From Moses to Auschwitz: Rabbinic Responsas

The Rabbi discusses Responsas

What do you do when Jewish law meets real life, and real life is messy, terrifying, or morally impossible?

In this episode, we dive into rabbinic responsa: the centuries-old Jewish tradition of posing urgent, practical, and often heartbreaking questions to Rabbis. From ancient debates about matzah to modern dilemmas involving technology, medicine, and identity, responsa form Judaism’s living case law.

We explore how this system developed from Moses and the Sanhedrin, through the Talmud, medieval Spain, Soviet Russia, and even Auschwitz, where a single question forced a rabbi and a father to confront the most agonizing moral choice imaginable.

Along the way, we laugh a little, debate, and uncover why Jews have always believed that how you ask a question can matter just as much as the answer.

Jewish law, moral philosophy, historical survival, and one very uncomfortable Pesach pastry, all in one episode.