In this episode of the Tradition Podcast we update our listeners on some happenings over on our website, TraditionOnline.org. Chaim Strauchler has been offering us “Tradition Questions” prodding us to think about an array of issues facing religious life. That column is now going off on hiatus and we spoke with Chaim about the answers and insights he found in the course of “Tradition Questions.” Moshe Kurtz has presented 30 installments in his “Unpacking the Iggerot” series, exploring the background and reception history of R. Moshe Feinstein’s most consequential response in the Iggerot Moshe. We catch up hi, Moshe to survey what’s been accomplished in that series as it goes off on summer break.

The Tradition Podcast brings together Marc Herman and Ahron Adler to discuss aspects of their common work on Maimonides. Among other topics, they consider differences in approach to Maimonidean research carried out by academicians as opposed to a rabbinic educator who benefits from certain academic methods, and how Adler synthesized traditional “yeshiva style” learning with academic tools in his new book, reviewed by Herman recently in TRADITION. 

TRADITION’s subscribers have already received our recent issue containing content commemorating R. Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l, timed with his 10th yahrzeit marked this month. Five years ago we were pleased to publish Tonya Mittelman’s essay, “Women in the Torah World in the Thought of Rabbi Lichtenstein.” Toni, a distinguished educator and daughter of R. Lichtenstein, joins Mali Brofsky to discuss the article in our podcast.

As we mark the 10th yahrzeit of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l  the Tradition Podcast catches up with two contributors to our recent Spring issue exploring his thought. Alongside a never-before published essay by R. Lichtenstein, “Relevance and Reverence,” exploring challenges in Jewish education – we bring you Michael S. Berger’s analysis of its ongoing relevance. In this episode we talk with Michael about the topics raised in the two essays. Later in the episode we hear from Shlomo Zuckier about his contribution to the volume, revisiting R. Lichtenstein’s classic essay, “Does Jewish Tradition Recognize an Ethic Independent of Halakha.”