Best Rabbi Yossi David Podcasts (2024)

1
Is Israel a Light Unto the Nations... And Should It Even Bother Trying? A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi (216) 55:31

1h ago55:31

55:31

The October 7th massacre, and the subsequent war against Hamas, other Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, and Iran itself, have caused many people throughout the Jewish world to reconsider what Israel means to them, and what kind of society Israel should create. Many continually return to the idea that Israel should be a light unto the …

1
53. The Briskers Got it Right! (At Least This Time) - Feat. Rabbi David Fried 37:28

35m ago37:28

37:28

Rabbi David Fried explores how a responsum of the Rambam (Shu"T HaRambam, Mechon Yerushalayim Edition, No. 104) sheds light on ambiguities and seeming contradictions in his magnum opus, the Mishneh Torah. He demonstrates how reading the "original" responsum can possibly settle a debate between Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, Y.D. 2:7) and Rav Aha…

1
Tisha B'Av and Bad Theology: A New View of Megillat Eicha with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman (CLASSIC EPISODE) 1:10:39

2d ago1:10:39

1:10:39

“What does Eichah have in common with climate change deniers, anti-vaxxers, Holocaust deniers and those that claim that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen?” Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman sent this to Scott, who was intrigued and immediately invited him back onto this podcast to discuss what he meant. More than anything else, we need a way to rel…

1
52. Recovering the Remarkable Rulings of Rav Nosson Nota Zuber zt"l - Feat. Rabbi Yossi Katz 35:53

6d ago35:53

35:53

In this episode, Rabbi Yossi Katz delves into the fascinating life and works of Rav Nosson Nota Zuber, a Talmudic scholar who served as the rabbi of Roselle, NJ. Through a general exploration of Rav Zuber's responsa contained in Zichron Menachem, Rabbi Katz reveals the remarkable rulings and insights made by this less-well-known, yet exceedingly er…

1
51. Ona'as Mamon: Approaches to Jewish Economic Regulation - Feat. Rabbi Tzvi Benoff 34:11

7d ago34:11

34:11

In this episode, Rabbi Tzvi Benoff explores the concept of Ona'as Mamon, a Jewish law regulating fair business practices and economic conduct. With a focus on Responsa Shevet HeLevi (O.C. 4:1), he delves into the nuances of this principle, discussing various approaches to its interpretation and application in contemporary economic life.…

1
Ikar HaDin, Chumra, and Minhag: The Phenomenon of Greater Stringency in the Orthodox World, with Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky (215) 59:37

11d ago59:37

59:37

Sometimes it’s called a move to the right. Other times it is seen as a rejection of lax religiosity. Some people think of it as an admirable commitment to serving God as best as possible. Others decry it as representing an unacceptable change from traditional Jewish practice. All these and more are reactions to the unquestionably real phenomenon of…

1
Arrests and Mob Violence at Sdei Teiman: What Happened, What It Means, and Why It Matters (BONUS EPISODE) 40:08

14d ago40:08

40:08

This is a rush-release bonus episode of the Orthodox Conundrum, to help us all get to the bottom of what happened yesterday at the military detention center at Sdei Teiman. We will learn what the nine arrested soldiers were accused of, the manner that they were arrested, and the reason for the protests of numerous right-wing members of Knesset. Wha…

1
Can the Glass Ceiling Be Broken? Women's Leadership and Its Limits, with Joanne Greenaway (214) 54:39

16d ago54:39

54:39

One of the most difficult issues facing Modern or Centrist Orthodox Jews today is the question of how to increase and encourage the participation of more women in leadership roles, while also working within the halachic parameters that set limits on how extensive those leadership roles are allowed to be. When we add two thousand years of socializat…

1
When Reverence Becomes Pseudo-Idolatry: The Phenomenon of Gadol Worship, with Rav Yitzchak Shurin (213) 1:03:41

23d ago1:03:41

1:03:41

For the past two thousand years, Torah observant Jews have acknowledged that our greatest scholars deserve respect, and have an extraordinarily deep and broad understanding of the vast sea of the Torah sheba’al peh, the Oral Law. In recent times, however, proper respect for talmidei chachamim has often morphed into a pseudo-idolatry of gedolim, whe…

1
Nepotism, Greed, Power, and Politics: The Tragic Self-Inflicted Fate of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate (212) 1:04:40

30d ago1:04:40

1:04:40

68 years ago, Rav Soloveitchik zt'l identified the timidity of Orthodox Jews as representing a failure to respond to the miracle of renewed Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Today, tragically, we seem to have the opposite problem. In 2024, Israel has a religious establishment which has completely lost its sense of shame, and is not only inv…

