Language of Halacha

In order to understand the tension between Jewish ethics and halacha we must first define each. In this course with Rav Yoni Rosensweig we will explore the language of Halacha, in order to understand its defining features and the way a Halachist uses this language in order to orient himself to the world. We will explore such issues as: Is Halacha dogmatic? Is it a pure intellectual discipline? Why does Halacha seem to deal with many irrelevant issues? Why is it so detailed? Why do Halachic conclusions seem to contradict our simple morality from time to time?”
Rav Yoni is rabbi of the Netzach Menashe community in Beit Shemesh and is a renowned teacher of Halakha, Gemara and Jewish thought. From 2006-2009 he served as Rosh Kollel of the Mizrahi community in Melbourne, Australia. Upon his return, he headed Yeshivat Hamivtar, and then became Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Shevut Yisrael in Efrat, a post which he held until 2016. He currently teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum. Rav Yoni has semikha from Rav Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch and from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and degrees in education, philosophy and history. He is the author of “Yishrei Lev,” a three-volume responsa on different halakhic questions, and of “Conversations in Essence,” in which he engages in imaginary dialogue with great Jewish thinkers from the past.