The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

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 Corona related:Should one reduce the spend on shabbos and yontiv based upon presumed upcoming diminished income? Could someone who has corona and defies quarantine be considered a halachic rodef? Any consideration of internet usage for remote minyan (is there any such thing halachically conceivable?) How can we relate, if possible, the current situation of the world, to the Torah concept of when Yaakov is down, Esau is up and vice versa, when it seems like both are down? Do others besides the balhabais, who aren't getting a kzayis from matzos the brachos were made on, need to eat 2 kzeisim? How does one ask a Rav if they are willing to guide them in Hashkafa long term? Do we have the koach of ketores today, either through tefillah, reading parsha of ketores, or something else, to help stop the magefa? How should a guy approach Shidduchim during COVID19? How should we pace ourselves? Can you recommend any seforim to learn just what the average baal habas needs to know for Pesach? With Hakaras hatov to HK"BH for having survived the C-Virus with only relatively mild symtoms, now I would like to give... Volunteer or money? What's the best action someone can take right now to bring Mashiach? Given that Eisav did teshuva, is it possible that he was made out to be more of a rasha then he really was? Do converts in the process of conversion receive any reward for observing mitzvahs before completion? What is daas torah and how do you know if someone has it? When Moshiach comes, will all minhagim be unified? Will there still be an idea of a chumra? Does it make sense to learn tanach exclusively before starting gemara? How does a chozer b'teshuvah, who didn't grow up with certain minhagim, make a decision to take them on or not? Nusach Sefard has a perek to say inlue of Borch Hu when davening alone, is there such a thing to say during the week also by maariv? Can there be a virtual siyum for taanis bechoros? TZAV 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 Can we have a zoom Seder with family? The Chayei Adam in siman 5 brings a story of a very righteous man who is ultimately judged to gehinnom because of the many times he said shem Hashem without kavana. For many of us having kavana for every shem Hashem is very difficult. Why did chazal include so many shemos in davening, if it would be such a michshol for so many? On Seder we do Kadesh then Urchatz. This goes against "Sur Meh Ra Ase Tov". Can we apply this all year or only Pesach?! Is it better to just not say shem Hashem except when absolutely necessary? If I can't see or smell tzoa can I say Shem hashem near it? Can I sell my chometz over the phone? What should one do this year regarding toveling new keilim, considering the lack of accessibility of mikvaos? Why can't I wear tefillin at night if the Torah says to? Are the new governmental laws against minyanim halachicly binding? Any difference in israel vs chutz laaretz? When Moshiach comes will we have no more struggles? Was the yehudah HaChosid really a forgery like Rav Moshe said - Yehudah Hachosid states Dovid took parts out of Torah…? Do ladies have to shower after the mikvah in these times ? Is there any way to avoid the taanis bechorim this year? Since we can't gather for a siyum for the fast of the first born, what is ok and not ok to make a siyum on? Can one fill up heated water in a crockpot before Shabbat, leave it on a low setting and warm cooked food during Shabbat? Are there any halachic leniencies for people who've never made pesach before because of the pandemic? Are employers responsible to continue paying workers during the government shutdown? If I am on a ship during shabbos and am not allowed to light a shabbos candles how can I make up for this ? If a Jew borrowed a new pot from a goy to circumvent toiviling, and the goy converts, are the pots then non kosher? Why do some women want to wear tefillin and are they allowed to? Right now, some