1
Dara Horn, People Love Dead Jews 56:27

1M ago56:27

56:27

Dara Horn is an American novelist, essayist, and professor of literature. She has a Ph.D. in comparative literature in Hebrew and Yiddish from Harvard University. Dara is the author of five novels and in 2021 released a nonfiction essay collection titled People Love Dead Jews, which was a finalist for the 2021 Kirkus Prize in nonfiction.I spoke wit…

1
"Our Faith is in the Question": Teaching Emunah to Our Children, Our Students, and Ourselves, with Rabbi David Aaron (211) 1:13:46

1M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

This podcast is dedicated לעילוי נשמת אלעזר בן ישראל, a man who accepted the vicissitudes of life with a simple and pure faith. What does it mean to believe in God? This question is absolutely fundamental to Jewish life and living - yet many people feel uncomfortable discussing God at all. In our educational institutions, we often have a broad curr…

1
"The Vast Unconscious of the Jewish People": Learning How (and Why) to Learn Midrash with Simi Peters (210) 1:09:32

1M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

When you learn Torah, do you consider yourself to be in dialogue with Chazal? According to Scott's guest, Simi Peters, a key element of learning midrash aggadah is being able to become participants in a conversation that began thousands of years ago and continues today. But in order to do so, we need to become students of midrash: learning how to a…

1
50. The Get of Kleves: From Divorce to Dementia in Jewish Law - Feat. Rabbi Kalman Laufer 36:50

2M ago36:50

36:50

In this episode, Rabbi Kalman Laufer explores the complex and sensitive topic of "The Gett of Kleeves" and its implications for dementia in Jewish law. Through his analysis of the responsa collected in Sefer Or HaYashar, Rabbi Laufer sheds light on the halachic considerations surrounding divorce and claims of mental incapacity. As a bioethicist and…

501
Hareidi Messaging in Modern Orthodox Institutions: Are You Aware of What Your Children Are Being Taught? With Rabbi Yitzchak Blau (209) 1:22:10

2M ago1:22:10

1:22:10

Schools which identify with the Modern Orthodox world and espouse a Centrist Orthodox hashkafa, nevertheless will sometimes hire teachers who profess a Hareidi worldview. In some ways, this is a welcome development; breaking down the barriers that separate our various communities is generally a good thing, and we should be pleased when we discern a…

1
49. Evasion, Avoidance and Workarounds in the Halachic System - Feat. Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman 40:13

2M ago40:13

40:13

In this episode, Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman joins us to explore the fascinating themes of his book "Letter and Spirit: Evasion, Avoidance, and Workarounds in the Halachic System". We delve into the intricate strategies and mechanisms that have evolved within Jewish law to navigate complex ethical and legal dilemmas. Rabbi Feldman shares his expertise …

1
"A Theology of Distraction": Exploring the Conundrums of Kohelet with Dr. Erica Brown (Originally released on September 26, 2023) 1:07:26

2M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

(This episode was originally released on Septetmber 26th, 2023, but its message is perhaps even more relevant now, after October 7th and its aftermath, than before. Scott will be back with a new episode next week.) Megilat Kohelet is one of the most difficult books in Tanach: it jumps back and forth between conflicting assumptions, it lacks any obv…

1
The Revolution in Women's Torah Learning: What We've Achieved, What Still Needs to Happen (208) 51:33

2M ago51:33

51:33

We’re approaching the holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate and commemorate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Rambam explains that our belief in Torah and in Moshe is predicated upon the fact that all of us were present at Sinai, where we together heard God talking to Moshe. And we have a longstanding tradition as well that God did not st…

1
48. Printing Press Politics: Investigating the Mishneh Torah Copyright Controversy - Feat. Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg 37:31

2M ago37:31

37:31

Join us for a fascinating journey through the intersection of Jewish history, copyright law, and community politics in our latest episode, "Printing Press Politics: Investigating the Mishneh Torah Copyright Controversy". Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg, a renowned expert in Jewish studies, joins us to delve into the contentious debate surrounding the r…

1
47. The Lesser of Two Evils: Is it Ever Kosher to Look the Other Way? - Feat. Rabbi Shimon Altshul 38:14

3M ago38:14

38:14

In this episode, Rabbi Shimon Altshul joins us to delve into a captivating responsum of the Chasam Sofer (Y.D., no. 45), one of the most influential Jewish scholars of the 18th/19th century. We explore a kashrus controversy that rocked his community, where a debate over the potentially treif status of much of their food threatened to tear the commu…

