Responsa Radio
A podcast where you ask and we answer questions of Jewish law in modern times. Hosted by Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Rabbi Avi Killip. To submit a question, email responsa@hadar.org.
Episodes
Can You Count the Omer Early?
Many communities begin Shabbat services early during the summer months — sometimes before sunset. This poses a probem during the Omer when the service includes counting the new day of the Omer before its proper time. What should one do in this situation? Should they not say the blessing or count with their community and count again at home like all the other days? If they count later at home, shou
Are Women Exempt from Mitzvot?
I grew up in a non-egalitarian Jewish community where I was taught that women are exempt from many mitzvot and that's why egalitarian prayer is not an option. Is that true? Does egalitarian prayer simply ignore this part of halakhah or is there some way of addressing it?Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/716409Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us a
Does Jewish Law Permit Getting a Reversible Vasectomy?
Jewish law has long prohibited certain forms of sterilization, particularly for men. But what happens when medical technology changes the equation? Does the possibility of reversal affect the halakhic status of vasectomy?Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/714995Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: U T
Are Jews Allowed to Spay or Neuter Pets?
I was surprised to hear recently that Jews are not allowed to neuter pets. Is that true? What is that about, where does it come from, and are there any ways around it, given that most people I know have pets that aren’t able to reproduce?Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/711708Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in
Is Buying Jewish a Mitzvah?
Is there a Jewish obligation to support your Jewish-owned local businesses? If prices are higher or the store is farther away, how much effort or expense does halakha expect? Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/711520Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Salesman by Ted Hoagland
Can Women Give the Priestly Blessing?
The priestly blessing (Birkat Kohanim) is a powerful moment in Jewish communal prayer. Traditionally performed by kohanim, it raises important questions about lineage, ritual roles, and gender equality. Can women offer this blessing to their communities? How can we think about this ritual in a gender egalitarian context?Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/710207Have a question you&apos
Is Seeing Yourself on Zoom Like Looking in a Mirror During Shiva?
A long-standing mourning practice is to cover mirrors during shiva. But what happens when shiva takes place on Zoom? Does seeing yourself on screen raise the same concern as an uncovered mirror? This episode explores the meaning behind the custom of covering mirrors and how Jewish practice adapts to new technologies of communal presence. Source sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/709534Have a
Can I Lead Prayer if I Don't Believe in God?
What does it mean to serve as shaliach tzibbur—the representative of a community in prayer—if you struggle with belief in God? This episode explores the halakhic and theological dimensions of a question that sits at the heart of Jewish spiritual life. Does disbelief disqualify someone from leading davening, or does the act of prayer itself create a space that transcends personal theology?Have a qu
Can We Have Joint/Group Aliyot?
I recently started attending a shul that gives joint aliyot. What, if any, are the halakhic issues with two people receiving an aliyah at the same time? Do any of the issues rise to the level that I should privately request only solo aliyot from the gabbai, or perhaps even ask not to receive an aliyah at all?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can We Add Aliyot to the Torah Reading?
I am starting an adult b'nai mitzvah program this year and will be holding a Shabbat morning service for the students in the program. I have twelve students participating and am trying to figure out a way to give them each an individual aliyah. Is it permissible to add aliyot in order to do so? If so, would you repeat an aliyah or divide the aliyot into smaller sections?Have a question you&ap
Can I Get a Reiki Treatment?
I occasionally get a massage. Recently, there was a change in massage therapists. The new therapist emphasized that she uses Reiki, which is concentrating an energy field to help in healing. I mentioned this to a friend who is very knowledgeable in Reiki, and she mentioned that Reiki is an independent, sentient entity with volition and intelligence. She also says that someone doing Reiki involves
What Is the Scope of Pikuach Nefesh (Can I File a Death Penalty Appeal on Shabbat)?
