When a mysterious document purporting to permit kohanim to attend medical school surfaces, controversy ensues—involving the likes of R. Shimon Schwab, R. Shlomo Goren, and, of course, R. Moshe Feinstein. In this week’s “Unpacking the Iggerot,” Moshe Kurtz takes us through a fascinating episode in contemporary halakha that has the potential to imperil the ambitions of many Jewish mothers who would like nothing more than say, “My son, Dr. Cohen”!

May a child assume the consequences of their parents’ sins? Is a child obligated to do so? In this installment of Unpacking the Iggerot, Moshe Kurtz shares a fascinating debate between Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and his contemporaries about the nature of vicarious punishment.

Can I donate my way out of Divine punishment? Is it un-Jewish to confess to a member of the clergy? In this installment of “Unpacking the Iggerot,” Moshe Kurtz distills Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s approach to fasting, repentance, penance and much more.

What happens when the values of kashrut and family cohesion collide? In this installment, Moshe Kurtz’s “Unpacking the Iggerot” explores how R. Moshe Feinstein helped families navigate the halakhic complexities of dining at the same table and managing family ties while maintaining vastly different levels of Torah observance.