1
Does the IDF Care Enough About the Safety of Its Soldiers? (207) 55:05

2M ago55:05

55:05

Is the Israeli army taking care of its soldiers? That’s a question with a potentially painful answer. Daniel Mael has helped donate over 13,000 helmets to IDF soldiers, along with thousands of vests and other equipment - and he argues that the army’s behavior in procuring equipment has been nothing less than scandalous. In fact, he claims, the Isra…

1
46. Cutting it Close: The Problem with Pre-Shabbos Surgeries - Feat. Rabbi Yossi Kamman 38:43

3M ago38:43

38:43

In this episode, Rabbi Yossi Kamman joins us to explore a fascinating responsum (Likutei Sichos, Vol. 16, p. 518) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (R. Menachem Mendel Schneerson) against scheduling elective surgeries within a few days of Shabbos. Rabbi Kamman presents us with an insightful profile of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, his approach to halachah, and wha…

1
Kids Going "Off the Derech": Reasons, Reactions, and Responses, with Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson (206) 1:21:18

3M ago1:21:18

1:21:18

Just as many young people who are not religious become Orthodox, so do many young Orthodox Jews leave Orthodox practice behind. Colloquially, this is often called being “off the derech” - that is, off “the” way of traditional Torah practice. The phenomenon of Orthodox Jews becoming less classically religious is real, and it’s important to think abo…

1
45. [Special Episode] Responsa from the RCA - Feat. Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, Rav Mark Dratch, Rav Shlomo Weissman and more! 42:30

3M ago42:30

42:30

We attended the Rabbinical Council of America Conference 2024 and did some rapid fire interviews with many of the rabbis who were present. They were given a few minutes to share their favorite responsa and which topic they (in theory or in practice) would write a teshuva about. Order of guests: Rabbi Mark Dratch Rabbi Jordan Aurebach Rabbi Maury Ke…

1
Rosh Chodesh Clubs, featuring Yossie Horwitz [The Jewish Drinking Show, episode 155] 41:30

3M ago41:30

41:30

Intro Having heard about Rosh Chodesh Clubs, I was curious to learn more about them, as well as to speak with the creator of this initiative, Yossie Horwitz, who is the guest on the 155th episode of The Jewish Drinking Show. Biography of Guest Growing up in a tee-totaling household in Jerusalem, Yossie Horwitz didn’t have much early exposure to win…

1
44. Minhag vs. Halacha: The Friday Night Kiddush Controversy - Feat. Rabbanit Ayelet Schlesinger 36:44

3M ago36:44

36:44

In this episode, we're joined by Rabbanit Ayelet Schlesinger for a fascinating exploration of a recurring question: What happens when minhag (custom) conflicts with halacha (Jewish law)? Using the case study of Friday Night Kiddush, we delve into how three responsa - Yachin U'Boaz (1:118), Or Zarua (Vol. 1, Responsum no. 752), and Yabia Omer (1:15)…

1
Tzniut, Integrity, and Leadership: Reframing the Concept of Tzniut, with Rabbi Moshe Simkovich (205) 1:01:33

3M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Any discussion surrounding tzniut (loosely - and, perhaps incorrectly - translated as “modesty") is inevitably fraught with challenges and difficulty. Indeed, there are few topics in Orthodoxy that are as triggering to so many people. Rabbi Moshe Simkovich offers a traditional yet unique approach to tzniut, and he attempts to redefine the concept a…

1
43. The Way is Shut: A Probing of Post-Talmudic Authority - Feat. Rabbi Shmuel Phillips 38:08

3M ago38:08

38:08

May later generations disagree with their predecessors? Can religious authority be controlled by a specific locale? Our guest, Rabbi Shmuel Phillips addresses these questions and distills several fundamental lessons from a lesser known responsum of the Rambam (Iggeres no. 18). More info and the best links for buying his books are at www.TalmudRecla…

1
Shattering a Religious Monopoly Versus Ideological Conformity: The Challenges Facing Religious Zionism Today (204) 1:05:25

3M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

In his classic work Kol Dodi Dofek, Rav Soloveitchik asserts that God’s gift of the State of Israel demands a response. God wants a dialogue where we answer his generosity by using His gifts to make Him present in the world. The major challenge for Religious Zionism, then, is to decide, as best as we can, what that response should be. Does it mean …

1
42. Should I Study Biblical Criticism? - Feat. Rabbi Steven Gotlib 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

Should I Study Biblical Criticism? In this episode, we provide a glimpse into the complex and often contentious world of Biblical criticism, exploring how two prominent theological schools of thought - Conservative and Orthodox - approach the study of our holy Torah. While both sides affirm the general authority of the Bible, they diverge sharply o…

