Podcasts about halachah

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Archive.org page, including handout: link

I launched the Heterodox Jewish Woman substack in February 2024 primarily to share my work on the gender issue as this affects Judaism. Quickly the focus broadened to include broader issues such as the tensions between liberalism and identity and the challenges of multiculturalism. I intended to edit and make fully public my series of lectures from 2022 and 2023 on the challenges of trans inclusion in halachah (Jewish law). Quickly, however, my professional life became consumed by a very different challenge: that of a very inappropriate Religious Education syllabus that was being rammed through the six local authorities in Berkshire in the autumn of 2024. These proposals included (1) not referring to religions but only to “religious worldviews” (2) introducing classroom activities in which children were encouraged to rank beliefs about life after death based on how “likely” they were and (3) editing out the word Israel shortly before the syllabus was due for a final vote. You may remember my post about this matter at the time. The issues involved were intriguingly similar to those in the gender debate: A postmodern critique of the concept of “world religions” as well-defined belief systems had led to the introduction of the new more “inclusive” concept of a “worldview” which, ironically, led to an excessive focus on religions as belief systems (views), meaning that Judaism (which is not a belief system) could not be taught authentically.Fortunately, the joint efforts of a coalition of Jews and Hindus succeeded in forcing a revision of that syllabus across several local authorities. Supporting that process and the aftermath has consumed my life ever since, and I have ended up catapulted into an (unofficial) leadership position in the RE community, something I could never have foreseen!Religious Education in the UK has now become the overwhelming focus of my professional life to the neglect of this page. I have come to realise that, if Jews in the UK are to have a future, this depends on us being understood by those we live with. The UK is unique in the English-speaking world, and also unique among countries with a significant Jewish community. Here we have, built into our school curricula, the principle that children should learn about the religions around them. The potential for high-quality Judaism teaching in non-Jewish schools to act as a preventative against antisemitism in the UK is therefore massive: a gift that we neglect at our peril, given the risks we face as a community. As I explained previously on this page, good RE can be far more effective at addressing hatred than typical “diversity training”, which is often ineffective or even counterproductive. However, we have to contend with “experts” in RE who believe that they understand Judaism when they do not and who tend to determine how Judaism is taught. This issue dwarfs all others as something for which I can personally make a real difference, and it has become the all-consuming focus of my life. Currently, the UK sits at a crossroads. For decades, RE has been a statutory subject in UK schools, but yet not part of the National Curriculum that guides teaching in all other statutory subjects. Instead, each local authority has determined its own RE syllabus by holding an Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) approximately every five years. Thus, the proposed syllabus in Berkshire that I helped to challenge and amend in 2024-2025.However, in November 2025, a momentous decision was made by the current UK Government, to explore bringing RE into the National Syllabus for the first time. This decision is widely seen as necessary, since with the rise of academy trusts, many schools now are not under the auspices of any local authority and therefore have no statutory RE syllabus at all. Some schools use this freedom to be creative and teach RE well, but practice is variable. Moreover, many local authorities struggle to find minority faith representatives to attend an ASC, or to sit on the associated SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education). The quality of Judaism teaching is therefore highly variable and often driven by national RE advising companies and bodies, with Judaism lessons and learning objectives typically produced by non-Jews. This leads to distorted teaching, and distorted priorities. Notwithstanding the positives, a potential national curriculum in RE is also fraught with dangers. Will Judaism get the attention it deserves? Who will write specifications for the teaching of Judaism? We cannot assume that it will be those most qualified to do this job. The individuals who wrote the problematic Berkshire syllabus that we challenged are now in high positions in the RE community, and we must assume that their views have not changed. We must face up to the real possibility that the same sorts of mistakes that were attempted in Berkshire could occur on the national level, making authentic teaching of Judaism to non-Jewish children difficult.Thus, in November 2025, in order to make sure that any national Judaism specification would be written by those who are qualified to produce it, I reached out to other Jews who work in RE. The outcome is the Association of Jewish Religious Education Professionals (AJREP.UK), which I now “coordinate”. AJREP brings together two types of people: (1) those who, like me, teach Judaism in non-Jewish schools or assist such teaching, but who are not currently classroom teachers and (2) Jewish RE teachers in non-Jewish schools (not Jewish studies teachers). We need both types of people as they bring different skills to the table. Coming back to the broader RE world, from December 2025 through March 2026 a process known as sector engagement took place to explore whether consensus could be reached on a general framework for a national syllabus for RE. This was managed by an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) led by Vanessa Ogden CBE. Various groups were included in these conversations, and with some difficulty, AJREP was able to have it's voice heard. This resulted in “Draft Programmes of Study”, a short document which was presented by the EAG to the Secretary of State for Education at the end of March. Then on July 3, the UK Government responded to the Draft Programmes of Study (still unpublished), announcing that a public consultation on RE in the national syllabus will commence in September. You can find the response of AJREP here. So we stand now on the threshold of this national consultation, which may very well lead to a national syllabus in RE: a true watershed moment for the discipline. My focus now is to lead AJREP to advise on that process, hopefully producing a national content standard for the teaching of Judaism in RE, and then campaigning to have this standard adopted. I do not anticipate that this will be easy, as we will have to counter those who have their own external agendas related to Judaism.Which brings me back to the new Substack Judaism Religious Education which I have launched, in collaboration with my husband and business partner, Rabbi Zvi Solomons. For the foreseeable future, I will be posting (almost) exclusively there, providing (1) guidance for RE teachers and advisors on what Judaism is and how it should be taught (2) reviews of Judaism teaching materials, so that teachers and advisors know which to use and which to avoid (3) interviews with experts on RE Judaism (4) analytical pieces on RE more generally and how this affects the teaching of Judaism, including how Judaism is related to other ethnoreligions such as Hinduism and Sikhi and (5) Judaism content that could potentially be used in the classroom or in training RE teachers.For the moment, I will be cross-posting these materials onto this page, but that will be temporary. If these issues matter to you, please subscribe directly to the new page.This page also includes a podcast so you can listen rather than reading. You can use the following rss feed right now on Apple podcasts: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/9865368.rss On spotify, just search for “ReJudaism” or use this link: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/spotify/845857e8-a3bd-4c42-8db1-ac0b2d962742/9865368.rssI have not forgotten about the gender issue which is still very important to me. I do still plan publish my Gender in Halachah series at some point, although my views on that issue have shifted since. Those who want access to the unedited versions can still message me or join the Trans Halachah group on Facebook to gain instant access.Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you on my new page.— Shira Batya Lewin Solomons Thanks for reading Heterodox Jewish Woman! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heterodoxjewishwoman.substack.com