countries are cremating the dead because of COVID-19. What is the Jewish position on this? How does one define someone being his "rebbi", even not a rebbi muvhak, regarding doing "heseba" in front of them? Is shnayim mikra a stronger chiyuv now that we cant listen to leining in shul? Can one use a timer that is preset for their warming plate or crockpot to heat up cooked food to make it hot on Shabbat? What does a person do if they have to sit Shiva not being able to have a minyan during corona virus? If a non-jew is in the conversion process when mashiach comes. Will they be able to finish their conversion? Can the rav do regular q and a streams? this has been very very enlightening Is there any halachic difference between limud hatorah on digital mediums versus in person? why is it different than tfilla? Why is conversion under the GPS/RCA in the US? Why can't one convert with any orthodox rabbi in the US/Israel? Should we be concerned that this physical distancing may be similar to that of the Nazi Ghettos? Nus' Sfard has a pusek for Friday night if davening as a yachid for instead of Borech Hu. Can we say it during the week? Should we be mourning now over not being in shul or should we be happy we're in our homes uplifting it? What if you accidentally ate something not kosher? Can a nesspresso machine be kashered for pesach? VAYIKRA 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Pesach Podcasts Coming Soon! 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 0:00 - How did Avraham Avinu mekariv people? 8:36 - A question on the Corona pandemic, should bochurim be leaving yeshiva? 13:47 - Difference in nusach of Aleinu, Ashkenaz vs Sefard 15:58 - Sukkos bezman HaBeis Hamikdash 19:33 - Why is it disrespectful to walk into a shul without shoes? 25:27 - Can we say there are world leaders that are being controlled by Hashem? 33:15 - Was Adam Harishon comprised of all the neshamos? 36:11 - What if Adam didn't eat from the tree? 41:44 - Is Hashem forcing us into our homes to keep Shabbos and bring Moshiach? 47:10 - Does Rav Chaim Kanievski have ruach hakodesh? And what is it? 49:57 - What are we allowed to ask for on Shabbos? 52:23 - How do we discern which sects of Judaism are supported by Hashem? 54:47 - Is it mutar to wear womens clothing on Purim? VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 0:00 - Does a Mamzer have a mitzvah of Pru Urvu 1:52 - The machlokes on how the third Beis Hamikdash will be built 4:37 - The proper volume for the first line of Shema, and the proper volume for answering Kaddish 6:30 - Why do we use Hebrew names when we daven for cholim 11:29 - What is Hashem's message with sending the virus, and how do we respond to it 28:00 - getting paid to teach Torah 40:47 - How many hours did the Rambam sleep each night? 41:20 - Shabtai Tzvi, Rav Yaakov Emden, Rav Yonasan Eibshitz 50:41 - Is Hashem truly undefinable? 54:04 - Why is Midbar translated as wilderness instead of desert? 55:14 - Why was Rabbi Nattan Slifkin put in a ban? 01:03:20 - Sheitels 01:06:10 - What should a person think about in the Mikvah? 01:07:41 - Is there an inyun to davening close to the Kotel wall? 01:09:43 - Can Kosher food be brought into a Kosher restaurant that says "no outside food"? 01:11:01 - Hashem's knowledge and essence as one 01:15:41 - Should a bochur read Morei Nevuchim and does it have to be respected as a kadosh sefer? 01:20:00 - The proper position for sleeping, lying down, or reclining? 01:23:12 - What's pshat with saying "vetargileinu bTorasecha"? 01:26:55 - The proper approach to drinking on Purim 01:31:19 - The chiyuv of Tefillin TETZAVEH 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 0:00 - Why in the second paragraph of Shema do we not say "bechol meodecha" 3:25 - A Question on Maseches Brachos 8:27 - Why were Chassidim allowed to create a new nusach? 12:52 - If Hashem knows everything that will happen how do we have free choice? 20:28 - Could I borrow something without permission if I know my friend would let me? 24:17 - How did Ashkenazim become the majority over Sefardim? 