The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Why is there zero tolerance for pictures of women in the yeshiva world when there are such explicit depictions in Chazal? 06:05 What is the difference between a kofer and an apikores? 07:46 How do we understand the concept of kollel (work combined with learning)? 25:44 Is the Rambam's standard of hours learning and working good for everyone? 29:21 Why does the Torah "hype up" Torah—in that it self promotes? 31:05 Could the Rav expound on the hidden tzadikim of the dor? 36:30 What is the meaning of Lshem Yichud? 42:14 What is the ko'ach of the month of Tammuz/What should we tap into? 45:22 Will we be able to commit sins after mashiach comes? 52:24 What is the meaning of the phrase "UMIKAYEM EMUNASO LISHAYNAY AFAR" mean in amida? 54:54 If Hashem is perfect, why does it appear that He changes his mind over certain decisions and improvise as he goes? 1:01:04 Why didn't G-d create an "ideal world"? 1:02:50 Is there a transactional aspect of Judaism? 1:06:30 Isn't the status of Halachot leMoshe Misinai hard to believe? Why would HAShem choose about 60 halachot that are seemingly random and unrelated to each other to not include in the Torah? 1:13:58 Is Rav Anan related to the amora of a similar name? 1:20:16 What does it mean that Moshe took the stick before Hashem in Parshas CHUKAS? 1:23:03 What is the takana of Ezra regarding immersing? 1:30:38 Is living together a mitzvah? 1:31:37 According to R Elyashiv, how do we understand Divrei Torah and hirhorim? 1:35:28 What's the difference between chas v chalila and chas v shalom? 1:37:56 If there's an expert on Torah but his personal life is poor, can we still learn from him? Visit us @ ohr.edu ! Produced by Cedar Media Studios

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Clarification about R Aryeh Kaplan and use of drugs 00:58 Is there a source for wars being prevented for learning Torah? 07:05 What is an appropriate response to answer a secular person about slavery in the Torah? 14:14 How do we visualize demons, what did they look like? How did we know they were there? Are they present today, or did they go away with certain yeridas hadoros? 19:28 How should a convert act in terms of honoring parents, shomer negiah, etc.? 23:47 What is the safek on mainstream techeles today? 31:43 Why is Miriam punished instead of Aaron if listening to Lashon Haro is worse than saying it according to the Chafetz Chaim? 33:12 How should we think about Angels? 37:46 What are the levels of Angels? 38:44 Why is the Shema such a meaningful prayer and what does it really mean? 40:25 When the Ark landed, how did animals spread to all parts of the earth? does this contribute to the idea of one continent/Pangea? 42:42 What are the Rav's views on the different types of kiruv? 47:05 Shuckling and vigorous flailing during davening looks absurd, so should we stand still during Shemona Esrei? 51:42 What is wrong with occasionally drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana? 54:40 What are the reasons that Sephardim and Ashkanazi Jews have different ways to say certain tefillos out loud or not? 1:00:37 Are people who are married by a reform rabbi halachically married? 1:05:52 Why does the Torah state things one way but we have a mesorah that it means something else (such as eye for an eye)? 1:07:08 What is something that surprised the Rav in his life or his favorite sefer? 1:10:53 What are the halachic ramifications of a Jewish man and woman being intimate outside of marriage? 1:17:10 Recently an animated Disney movie had a small homosexual scene. Should we not be showing cartoons to our kids? 1:21:40 Why does mashiach have to come in the form of a person? Why wouldn't it just be Hashem himself? What depends on a human leader? 1:23:24 What is the opinion on causing a car to stop on Shabbos to cross the street? 1:25:40 What about when someone needs to use transportation for an emergency on Shabbos? 1:27:10 Should we not walk on grass on Shabbos? 1:28:00 In Parashas Shelach, why is there a seemingly larger focus on Yetzias Mitzrayim if the miracle to get to Israel is seemingly harder? 1:30:22 Where does the 250 incense offerings come from in Parashas Korach? 1:33:04 After all the miracles and revelations of Hashem in the Torah, why would anyone continue to question Moshe and Aharon's authority? 1:37:30 Why do we say speedily in our days when amoraim prayed against that? 1:38:51 What does the Rav think of many Jews pursuing higher education in relation to going off the Derech? 1:44:31 How do we posken with non-Jews opening and pouring non-Mevushal wine? 1:49:29 Could a Kohen enter a cemetery of Karites? 1:50:40 If a convert stops being a shomer Torah Jew, do they become invalid? Visit us @ ohr.edu ! Produced by Cedar Media Studios