I am an attorney currently working on a death penalty appeal on behalf of a convicted client. We have a brief in the case due on a Friday, and I lined up assistance from non-Jewish colleagues in case the brief isn’t ready when Shabbat starts. Was that necessary here, given that I am trying to prevent an execution and save a life? Are there any circumstances in which it would be permissible to work
What Does Halakhah Have to Say About Plasma Donation?
Can one sell their plasma for export? The US is a major player in this field of plasma export. Does Halacha say anything relevant about this? Are there any specific considerations about use of blood? And do we need to take into account the risk of taking advantage of desperate people, who may not really be doing this voluntarily?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us
How Do I Dispose of Christian Religious Items After I Convert?
I grew up in a very religious Catholic family and attended Catholic schools through college. Through my upbringing, I accumulated a number of rosaries, bibles, and other accoutrements. When I started converting, I took all these things and put them in a box. My family is no longer religious whatsoever and also has no use for them. I didn't want to throw all these things away because this felt
Can I Attend a Wedding in a Church?
A close friend is getting married in a church and I'm very conflicted about what to do. I have always avoided entering churches as I was taught that this was forbidden. But I feel terrible skipping my friend's wedding. What are the relevant halakhic considerations and sources?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this
Blowing the Shofar: Tips, Tricks, and Considerations
It's my first time blowing the shofar for my community this year. What tips can you share and what considerations should I be thinking about as I prepare?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Girl Can Wail by Chloe Dolandis
Minor Fast Days
I grew up fasting on Yom Kippur, and usually on Tisha B’Av also, but I never even knew about the minor fast days. Now I am in a community that does observe them, and I am curious about their importance. Is my obligation to fast on these days the same as on Yom Kippur? Why is there so much variety in how they are observed by people who are otherwise observant?Have a question you'd like answere
Can We Decorate Shul With Flowers for Shavuot? And Should I Pull an All-Nighter?
This episode deals with Shavuot questions about decorating shul with flowers, as well as the custom of having a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a night of staying up to learn Torah. Where do these customs originate, and what is their status?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Sleep by BJSR
Can I Bring in a Second Day of Yom Tov Early?
As a parent of little children, our family always has a lot of tension around the second night of a two day Yom Tov, especially when it gets dark very late. I was always taught that you have to wait until it is fully dark after the first day of Yom Tov to start preparing anything for the second day. That means we don’t start cooking or even setting the table until after 9 PM. This wreaks havoc on
Can I Say the Names of Other Gods?
What are the halakhic considerations about saying “Chr***” given the prohibition on uttering names of other gods? How does that work in interfaith and academic contexts? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Planets by Jared Lutes
Should I Purchase Life Insurance?
What does halakhah have to say about life insurance? Should we get it or is relying on the community sufficient, or even expected?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Human Life by Tiffany Thompson
Suicide and Burial
Should a person who died by suicide be buried "outside the fence?" How does mental illness factor into this question? And are there grounds to consider reburial of someone so that they can be near family members? Trigger warning: This episode deals with sensitive and painful content. Please take care in choosing whether to listen. Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radi
Which Direction Should I Face During Prayer?
When davening in a prayer space that is not oriented towards Jerusalem, is there ever a time when it would be appropriate to physically orient oneself toward the east?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: New Direction by Dave Tough
What Do You *Mean* I Still Can't Eat Bread? (re-release)
I like to go out the night after Passover to grab a cool beer in celebration of eating hametz (leaven) again. Do I need to worry if the owner of that bar is a Jew that didn't remove his hametz for the holiday?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Does Everything Need a Kosher for Passover Certification? (re-release)
Can I use ingredients like spices, pure dried fruit, oil, or nut butter, without Passover certification on Passover? Are there ingredients you can use without a certification?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
Keeping Kosher for Passover When I'm Not in Control (re-release)
If I spend Passover with family members who don't kasher their kitchens for the holiday can I eat kosher for Passover food from their pots or dishes? Is there room for leniency because they're my family? What if my roommates want to use non-kosher for Passover dishes and products? How can we share the kitchen? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at respon
Can I Do Something Forbidden For Shalom Bayit?
