Halacha Headlines

Do we also receive a Neshamah Yeseirah on Yom Tov? Does it have any effect on our capacity to eat? Is there any medical or scientific basis for the claim that calories are “absorbed” by the Neshamah Yeseirah and therefore don’t count on Shabbos and Yom Tov? What are some practical ways to manage our eating on Pesach while still fully enjoying the Yom Tov? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen – Dean of Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos, author of 5 seforim – 14:14 with Dr. Diana (Miriam) Isaacs – Endocrine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Cleveland Clinic – 34:45 with Coach K – licensed social worker in New Jersey and Running Coach – 55:26 with Adam Ezekiel – certified fitness trainer and performance coach – 1:15:08 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:28:15 מראי מקומות  Sign-up to jog or walk with Coach K at: https://www.runnergize.com/headlines Sign-up to exercise with Adam Ezekiel at: https://www.soulactive.health/30daychallenge   

What makes gambling so alluring, and how widespread is it? To what extent is gambling linked to following professional sports? What strategies are effective in helping someone quit gambling? Should watching professional sports be banned? If a child uses a parent’s credit card to gamble without permission, is that considered stealing? Halachically speaking, is the parent responsible for charges made by the child? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – Rav of Bais Haknesses of North Woodmere, Head of Semicha at RIETs  – 18:06 with Dr. Jacob Freedman – psychiatrist, speaker and author – 48:02 with Menachem Poznanski, LCSW – Director of The Living Room – 1:04:36 with Ike Dweck – Founder and CEO of the Safe Foundation – 1:35:55 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:59:29 מראי מקומות   

Does collateral damage in war have a limit – can you destroy a missile base that will kill many civilians in the town nearby. Can you hit a nuclear reactor that will contaminate millions? Are citizens who support the regime considered combatants? What Issurim can you be Doche because of mental health – using phones on Shabbos, or other electric devices that will calm them down?  Does Iran have a Din of an active Rodef if it's only something in the future – they're in middle of making a nuclear bomb that won't be ready for another two years? Is it a Milchemes Mitzvah to start it on Shabbos ?  Can you be Mechalel Shabbos for preventive action – such as attacking on Shabbos to preempt an act (Is it תלוי בהותרה או דחויה- smoking while driving a tank)? Do you have to go to a shelter (odds of getting hurt are very small)? Is a tank Chayuv in Mezuza? Can you make it into a Sukkah? Light Chanukah Neiros? Can you listen do the Megillah on zoom? And more.... with Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman – Rosh Kollel of World Musmachim Semicha Kollel, Senior Educator at the Zomet Institute of Halacha and Technology,  Captain (Res.) IDF Rabbinate – 19:17 with Rabbi Elyada Goldvicht – Rov in Ranana, Founder and heaod of Semichas Chaver – 53:04 מראי מקומות   

Can a family member who is less qualified be hired before a more qualified candidate? Must admissions be based on merit? When is nepotism allowed? Can the Menahel/Principal keep any donations (bribes?) made to him personally? What if they are non-monetary, like expensive liquor, a new megillah, etc. Can the son of the Menahel sell access to his father? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Eliezer Breitowitz – Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Toronto – 15:48 with Mr. Chaim Book – Senior Partner at Book Law LLP in New York – 48:30 with Benjamin A. Goldburd – Partner at Goldburd McCone LLP – 48:30 with Rabbi Jonathan (Yoni) Schick – president of GOAL Consulting Group – 1:15:20 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:33:54 מראי מקומות   

Mark Schreck, a veteran frum divorce attorney; Dr. Jacob Friedman, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist; Dr. Shmuel Harris, expert on personality disorders; Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig, halakhic mental-health advocate; and Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Lowy, prominent posek. They explore nondisclosure of disorders in marriage. They discuss mikveh and intimacy used as leverage. They cover when to involve secular courts and how personality disorders shape litigation and treatment.

What’s the best path for serving Hashem in our generation? Does it have to be one or the other? Can it be a combination? Host: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg – Rov of Boca Raton Synagogue with Rabbi Daniel Glatstein – Rov of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai Cedarhurst NY, Renowned lecturer and author – 8:26 with Rabbi Yaakov Danishefsky – Rov Avodas HaLev in Chicago – Mechaber Seforim, LCSW – 28:28 מראי מקומות   

Can a woman receive semicha and give halachic guidance? Does the historical precedent against it prohibit change? Does is violate our Mesorah? Is the Israeli Supreme Court’s push for women’s Rabbanut Semicha a religious goal or part of a broader feminist push? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Yonah Reiss – Av Beis Din of the CRC – 11:17 with Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, Esq. – kashrus professional and Chairman of the Rabbinic Circle at Coalition for Jewish Values – 39:53 with Rebbitzen Miriam Kosman – lecturer for Nefesh Yehudi, Author of "Circle, Arrow, Spiral: Exploring Gender in Judaism" – 54:33 with Mrs. Michal Horowitz – lecturer and teacher, author of “Abled: Living with a Disability, a Torah View” – 1:16:24 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:29:55 מראי מקומות   

Mrs. Debbie Fox, licensed clinical social worker and seminary-support advocate, and Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, forensic and clinical psychologist, join Dr. Shmuel Harris and Dr. Yaakov Friedman, psychiatrists working with young adults, plus Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz, halachic adviser on mental-health questions. They explore mental-health risks for students in Israel, gender differences in presentation, when schools should be told, confidentiality challenges, and prevention and school-based supports.

Do you need a human mind for Psak? Do you need Shimush? Do you need human emotion for Psak? Can a computer be called שופט שבימיך? And much more…… Why would there be a Kol Korah against AI? with Rabbi Dovid Cohen – Rov of Gvul Yaavetz – 6:27 with Rabbi Hershel Schachter – Rosh Yeshivah of YU, Poseik of the OU – 8:07 with Rabbi Yoni Levin – Rosh Yeshiva of South Florida, Assistant Rov of Aish Kodesh, Woodmere NY – 11:04 with Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky – Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah of Greater Washington Tiferes Gedaliyahu – 21:11 with Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt – Associate Rabbi of Young Israel of Woodmere – 47:39 with Rabbi Chezki Glatt – Magid Shiur Yehivah Toras Shraga, Founder of AI startup – 47:39 מראי מקומות   

Rabbi Elyada Goldvicht, Rav of KLR in Ra'anana, and Rabbi Duvi Rubin, Rav in Baltimore, join Richard Simon, author of 'Unplug', to discuss combating phone addiction. They share insights from 30-day challenges designed to reduce phone use, emphasizing small, community-driven steps to create lasting change. Richard recounts his personal journey of quitting his smartphone for a year, detailing the struggles and transformations he experienced, from improved relationships to a more present lifestyle. Practical tips, community accountability, and follow-ups are key themes.