“Orthodoxy in Theory and Practice” Series Online

This spring, a collaborative series of public conversations on Orthodoxy took place between two knowledgeable rabbinic scholars. “Orthodoxy in Theory and Practice” featured Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and Rabbi Aryeh Klapper, Dean of the Center for Modern Torah Leadership, in conversation with each other.

The first conversation, “When Can You Pasken for Yourself?”, took place at Kadimah Toras-Moshe in Boston in March and was moderated by Dr. Ann Geller; the second, “Can Halakha Always Be Inclusive?”, took place at Harvard Hillel in April and featured a video call in by Shelley Richman Cohen of The Jewish Inclusion Project; the third, “Is There Such a Thing as Modern Orthodox Psak?”, took place at Lincoln Square Synagogue in May and was moderated by Devorah Zlochower; and the fourth and final conversation, “Texting and Electricity on Shabbat”, took place at the Hebrew Institute in Riverdale in June and was moderated by Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff.

Fortunately for those of us who were unable to attend the discussions, these discussions were recorded on YouTube and the videos are available at the following links:

1. “When Can You Pasken for Yourself?” (however, the audio on this first recording cuts in and out…)
2. “Can Halakha Always Be Inclusive?”
3. “Is There Such a Thing as Modern Orthodox Psak?”
4. “Texting and Electricity on Shabbat”

It would seem that the involvement in this series by Rabbi Klapper was part of CMTL’s expanded operations since the fall.  I greatly enjoyed listening to this series (especially while driving (I had used one of those websites that extract the audio from YouTube videos and make it into an mp3 file, then just listened to this series while driving)) and highly recommend it! I hope Rabbi Linzer and Rabbi Klapper are able to explore further such issues in the future – it was really great to see them interact and it was certainly a treat to be able to experience that interaction.