What is the halakhic weight of shalom bayit and to what extent is it permissible to do something forbidden for the sake of preserving one’s marriage? For example, I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine during the week, mostly because it prevents me from snoring and disturbing my spouse’s sleep. My spouse wants me to use it on Shabbat too, since we have young children and sleep is a precious com
Can I Have a Karpas Course at the Seder?
I have only ever been to seders where karpas is a simple piece of parsley dipped in saltwater, but there seems to be a growing trend of people doing much more elaborate karpas courses, often with multiple, full-blown appetizer dishes. Is this halakhically permissible?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: Salty by R
How Do I Forge My Own Religious Path While Respecting My Parents?
I am a teenager who is becoming more observant. My parents are less then thrilled. For example, I would like to be observe Shabbat and not use my phone, but this sometimes creates difficulties as they will call or text me things during Shabbat. How can I balance my observance with honoring my parents?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic fe
Can I Print an Overlay to Make Torah Reading More Accessible?
As a gabbai, I am often reluctant to correct the person reading Torah so as not to add to their anxiety. I am wondering if we are entering a moment where technology might be helpful, such as writing the vowels and trope onto the Torah itself, or, less radically, making a see-through overlay. Would any of those options be acceptable to make reading Torah more accessible to all?Have a question you&a
Can I Read My Horoscope?
Can I read my horoscope? Does it matter whether I’m reading it “just for fun” or if I’m really trying to predict the future? Are horoscopes more forbidden for us than they were for medieval rabbis, who probably considered astrology a legitimate science?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.orgMusic featured in this episode: All The Stars Have Aligne
Should the Torah Be Translated as it's Read to Make it More Accessible?
In the mishnah we see the idea of a person who would translate the Torah into Aramaic after each verse is chanted from the Torah scroll. Would it be appropriate to have something like this now in order to enhance the understanding of the community?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Making Sense of the Mechitzah
What is the history and reasoning behind the mechitzah? Why do they vary so much in size and material? In a setting where this is a mechitzah, can a man walk over to the women’s side to carry a Torah?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Thanking God for "Opening the Eyes of the Blind" When I'm Disabled
As a person who is disabled, how am I supposed to relate to a system of mitzvot that often assumes its audience is able-bodied? For example, the morning blessings include the line thanking God for "opening the eyes of the blind"—but what if I am blind? Am I supposed to say this blessing?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can I Say Birkat Kohanim While Carrying a Gun?
I am a kohen who lives in Israel where I make the priestly blessing every day. After October 7th, I was recruited to my town’s First Response Team and am now required to carry my gun at all times, including the synagogue. Is it prohibited to make the blessing of Birkat Kohanim, which is essentially a blessing about peace, while carrying a weapon?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa
Kashrut and the Modern Dairy Industry
There is a principle that says that milk from a deathly sick animal is not kosher. But in today's modern dairy industry it may be reasonable to assume that most if not all cows fall into this category. Can we justify consuming factory milk? If so, how? This episode was recorded live at Hadar's 2024 Halakhah Intensive.Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at
What is the Role of Doubt in Jewish Law?
I was at a meal at a non-Jewish colleague's home. We agreed to order food from a kosher restaurant but one of the dishes looks homemade. I don't want to be rude. Can I eat it? How can the framework of "sfeik sfeika," having two axes of doubt, help us make decisions when we don't have all of the information? This episode was recorded live at Hadar's 2024 Halakhah Inten
Can I Swim on Shabbat?
My community has a retreat over Yom Tov where almost everyone spends a lot of time at the pool. I grew up in a community that never swam on Shabbat or Yom Tov and now I'm trying to navigate a community where everyone does it. What should I do?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Why is the Age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah Gendered?
