We begin our close reading of Rambam's הקדמה (Hakdamah), the Introduction to the Mishneh Torah, his great compilation of Jewish law and arguably *the* most impressive work of halakhah ever written. In this installment: Rambam on the origin and the history of the תורה שבעל פה (Torah sheb`al peh), the "Oral Torah."

Get the source sheet at www.freehofinstitute.org/podcast.

The second and concluding installment of our look at Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's introduction to his collected responsa, where he sets forth his theory of why the contemporary posek (halakhic authority) is entitled - and even obligated - to undertake the daunting task of speaking in the name of Torah and halakhah. Does his view of the matter have anything to teach us? Does it have anything in common with our own progressive outlook?

Get the source sheet at www.freehofinstitute.org/podcast.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the leading Orthodox poskim(halakhic authorities) of the 20th century, was certainly no liberal or progressive. But his theory of halakhic decision has much to teach us. At least… we think so, and in the next several episodes we’re going to explore that theory, which he sets forth in the הקדמה (introduction, preface) to his collected responsa.

Part 1: why maybe I shouldn’t have been a posek!

Download the source sheet at www.freehofinstitute.org/podcast.