The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

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Q&A- Rome, University & Religious Government Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

00:00 Rashi on Chumash seems to be based on Sod (Kabbala), but he said it's pashut?

2:35 One of the reasons given for Yaakov's crying over Rochel is that he wouldn't be buried with him. Why is this significant?

5:47 Does prophecy affect free-will?

7:44 Considering that every Jew has a neshama, why do people not have an instant connection to Yiddishkeit?

11:36 How did Adam haRishon give Dovid haMelech 70 years of his life? Would he have been born if not?

17:17 Rome is from Eisav, but how could this be, genealogically?

22:35 In zmiros and davening, we seem to direct our requests to malachim rather than Hashem. Why is this?

30:57 Why can we say the names of certain angels but not others?

33:48 Why specifically tehillim for the sick and mishnayos for the dead that are read out?

35:25 Why can't malachim understand Aramaic (prayers) of Hebrew is so similar?

42:40 Is this the reason for all of Kaddish in Aramaic, or just "ihay shmay…"

43:57 A lot of Modern Orthodox go to college/university. Is it better to increase a Jewish presence on-campus, or can this encourage people going to totally secular environment?

49:44 What does the Rav hold on people going into kiruv after yeshiva?

53:35 What is the best way to counter the notion that Judaism is restrictive?

1:01:05 Would it be ideal to have a fully religious government?

1:05:08 At one point is a secular/unknowing person who becomes aware of a halacha going to be chayav?

1:07:07 If other groups (eg Hindus & Catholics) insist split manifestations of HaShem isn't Avodah Zara, how can we do things like praying in the zechus of a tzaddik or to a malach?

1:10:56 What is 'Charedi dati leumi' (Charda"l) ?

1:13:05 What are practical examples of being kiddush HaShem?

1:15:54 Should we still daven for the welfare of the state (al pi Pirkei Avos) if the government is bad for Torah?

1:19:43 Considering the low fatality does vaccination etc. regarding corona, is there a chiyuv to remove oneself from sakana?

1:22:49 What are arguments to present Reform/Conservative Judaism?

1:26:27 What is the concept of singing Shalom Aleichem/Eishes Chayil on Shabbos night?

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Q&A- Mitzva Tantz, Animal Life & Abortion Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

00:00 The cry of Eisav and the cry of Mordechai are described the same, and it is understood that it was as a punishment. How could the Jews be punished if Yaakov was justified?

2:43 R' Dessler described freewill relative to one's environment. How can we know who is favorable in G-ds eyes?

8:58 Why can prayers added after those made from the Anshei Knesses haGadola had HaShem's name?

12:17 Where does one draw the line between hishtadlus and bitachon?

18:40 What are the boundaries of what can be considered 'Torah'?

23:40 Many Chassidish weddings have the mitzvo tanzt. How is this not an issue of proteus, and where did it come from?

26:43 How can we explain the seeming-genocide of the prior inhabitants of eretz yisroel?

33:33 Why is it that at Ashkenazi weddings the kallah walks around the chasan 3 or 7 times. Why is this?

35:24 How do we understand Manoach, even if a Navi can suspend halacha for a one-time necessity?

40:41 How can we understand a soulmate if one person can choose not to enter the shidduch?

44:52 The Girgashiy moved. Where did they go?

47:34 If a goy stills a pruta he is chaiv misa. Why so severe?

52:29 What is the Jewish approach to extending an animal's life if it would cause further pain?

54:32 Learning of Nach is often neglected, and yet we see many books on topics like mussar, emunah etc.. Are these books an attempted replacement?

58:49 What is the origin of gematria? What is At-bash?

1:03:52 Is there an allowance for an abortion caused from rape?

1:05:12 Can anyone darshn gematrias?

1:06:39 What are tips on correcting bad midos?

1:10:35 Is there any religious value in work itself beyond parnasa?

1:13:20 Tzaddaka that brings something in return (eg raffle ticket), is this really tzaddaka?

1:15:20 Is there a way to understand the difference with Ashkenazi and Sephardi pronunciations?

1:18:49 Some people think Beta Israel aren't Jews. Why is this?

1:21:37 What did R' Ovadia Yosef mean for Klal Yisroel?

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We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu ! Produced by:

4 - Zionism II - Hashkafic History Series II Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

Hashkafic History Series II

Ohr Lagolah Rabbinic Program 5776-4-Zionism

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, "Hashkafic History".

For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

(Originally Rec 2015-16)

(Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2021)

Q&A- Rabbanut Kashrus, Geirim & Mamzerim Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

00:00 What is the Rav's opinion on the Rabbanut (for kashrus)?

