Half Measures: Eating and Pleasure on Yom Kippur
To be delivered at GGS after Minchah, Shabbat Shuvah 5773
Left Leaning? Anatomy and the Seder
To be delivered at GGS after Minchah, Shabbat HaGadol 5772
Discover how Jewish Law is meeting the Challenges of Cyberspace
LSJS Jan – Mar 2012
From the LSJS Website:
The Internet and the inexorable growth of modern technology have produced some fraught and fascinating dilemmas for Jewish law.
Just what exactly do modern halachists have to say about issues of copyright law in cyberspace?
What are their sometimes controversial rulings on software pirating, downloading music and surfing the Net using a neighbour’s connection?
Find out what the law is about automated commerce on Shabbat and shared ownership in shady businesses.
Explore the possibilities when it comes to balancing religious obligations with the modern realities of Internet commerce.
On this course you will:
Consider whether halachah recognises intellectual property and other intangibles
Examine an acrimonious copyright dispute that made Jewish legal history
Discuss how halachah views the ‘pirating’ of music, videos and software
Wrestle with the ‘eBay dilemma’ – the auction that ends on Shabbat
Compare a man convicted of ‘piggy-backing’ on a Wi-Fi connection with his 3rd-century counterpart
Course Outline
Session 1: Introduction to Copyright and Intellectual Property
Session 2: More Copyright, Software Piracy and Intellectual Property
Session 3: Erasing God's Name from a Disk, Screen or Website
Sessions 4 & 5: Internet Commerce & Shabbat
Session 6: 'Piggybacking' on a WIFI Connection
Session 7: Electricity on Shabbat: Rabbi S.Z. Auerbach v. Chazon Ish
Yom Kippur and Rabbinic Licence
To be delivered after Minchah (5.50pm) at GGS, Shabbat Shuvah 5772
The Odd end of Kashrut
LSJS June – July 2011
From the LSJS website:
When is a fish no longer fit for a banquet? When it comes to kosher turkey, is it all gobbledygook? Why is whisky risky? And, why is cheese a veritable kosher mouse-trap?
It was once on the London Beth Din’s official kashrut list until the then Chief Rabbi turned away his turbot at a banquet. Explore why this superb and expensive fish is not considered edible for Jews and get to grips with its fascinating anatomy.
You might have thought that the tasty turkey was not subject to allegations of kosher foul play but you’d be wrong. Examine in-depth why this bird has a difficult time proving its kosher credentials and see how it has managed to live another day in the kosher kitchen.
It’s hard to imagine how there could be anything controversial when it comes to cheese. But take a look at the mix of milk and meat that goes into your cheddar and you’ll wonder if you’re crackers to eat it at all.
It’s not to everyone’s taste but whisky remains a firm favourite when it comes to a ‘L’Chaim!’ Find out why the casks that contain whisky are potentially problematic and see how mixing your sherry and Glenfiddich is never a good thing.
Session 1: Why is Cheese Kosher?
Session 2: The Turbot Conundrum Session 3: Why is Turkey kosher?
Session 4: Why is Whisky kosher?
The fight over kitniot and the Jaffa oil controversy of 1909
Student Beit Midrash at LSJS 12/04/11 (last few minutes missing)
Why is Turkey Kosher? A Study in Meta-halachic Ingenuity
Student Beit Midrash at LSJS March 2011
Session 1: Gemara, Rishonim and Shulchan Aruch
Session 2: Darkey Teshuvah 1 and Responsa
Session 3: Darkey Teshuva 2 and shifting the burden of proof
The Milk Controversy and why Cheese is Kosher
Student Beit Midrash at LSJS February 2011
Session 1: The Gemara and meta-halachic considerations
Session 2: Milk powder, chocolate and modern production
Session 3: Why is cheese kosher?
Kol Ishah in early and modern texts
Women’s Chaburah 06/06/10