The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem. For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu SPECIAL: London JLE - Q&A 1-27-21 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

00:00 If the Baal Shem Tov stresses outreach, how do we see this in Chassidic groups (outside Chabad)? 6:10 When we hear stories of open miracles for rabbonim, how should we consider these? 10:05 How should we utilize our vacation? 14:51 Is it obligatory to have a Jewish name, and why didn't even amarayin change Greek names? 21:35 Can a Cohen go skydiving, assuming it's mutter for anyone?—would anyone else be prevented from going? 25:20 What's the mesora of secular educations ? 34:20 What is the origin for the mesora of chassidic lavush? 37:35 Are all the words from the Zohar from R Shimon bar Yochai? 44:45 Why did Avraham lie about Sara to Pharoh instead of relying on HaShem? 46:42 Would the plane not be an ohel for a Cohen? 50:32 The Gemara in brachos tell us not to learn Torah/tefillin within 4 amos of a corpse even in one house, and yet it also says under a single roof everything is considered 4 amos. 54:20 the Rambam says when HaShem sends forth physical things to replenish the earth, so what is the difference between the spiritual blessing of snow and rain? 54:14 What are the criteria for Gedolim?—Is it just consensus? (Eg young Ovadia Yosef) 1:04:00 Who is Dovid Ruveni? What is this legendary river Sambatyon? ________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu YISRO 5781 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasts)

00:00 Is there any particular significance of acrostics in davening, tehilim, etc.? 1:51 Are we obligated or allowed to give land of Israel for peace? 9:26 For a Jew who was never exposed to Judaism, what is is Olam HaBa? 14:20 In the 9th perek of Bava Basra the daughters get support from inheritance and later 10% with men possibly losing out. Is there inconsistency with tumim? 19:27 Why did the Levi'im not become slaves in Mitzrayim and why couldn't they rise against Mitzrayim? 28:41 How far does the prohibition of mesira (informing on Jews) go in and outside of Eretz Yisroel? 37:33 Why is Rosh Chodesh the first mitzva given to all Jewish people? 41:12 Is it a problem our Center beis and Main Beis are not facing the same way 44:17 If there is an emergency situation, can the chachomim change the laws? 48:30 Drinking water during bein hashmoshos is like stealing from the dead according to the Shulchan Aruch. Is this accurate? 50:55 Considering the numerous Internet resources, does it take away excuses from those who didn't have it growing up? 54:12 What is the current status of the Eitz haChaim and Eitz haDas? 56:36 There are certain people who never died. What is their status? 57:27 Sometimes Tanakh references other books (e.g. Sefer HaYashar). Do we have it? ________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu BO 5781 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasts)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem. For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu Olami Medical Students - Risk in Halacha January 7,2021 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

00:00 What is the Halacha l'meisa regarding emunah bitachon? 3:13 Are we allowed to daven or even enter a reform or conservative shul?—What is the cutoff point? 13:11 Can someone convert from Ashkenaz to Sefardi, and if so does he take on a new mesora (with parental permission)? 18:19 What does it mean that the Avos are partners in creation? 22:42 Why do we say 'Mazal tov' if we don't follow mazalot?—Why do we say months named after pagan deities? 33:01 What are the main halachic concerns with owning pets? 42:44 What is so bad about Adam and Chava seeing each other naked? 44:46 For Ashkenazim if there is a glazed earthenware vessel that gets worn, is it kasherable? 47:17 What happen to those people who followed Avraham and Sarah? 50:03 Can one eat an apple from his own tree that fell on Shabbos? 51:08 We know they didn't say 'amen' about a bracha in the Beis Hamikdash, so why did the Gemara in Brachos say Moshe used 'amen'? 54:16 When was the name of HaShem (shem havaya) stopped from being pronounced? ________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu VAYEIRA 5781 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasts)