27:47 - Why do people wait 6 hours between meat and milk? 33:41 - Rambam on Hashem's knowledge and essence 34:49 - Liability for car accidents 39:31 - Is smoking permitted if you have to perserve your life, and can you smoke on Yom Tov? 47:33 - A question about the mishkan 48:57 - The Dairy industry, tzar baalei chayim, dairy kashrus 56:15 - Are we supposed to literally be "marbim besimcha" during Adar? 59:04 - When Rabbi Akiva said "zeh klal baTorah" does klal mean THE klal or A klal? Definition of klal. 01:01:54 - Why don't we learn kaballah? 01:09:40 - A question on Chassidus, Kaballah, the sources of Sifrei Chassidus 01:17:20 - A question on the story of Acher 01:21:50 - Why do we not do kiddush at the third Shabbos meal 01:25:53 - What should a person work on to be ready for marriage? 01:28:50 - Drinking alcohol on Purim 01:32:27 - What areas of Torah are most appropriate to learn in preparation for marriage? 01:33:47 - Olives and memory? The Gemara in Horiyos 01:35:40 - Can we say tachanun during kriyas haTorah? TERUMA 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 0:00 - Yimos HaMoshiach, Beis Hamikdash, Tchias Hameisim, Olam Haba, Gan Eden 4:45 - Hiddur Mitzvah, is there objective beauty? 17:00 - A Question on Hiddur Mitzvah for Channukah 21:12 - Would a minyan where everyone needs to say tashlumin have a chazaras hashats for the tashlumin? 23:16 - According to Rav Chaim how do you make a bracha on a safek kosher etrog? 25:19 - Hearing Brachos or Torah reading over the phone 28:35 - Does the sound of the shofar affect the Halacha 30:01 - Do we make Brachos on the mitzvah or on the object 31:04 - Is it permitted for multiple people to make a bracha on one lechem mishnah 34:44 - Is digital theft prohibited? 39:47 - Drinking the wine or grape juice on which kiddush was made? 42:02 - The Sanhedrin being infallible, lo baShamayim he, how could the Sanhedrin make a mistake? 47:22 - Are grasshoppers kosher? 57:10 - How do aveiros affect mitzvos? 01:03:45 - When should tefillin be removed on Rosh Chodesh? 01:06:33 - Menatzpach 01:08:36 - Thoughts on Rav Yehuda HaLevi Ashlag 01:12:17 - Can souls attach themselves to existing human beings? 01:14:04 - controlling charata on aveiros 01:18:42 - Taking on an optional fast 01:21:45 - The machloket of the authorship of the Zohar 01:27:20 - Does Torah support or deny that we are in a base reality? 01:32:29 - What to do if you are in the middle of tachanun and they begin Kaddish 01:33:36 - Praying to Hashem to understand the Torah of a Rishon or Acharon 01:35:27 - Thoughts on the shidduch crisis 01:39:00 - The Ramban on Kilayim, how much can we tamper with Hashem's briah? 01:44:40 - How could the Torah say bad things about Jews? Is this not Loshon Hara? MISHPATIM 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 00:31 - What are the Galgalim? 9:52 - How will we do mitzvos when Moshiach comes? How will Halacha change? 14:06 - Why does the Torah call Yitro before he converted? 15:57 - Why do people take three steps back in the middle of kadish before the amida of mincha and maariv? 19:40 - How do we reconcile that Chazal have made observations of the world which seem to be wrong according to modern science? 32:33 - Did Yitro come before or after Matan Torah? 35:00 - The Mesorah, the destroyed parts of Torah 41:30 - Who redacted the Gemara? 48:52 - Why did Reish Lakish become weakened right when he agreed to learn Torah? 52:20 - A question on the Parsha 54:45 - Why the issur of chicken and dairy but no issur on pareve ice cream and meat? 01:00:06 - Why do we do the order of aliyos as Kohen Levi Yisroel? 01:02:02 - Question on the Parsha 01:07:14 - What will be of the yetzer hara when Moshiach comes? Will we wear kippahs? What Nusach will we daven? 