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.

In this class Rabbi Yuter addresses the theological challenge posed by evolution.

Current Jewish Questions – Evolution Sources (PDF)

Current Jewish Questions – Judaism and Evolution

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As part of my Current Jewish Questions podcast series I recently dedicated a four part segment to the subject of Segulot, Simmanim, and Superstitions in an attempt to define the boundaries and limits for various forms of folk religion in Rabbinic Judaism. While I was unable to come to a definitive conclusion, these classes should nevertheless be of interest for those interested in the subject and its underlying theological questions.

• Part 1 – Comparing folk religion and idolatry
• Part 2 – Identifying and responding to “signs” in the world
• Part 3 – Dreams
• Part 4 – More distinctions between permitted and forbidden folk practices