Listen "How Responsa Make Meaning: The Case of Non-Jewish Holidays "
Episode Synopsis
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Mark WashofskyThe event was co-sponsored by Temple SolelAbout The Event: Reform Judaism has long taught and preached that our tradition permits us to participate fully in the life of the surrounding culture. But the sources of that tradition seem to communicate a very different message. In our session, we’ll read how two responsa—one Reform and one Orthodox—translate those sources into decisions that draw a (hopefully) proper balance between Jewish distinctiveness and citizenship in the wider world. In doing so, we’ll consider how responsa work to make contemporary meaning out of some very old sacred texts.About The Speaker: Mark Washofsky, emeritus professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, is chair of the Solomon B. Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah. His academic publications focus upon the literature of Jewish law (halakhah) and the application of legal theory to the understanding of the Jewish legal process. He served as chair of the Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis from 1996-2017. He is the author of Reading Reform Responsa: Jewish Tradition, Reform Rabbis, and Today’s Issues and of Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice.
★ Support this podcast ★
More episodes of the podcast Jewish Ideas to Change the World
Jews and Jewish Animals in the Middle Ages
21/10/2025
The Social Aspect of Reincarnation
29/09/2025
Is Teshuvah Possible in the Internet Age?
26/09/2025
Finding Comfort in Jewish Meditation
12/09/2025
Psalms Throughout Our Lives
27/06/2025