Across history, many rabbis wrote down the questions they were asked. These questions—and their answers—are published in some six thousand books of “rabbinic responsa.”

This topic is fascinating for two reasons:

1. When a Jew in Auschwitz asks whether he can save his only son because someone else would be killed in his place, the question alone tells a whole heartbreaking story.

Some of the questions we’ll explore are relatively mundane (1866, Jerusalem: “Is this strange new breed of chicken kosher?”). Others are more exotic (1380, Valencia, Spain: “Is it legal to buy up half the seats in the synagogue and charge rent?”). But every single one of these questions gives us a direct view of how our ancestors lived, what problems they faced, and what they valued.

2. We’ll see how sages came up with clear answers to questions nobody had ever asked before, giving us a unique window into how Jewish law works—and where all Judaism’s customs and rules came from.

It’s a chance to be a fly on the wall as these sages investigate the facts, weigh Talmudic precedent, and ensure that key values—like human dignity—are protected in their final decision.

This course will give you a new appreciation for your Jewish past and the beauty and sophistication of Judaism itself.