my time at The Stanton St. Shul. 1 Please enjoy listening to the audio, following along with the source sheets, and feel free to adapt and modify these classes as you see fit for your own educational needs.

Notes:

  1. More classes were given though not all were uploaded for technical or quality reasons, hence the inconsistency in numbering. Either that or I simply can’t count.




Ep. 159 Current Jewish Questions 50 – Halakhic Humor

Rabbi Yuter closes out his Current Jewish Questions series at The Stanton Street Shul with a Very Special 50th class discussing parameters of humor in Rabbinic Judaism.

Current Jewish Questions – Halakhic Humor Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Halakhic Humor




Ep. 158 Current Jewish Questions 49 – Reparations for Slavery and Discrimination

Inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates’ recent Atlantic essay The Case for Reparations, Rabbi Yuter addresses this complicated topic through Biblical and Rabbinic sources.

Current Jewish Questions – Reparations Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Reparations




Ep. 155 Current Jewish Questions 47 – Science and Judaism

This class introduces the topic of how to handle when Judaism and science conflict with each other.

Current Jewish Questions – Science and Judaism Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Science and Judaism




Ep. 153 Current Jewish Questions 46 – Boxing / MMA

Back from a long hiatus (and a bout with bronchitis), Rabbi Yuter returns with a discussion on how combat sports like Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fit in with Jewish law.

Current Jewish Questions 46 – Boxing and MMA Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions 46 – Boxing / MMA




Segulot Simmanim and Superstition Unit

As part of my Current Jewish Questions podcast series I recently dedicated a four part segment to the subject of Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions in an attempt to define the boundaries and limits for various forms of folk religion in Rabbinic Judaism. While I was unable to come to a definitive conclusion, these classes should nevertheless be of interest for those interested in the subject and its underlying theological questions.




Ep. 146 Current Jewish Questions 45 – Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4

In the final installment of the Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstition series, Rabbi Yuter addresses the difficulties in distinguishing between permitted and forbidden folk rituals in Rabbinic law.

Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4 Sources (PDF)

Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4