#500> To purchase the book: https://amzn.to/4fjj5c9> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the Israeli rescue operation at Entebbe. Last week, newly released Israeli government documents and cabinet meeting minutes reveal a more complex picture of the deliberations that led to one of Israel's most celebrated military operations. Before anyone knew whether the mission would succeed or fail, another debate was taking place. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef examined the operation through the lens of classical Halachic sources and issued what remains the only major Halachic ruling written during the crisis itself, before the outcome was known. Entebbe became more than a military triumph. It marked a turning point in how Jewish law addressed the responsibilities of a sovereign Jewish state - protecting its citizens, weighing national risk, and applying timeless Torah principles to the realities of modern statehood. Fifty years later, the questions raised by Entebbe continue to shape Israel and the development of Halachah itself. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (michael@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

The Rebbe encourages organizing Torah study sessions for youth, emphasizing the importance of teaching practical halachah to all ages. He stresses that every effort in this area is worthwhile, as it impacts future generations and the spiritual foundation of Jewish homes. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/017/010/6361

Archive.org page, including handout: link

The Rebbe explains the distinction between 'shoresh' (root) and 'mokor' (source) in Chassidus and Halachah, clarifying their spiritual meanings and practical implications. He also addresses a question about the reading of the Megillah for villagers on Purim. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/006/4176

The Rebbe writes to an educator about his growing success in teaching Torah classes, urging him not to be satisfied with past achievements and to focus on teaching practical halachah. He emphasizes the importance of inspiring students and maintaining the daily study of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/007/4233

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Archive.org page, including handout: link

The Rebbe writes that by bringing the hearts of Jews closer to their Father in Heaven, one certainly draws additional blessing and success in both material and spiritual matters. He emphasizes the importance of teaching practical halachah publicly. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/007/006/2031

