Sublime

The problem is that the rabbis he respects were almost all murdered.

halakha lies on a continuum between language and law.

the subject matter of Jewish belief is Jewish practice.

subcommunities that prove to be poorly adapted, usually because the barriers between them and non-halakhic cultures are too low, simply cease to exist,

Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe (d. 2005)

The principle is the same each time: expertise, not tradition, is the key to a flourishing society.

In situations that call mainly for common sense and decency, Shimen’s first instinct is to conjure up what his bubbe (grandma) would do.

When new issues arise, popular consensus often precedes rabbinic consensus.

When communities exceed a certain size and inter-personal relationships within the community become overly thin, the urge to seek grounds for splitting becomes irresistible.