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PODCAST

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later puts the study of Torah front-and-center by inviting guest scholars to present, debate and provide listeners with a dynamic conversation of the topic at hand. In addressing the responsum of their choice, they will be asked to provide relevant historical background, distill the halachic/social considerations, offer unique methodological insights, and make an argument for its relevance today.

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

00:43:40

91. The Chassidic Theory of Time Relativity - Feat....

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2026/01/15

We have the privilege of being joined by Rabbi Bezalel Naor, author of The Project of Hasidism (Kodesh Press), in order to take a more careful look at the Chassidic approach to zmanim. We take a look at Sha'agas Aryeh (no. 15) among several other responsa that help us get to the bottom of how the prescribed times for prayer and time-bound commandments, for many, became negotiable.

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00:52:29

90. Answers to Allentown: R' Solomon Krevsky and R'...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/12/30

As listeners might know, the host of this show, Moshe Kurtz, has the honor of serving as the rabbi of Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown, PA. In this episode, he is joined by Dr. Noam Cohen, a professor at Muhlenberg College who will be teaching a course on the history of the Jews of Allentown. He shares with us a responsum (Orach Mishpat, #131) written by Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook to Rav Shlomo Zalman Krevsky, who served as the Chief Rabbi of Allentown during the 20th

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00:45:36

89. What Is and What Should Never Be (Published) -...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/12/24

Dr. Yaakov Weinstein shares with us how the Netziv (Meishiv Davar 1:24) and other prominent poskim addressed a request to prevent the publication of another rabbi's Torah and its implications for intellectual property. We also briefly discussed his Torah from Narnia blog at the end.https://torahfromnarnia.blogspot.com/

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00:38:48

88. The Art of the Ask: The Rashba's Approach to...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/12/11

Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, OU-JLIC's National Development Director, reveals a game-changing responsum of the Rashba (1:581) that informs how we understand the world of fundraising and Jewish philanthropy today.

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00:49:34

87. Thanksgiving Revisited - Feat. Rabbi Michael J....

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/11/20

Rabbi Michael J. Broyde is the author of Jewish Law and the American Thanksgiving Celebration: Secular or Religious Holiday? He is the expert on all things Judaism and Thanksgiving related. So, naturally, we were excited to hear his perspectives in advance of the holiday.His book can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Law-American-Thanksgiving-Celebration/dp/1962609111

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00:45:33

86. L'Shem Yichud on a Gett? - Feat. Rabbi Avi Kahan

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/11/06

Should L'Shem Yichud be said before giving a gett (bill of divorce)? Should it be said before any mitzvah? What even is L'Shem Yichud in the first place? In this episode, Rav Avi Kahan discusses the Noda B'Yehuda's approach and contextualize it in the broader discourse. ---Rav Avi Kahan is a Dayan at the Vaad Hadin V’Horaah Beis Din, with over a decade of experience in mediation, arbitration, and matrimonial conflict resolution. He has guided countless individuals and couples through

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00:56:22

85. Umbrellas and the Austerity Gospel - Feat. Rabbi...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/09/25

We welcome back Rabbi Elli Fischer who regales us with his historical detective work to piece together an angle to the 18th-19th century umbrella controversy that most readers miss when they study the Noda B'Yehuda (vol. 2, O.C. #30) and Chasam Sofer (O.C. #72). Our discussion serves a perfect case study for how responsa not only inform the study of history, but how history informs our understanding of the responsa.

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00:18:25

84. Rabbi Lamm and Rabbi Gifter: The Reality of Their...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/09/17

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky is Director of the Lamm Legacy Project and Director of Judaic Studies at Main Line Classical Academy. We wish him a mazal tov on the re-launch of the new and improved Lamm Legacy Archives. And to celebrate it, we are sharing this special bonus episode.To browse the archives, click here: https://lammlegacy.org/

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00:41:30

83. A Paradigm Shift in Palliative Care - Feat. Rabbi...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/09/04

Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner joins the podcast to discuss a new paradigm in palliative care, one that redefines the conversation around end-of-life decisions. This episode explores how two of today's most respected halachic authorities, Rav Asher Weiss and Rav Hershel Schachter, have provided rulings that completely change the game. Rabbi Dr. Weiner unpacks these "never-before-seen" piskei halacha, which allow for a more nuanced approach. The discussion delves into the ethical and practical

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00:52:24

82. Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm's Halachic Heroism - Feat....

