Rabbi Yuter’s Politics of Exclusion series shifts focus to on Orthodox Judaism’s ethos of preserving traditional gender roles, beginning with the topic of mechitzah vs. separate seating in the synagogue.
Preserving Gender Roles 1 – Mechitzah Sources (PDF)
Preserving Gender Roles 1 – Mechitzah
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I first heard the term “gadolatry” attributed to the late professor Arthur Hertzberg. A portmanteau of “gadol” and “idolatry,” the word “gadolatry” refers to a perceived phenomenon in Orthodox Judaism where select rabbinic leaders are treated with a degree of deference or reverence, bordering on worshipping the person of the rabbi himself. That Dr. Hertzberg would coin such an inflammatory term is not surprising given his personality, such that any reactions of offense or outrage are as intentional as they are predictable. However, it has been my experience that those strong passions on either side have turned the reasonable question of the role of the gadol in Judaism into the single greatest impediment to intelligent religious discourse in the Orthodox Jewish community.
While I have no expectations of resolving this divisive issue, I do hope to explicate the rationales implied when one invokes a gadol, and why others may find such an argument unconvincing.
Rabbi Josh Yuter starts a new section in his Politics of Exclusion series discussing the Orthodox reaction to Saul Lieberman after accepting his position at JTS.
Politics of Exclusion – Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox Part 1 Sources (PDF)
Politics of Exclusion – Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox Part 1
All texts are from Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox by Marc Shapiro and is a highly purchase and read in its entirety.
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By community request, my class topic for this past Shavuot was on the issues related to kosher cheese. For obvious reasons there is no audio, but for those interested in the topic I’m attaching the source sheet. If anyone is interested in the details I would be happy to discuss offline, or you’re more than welcome to book a speaking engagement :-)
Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud translations are Soncino’s, the Yerushalmi translation is from Jacob Neusner.
Rabbi Yuter’s Politics of Exclusion series continues with a discussion of R. Moshe Feinstein’s opinions related to the conversions of Conservative Jews.
R. Moshe Feinstein vs. Conservative Conversions Sources (PDF)
Politics of Exclusion – R. Moshe on Conservative Conversions
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Rabbi Yuter’s Who’s Who in the Talmud series shifts to the Amoraic period, beginning with the great Eretz Yisrael Amora R. Yochanan.
Who’s Who in the Talmud – R. Yochanan Part 1 Sources (PDF)
Who’s Who in the Talmud – R. Yochanan Part 1
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Rabbi Josh Yuter’s Politics of Exclusion class continues with a discussion of R. Moshe Feinstein’s opinions regarding the halakhic status of weddings and marriages of Reform and Conservative Rabbis.
R. Moshe Feinstein vs Conservative and Reform Weddings Sources (PDF)
Politics of Exclusion – R. Moshe Feinstein vs Conservative and Reform Weddings
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Rabbi Yuter’s Politics of Exclusion Class continues with an examination of R. Moshe Feinstein’s responsa / teshuvot regarding Conservative and Reform Judaism.
Politics of Exclusion – R. Moshe Feinstein vs. Conservative and Reform Part 1 Sources (PDF)
Politics of Exclusion – R. Moshe Feinstein vs. Conservative and Reform Part 1
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In a special class in honor of Yom Haatzmaut, Rabbi Yuter explores Rabbinic perspectives regarding the land of Israel, including those from Babylonian sources.
Eretz Yisrael in Rabbinic Thought Sources (PDF)
Eretz Yisrael in Rabbinic Thought
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In the Spring Semester of 2011 I had the honor of addressing the NYU Jewish Law Students Association for a weekly series covering Economics and Social Justice in Jewish Law. Below are the links to the specific lectures in the order given with audio and PDF source sheets available. As always, comments are welcome. If there is interest in me delivering any of these lectures or the entire series in person, please contact me directly.