Q&A-Sin Causing Pain, Kedoshim & Modern Bathroom Halachos

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism.

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• What did Shem and Ever learn that was able to occupy Yaakov day and night for 14 years?
• The kosher vinegar scandal in the 1980s. I assume the Rav knows about the details, but in short it was discovered that a commonly used ethyl alcohol was accidentally labeled kosher despite coming from grapes which lacked insufficient supervision (Stam Yayin). If anything, kashrus industrialization has become more widespread. If the same case would have happened today (or if the Rav was pasking then), would we have to kasher all of our keilim?Although bitul would have been the easiest answer, it seems to me that wouldn't apply because the taste of all the products is affected strongly (I assume) by a sharp ingredient like vinegar.
• How does Yotzei v'Nichnas work for Masgichim if they are under lockdown and can't get to production plants (especially in Italy, Asia, etc.)?
• The Abarbenel in Parshat Tazria says that a yoledes brings a chatos because "Ein Yesurim Belo Avon" "vhayoledes savlah tzarah sacanah milsah al avanmi". This implies that every woman that gives birth has suffered pain in doing so. Would this mean that a woman that has never done an avairah wouldn't be able to give birth? How can we understand this?
• It is very confusing for me to know which papers are considered sheimus and require burial and which can be discarded. For example tests my children take and other school work that contain some type of Torah thoughts, pamphlets and magazines that have within them Torah content.I was told by someone over the phone at OU Israel, when asking what to do with their weekly booklet, that I can wrap it in a plastic bag and discard it with the other recyclable papers (there is a bin for recycling papers next to the garbage been here in Israel)
• Can one who stopped grooming at the beginning of sefira get a haircut or shave this Friday because this Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh?
• What exactly is and is not allowed to be said or thought in a modern bathroom? I understand that neither Hashem's name nor a pasuk from the 5 books of Moshe should be said (& preferably not thought either). However, Hashem exists literally everywhere, he is permeating our existence, he is also the bathroom itself! What precautions are chumras and what is the ikar that we are not supposed to think or say in a modern bathroom?
• Is it minhag yershalyuim to wear stockings, if the community you are involved in is kollel?
• Can one daven with a minyan where the chazzan wears a messiach badge with the crown and flag ?
• Why are people that were killed because of they are Jews for example in the Holocaust referred to as kedoshim if many were Sinners and rejected their religion and if given the choice would reject Judaism to save their lives?
• How is a person yotzei the mitzvah of peru u'revu, and how would one apply the gemara in berachos that seemingly talks more about davening to have a son?
• If, Chas VeShalom, a War breaks out in Eretz Yisrael, would it have the din of milchemes mitzvah and if so would Yeshiva bochorim be required to fight?
• Does the concept of not studying TaNaCh after sunset until chatzot apply on Shabbas and Yom Tov too?
• Can you read mispacha magazine in the bathroom?
• What is Hashem's Shechina?
• Is someone allowed to generally clean/organize their house/room on shabbos ?
• How do we understand the concept of Suffik D'Rabbanon L'Hakel? Why are we more meikel? Especially for "easy" d'rabbanon like Sefiras Ha Omer, if it's a suffik, why was Chazal Meikel?

TAZRIA-METZORA 5780

(Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)