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.

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1. Religious Coercion
2. Tzniut / Modesty
3. Chillul Hashem / Desecrating God’s Name
4. The Superbowl
5. Chukkat Hagoy / Copying Non-Jewish Practices
6. Non-Jews in Jewish Law
7. Contraception
8. Dina Demalchuta Dina / The Law of the Land is Law
9. Understanding the Agunah Problem
10. Solutions to the Agunah Problem
11. Art in Jewish Law
12. Intellectual Property / Piracy
13. Celebrating Secular Holidays
14. Substance Abuse (Drugs and Alcohol)
15. Organ Donation and Brain Death
16. Interfaith Interactions
17. Metzitza B’Peh
18. Gun Control
19. Abortion
20. Maharat
21. Women of the Wall
22. Biblical Criticism and Orthodox Judaism
23. Introduction to Rabbinic Ethics
24. Hocheiach Tochiach / Laws of Rebuke
25. Music in Judaism
26. Women’s Head Covering in Jewish Law
27. Shomer Negiah / Kiruv Bassar
28. Partnership Minyanim
29. Privacy
30. Introduction to Eruvin 1
31. Introduction to Eiruvin 2
32. Introduction to Eiruvin 3
33. Electricity
34. Electricity in Jewish Law 1
35. Electricity in Jewish Law 2
36. Electricity in Jewish Law 3, R. Moshe Feinstein on Microphones and Hearing Aids on Shabbat
37. Electricity in Jewish Law 4 – Positive Commandments
38. Gambling in Jewish Law
39. Egalitarianism
40. Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 1 (Introduction and Theological Concepts)
41. Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 2 (Signs)
42. Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 3 (Dreams)
43. Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions 4 (Folk Religion vs. Idolatry)
44. Boxing / Mixed Martial Arts
45. Science and Judaism
46. Judaism and Evolution
47. Reparations for Slavery and Discrimination
48. Halakhic Humor