00:00 Clarification on psychiatric care comment and options for someone who has a same-sex attraction and parts of Torah that seem unimportant. 04:32 Does Hashem favor a socialist form of government? 06:05 What other garments would a Kohen wear besides the Bigdei Kehuna? 11:20 Why are songs acrostics of names? Why is this such a common theme? 12:47 What are the cases that "heaven does not get involved in"? 15:10 What is the significance of "Ana Bekoach"? 16:53 What are the ideas behind the segulos for remembering or forgetting Torah? 20:35 Are we obligated to take El Al airlines now that they are Shomer Shabbat? 22:36 If Jews are supposed to be a light unto the nations, why are we so few in number? 27:45 Who are we allowed to say the phrase "YEMACH SHEMO" about? 29:00 On one hand, there is an idea that one has the mitzvah of Kibud Av vEm to their in laws. On another hand, Rashi brings that a woman who is married has less of the mitzvah, because of her obligations to her husband. But if the husband is also obligated to her parents, how could it be that he should lower her's? 32:32 Why do we address Rabbeim in the third person but Hashem in some branches and tefillos in the second? 35:34 Is there a reason why Hashem has removed his visible presence in today's world? 37:53 What exactly was the sin of the spies? 46:22 Why does the Gemara sometimes conceal some parts of a Braissa? 48:41 How can Rashi or other commentary tells us what the verse "your thoughts are not My thoughts" mean? 50:34 How can we correlate the theory of evolution and genetics with Judaism? 53:41 Why is the grave of Moshe not revealed? 56:35 How can I understand the phenomenon of people who were talmidei chachamim joining JTS. Saul Lieberman for example. 1:03:27 If a person isn't going to send their kids to a religious school, should a person put their kid in public school or reform? 1:09:50 How do we understand the idea that angels deliver our prayers to Hashem? Aren't we praying directly to Hashem? 1:13:08 How should the Rabbanim react to YU voting to recognize the LGBTQ club? 1:17:00 Why is passing gas while wearing tefillin prohibited but burping is not? 1:19:08 Could the Rebbe explain the phrase "KEFITZAS HADERECH"? 1:21:05 What is the Halacha on unfiltered internet/digital access? 1:23:40 What is the distinction between Neviim and Kesuvim? 1:25:51 When the Men of the Great Assembly helped remove the desire for idol worship, how else did this change the world? 1:27:45 Can someone's tefillos affect someone else's free will? 1:30:13 Do Sephardim have an obligation to daven with a minyan? 1:31:44 What would happen if one of the bulls that were offered for the other nations on Succos missed? 1:34:40 Why do we mention the tree and the vine in addition to the fruit and the wine in the Me'ein shalosh bracha? 1:36:02 What is the main point of tefilla? 1:38:32 What is the significance of the different terms used to refer to certain prophets? 1:41:00 Does the Rebbe have a list of go-to books he recommend to help explain Judaism to parents of Baalei Teshuva or otherwise? Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu Produced by Cedar Media Studios Podcasting

00:00 What's the significance of listing Esav's family in the Torah? 06:12 What is the rebbe's personal view on the age of the universe? 17:20 Is it kavodik to say prayers under breathe while the Chazan chants? 23:45 Why are we not allowed to discuss the Divine Chariot? 29:47 What exactly does it mean to be created in the image of Gd? And what is the breath of Gd? 37:52 Is there a source for lead pouring as a way of getting rid of ayin hara? And why is it whenever it's referenced in books or even nowadays it is something women do? 44:52 Does beauty get in the way of Torah? 47:05 Does the idea of Gd being "in things" interfere with the Arizal's concept of TzimTzum? 