29. Money, Mikvah and Minhag: The Rise of "Big Funeral" - Feat. Rabbi Daniel Sayani

Shu"T First, Ask Questions Later

In this episode, Rabbi Daniel Sayani presents two diametrically opposed traditions of approaching Taharah and other post-mortem religious practices. The Mystical/Sephardic approach found in Responsa Yaskil Avdi (Y.D. 4:24) and the pragmatic/"litvishe" approach espoused by the Igros Moshe (Y.D. 3:135-137). We discuss the later innovation of dipping the deceased into the mikvah and what such practices mean theologically and economically for the common Jew.