While almost all Jewish communities celebrate a boy's Bar Mitzvah at 13, many communities are split for girls—some 12, some 13. Why should girls be required to do mitzvot before boys? What does this age split accomplish? And is it still relevant in egalitarian Jewish communities?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Should I Say "Amen" in the Bathroom?
You're not supposed to pray somewhere unclean, like a bathroom. But if I'm in the bathroom and can hear the prayers nearby, am I allowed to say "amen"?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can I Use Generative Artifical Intelligence?
With any new industry, there are important questions to address from legal and religious perspectives. Responsa Radio creator David Zvi Kalman comes back to ask this question about generative AI for his new podcast, Belief in the Future. Given the way the new large language models trawl the internet for content, is it permitted to use them or does it count as theft?Have a question you'd like
Does Jewish Law Care About Non-Jewish Life?
There's a stereotype that I've seen on the internet recently that Jews don't care about non-Jewish life. How am I supposed to respond when somebody uses this argument? What do Jewish sources say about the imperative of saving the lives of non-Jews?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Are Jews Responsible for One Another? How so?
I've often heard the phrase "all of Israel are responsible for each other" (kol yisrael areivim zeh be-zeh). But what does this mean? What does the responsibility entail? How is it supposed to change my actions toward other Jews?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Coming Soon: More Responsa Radio
You asked and we answered! A new season of Responsa Radio begins next week. We're going to dig in to topics like artificial intelligence, the value of human life, and our responsibilities toward fellow Jews, just to name a few.Have a halakhic question you want answered on Responsa Radio? Send your question to responsa@hadar.org.
R. Ethan Tucker on the Multivocality of Halakhah
Halakhic works are often a dizzying compendium of multiple perspectives on a given issue, often making it difficult to determine how to behave in a given situation. In this lecture, R. Ethan Tucker argues this is a feature rather than a bug. Critical values that are meant to guide our lives are rarely fully manifest in any given time, place, or situation. It is our job to discern the wisdom of eac
Do the Laws of Eruv Make Any Sense At All? 100th Episode Update
In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.Our producer, Jeremy Tabick's favorite is episode #7: The laws of eruv—constructing a sometimes questionable boundary around a neighborhood to allow carrying objects on shabbat—often seem obscure, bizarre, and made-up. But what are the way
Is Impossible Pork Kosher? 100th Episode Update
In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.Our sound engineer, David Khabinsky's favorite is episode #78: A few months ago, one of the largest kosher certification agencies announced that it would not certify "Impossible Pork," despite the fact that nothing in the ingredi
Is There a Blessing on Seeing a Solar Eclipse?
I'm planning on going to the total solar eclipse that will be visible in North America on April 8th. is there a blessing or some other liturgy that I should say as I see it?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can I Buy a Non-Jew a Sandwich on Passover?
I was trying to help someone on the street get some food. They asked for a sandwich, so I went into a nearby shop—and suddenly panicked because I realized it was Passover! What was I supposed to do in this case? What are the parameters of buying and touching hameitz for non-Jews during the holiday?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
What Am I Allowed to Do at a Mock Seder?
My family are coming in from 1000s of miles away for the eclipse on April 8th, but they won't be around for Pesah on April 22nd. I want to do a mock or model Seder with them, but I know some things are only supposed to be done on actual Seder night. What should I include or exclude? How can I make the mock Seder feel substantive, but at the same time, still a rehearsal and not a replacement o
Can I Put on a Play During the Megillah Reading?
