Rav Silver offers a new rationale for the leniency that one who is uncomfortable is absolved from sitting in the Succah and discusses some practical halachic situations.
Shnei and Shnayim - Rav Silver explores the technical and conceptual differences between the word "shnei" and "shnayim" in the Torah and specifically sheds light on the notion of witnesses in halacha.
Rav Silver explores some halachic issues and problems surrounding Akeidas Yitzchak, and offers an intriguing insight into the difference between financial ownership and getting credit for a sacrifice.
The Talmud says that the Jewish people were forced to accept the Torah at Har Sinai, but did not do so freely. Later commentators question and limit this passage.
Rav Silver explores what is the essential action of the mitzvah of lighting the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash and offers an alternative view to Rav Chaim Soloveitchik's.
Rav Silver was one of the major authorities who wrote about mechitza. We examine some of his major views and positions on these halachos.
We examine Rav Silver's conceptual analysis of giving a get, and the guidance this offers on the process of divorce.
We examine Rav Meir Simcha's conceptual analysis of kiddushin, and how they shed light on the process of getting married.
We examine Rav Henkin's halachic ruling on secular marriages in halacha, and how they shed light on the concept of marriage.
We explore the debate between Rav Saadiah Gaon and Rambam over the best method to establish the Jewish calendar
When did the events of Purim as described in Megillas Esther occur on the calendar? With a discussion of how the three day fast coincided with Pesach that year and if it’s possible to fast three days straight.
We explore the discussion around the Ramban’s position that halachically Nissan must be the first month of the year, with discussion of the halachic issues surrounding using non-Jewish calendar dates.
We explore the Haggadah’s view that Matzah symbolizes that the Jews were rushed from Egypt and couldn’t let their bread rise, through a wide range of commentaries.
We analyze the fascinating view of the Rambam that counting the Omer is not a time bound mitzvah with a number of approaches
We explore the debate over whether or not a woman should count her clean days coming out of niddah, like counting Omer
We analyze the approach of the Maharal that the conversion at Mt Sinai differed fundamentally from subsequent conversions, with discussion of coercion in the acceptance of the Torah
We explore many different perspectives on when the Torah was given and what the holiday of Shavuos commemorates