Hear how the principle of lomdus has changed the way orthodox Jews interpet Halacha. This relatively modern development in Halachic decision making and interpretation has come to be almost universally accepted and yet is held out as the way it always was.  Have we been dumbed down?

Rabbis are taught not to think for themselves.  They are afraid to say  what they really think, if they believe it challenges conventional wisdom.  Hear how the pricniple of lomdus has changed the way mainstream modern Jews interpet Halachka. Is that a good thing?

A proof from the Rambam that it's fine to speak between washing hands and starting the meal.  The Rosh has a private custom not to do so.  A critique of the Rama's opinion that even waiting 7 seconds is itself an interruption between hand-washing and the meal.  Should you wash hands before praying?

You can wash your hands just once a day, if you're aware that your hands remain clean.  The Talmud and geonim agree on it.  Ashkenazi rabbis demur.  Plus:  There's no unambiguous Talmudic source for not speaking between washing hands and starting the meal.

The writings of Shabtai Ben-Dov illustrate the pattern of Jewish passivity, including the reluctance to rebuild of the Temple. This very attitude is at the root of our response regarding plans to uproot Jews from their land and regarding the massacre at Merkaz HaRav.

Discover the reason that we insist on referring to the massacre as a holy sanctification. Hear a critique of Rav Tsvi Yehuda Kook’s statement about how we should treat Arabs. Learn about the root of the exilic mentality that emphasizes passivity and helplessness and relying on miracles.

Hear the Rambam’s definition of a “santicification of G-d’s name.” Maybe the slaughter was a desecration of Hashem’s name? Did victims of the Holocaust die in a sanctification of G-d’s name? Learn why our exilic mentality leads us erroneously to think that such murders are inevitable and that we are helpless. Understand how our reaction to the Mercaz massacre reflects the same mindset. Plus: Learn why it’s a desecration of Hashem's name that we accept living in exile.

Ramban says a majority can decide not to fast. How do you apply this rule? The Rambam provides a simpler psak.

When don't you fast? Rashi says when Jews are sovereign, Ramban says during Temple times. Are Jews sovereign today?

 On a different issue, the Rambam rules according to popular practice, though here he does not. 

Does the fixed calendar change our practice or not?  The logic behind keeping two days in Eress Yisrael today.  How to decide between two major poskim.  Tefillin during the second day. 

Eress Yisrael kept one day for seven centuries, until outsiders forced them to change.  Here's the proof. 

The Rambam says to keep one day of Rosh Hodesh in Eress Yisrael, but two days of Rosh haShannah.  Why?

Jews even outside Eress Yisrael kept only one day.  So says Rashi.  Tosafoth disagree.  What makes the Jewish calendar different from the others?  The advantage of relying on witnesses - and not a fixed calender - for the new moon.