01:09:45 - The differences in nusachs of the Torah 01:13:33 - What is the purpose of Moshiach if we won't have a yetzer hara? 01:19:23 - How do we live in Emes? Nefesh Hachaim on how Man was created 01:22:30 - Is it possible for someone to get reward for someone else's deed? Learning for the zchus of a niftar, etc. 01:29:15 - Praying to Hashem for Yiras Shomayim 01:32:27 - Why not just learn Shas once? 01:36:44 - Putting time into Chumash vs Gemara 01:38:26 - Boycotting Germany? Yisro 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 0:00 - Lending a car to someone, and they get a fine 2:04 - Question on Parshas Bo 4:24 - The Jewish view of beauty, Pirkei Avos on beauty 8:21 - Why are there other religions/idolatry? 13:38 - How do we decide when to follow minhagei HaGra? 18:43 - The Cherem of the Morei Nevuchim 24:29 - Midrash on the splitting of the sea 28:21 - Can you postpone a bris if it might cause guests to be mechalel Shabbos? 30:30 - To what extent do we take Agaddeta literally or not at all? 39:39 - Question on Parshas Bo 41:10 - Teaching Torah to a non-Jew 48:39 - Why do some parts of the Gemara make it seem like the Amoraim had poor middos? 54:37 - The two different quail stories 56:54 - Do the restrictions on a king for wealth apply to people? 01:02:30 - Did the sea split after Nachshon or after Moshe spread out his hands? 01:04:34 - The concept of a Ben Pakuah 01:07:40 - Does the water for Pesach Matzos have to be left overnight? 01:09:39 - Where does Islam and its ideas come from? What will happen to the Ishmaelites in the era of Moshiach? 01:12:17 - How could there be a place called Dan in Avraham's time when there was not yet a shevet or person called Dan? (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

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 0:00 - Making a shidduch for non-religious friends, making a shidduch for Goyim 3:48 - Cherem of the Baal Hatanya and early Chassidus, Rebbi Nachman 14:08 - Question on Hilchos Kiddushin: Asking a woman to marry and handing her a ring 18:31 - Is there a yezter hara for homosexuality? 25:11 - Relationship between Man and Wife, the effect of a woman on her husband 29:58 - How could it be that Rabbi Yosef Caro learned with a Malach? 36:06 How does Lo BaShamayim He make sense 43:48 - What's special about Shabbos if you spend the whole day learning 46:36 - Tainted money and korbanos 50:25 - Jew reading the christian bible or apikorsus 59:56 - Is the copper snake a graven image? 01:02:16 - Is there a commentary on the relationship between Acher and R' Meir 01:03:30 - Learning on Shabbos or sleeping on Shabbos 01:04:50 - A Question on Sotah 01:06:37 - How can an eclipse be a bad omen if the eclipses run on a cycle 01:13:13 - The Kuzari on the copper snake 01:13:37 - The Ramban on plowing with an oxe and a donkey together 01:14:25 - A question on Maseches Brachos and dreams

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 0:00 Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkinus 4:13 How do we know which hand to put tefillin on 5:22 Chassidim on Zos Chanukah 8:44 Growing when Moshiach comes, being without a yetzer hara 11:37 A question on the parsha 15:07 What's a Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai 19:15 Shomer Negiah when working with people with Autism 23:50 Kasha on Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai 25:02 Referring to our parents by the first name, kasha on Yaakov referring to his parents by name 28:17 Why Yaakov has multiple names 31:51 Who wrote the Torah 40:20 Significance of Aleinu 43:45 Hierarchy of Brachos 46:40 How are the Parshas divided 51:51 Changing Aliyahs (Kohen/Levi) 52:41 Middos of parents of a shidduch 53:42 Talmud Yerushalmi on the east and the west 57:39 Ancient Hebrew alphabet 59:05 Question on Yirmiyahu becoming a Navi 01:02:39 Yeridas Hadoros, Moshe Rabeinu compared to Moshiach 01:04:38 Saving a non-Jew on Shabbos 01:09:44 Why was there no warning on some of the plagues? 01:14:55 Masoretic Text 01:20:52 Dead Sea Scrolls 01:23:29 Sabbatical Cycle of Creation 01:30:14 What was the purpose of the Egyptians building pyramids 01:31:54 Would a computerized brain be mutar 01:45:10 Moshe Rabeinu almost killed (Produced: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)