Category Archives: Marc B. Shapiro

Willing Sinners Vs Unwilling Sinners

From the second lecture on the Rabbi Abraham Samuel Sofer (Ketav Sofer) for Torah in Motionby Orthodox rabbi and history professor Marc B. Shapiro: The Ketav Sofer was more moderate than his father, the Hatam Sofer. “Do you have to … Continue reading

Posted in Marc B. Shapiro, Orthodoxy | Comments Off on Willing Sinners Vs Unwilling Sinners

When Mechitzas Weren’t Kosher

From the second lecture on the Rabbi Abraham Samuel Sofer (Ketav Sofer) for Torah in Motionby Orthodox rabbi and history professor Marc B. Shapiro: “In those days (19th Century), you didn’t have mechitzas in Hungary. You had women up in … Continue reading

Posted in Marc B. Shapiro, Orthodoxy | Comments Off on When Mechitzas Weren’t Kosher

What’s The Difference Between A Torah Scholar And A Gadol?

In a lecture on rabbinic biographies for Torah in Motion, Orthodox rabbi and history professor Marc B. Shapiro says: “In the haredi world [ultra-Orthodoxy], [Rav J.B. Soloveitchik] is recognized as a Torah scholar but not as a gadol [great rabbi]. … Continue reading

Posted in Marc B. Shapiro, Orthodoxy, R. J. B. Soloveitchik, Rabbis | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s The Difference Between A Torah Scholar And A Gadol?

Racist Statements In Torah

DF writes to Marc B. Shapiro: You assert that some things, viz, negative comments about non-Jews or blacks, should be kept out of school. But there are many such statements, about both categories, in rabbinic works down throughout the centuries. … Continue reading

Posted in Marc B. Shapiro, Race, Yeshiva | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Racist Statements In Torah

It’s OK To Go To Lectures By Old Ladies

Marc B. Shapiro writes: “Who says we make no distinctions between a regular woman and what I termed a “very old” woman. R. Aviner told me that in his opinion it is forbidden to attend a lecture given by a … Continue reading

Posted in Marc B. Shapiro, Orthodoxy | Comments Off on It’s OK To Go To Lectures By Old Ladies