Machshava:

History,  Philosophy of Halacha 

Holidays:

Taaniot (fasts),  Yom Hashoah 

Collections: R' Kurtz Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later

Description

What happens when a posek steps into the realm of history? Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, one of today's leading Jewish scholars, assesses the historical claims advanced in a late responsum of R. Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, Y.D. 4:57:11) against instituting new fast days. R. Dr. Schacter raises several fundamental questions that arise from R. Feinstein's analysis. Chief among them - what happens when a halacha appears to be predicated on a historical error?