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Rabbi Binyomin Gringras is a rabbi, educator, advisor, lecturer, and author with decades of experience inspiring individuals and communities. He is the author of several books in Hebrew and is most well-known for his Hebrew book on Segulot. He is also the inspiration behind the book "Inside their Homes" (Artscroll). He spends his days guiding people of all walks of life, including several famous and high net-worth individuals, in Halachah and all aspects of life, and sharing segulot for people going through life challenges. --Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:Facebook: @shlomobuxbaumInstagram: @shlomobuxbaumYouTube: TheLevExperienceOrder Rabbi Shlomo' books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Four Elements of an Empowered Life: A Guidebook to Discovering Your Inner World and Unique Purpose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can order a copy on⁠ Amazon⁠ or in your local Jewish bookstore.

Archive.org page, including handout: link

Archive.org page, including handout: link

How could the women of Israel SING the praises of Saul and David as they passed by in triumph, what about אִסּוּר קוֹל בְּאִשָּׁה עֶרְוָה?

This episode discusses the history of how the debate about all shiurim of mitzvos developed, what was done before, and how it was looked at after, and what the contemporary poskim said.

Az Yishar - Importance of RIGHT HAND in Halachah by Rabbi Benjamin Lavian

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Antizionist Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro exposes Israel's lies, the way Zionism perverts Judaism and endangers Jews. He's then joined by historian Samuel Biagetti to debunk Candace Owens' latest lies and explain the history of Christmas and New Years. For the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-full-147053167 Support The Katie Halper Show and get bonus content at Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/thekatiehalpershow Samuel Biagetti holds a doctorate in early American history. He uses his knowledge in his antique dealership, in producing the podcast Historiansplaining, in his writings, and in giving college-level lectures. Yaakov Shapiro is an international speaker, author, and pulpit rabbi for over 30 years, now emeritus. He has attained an enviable place in the arena of anti-Zionist public intellectuals, having constructed a unique oeuvre on the ideology of Zionism and its relationship to Judaism. After graduating high school at age 16, Rabbi Shapiro dedicated himself to full-time study of religion, becoming the protégé of some of the most well-regarded rabbinic scholars in Orthodoxy. Among his areas of research are religious philosophy, analytic theology, Talmud, Halachah, and Biblical exegesis. At age 19 he published his first book, משפטי הבירורים, a collection of original expositions on rabbinic principles of tort adjudication. His other books include חלקת השדה, a commentary on Judaic laws governing land disputes (2000); צדה לדרך, a commentary on Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato's exposition of God as the Necessary Being (2009); and שופריה דיעקב, a compendium of original Biblical exegeses (2017). His most recent work, The Empty Wagon: Zionism's Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft (2018), a 1381-page treatise on the differences between Judaism and Zionism, is the most comprehensive work written on the subject and considered by many to be definitive. Rabbi Shapiro's videos on Zionism have been seen by millions of viewers worldwide and translated into several foreign languages. His 7-minute video on President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been viewed over 1.8 million times. He has lectured for live audiences of thousands. Rabbi Shapiro is a recipient of the Community Leadership Award from Agudath Israel of America; the Keser Torah Award from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath; Harbotzas Torah award from Yeshiva Bais Yisroel; Parent of the Year Award from Bnos Yisroel; and a post-rabbinical scholarship award from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. ***Please support The Katie Halper Show *** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: https://x.com/kthalps Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kthalps Follow Katie on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kthalps_

#416> To purchase the Touro Medical Halachah Annual Vol 1: https://mosaicapress.com/product/medical-halachah-annual/?sld=seforimchatter or https://amzn.to/4pffBuU> To purchase the Touro Medical Halachah Annual Vol 2: https://mosaicapress.com/product/medical-halachah-annual-volume-2/?sld=seforimchatter or https://amzn.to/4pIkVXs> To purchase the Touro Medical Halachah Annual Vol 3: https://mosaicapress.com/product/medical-halachah-annual-volume-3/?sld=seforimchatter or https://amzn.to/4rz7zib> For Mosiaca links use code CHATTER for 15% off > To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show