It's Genius - Think Like a Lamdan

Rav Soloveitchik #11 - Fast Days

The fifth shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, defining the essential nature of fast days as a day of prayer, rather than day when one cannot eat

Rav Soloveitchik #10 - Honoring Shabbos

The fourth shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, discussing the basis for the rabbinic obligation to honor Shabbos, and the essential nature of Shabbos versus Yom Tov base

Rav Soloveitchik #9 - Kavanah During Shema

The second shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, also about Shema.

Rav Soloveitchik #8 - Shema and the Exodus

Presentation of the first piece in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, about Shema and remembering the Exodus

Rav Soloveitchik #7 - Teshuvah Ideas

Survey of Rav Soloveitchik's insights into teshuvah, primarily from the work, Al Hateshuvah

Rav Soloveitchik #6 - Dimensions of the Altar

Rav Soloveitchik resolves a contradiction in the Rambam whether the dimensions of the Mizbeach (altar in the Temple) have to be precise, and develops a fundamental idea r

Rav Soloveitchik #5 - Location of Beit Hamikdash

Rav Soloveitchik differentiates between the sanctified structure of the Beit Hamikdash and the location upon which it rests, a concept which also applies also to Jerusale

Rav Soloveitchik #4 - Sanctity of a Sotah Scroll

Rav Soloveitchik formulates a new understanding of the status of the Sotah scroll, and debates the issue with Reb Yitzchak Hutner

Rav Soloveitchik #3 - Lulav on the Second Day

Rav Soloveitchik analyzes the difference between Lulav on the first and second days and explains the views of the Rambam and Rashi

Rav Soloveitchik #2 - Gifts to the Poor

Rav Soloveitchik articulates a fundamental distinction between the obligatory gifts of produce to the poor vs. the tithes to the Kohein, and the Chazon Ish disagrees with

Rav Soloveitchik #1 - Sanctifying the Calendar

Rav Soloveitchik builds on insights from Reb Chaim and Reb Moshe to explain how we sanctify the calendar nowadays without a Jewish court

Rav Reines #5 - Principles of Aggadah

1. Explanatipn of Sanhedrin 92b and two models of spiritual development. 2. Explanation of Shabbat 88a and the connection between the Jewish people and the Etrog. (Based

Rav Reines #4 - Middle Ground in Halacha

Explanation of the Rambam's view that a minor girl can give consent (based on Chotem Tochnit, pgs. 287-320)

Rav Reines #3 - Principles vs. Details

Explanation of the line in Succah 18a differentiating between the laws of Tumah vs. Succah, with a comparison to R. Chaim Brisker. (Based on Chotem Tochnit, ch. 4, pgs. 1

Rav Reines #2 - Effects on Behavior

Rav Reines explains the discussion in Sanhedrin 29a about a witness who hates the person he's testifying about. (Based on Chotem Tochnit, ch. 3, pgs. 136-56)

Rav Reines #1 - Principles of Halacha

Introduction to the conceptual system of R. Yitzchak Yaakov Reines, rav of Lida and founder of Mizrachi, and explanation of Moed Katan 2b (based on Chotem Tochnit, ch. 2,

Rogatchover #11 - Rosh Hashana Night

Presentation of the Rogatchover's bold idea that Rosh Hashana doesn't fully begin until late morning

Rogatchover #10 - Roundup of Ideas

Survey of nine of the Rogatchover's ideas, based on R. Moshe Kasher's sefer

Rogatchover #9 - Marriage in Halacha

The Rogatchover explores the nature of halachic marriage, including the status of secular marriage

Rogatchover #8 - Boundaries in Halacha

The Rogatchover explores the nature of borders in halacha