Halacha Headlines

Latest Episodes:

5/16/26 – Shiur 560 – Hear the Skinny on Ozempic in Halacha May 14, 2026

Show notes

SCP Shavuos Challenge 5786 is here!🔥🎉
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with Rabbi Elyada Goldvicht – Rov in Rannana, Founder of Semichas Chaver – 20:04

Is there an obligation to keep healthy? If yes what is the source?
Does a spouse have a say in your health? Can you stop your spouse from donating a kidney etc?
Can you take ozempic if isn't doesnt have enough testing what the long-term side effects can be? Or can it be taken even if it has doing some side effects?
Are you allowed to cause damage to your body?
Does it lengthen the time of Birchas Hamazon and every brocha Achrona because it takes longer to digest? Or vice versa if someone has quick digestion?
Are you obligated in brocha achrona even less than a kzayis because it makes you full?
Are you allowed to take on Yom Kippur even though it takes away ?עינוי
Is there an issue of Refuah on Shabbos?
Is there an issue of chilul shabbos with an injection?
Do you have to disclose in Shidduchim?

with Rabbi Shay Tahan – Rav, Cong. Ohel Moshe, Brooklyn, Dayan, Rosh Kollel Shaarei Ezra – 25:17
with Tanya Rosen – Founder Nutririon by Tanya – 52:12

מראי מקומות

5/9/26 – Shiur 559 – Are our young men and women "ready for marriage"? How are we preparing them and where are we failing them? May 07, 2026

Show notes

What does it mean to be “ready” for marriage?
What’s currently taught to chassanim and kallos – and what’s still missing?
Are too many singles entering marriage with unrealistic expectations?
Which common marital struggles could be prevented through better preparation?

Host: Ari Wasserman

with Rabbi Yosef Greenfeld – Rav of the Chestnut Shul in Lakewood & Chosson teacher – 6:16
with Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman – psychologist & author of From Boys to Men – 34:08
with Mrs. Elisheva Liss – licensed marriage and family therapist, lecturer & author – 1:05:05

Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:37:35

מראי מקומות

5/2/26 – Shiur 558 – What's new with Chodosh II – Is there room for leniency? May 01, 2026

Show notes

Find out from farmers what percent of grain in circulation is Chodosh
How to practically keep Yoshon
Can we rely on a dream of the Baal Shem Tov in Halacha?
Is the dream accurate?
What's called a Shaas Hadchak?
Was the Heter only based on Shaas HaDchak?
Does it make sense to be Machmir on Cholov Yisroel and be Meikel on Chodosh?
Can you be Makpid on Chodosh only when you are home?
And much more……

with Rabbi Mordechai Farkash – Chabad Shaliach, Rov and Poseik in Bellevue Washington – 24:25
with Rabbi Zalman Graus – Dayan for over 50 years, Formerly Magid Shiur in Belzer Yeshivah, Editor of Otzar HaPoskim, Mechaber Seforim: Habori Vehashemoh; Kol Boi on Eiruvin; Milim shel Halacha - A dictionary of Halachic Words and more – 50:49
with Mr. Randy Watson – Quality Control Stafford Mills – 1:06:09
with Rabbi Beirach Steinfeld – Rov of Khal Dover Tov in Flatbush and head of Khal Dover Tov Kashrus, Halacha Columnist – 1:19:13
with Rabbi Nechemia Salzman – Representative of Kemach – 1:32:54

מראי מקומות

4/25/26 – Shiur 557 –Can a non-profit (school, shul, etc.) be run for profit? Can it be treated as a family business? Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Are there halachic caps or guidelines on salaries and benefits?
Does nepotism ever become a legal or halachic problem?
What constitutes "reasonable compensation" for operators of religious non-profits?
Can money be taken out in indirect ways, such as consulting fees?

Host: Ari Wasserman

with Rabbi Chaim Kohn – founder of the Business Halacha Institute (“BHI”) and Av Beis Din – 10:20
with Mr. Raphael Grossman – C.P.A. representing individuals, families, corporations and numerous non-profits – 26:23
with Rabbi Jonathan (Yoni) Schick – president of GOAL Consulting Group – 50:50

Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:05:58

מראי מקומות

4/18/26 – Shiur 556 – What's new with Chodosh - Facts on the ground | Why are people so lenient about a Din in the Torah? Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Why do we rely on leniency these day when the Heter was due to שעת הדחק and we don't have a shortage of food? If the Heter is based on Safek, nowadays the Safek is verifiable and can't be relied upon
If a store has information posted that it's not Yoshon - there's no Safek at all - what do people rely on?
Why are people making on Stam Cholov which is maybe a Safek Derabbanan and not on this?
If a person needed to eat because of פיקוח נפש and it was a question of הקל הקל תחלה should he eat Chodosh or drink Stam Cholov?
People spend a lot of money and time checking vegtables for bugs which the obligation to check is Derabanan but blatantly eat Chodosh - why?
Why are Chasidim so lenient - How does a story from the Baal Shem Tov uproot Halacha - even if it's true we go with halacha not stories - we can uproot all the Torah if it's controlled by stories not Halacha?
Chassidim specifically love to quote Chasam Sofer "חדש אסור מן התורה" - when it comes to any slight deviance of Minhag or even culture - and חדש itself they don't care about?

with Rabbi Menachem Genack – Leading poseik of the OU, Rov in Englewood – 17:35
with Rabbi Dovid Gorelik – Rabbinic Coordinator of the OU – 17:35
with Rabbi Yaakov Teichman – Head of OK Kosher – 43:43

מראי מקומות

4/11/26 – Shiur 555 – From the Shul to the Shelter: Rabbanim in Israel Reflect on Life During Wartime Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

How has the role of being a Rav changed due to the war?
What should a shul’s policy be when a siren goes off during davening?
How are people doing emotionally with the constant sirens, sleep deprivation and stress?
What are the most interesting or unusual halachic questions that were asked during the war?

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

Rabbi Avishai David – Rav of Kehillas Beis Tefillah Yonah Avraham – 12:00
Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb – Rav of Beis Kenesses Kol Eliyahu – 37:32
Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz – Rav of Ahavas Shalom – 56:35
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer – Rav of Ohr Chadash – 1:18:51
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – Rav of Kehillas Ohel Efraim – 1:37:37

Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:57:56

מראי מקומות

3/28/26 – Shiur 554 – What is a Neshamah Yeseirah, and do calories really not count on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Plus, join the Headlines 30-days exercise challenges! Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

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

3/21/26 – Shiur 553 – Gambling in the Orthodox Community — What’s causing it, and can anything stop it? To what extent is gambling linked to following professional sports? Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

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

3/14/26 – Shiur 552 – Operation EPIC FURY in Halacha – Hear from boots on the ground Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

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

3/7/26 – Shiur 551 – Inside Orthodox Schools: Who gets hired, which students get admitted and who makes the decisions? Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

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

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