55:47 Did Gd make particular mitzvos because it's good, or is it good because it's a mitzvah? 1:04:57 Why does the Arizal get Z"L permanently affixed to his name, and not Rashi or Rambam? 1:06:12 In Gemara Shabbos, what does it mean that angels burnt Moshe with their tongues? 1:07:30 What does it mean that even if Chazal are wrong we still listen to them? 1:12:48 What's the point of 2 day Rosh Chodesh with the 30th day observed? 1:16:00 Why is the first question we're asked is did we conduct business honestly? What if someone never went into business? Or was an employee their whole life? Does this apply to women? 1:19:27 Should we not support China (economically) due to their unethical practices? 1:25:10 Is it possible to marry the wrong person? 1:26:38 Could you talk about communal punishment? 1:31:44 How does someone know they married the right person? 1:34:05 Why did Rav Chaim hold not to wear wrist watches? 1:34:59 What's the Halacha on certain men's grooming actions? 1:38:00 Should we cut our beard? 1:40:22 Where do we draw the line with technology and the will of Gd (such as extending lifespan)? 1:44:43 What would happen if the Sanhedrin were obviously completely corrupt? 1:47:40 Does wearing a suit all the time present a problem with discomfort? 1:50:06 What does the Rav think about the Chabad Rebbe's and Chofetz Chaim's opinions of cutting the beard? Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Why do we say the language of "hamotzei lechem" if Hashem doesn't take out bread? 02:29 Can the Rav expound on Judaism's view of homosexuality? 10:10 How should Jews look at accounts of near-death experiences? 17:42 What is Rav Kook's position on korbanos? 28:20 Why is it that we don't "acquire" women through other means than money? 33:13 What is the Rebbe's opinion on vanity cosmetic surgery or otherwise and how should we approach it? 38:20 The Gemara in Yevamos עו. discusses a certain ritual to test a bochor with certain medical problems for infertility before he gets married. How then can some of poskim argue against /married/ guys getting fertility tested if there are problems? 40:45 Can a person who cannot have children marry a mamzer or convert? 41:23 What exactly constitutes a siyum? 48:44 If mashiach can come from the dead, does this make Chabad's view heretical? 54:32 What are some reasons that there are machlokesim in Mishnayos? 59:43 Some hold that there are parts of the Gemara that were written by the Gaonim themselves. Is this true? 1:02:00 How does the Rav speak to the idea of feminism? 1:07:40 Is there a concept of overturning precedence in Halacha. For example, is it possible that a contemporary Posek could permit electricity on Shabbat? 1:11:03 What is a gay Jew supposed to do? 1:22:30 How can we help secular people make sense of the shidduch process? 1:28:02 What is out responsibility to not patronize unethical commerce (such as places that employ sweatshops)? 1:32:24 How will Eliyahu HaNavi's paskening work? 1:33:25 Would there be a leniency to switching sects of Judaism? 1:34:37 What is the Rambam's position on reconstituting the Sanhedrin? 1:37:52 Is it a halachic requirement to say Baruch hu or varuch shemo? What about just shemo? 1:40:42 To what extent should someone go to avoid machlokes? 1:42:35 How do we understand great Torah personalities in Tanach doing certain things that people today would be ostracized for? Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 What is the basis of the Magen David? 01:46 What is the Torah view on liability of a self driving vehicle? 8:23 How important is pronunciation in the formula of tefilla? For example, many people don't pronounce a moving shvah (like in Kedusha or Kaddish), or they misplace an emphasis, such as mezoinos instead of mezonos. Also, when we sing songs, like Lecha dodi or zemiros, or Shir hamalos, we might change the emphasis. Since difference nusachs exist, or people use modern Hebrew, etc…how does that work? 15:49 Do halachos of Rabbeim apply even in a time with no official smicha? 18:37 What response do we as Jews have to school shootings and how should we view gun policies? 23:03 What is the definition of divorce for non-Jews and how should we approach giving advice or otherwise? 