1
Remembering My Dad (203) 36:50

3M ago36:50

36:50

It’s the little things that hit hardest. The big moments when I expect to be emotional have generally felt unremarkable; I seem to have experienced them with relative ease. The surprises come when I’m taking a walk, talking about a silly childhood memory, or seeing an old friend. Above all, I’ve learned that my emotions are often hidden - from myse…

1
41. The Epistle to Yemen - Feat. Rabbi Chezkie Glatt 37:43

4M ago37:43

37:43

In this episode, we explore the Rambam's Iggeres Teiman (Epistle to Yemen) - a powerful and poignant letter written to the Jewish community of Yemen around the year 1173/1174.Our guest, Rabbi Chezkie Glatt explains how the letter offers words of comfort, encouragement, and hope in the face of heresy and hardship. We provide a general survey of the …

1
The Dangers of a Living Prophetic Judaism: Rabbi Yosef Blau Responds to Rabbi Alex Israel (BONUS EPISODE) 46:38

3M ago46:38

46:38

In episode 201, Rabbi Alex Israel, citing Rav Kook, asked whether nowadays we need to add a greater prophetic element to Judaism, alongside our continued commitment to halacha. Perhaps today we need a new infusion of prophecy - both in terms of its spiritual content, as well as through a renewed emphasis on Torah values that may sometimes be lost i…

1
How Much of the Exodus Story is Historical - and Does It Actually Matter? A Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum (202) 1:01:06

4M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Did the Exodus from Egypt happen exactly as the Torah describes? How should we contend with archeological evidence that seems to indicate that certain aspects of the Torah's narrative don't make sense? And, for that matter, how can we contend with similar questions that surround other historical Biblical narratives? Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, Dean of…

1
Drinking Between Glasses of Wine at the Passover Seder [The Jewish Drinking Show episode #154] 36:04

4M ago36:04

36:04

While we know about drinking four cups of wine at the Passover Seder, what about drinking between these four cups of wine? The newest episode of The Jewish Drinking Show focusses on exactly this topic. This episode is also the seventh "Drinks and Discussion"-style episode, featuring a texts-based discussion led by Rabbi Drew. Sources The sources fo…

1
40. [Special Episode] Letters to the Editor - Feat. The Listeners! 21:04

4M ago21:04

21:04

It's finally here! In this episode, we go through YOUR reactions to previous episodes of the podcast and much more! God willing, we will return with more regular episodes following Pesach. Links to references made in the episode: 1) Support the Podcast / Sponsor an Episode - Eichlers Registry. 2) Igros Moshe Series with Tradition Online. 3) Challen…

1
Considering a Recent Explanation of Dropping Wine at the Passover Seder with Rabbi Dr. Zvi Ron [The Jewish Drinking Show episode 153] 36:37

4M ago36:37

36:37

Introduction Having previously published an episode on the origin of dropping out wine during the Passover Seder a few years ago, the newest episode of The Jewish Drinking Show explores a relatively recent explanation of this practice which sharply departs from its medieval explanations. Based off of his article "Spilling Wine While Reciting the Pl…

1
39. Dancing on Shabbos: Where Halacha Meets Hasidut - Feat. Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

The Mishnah (Beitzah 36b) forbids dancing and clapping on Shabbos/Yom Tov. How do we make sense of the many ostensibly observant people, including Torah scholars, who appear to disregard this explicit stricture? R. Dr. Zvi Leshem, an expert in Chassidic thought, breaks down the unique approach of the Minchas Elazar (1:29) who argues that dancing on…

1
38. Who Let the Dogs In? A Study of Service Animals & the Synagogue - Feat. Rabbi Dan Margulies 38:04

4M ago38:04

38:04

Are animals permitted in the synagogue? What if they provide a service, such as guiding those who are blind? R. Dan Margulies, a former service dog trainer, provides a unique glimpse into R. Moshe Feinstein's iconic responsum (Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:45 on the topic, and a critical data point that many of his detractors were missing.…

1
Creating a Living Prophetic Judaism for the 21st Century, with Rabbi Alex Israel (201) 1:08:33

4M ago1:08:33

1:08:33

For over two millennia, the Jewish People has lived in a world largely defined by Jewish law, or halacha. While the Tanach is filled with what might be called prophetic Judaism - a Judaism, that is, which is dominated by those who spoke in the name of God - the Judaism that emerged during the era of the Second Temple and thereafter placed a greater…

1
37. Rabbinic Rifts & Family Feuds: A Compelling Yibum Controversy - Feat. Mr. Gedaliah Wielgus, Esq. 36:22

