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The great Talmudic commentators of the past century have produced some of the most profound and penetrating Talmudic analyses in history. These writings offer us a window into the profound depth and insight of Jewish law and tradition. But often these ideas are not accessible to many people because of their complexity. These audio presentations by Rabbi Elisha Friedman are intended to make some of these insights more widely accessible.

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from It's Genius podcast

Rav Soloveitchik #11 - Fast Days

2026/10/19

The fifth shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, defining the essential nature of fast days as a day of prayer, rather than a day when one cannot eat

Rav Soloveitchik #10 - Honoring Shabbos

2026/10/12

The fourth shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, discussing the basis for the rabbinic obligation to honor Shabbos, and the essential nature of Shabbos versus Yom Tov based on this.

Rav Soloveitchik #9 - Kavanah During Shema

2026/07/05

The second shiur in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, also about Shema.

Rav Soloveitchik #8 - Shema and the Exodus

2026/07/05

Presentation of the first piece in Shiurim L'zecher Abba Mari, about Shema and remembering the Exodus

Rav Soloveitchik #7 - Teshuvah Ideas

2026/07/05

Survey of Rav Soloveitchik's insights into teshuvah, primarily from the work, Al Hateshuvah

Rav Soloveitchik #6 - Dimensions of the Altar

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik resolves a contradiction in the Rambam whether the dimensions of the Mizbeach (altar in the Temple) have to be precise, and develops a fundamental idea regarding the Mizbeach, which is similar to his uncle's, the Brisker Rav.

Rav Soloveitchik #5 - Location of Beit Hamikdash

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik differentiates between the sanctified structure of the Beit Hamikdash and the location upon which it rests, a concept which also applies also to Jerusalem, and which the Brisker Rav also discusses

Rav Soloveitchik #4 - Sanctity of a Sotah Scroll

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik formulates a new understanding of the status of the Sotah scroll, and debates the issue with Reb Yitzchak Hutner

Rav Soloveitchik #3 - Lulav on the Second Day

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik analyzes the difference between Lulav on the first and second days and explains the views of the Rambam and Rashi

Rav Soloveitchik #2 - Gifts to the Poor

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik articulates a fundamental distinction between the obligatory gifts of produce to the poor vs. the tithes to the Kohein, and the Chazon Ish disagrees with him.

Rav Soloveitchik #1 - Sanctifying the Calendar

2026/07/05

Rav Soloveitchik builds on insights from Reb Chaim and Reb Moshe to explain how we sanctify the calendar nowadays without a Jewish court

Rav Reines #5 - Principles of Aggadah

2026/07/05

1. Explanatipn of Sanhedrin 92b and two models of spiritual development. 2. Explanation of Shabbat 88a and the connection between the Jewish people and the Etrog. (Based on Chotem Tochnit, chs. 6 & 7, pgs. 185-260.)

Rav Reines #4 - Middle Ground in Halacha

2026/07/05

Explanation of the Rambam's view that a minor girl can give consent (based on Chotem Tochnit, pgs. 287-320)

Rav Reines #3 - Principles vs. Details

2026/07/05

Explanation of the line in Succah 18a differentiating between the laws of Tumah vs. Succah, with a comparison to R. Chaim Brisker. (Based on Chotem Tochnit, ch. 4, pgs. 156-69)

Rav Reines #2 - Effects on Behavior

2026/07/05

Rav Reines explains the discussion in Sanhedrin 29a about a witness who hates the person he's testifying about. (Based on Chotem Tochnit, ch. 3, pgs. 136-56)