The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Q&A- Grape Juice, Hamsa & Bugs in Food Jul 21, 2022

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Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu 00:00 Rav addresses possible controversial discussions 01:39 Why do we thank G-d for freeing us when He put us in Egypt in the first place? 06:09 Why do people say Baruch Shem Kavod in some capacities? 12:12 Why are there so many rules in Judaism? 19:38 How strict should someone be for checking their food for bugs? 25:35 Do people who support others in learning for the zechus of someone lose out on the reward? 32:02 Why do we read the first aliyah during the week and what is the function of maftir? 35:32 If someone chas vshalom suffered a miscarriage l, Are there Heterim to allow her husband to comfort her (touch, hug)? 40:06 If someone has the Tetragrammaton tattooed on their body, (how) can they go in the bathroom? 42:30 The Gemara in Sotah (46b) says that the angel of death wasn't allowed to work in Luz. It says that when the elderly's mind becomes difficult on them, they would leave the city and die. Was this allowed? And if so, why wouldn't it be evidence that we should be able to pull the plug in a case of brain death? 49:16 How did the chapter divisions of Tanach make it if they are based on non-Jewish sources? Should they stay? 58:32 When someone may not have the right kavana, because of emotion or otherwise, is there a way to deal with that or an exemption of mitzvos of sorts? 59:37 How do we understand taking revenge on the midyanites, and why were women and children saved? 1:10:35 Why in orthodoxy is there absolutely no allowance of physical contact until marriage night where everything happens at once? 1:16:52 What is the purpose of G-d putting evil people into the world only to have them be killed? 1:18:47 What was the magic barrier around Egypt that prevented the Jewish slaves from leaving? 1:20:30 When I am trying to see messages from Hashem, how do I know I'm seeing it the right way or at all? 1:23:42 What is the specific quality of grape-products (wine/grape juice) that in the nine days and regarding nidah harchakos, one can have other alcoholic drinks, or (non-alcoholic) pomegranate juice? 1:26:34 Does the Hamsa ward off ayin horo and what is the basis for this? 1:30:18 Is there such thing as eminent domain in Halacha? 1:34:37 Why in some cases in Tanach were allowed to take the booty but other times we must destroy all their possessions? 1:37:14 What is the best way to improve in Ahavas Yisroel? https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu Produced by: Cedar Media Studios

Kiruv Seminar for Bnei Torah - Fast of Tammuz Jul 17, 2022

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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

Q&A- Psychedelic Drugs, Woman Ordination & Palestinians Jul 14, 2022

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

00:00 Rav addresses asking controversial questions 00:39 What is Ramban's view on premarital sex? 04:42 How can Shlomo HaMelech send sheidim? Isn't that kishuf? 11:20 Why was Torah given so late if that was purpose of the world? 18:50 Did Yitzchak Avinu die during sacrifice or after? 22:30 How do we regard a figure like David Weiss HaLivni (who recently died) and the Union for Traditional Judaism in general? 27:10 What is the significance of Hashem's name "Shakai"? 32:40 What is the Rav's view on psychedelic drugs? 36:25 What was religion of people of Haran? 44:20 Why was Shlomo able to build multiple extra kruvim? 48:30 How did Baer Miriam make it to the kinneret? 50:45 What is the issur of woman ordination? 56:15 How do we address skeptics of Flood of Noach? 59:18 How do we understand when Chazal say that Rabbi Akiva was greater than Moshe Rabbenu? 1:01:30 What's the minimum you have to say of the pesukim for Krias Shema Al Ha Mitah? 1:02:10 Are there any proofs in Torah that prove its validity? 1:04:38 What is the origin of making a wish on a wish bone and is it avoda zara? 1:07:40 Does reading Zohar itself purify someone? 1:09:00 What does it mean the Pinchas is Eliyahu? What are practical implications? 1:14:10 Is there a fourth individual that lived eternally? Eliyahu, Chanoch, and Sarach Bat Asher are known. What is the commonality amongst them? 1:16:50 How can Iyov be listed as a non-Jewish prophet if we know it's only a minority opinion that he was a goy? 1:20:20 Do Jews who have only a Jewish mother have inheritance? Also will there status change at time of Messiah? 1:22:35 Why is the word Bar mitzvah in Aramaic and Bat Mitzvah in Hebrew? 1:24:07 Why do some halachos depend on looking at a Goyish majority? 1:27:42 What are the views on talking in the bathroom? 1:29:08 Should we respond to Palestinian treatment of Jews in a similar way as we did with the Soviets? 1:34:52 Is it morally wrong for a Cohen to be grateful for Chet HaEgel which gave him his kehunna? 1:36:50 When would shaking a hand with a woman be permissible?

https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu Produced by: Cedar Media Studios

3- Rambam's Shmona Prakim - The Kochos of Soul Jul 11, 2022

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Rambam's Hakdama to Pirkei Avos - Part 2 Jul 03, 2022

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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

Q&A- Pictures of Women, Takanas Ezra & Kollel Jun 30, 2022

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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

Rambam's Hakdama to Pirkei Avos - The Ibn Tibon's Hakdama Jun 28, 2022

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White and Blue Techeilis Jun 26, 2022

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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

Q&A- Demons, Cartoons & Conversion Jun 23, 2022

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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

Q&A- Socialism, LGBTQ & Unfiltered Internet Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

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

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