I'm organizing my community's reading of Megillat Esther. Can I include English explanations or kids' plays between the chapters? What is at stake in breaking up the reading?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
How Should Jewish Criminal Lawyers Respond to Crime Scene Photos? 100th Episode Update
In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.Responsa Radio creator David Zvi Kalman's favorite is episode #9: I'm a lawyer who often has to look at crime scene photos. What are the considerations of k'vod ha-met (honor for the dead) that I should be taking into account in
How Can I Make Coffee on Shabbat? 100th Episode Update
In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.Rav Eitan's favorite is episode #27: Can I set up my coffee maker on a timer before Shabbat to make my perfect cup on Shabbat itself? And if I can't do that, can I use a French press on Shabbat to get a better cup than instant?Have a
How to Name a Baby Girl: 100th Episode Update
In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode.Rav Avi's favorite is episode #24: Brit Milah is an ancient and well-known ceremony to welcome boys into the world, but there's no such long-standing, equal ritual for girls. How should we think about this, and what are steps for the
New Podcast Trailer: Answers WithHeld
When kids ask big questions, how do you respond? Whether you are parent, educator, or just a curious person, you've probably asked yourself the same questions.This podcast doesn’t have all the answers, but it can give you language and frameworks to engage meaningfully with these questions. Every week, Rabbi Shai Held invites an expert guest to explore a big question: Who is God? Why did God c
How Do I Become More Observant?
I want to be more observant. Where do I start? Rav Avi and Rav Eitan reflect on this important question as they also celebrate our 100th episode! In honor of our 100th episode, over the next few weeks we will be updating and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes ever. Stay tuned!Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
How Does Cheese Become Kosher?
Why might cheese not be kosher even if all the ingredients are? What does this say about relationships between Jews and non-Jews today?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can an AI Chatbot Answer My Halakhic Questions?
For centuries, the process of halakhah has relied on a rabbi or posek, someone who is learned in Jewish texts, who has trained for years to be a resource for our halakhic questions. But now, with the release of large language models like ChatGPT, I'm wondering: is the human interaction an essential part of the halakhic process, or can I get my halakhic answers from an AI chatbot?Have a questi
Do I Need to Light Hanukkah Candles Again After a Communal Lighting?
If I find myself at a large Hanukkah party or a communal gathering where Hanukkah candles are lit, do I still need light when I get home? If I do, is it okay to say the blessing two times? What if I said the blessing at Ma'ariv while leading the service? Does it matter how late I'm getting home?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
What Liturgical Changes Should We Be Making Right Now?
My shul has started reciting extra Tehilim and adding the Mi SheBerakh for captives. I've heard that some communities in Israel are saying Avinu Malkeinu every day, even on Shabbat. Is that something we should be doing? How should we be thinking about liturgical changes right now? How will we know when it's time to stop saying Tehilim?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa
How Far Must We Go To Redeem Captives?
What is our obligation to redeem captives from a halakhic perspective? How far does this obligation extend and are there limits? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can Musical Instruments be Used on Shabbat?
There's a new community that just started in my neighborhood and I want to check them out but I heard they use instruments during their Shabbat service. What is the problem with instruments on Shabbat? What are the factors I should think about when working out if I want to attend this service?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
How Do Time Zones Work For Shabbat?
I live in Australia and I have a Zoom call with someone in the UK. The call is scheduled at 9:00 PM for me and 12:00 PM for them - it is therefore not Shabbat for me but *is* Shabbat for them. Do I have to reschedule this Zoom call? Am I allowed to be involved with someone else doing violating Shabbat when I'm not doing anything wrong at all?Have a question you'd like answered on Respons
Is My Tallit Supposed to be White?
I have a blue tallit with white tzitzit. Someone recently told me that the tallit is supposed to be white. Is this true? Do I have to go out and get a white tallit?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
Should All Jews Switch to a Mushroom Burial?
After learning about green burials and mushroom death suits, I’m wondering about halakhic implications of such burials. It seems to me that such methods for burial uphold the charge to go up to the dust even better than traditional burial where the body remains intact in a casket or even sometimes in a concrete box for a very long time. Should all Jews switch to a mushroom burial?Have a question y
How Much Time Do I Have to Say a Berakhah?