00:00 Considering the 13 Principles of Faith in order to not be a heretic. What of Rashi's statement from the Gemara that the final 8 pesukim of the Torah were written by Yoshua? 6:38 is it a mitzvah deoreisa or d'rabbanan to stand for a Talmid Chacham or a Rav? 12:44 In the Gemara it says 40 days before one is conceived a bashert is dictated. Is this true? 21:00 How is it that minhagim become Halacha? (e.g. Ashkenazim; Shabbos)? 26:39 Was there an issue with Moshe Rabbeinu eating the Korban Pesach since his son had no bris milah? 29:20 Any gezeira that most of the congregation are unable to keep, the gezira is repealed. Is that only the initial generation? 31:39 What will Halacha be like in the times of Moshiach? 36:39 What is the system for reuniting lost Jews when Moshiach comes? 39:27 Why is it permissible to observe Tu B'Shevat if it is Shabatian? 54:13 What was the tayva of Avodah Zara in Tanakh? 57:38 Was there a physical feeling from the Avodah Zara in the old days? 55:14 is the Shulchan Aruch binding? 58:28 If there is a minyan of exactly 10 mourners, does anyone answer? ___________________________________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu SHEMOS 5781 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasts)

00:00 What's the purpose of being on this earth? 7:23 Following R' Moshe Feinstein's psak regarding mamzerim from reform (civil) 2nd marriages, would this mean those women wouldn't need to cover their hair? 12:58 In order for Biah to be effective, doesn't the man need to state his kavana? 17:50 How is Shabbos affected by changes in the dateline? 24:35 If it is a mitzvah deoreisa not to return to mitzrayim, how about issues like business, the occupation of Sinai peninsula, the Rambam etc.? 27:42 (Followup) What about those who speak Coptic Egyptians? 28:20 If one is exposed to rationalistic views and struggles with mystical views e.g. Zohar; Kabbalah, how does he sensitize himself? 35:25 How does tzaddik gamor (without a yetzer hara) get schar for mitzvah? 42:20 We know the original calendar (around Rosh Chodesh) was determined by witnesses in beis din, what would it take to go back to that? 46:24 (Followup) It is certain that we need Eliyahu haNavi? 48:35 Don't we need a beis din in order to confirm that it is Eliyahu haNavi who will institute the beis din? 49:17 What is the Halacha in assisted pregnancy (e.g. artificial insemination)? 58:30 Would it be mares ayin to a single woman with in-vitro fertilization? 1:00:00 Can a man be a sperm-donor? 1:01:56 If the Avos only kept the positive commandments, then wasting seed would not seem assur. Can a goy not waste seed? 1:04:41 How does one differentiate between magic (even seemingly practicing magic) and very impressive action? 1:09:52 Does HaShem hold Torah learning more precious ? ___________________________________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu Vayechi 5781 (Produced by: CedarMediaStudios Podcasts)

00:00 Why is Onkalus' halachic opinions not mentioned in the Gemara though we do take his Aramaic translation? 3:30 How do we understand the Holocaust? 9:57 Chazal say we have 4 Imahos, but not from Bilhah and Zilpah? 12:28 In Brachos it says we don't accept comfort when a master has lost a slave, but wouldn't this only be a problem for a female slave? 15:02 If Shamayim has no time, how do we measure time for saying Kaddish for example 16:54 When Yaacov meets Eisav he still prepared even though he did hishtadlus whereas Yosef was punished for the same thing? 20:49 There are some Jewish women who wear full veils, but is this considered yuhara? 22:36 Why is it that in Chanuka the husband lights for his wife whereas for Shabbos the wife lights for her husband? 25:27 Was there voter fraud in the last US presidential election? 28:38 (Followup) Does the Rav have any familiarity with what is going on in the courtroom? 30:22 Is there any connection between Ruchnius and sneezing beyond the Gemara in Brachos? 32:57 Should the moshel of Shimon Kippa (St. Peter) give us a precedence of cutting off other sects of Judaism? 35:13 So the Gedolim issue a proclamation that a group isn't within Torah Judaism? 40:15 What is the Halacha of marijuana? 43:43 How does dina d'malcus dina work in Israel? 46:10 What is the origin of the song Yigdal? 48:53 (Apparently) Rav Soloveitchik poskined to not say Shalom Rav. 51:15 Is there is a different between Gan Eden and Olam Haba? 52:44 Where there miracles that happened at the gates of Aleppo instill iras shamayim? 54:45 Does a Ger have an ability to say Kaddish for biological family? 57:35 What is the mekor for Shaliach Tzibur to say Goal Israel quietly? _______________________________________________________________ Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu Vayeishev 5781 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasts)

SPECIAL: History of Chanukah 3 Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem. For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu (MIKEITZ Center 5781) (Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2020)

SPECIAL: History of Chanukah 2 Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem. For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu (VAYEISHEV 5781 Center 5781) (Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2020)