Category: The Halakhic Process

The Halakhic Process – Complete Class / Podcast Series

YUTOPIA's 10 Year Anniversary SpecialOver the past year and a half I have had fortuitous opportunity to dedicate my Sunday class towards explaining the halakhic process, or to put it more bluntly, how Jewish law works. My intent was to explain not only my own system but to critically analyze the logic, assumptions, and presumptions often made in halakhic arguments. While these classes may be listened to individually, as a unit they explore in great detail the various narratives of authority and their respective justifications.

It is with great thanks to The Stanton Street Shul and all those who attended in person and for whom it is I primarily teach, that I now present links to all previous audio and sources in one convenient post. Note that some classes were previously given as part of another series. I included links to those lectures as opposed to rerecording a repeated class.

Enjoy!




Ep. 123 Halakhic Process 27 – Summary and Conclusions

Rabbi Josh Yuter concludes his series on the Halakhic Process summarizing previous lectures and tying together the main points of the series. Many thanks to all those who came and followed!

Ep. 123 Halakhic Process – Summary and Conclusions




Ep. 121 Halakhic Process 26 – R. David Hartman and Religious Individualism

In the penultimate class in his Halakhic Process series, Rabbi Josh Yuter examines the trend of religious individualism through the writings of Rabbi David Hartman.

Halakhic Process 26 – Hartman and Individuation Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 26 – R. David Hartman and Religious Individualism




Ep. 119 Halakhic Process 25 – Open Orthodoxy

Dedicated to the memory of Mr. Ed Goldsmith

If there is a fallacy of ‘Open Orthodoxy,’ it is not that it isn’t ‘Orthodox,’
but that in reality it isn’t very ‘Open.’

In this important installment of the Halakhic Process series, Rabbi Yuter deconstructs the halakhic methodology of Rabbi Avi Weiss and his Open Orthodox approach to Jewish law.

Halakhic Process 25 – Open Orthodoxy Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 25 – Open Orthodoxy




Ep. 117 Halakhic Process 24 – Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Josh Yuter’s Halakhic Process series turns towards the Conservative Judaism’s legal hermeneutic, and how it compares to what is often employed by their Orthodox counterparts.

Halakhic Process 24 – Conservative Judaism Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 24 – Conservative Judaism




Ep. 115 Halakhic Process 23 – “Gadolatry” and Daas Torah

Rabbi Yuter summarizes the essential points from his popular essay “Gadolatry” in Orthodox Jewish Discourse, and critically dissects the definitions and assumptions behind what is popularly known as “Daas Torah”

Halakhic Process 23 – Gadolatry and Da’as Torah Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 23 – “Gadolatry” and Daas Torah




Ep. 113 Halakhic Process 22 – Consensus

After a long summer and High Holiday hiatus, Rabbi Yuter’s Halakhic Process series returns, shifting focus towards a “critical terms” format, beginning with the nebulous appeal to halakhic consensus.

Halakhic Process 22 – Consensus Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 22 – Consensus




Ep. 108 Halakhic Process 20 – Masorah / Tradition and Historical Revisionism Part 1

Rabbi Yuter’s Halakhic Process series returns with a shifting focus towards “critical terms” in the Jewish legal discourse. Today’s class begins a conversation over the meaning of “masorah” or “tradition” and the consequences of historical revisionism. This class used excerpts from “Facing the Truths of History” by Rabbi J. J. Schacther, but it is worthwhile reading the article in its entirety. Courtesy of YUTorah, the full text is embedded below.
Untitled by outdash2

Ep. 108 Halakhic Process 20 – Masorah / Tradition and Historical Revisionism




Ep. 103 Halakhic Process 19 – Early Ashkenaz Law vs. Custom

My apologies for the poor audio quality; the batteries in my recorder ran out so I used my cell phone to record. However, today’s installment of Halakhic Process focuses on the halakhic methodology of the Ba’alei Tosafot, in particular their conflicting opinions on the relationship between law and custom.

Halakhic Process 19 – Early Ashkenaz Sources (PDF)

Halakhic Process 19 – Early Ashkenaz Law vs. Custom