May one pray for God to hasten the passing of a suffering patient? Does the patient have a say in the matter? Is it a mitzva to prolong life as long as possible? Moshe Kurtz elucidates how R. Moshe Feinstein, and his “opponent,” R. Eliezer Waldenberg, approached these critical questions—and how it might shed light on an additional major debate they had concerning abortion.

What happens when a popular Jewish musician’s reputation is thrown into question? What, if anything, must be done with his countless compositions? In his latest installment, Moshe Kurtz breaks down R. Moshe Feinstein’s approach to Christian music, niggunim, and more.

Who let the dogs in? (Into shul, that is.) When a blind person attends services with a service dog it opens up a Pandora’s box for how R. Feinstein and his contemporaries should address the growing ubiquity of support and service animals within the synagogue—and our tradition. Moshe Kurtz considers pups in the pews in this next installment of “Unpacking the Iggerot.”

Does halakha care about our feelings? This might be one of those instances where it actually depends on the context. In the fourth installment of “Unpacking the Iggerot,” Moshe Kurtz investigates to what extent kavod ha-beriyot, human dignity, plays a role in R. Moshe Feinstein’s halakhic decision-making.