4:51 Where does 1/60 come from in kashrus, olam haba etc.?

7:11 What is tznius for men?

13:15 Simchas Torah seems to be a holiday that developed naturally. It is a separate holiday?

18:00 Someone starting to take on mitzvos from scratch, should he start with deoreisa first, or would the Rambam disagree?

22:28 For one in Shidduchim, should he look at photos?

26:07 Is there a problem speaking Lashon haKodesh while involved in divrei chol?

35:20 How is birchas hamazon different among different groups. How can people add to it?

39:24 Why did HaShem create such vastness in the universe?

44:45 If a website shop gives a discount for the 1st order, can one always just make a new account?

48:05 Does the Torah say anything about math existing before physicality?

49:55 Kiddish levana doesn't seem so Jewish.

53:47 the 19th bracha of shemoneh esrei was added late, but even Avraham and Bruria prayer for sinners

58:00 Is there evidence amoraim didn't know pesukim?

59:50 There is a Gemara that the world exists in the merit of 36 tzadikim. Can we know who these are?

1:01:12 Sifrei kabala are often not revealed until many centuries after they were written. How can we accept these?

1:07:32 How can a mamzer be held accountable for the sins of his parents?

1:11:42 Is there any way to understand the achievements of Rashi?

1:14:06 Why can a Ger marry a mamzer if one has the same status as a born-Jew?

1:18:40 If a kohen marries a divorcée, is the child a mamzer?

1:19:10 In the 6 zchiros it makes point of Miriam's tzaras when leaving Mitzrayim. Why not in bamidbar, where they were?

1:22:00 What does it mean for the chiuv of chiuv es habrios?

1:23:36 We still wash hands in the morning, but not feet. Why not?

1:25:00 When we speak on the lowering of generations, what is the floor?

1:27:04 There's a machloches on the source of Ashrei, and csav ashures was used before anyway.

1:30:30 If a Christian missionary marries someone or is mesader gittin, what happens now?

1:33:20 According to the Rambam, are events of Tanakh metaphor?

1:33:45 We see great relation genetically, linguistically etc. with Canaanim. How can this be?

1:35:13 Why do malachim in Tanakh want to give over his name?

1:36:20 Of diasporic languages, why is Yiddish more developed than Ladino?

1:39:15 Chanoch was taken by Hashem and became a malach. What happened?

Comments? Feedback?

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We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu ! Produced by:

3-Varieties of Zionism - Hashkafic History Series II Oct 24, 2021

Show notes

Hashkafic History Series II

Ohr Lagolah Rabbinic Program 5776-3-Varieties of Zionism

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, "Hashkafic History".

For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

(Originally Rec 2015-16)

(Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2021)

Q&A- Guilt, R' Shlomo Carlebach & Evolution Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

How is it that in the Gemara that some people have a mesora and others don't?

How does deal with feelings of guilt moving forward having grown up doing aveiros?

What's the halacha regarding a tchup?

It seems like the frum world sees women place more emphasis on emunah but less with men?

Why does the Torah spend time going through the generations as in Parashas Bereshis and Noach?

If there will never be a prophet as great as Moshe Rabbeinu, what should be expected from Moshiach?

How did Eliezer come to Avraham? If he was connected to Nimrod, why did he send him to his enemy?

Will the yetzer hara for avoda zara come back after moshiach?

Are the descendants of Yishmoel and B'nei Katura also chaiv in bris milah, even today?

Note from Rabbi Breitowitz: I was asked about the halachic obligation of the descendants of Yishmael to have Bris Milah . I cited the Rambam that Bnai Yishmael are exempt from Milah though Bnai Keturah are obligated (as opposed to Rashi who maintains that only the actual sons of Keturah needed Milah and not their descendants ).So far ,so good. I then said that since the Bnai Ketura have intermingled with Bnai Yishmael and are no longer a distinct group ,all who identify as Bnai Yishmael are now exempt .This was an error on my part . Rambam says exactly the opposite The intermingling of Bnai Ketura with Bnai Yishmael obligates the entire group . (In partial defense[not really!]I was thinking of the Minchas Chinuch who does indeed suggest that the intermingling should exempt the group rather than obligate it but that is not Rambam,s view). I apologize for the error .Bivracha ,YBreitowitz

How should one respond when asked by a non-religious person about olam haba?—Are there sources?

Are there any ramazim for how we can relate to olam haba?

How do we define what a hashkafa is?

It seems like learning Torah lishma is ideal, and others say it must lead to something?

Is there the possibility of alternate universes regarding quantum mechanics?

With Rav Shlomo Carlebach yahrzeit coming up, how should we commemorate?

