June 6, 2024

Unpacking the Iggerot: Malevolent Music

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.
May 23, 2024

Unpacking the Iggerot: Pups in the Pews

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.”
May 9, 2024

Unpacking the Iggerot: Power and Parameters of Human Dignity

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.
April 18, 2024

Unpacking the Iggerot: Breaking Away & Crossing Lines

In our next installment of “Unpacking the Iggerot,” Moshe Kurtz investigates how R. Feinstein adjudicated a contentious dispute over a breakaway minyan, and what it means for the broader topics of economic competition, employment rights, and rabbinic authority.