5M ago36:22

36:22

What happens when someone cannot afford to do Yibum but insists on it? What happens when the widow is Ashkenazic and the Yavam is Sephardic? Does it make a difference whether the rabbis are Ashkenazic or Sephardic? Should the mother/mother-in-law's opinion count? In this episode, Mr. Gedaliah Wielgus, who teaches "Shu"T al haDaf", shares with us a …

1
36. Have You Ever Seen the Rain? A Radical Ruling of the Rosh - Feat. Rabbi Elli Fischer 39:00

5M ago39:00

39:00

Why do we seem to pray for rain at the wrong times? Can we adjust the dates for V'sein Tal U'matar? Who even came up with setting December 4th/5th as a day of halachic significance? Rabbi Elli Fischer shares with us a radical ruling of the Rosh (Responsum 4:10) on this topic and its intriguingly fraught reception.Rabbi Fischer's very own translatio…

1
Hollywood, Antisemitic Tropes, and Anti-Orthodox Messaging: A Conversation with Allison Josephs (200) 54:36

4M ago54:36

54:36

Jews control Hollywood - or so everyone seems to believe, for better and very often for worse. And it’s true that there are many Jewish people who work in the entertainment industry. But this fact is quite distinct from the question of how Jews are typically portrayed in movies and TV shows - and in that realm, there are serious problems, both rega…

1
35. Sephardic Simplicity: Chacham Ovadia's Approach to Chametz - Feat. Rabbi Moses Haber 31:59

5M ago31:59

31:59

In the lead up to Pesach, Rabbi Moses Haber unpacks a seminal responsum of Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechaveh Da'as 1:11) to clarify how many Sephardim obviate potential mixtures of chametz and to highlight Rav Yosef's programmatic approach to the development of Sephardic halachic-public-policy. This episode is dedicated in memory of Rose Nuni Dayan.…

1
34. The Shabbos Bride…Literally! - Feat. Rabbi Zachary Beer 30:46

5M ago30:46

30:46

Rabbi Zachary Beer presents one of the most iconic responsa of the Rema (no. 125) about performing a marriage on shabbos in extenuating circumstances and what it means for broader halachic methodology. This episode is dedicated liyuli nishmas Yitzchak Elimelech ben Akiva Ze’ev by his family.

1
33. Uncorking The Rema's Censored Wine Responsum - Feat. Rabbi Drew Kaplan 33:14

5M ago33:14

33:14

Rabbi Drew Kaplan, an aficionado in all things Torah & alcohol related, uncorks a controversial responsum of the Rema (no. 124) about the tenuous permissibility of Stam Yeinam.

1
The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part Two): More on the Palestinian Future, Military Service, Culture Wars, Political Direction, and More (199) 1:20:18

5M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

Last week’s episode of the Orthodox Conundrum was supposed to be a wide-ranging conversation about the present and future of Religious Zionism, including a discussion of our relationship with the Palestinian population in Yehuda v’Shomron and Gaza. As it turns out, Scott and his guests, Daniel Goldman and Rabbi Elie Mischel, ended up spending the e…

1
32. From Scandal to Seder: How Geonic Polemic Shaped the Text of the Haggadah - Feat. Yosef Lindell 36:06

5M ago36:06

36:06

In this episode, we go back to one of the earliest examples of responsa literature: The Siddur of Rav Amram Gaon. Yosef Lindell provides us with a framework for understanding the fluidity and development the Haggadah and uses it as a case study in understanding the development of Jewish liturgy, from the ancient Talmuds to the Rabbanite-Karaite con…

1
31. Spirits and Slaughter: A (Halachic) Purim Murder Mystery - Feat. Rabbi Avi Hoffman 38:04

5M ago38:04

38:04

From Ancient Persia to Medieval France, Rabbi Avi Hoffman provides a halachic and historical framework for understanding the role of alcohol throughout the ages. In particular, we focus on Rav Avraham ben Yitzchak M'Narbonah (Teshuvos HaRa'Avi ABa"D, no. 149), and how he ruled in a case of negligent homicide committed while under the influence.…

1
The Present and Future of Religious Zionism (Part One): Settlements, a Palestinian State, Tanach as History or as Prophecy for Today, and More (198) 1:02:21

5M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

In some recent episodes of this podcast, Scott and his guests have discussed numerous issues relevant to the Religious Zionist world, including some of the ways that Religious Zionism differs from Modern Orthodoxy. But Religious Zionism is not a monolith; there are many different paths within Religious Zionism, and the differences between these pat…

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