28:30 The State of New York is attempting to strengthen oversight of Yeshiva education. Ostensibly, they want to enforce the "core" curriculum of math, science, and the like. If they were to stick to those issues, does a secular government have a right to insist on a population education in math, etc.? 35:19 How does the concept of a Shabbos Goy work? 42:14 Does maaris ayin apply in the case of eating heter mechira? 44:09 Could I put up a sign stating I'm a kosher Jew in a treyf restaurant? 47:05 How do we justify the idea that someone that has "chen" or grace, they have fear of Gd, but in Eshes Chayil, it states that chen is sheker or false? 51:18 What's the rules on after-brachos? 54:35 How can someone understand the idea of uvdin d'chol or a "mundane activity" on Shabbos? 58:18 What is your halachic and legal take on halachic prenups? Do you think couples should get a halachic prenup? Do you think that the way people protested on social media and outside homes last spring is something that should be encouraged especially because many agunos received their gets that way? 1:10:26 There's a new section in the Israel Museum about "magic" in Judaism and segulos—do we believe in them or not? 1:15:44 How do we understand going to a mikveh on Shabbos? 1:18:24 Why are the words RAH and REYAH so similar? 1:20:52 Where do the minhagim of black and white outfits and hats come from? 1:27:20 Why does the bracha for kiddush hat on on Friday night say "Vrozavanu" instead of "Vitzivanu" when seemingly every other bracha on a mitzvah contains the latter? 1:31:09 Why are Shabbos and kosher the main factors mentioned when discussing frumkeit? 1:34:25 Why do Talmudic rabbis use certain hermeneutical principles when inferring various laws? Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Could the Rav elaborate on the Gra's view that the days of creation correspond to millennia? 02:47 How does the Rav feel about the state messing with the Meron situation? 7:40 Is there an issur of Kol Isha in front of a gentile man, and likewise is there an obligation for tznius if the Jewish woman is not responsible for their aveiras? 15:10 What is the Rebbe's advice if someone is attacked by inappropriate thoughts in the moment? 17:26 Zionists think that since we're not in Galus, the Talmud Yerushalmi has more authority now—does it? 25:55 Why don't women change their Hebrew name once they get married (since they change many other minhagim by their husband)? 27:35 Could the Rav speak on the topic of politician Aryeh Deri, what are the Rav's thoughts, whether he should be leading Am Yisrael, is the media blowing things out of proportion or is there truth to their claims, etc.? 29:55 How will Halacha work when techiyas Hamesim happens, in light of many changes that have happened over time? 34:00 Does the Rav think that the war in Ukraine has anything to do with precursors to Mashiach? 37:42 Since it's common to wear clothing made of animals, why is that not considered tumah? 42:10 Why are Pesach and Yom Tov names but not Sukkos, Shavuos, or Shabbos? 45:39 Is there a deeper (spiritual) understanding to if a man is mazria before a woman, having a daughter first? 49:09 Why are the curses in Bechukosai much stronger than the brachos in terms of description (and in Ki Savo)? 1:01:25 Do souls watch over us from above? 1:04:18 Why are the four questions we ask seemingly the only questions that are preempted by the Torah? 1:10:23 Why is there controversy around the author of the Zohar and how does this affect other controversial sefer authorships? 1:16:44 If tzitzis is lacking tcheles, why do we still say a bracha if the mitzvah is seemingly incomplete? 1:20:06 Recently there are images of Mars and new findings of caves, does Judaism accept the idea of life on other planets? 1:25:12 Is there a validity to the Yeshivish concept of "shtultz" (honoring older bachurim)? 1:28:38 Can you use Alexa/Siri/Google Home on Shabbos to turn on the lights or the AC? And is their a difference by Yom Tov? 1:29:26 What are the conditions necessary to make something no longer considered woman's clothing? 1:31:43 With regards to offerings or food in general, what did the Jews do when all they had was manna? 1:34:15 What does the Torah state is the ideal lifestyle (Nomadic vs Urban)? 1:37:10 What should we think about during Lag B'Omer? Visit us @ ohr.edu