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In celebration of 100 episodes of Responsa Radio, we're re-releasing our favorites with an update from Rav Eitan and Rav Avi at the end of the episode. Rav Avi's favorite is episode #24: Brit Milah is an ancient and well-known ceremony to welcome boys into the world, but there's no such long-standing, equal ritual for girls. How should we think about this, and what are steps for the future when creating rituals like this?

When kids ask big questions, how do you respond? Whether you are parent, educator, or just a curious person, you've probably asked yourself the same questions. This podcast doesn’t have all the answers, but it can give you language and frameworks to engage meaningfully with these questions.  Every week, Rabbi Shai Held invites an expert guest to explore a big question: Who is God? Why did God create the world? Why do bad things happen? No pressure.  

I want to be more observant. Where do I start?  Rav Avi and Rav Eitan reflect on this important question as they also celebrate our 100th episode!  In honor of our 100th episode, over the next few weeks we will be updating and re-releasing some of our favorite episodes ever. Stay tuned!

Why might cheese not be kosher even if all the ingredients are? What does this say about relationships between Jews and non-Jews today?

For centuries, the process of halakhah has relied on a rabbi or posek, someone who is learned in Jewish texts, who has trained for years to be a resource for our halakhic questions. But now, with the release of large language models like ChatGPT, I'm wondering: is the human interaction an essential part of the halakhic process, or can I get my halakhic answers from an AI chatbot?

If I find myself at a large Hanukkah party or a communal gathering where Hanukkah candles are lit, do I still need light when I get home? If I do, is it okay to say the blessing two times? What if I said the blessing at Ma'ariv while leading the service? Does it matter how late I'm getting home? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.

My shul has started reciting extra Tehilim and adding the Mi SheBerakh for captives. I've heard that some communities in Israel are saying Avinu Malkeinu every day, even on Shabbat. Is that something we should be doing? How should we be thinking about liturgical changes right now? How will we know when it's time to stop saying Tehilim? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.

What is our obligation to redeem captives from a halakhic perspective? How far does this obligation extend and are there limits? Email us at responsa@hadar.org if you have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio.

There's a new community that just started in my neighborhood and I want to check them out but I heard they use instruments during their Shabbat service. What is the problem with instruments on Shabbat? What are the factors I should think about when working out if I want to attend this service?

I live in Australia and I have a Zoom call with someone in the UK. The call is scheduled at 9:00 PM for me and 12:00 PM for them - it is therefore not Shabbat for me but *is* Shabbat for them. Do I have to reschedule this Zoom call? Am I allowed to be involved with someone else doing violating Shabbat when I'm not doing anything wrong at all?

I have a blue tallit with white tzitzit. Someone recently told me that the tallit is supposed to be white. Is this true? Do I have to go out and get a white tallit? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.

After learning about green burials and mushroom death suits, I’m wondering about halakhic implications of such burials. It seems to me that such methods for burial uphold the charge to go up to the dust even better than traditional burial where the body remains intact in a casket or even sometimes in a concrete box for a very long time. Should all Jews switch to a mushroom burial? Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at responsa@hadar.org.