Muslims around Israel have certain good qualities eg Tzanua? Are we supposed to learn from them?

Did HaShem always intend for there to be war in the world?

Can evolution in its entirety be consistent with Torah?

Yeshayahu gives musste that people do mitzvos by rote, how do we avoid this?

By Tannis, the Gemara says that during a plague (given population ratios) we fast and blow the shofar. Why was this not done during covid?

One can't conduct normal business on Shabbos, so how can the rabbi 'work' on Shabbos?

Comments? Feedback?

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2-Yishuv Eretz Yisrael - Hashkafic History Series II Oct 17, 2021

Show notes

Hashkafic History Series II

Ohr Lagolah Rabbinic Program 5776-2-Yishuv Eretz Yisrael

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, "Hashkafic History".

For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

(Originally Rec 2015-16)

(Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2021)

Q&A- Smoking, Neturei Karta & Heter Mechira Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

00:00 Yaakov lived with Lavan for so many years. How did he do this and what can we take from this?

03:58 Assuming there is moderation, could it be permitted to smoke, and do those with an addiction have a chiuv to stop?

13:08 How should understand the Holocaust when G-d is all-loving?

24:40 Is it possible for a secular Jew to truly feel content in life?

27:38 Parshas Lech Lecha, we have the imagery of bris Bein habasarim. Could you explain some of this?

30:31 What exactly is a 'raban'?

37:37 At what point does someone who grew up secular have the daas to have a chiyuv of Shabbos? —Is there permanent gehenom?

47:57 Can the luz bone be totally destroyed?

48:58 Sometimes we use a feminine word for Hashem?

52:42 Do we look at someone with a Jewish father different?

56:32 Why did the trees rebel that their bark should taste like the fruit?

58:44 If Gemara is the pinnacle of learning, why is it not so encouraged for women?

1:04:41 Has neturei karta done anything positive for klal yisroel?

1:11:30 Is a shared mitzvah (such as bochor) then what of the schar?

1:12:25 Arum means nakedness and cunning. What is the relation, as in bereshis?

1:14:42 One can be a Ben olam haba for davening netz, or saying ashrei 3 times a day. If one can have one, why try for the other?

1:16:20 What is the connection between birchas kohanim and dreams?

1:19:01 Is heter mechira valid?

1:20:15 If the shmita year is not certain, is there any leniency?

1:23:30 Are things like life insurance hishtadlus?

Comments? Feedback?

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 2021)

1-Movements of 19th Century - Hashkafic History Series II Oct 10, 2021

Show notes

Ohr Lagolah Rabbinic Training Program 5776-1-Hashkafic History I-Movements of 19th Century

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, "Hashkafic History".

For comments, questions, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

(Originally Rec 2015-16)

(Produced by: CedarMedia Podcasting 2021)

Q&A- Dinosaurs, Tachanun & Wigs Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

00:00 What was Reuben's cheshban in moving Yaakov's bed? What of kibud av? 4:14 Chazal say it's a mitzvah to marry one's niece, but genetically this can be dangerous... 6:55 During chet haegel, Moshe argues with HaShem against starting a nation. What does it mean for one to argue against HaShem? 11:47 There is an assumption that earlier rabbis are correct, what is the source for this? 15:17 Did the Avos keep the Torah before it was given, and how did it look? 0:21:34 what is the Rabbis opinion on wigs? 0:27:42 Some people are annoyed about having to start saying tachanun again. Can Rebbi share anything about the importance and beauty of it? 0:32:00 How can a Jew be a secular judge? 0:34:44 Believe on unbroken tradition, how can we justify the idea of machloket and differing opinions? 0:45:16 What is the Torah's view on Dinosaurs? 0:49:19 What is the difference between psychology and mussar? 0:52:02 Why is same Bracha chatima of psukei dezimra same as Baruch sheamar? 0:55:30 Why is taf pronounced as tzaf by askenazim? 0:59:50 What is the origin of rashi script? 1:01:40 Is there a remez for America in the Torah? 1:03:24 What is mans goal in striving for faith in G-d juxtaposed with logic? 1:07:15 How can we say that we will promise to G-d that we will praise him forever? 1:09:40 How do we learn halacha? Lets say I'm learning the mishnah berurah. How do i know if we paskin like it? How do i know which sefer we paskin like instead? Do i always have to double check with a rabbi? 1:15:15 What is the source for matrilineal descent? 1:17:50 Why does it seem that prayer doesn't work in bleak situations? 1:22:15 When we finish a sefer we say hadran halach, but most don't at Simchas Torah? 1:24:30 is it permissible to grow sprouts in a windowsill, in water?

Comments? Feedback?

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 !

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