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/08/07

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky shares with us the scholarship of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, who was a leading figure in Modern Orthodoxy known for his ability to bridge traditional Jewish law with contemporary thought. R. Dr. Sinensky highlights a particularly challenging case that he addressed: whether a kohanim who did not observe Shabbos could duchen (perform the priestly blessing). R. Dr. Lamm's ruling represents a hallmark of his nuanced approach. Through this lens we better understand his commitment

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00:37:35

81. A Psak Heard Round the World: Are We Facing...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/07/24

"Which way is Mizrach (East)?" is a common refrain we hear at pop-up minyanim. The intent is to face Jerusalem, and more specifically the Temple Mount. But does a New Yorker facing East actually directing his prayers toward the holy city or to somewhere in central Africa instead? R. Yosef Weisenfeld, author of Derech Ha'Ir, addresses this and many other questions through a responsum of the Matai Moshe (no. 7).To purchase his sefer, please click

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00:47:48

[Shtark Tank] Rav Shalom Rosner on the Legacy of Dr....

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/07/02

While our podcast is on a brief hiatus, we feature an episode from our friends at "Shtark Tank" in which Rabbi Yaakov Wolff interviews Rabbi Shalom Rosner about the legacy of his illustrious father, R. Dr. Fred Rosner zt"l. If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to Shtark Tank, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/34xll8GhTfu1BiRdhb8AyR?si=VMsfrrg9Tvy7bm-0omCxCw

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00:38:26

80. Conjoined Twins and A Tribute to Rav Tendler zt"l...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/05/27

This is a very special episode for me, in which we discuss my Rebbe, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Dovid Tendler zt"l. We are joined by one of his granddaughters and a longtime colleague of mine, Rachel Rosensweig. She provides a synopsis of the Conjoined Twins ruling he was involved in and speaks more broadly about more personal aspects of Rav Tendler that many are likely unfamiliar with. Bio: Rachel Rosensweig teaches Gemara and Halacha at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, New Jersey, where

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00:31:35

79. Should I Join the Army? A Responsum of Rav Zev...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/05/20

In this episode we are joined by R' Yitzy Tanner who shares with us a responsum of the Beis Dovid (no. 71) about Kohanim - or any Jewish male - serving in their country's armed forces. We also learn about the author, Rav Zev Wolf Leiter zt"l, who was a local rabbi in Pittsburgh, but who earned an international reputation.

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00:31:43

78. Education vs. Excommunication: The Rashba Combats...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/05/14

We are joined by Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, medieval scholar and the translator/annotator of the Feldheim edition of Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s Kuzari, who takes us into the story of a community in arms over whether and when to permit the study of secular knowledge. By looking at several responsa of the Rashba (1:415-417; Kisvei Yad no. 150) we get a glimpse into the age old question of how Judaism ought to interact with the broader world around it.

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00:37:15

77. A Distillation of the (Pesach) Kashrus Industry -...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/04/02

Can I drink beer and Scotch on Pesach? Don't get your hopes up just yet, but Rabbi Yehoshua Domosh, a trained Kashrus professional, takes us through some fascinating halachic analysis (Responsa of Rivash, no. 255) about why distilled alcoholic beverages might not be so bad afterall - and also why an innocuous, unflavored seltzer may indeed have some potential issues bubbling just under the surface....

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00:43:42

76. A Seder From Afar: The COVID Seder...Five Years...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/04/01

Rabbi Yehuda Halpert takes us 5 years back to the COVID Zoom Seder controversy, contrasts the different rabbinic responsa, and unpacks their significance for the post-pandemic era. Stay tuned for his upcoming book: Speaking to an Empty Shul: Timeless Lessons from Unprecedented Times (Mosaica Press, 2025).

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00:37:53

75. Kehuna for Sale? The Problematic Purchase of a...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/03/11

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky shares with us a whimsical, yet real, case adjudicated by the Beis Yitzchak (E.H. 1:23) about a man who "purchased" for himself the Kohen status...which sounded good at first, until it had serious ramifications for his marriage. We delve into the principles of halacha which govern speech, deed and much more to understand how this case was resolved and how it served as a precedent for future batei din.

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00:28:01

74. Until I'm Six Feet Under? A Texas Burial Brouhaha...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/03/05

In this episode, Rabbi Barry Gelman shares with us a personal case he dealt with regarding a family who was adamant about reburying their deceased six feet under. Rabbi Gelman shares with us the responsum he received from Eretz Hemdah (B'Mareh HaBazak 7:81) and how it made its way into a Texas courtroom. This is a fascinating discussion that incorporates Halacha, the American legal system and a regrettable family drama all wrapped up together.

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00:39:53

73. "Avram", Academia, and Acceptance - Feat. Zachary...

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later ·

2025/02/06

Today, Zachary Ottenstein join us as we look at the monumentalMinchas Yitzchak of Dayan Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss and explore a lesser known responsum(4:30) about secular text books which has broader implications for recent trends in the Jewish world.

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92 results

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