I was recently at a sporting event where the line to exit the bathroom took close to five minutes. How long following an action or event requiring a berakhah can you still make the berakhah? How does one behave while waiting for the opportunity if you are conscious of the fact that you need to make the berakhah but are temporarily unable and what ultimately severs the connection to the berakhah?Ha
Keeping Kosher for Passover When I'm Not in Control
If I spend Passover with family members who don't kasher their kitchens for the holiday can I eat kosher for Passover food from their pots or dishes? Is there room for leniency because they're my family? What if my roommates want to use non-kosher for Passover dishes and products? How can we share the kitchen? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at respon
Does Everything Need a Kosher for Passover Certification?
Can I use ingredients like spices, pure dried fruit, oil, or nut butter, without Passover certification on Passover? Are there ingredients you can use without a certification?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
When Can I Make a Shehehiyyanu?
It is common in some shuls for the family of the Bnei Mitzvah to say Shehehiyyanu at some point during the Shabbat service. What is the function of Shehehiyyanu in this context?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
Does Welcoming Guests Ever Override the Laws of Shabbat?
On a previous episode (Can You Make Seltzer on Shabbat? Responsa Radio #80), you mentioned that there is room to be lenient on the rules of food preparation when welcoming guests on Shabbat. Is that the really the case? If so, what are the limits?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
When Should We Recite the Shema?
The Shema is one of the most important prayers in Judaism, which is supposed to be recited when we go to sleep and when we wake up. But it's also part of the liturgy for morning and evening prayers. Which is more important? How many times a day should we be saying Shema?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.
Can Animals Be Used in Medical Research?
As a veterinary technology student, I'm struggling with ethics of the use of animals in biomedical research. How does the halakhic concept of avoiding pain experienced by living things - tza'ar ba'alei hayyim - inform the treatment of animals in modern research? And is there a Jewish way to mark the death of animal outside of ritual slaughter?Have a question you'd like answere
How Should I Talk to Patients About Physician-Assisted Suicide?
Content warning: this episode discusses suicide.As an oncologist, I am often asked for guidance as patients approach end-of-life. To what extent am I obligated to encourage patients to continue life-prolonging treatment? How much does their quality of life matter? Am I allowed to mention physician-assisted suicide? Does anything if the patient is Jewish?Have a question you'd like answered on
Can a Rabbinic Ruling Outlive its Reasoning?
I recently heard the idea that if the reason behind a rabbinic ruling (gezeirah) becomes irrelevant, because the surrounding factors are no longer applicable, the decree no longer applies. This sounds like it could undermine a lot of halakhah in modern times. What is the definition of this concept how and when can it be applied? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us
Should I Save Money or Give Tzedakah?
We have an obligation to give tzedekah and care for those in need. At the same time, life is expensive and often requires having savings. Is it wrong to save money when others are suffering?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can I Lie for the Sake of Scientific Research?
Can Jews conduct audit studies? These are studies in which researchers send out fictitious job or service applications, a random selection of which have a characteristic that may be discriminated against. Researchers then measure the differences in callback rates. This kind of study is often considered ethical because the scientific gains outweigh the deception and lack of consent, but is that the
Can I Make Seltzer On Shabbat?
Can I make seltzer, using a home soda maker, on Shabbat? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Can I Change My Seat in Shul While in Mourning?
Many people in aveilut (mourning) observe a practice of changing their usual seat in shul. But mourners are also supposed to avoid public demonstrations of mourning on Shabbat. If you are in mourning, and going to shul on Shabbat, should you change your seat?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
Why Do We Wait Between Eating Meat and Dairy? Responsa Radio Kids Edition #4
In my family, after eating meat, we wait 3 hours until we eat dairy. Why 3 hours? And why don't I have to wait after eating dairy?Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
How Old Will I Be at the Resurrection of the Dead? Responsa Radio Kids Edition #3
A 5-year-old named Ya'ara asks - when moshiach comes, and people come back from the dead, how old will everyone be? In this episode of Responsa Radio Kids Edition, R. Ethan Tucker and R. Avi Killip discuss the concept of the resurrection of the dead. Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org
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