The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

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Judaism
**The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast**

Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Breitowitz’s weekly Question and Answer sessions at Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem.
A Project of Ohr.edu
Questions? Comments?
We’d love to hear from you at:
Podcasts@ohr.edu

Latest Episodes:

Q&A-Electronic Transmission, Intellectual Property & Dybukim Feb 20, 2020

Show notes

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)

Q&A-Modern Science, Reward & Boycotting Germany Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

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)

Q&A-Beauty, Idolatry & Islam Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

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)

Q&A-Matchmaking, Homosexuality and Sotah Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

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

Q&A- Role of Evil, Negiah and Artificial Intelligence Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

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)

Q&A-Bio,Minimalism & Secular Culture- (SPECIAL EDITION) Jan 19, 2020

Show notes

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

-Rabbi Breitowitz Autobiography -Evolution Perspectives -Science -Filling our life's mission -Abortion -Judaism approach to minimalist lifestyle -Teachers and Family -Why get challenges to keep Judaism -Marrying Baalei Teshuva -Baal Teshuva communities Pros and Cons -Engaging in secular culture -Rav Wolbe, Jean Piaget, Lord Saks -Which deceased Jewish personality would you want to meet most? -Rav Chaim Ozer -Torah elevating people -Gemara -Closing blessings

(ALT 12-19)

(Produced: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Q&A-Controversy,Space Travel & Vaccinations Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

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

0:02 - Secular schooling, reading academic journals6:01 - Controversial ideas in Masechet Kedushin and in Gemara in general12:05 - Ibn Ezra controversy, additions made to the Torah, who wrote the last few pesukim16:35 - Discrepancies of the different versions of the Torah23:17 - Why Rashi and Tosfos are more mainstream30:57 - Rambam vs Nefesh Hachaim on Hashgacha Protis and Hashem's involvement with the world35:47 - Proper approach to yearning for Moshiach41:03 - The purpose of the Cosmos, Stars, and Galaxies, space travel, life on other planets49:49 - Copying and distributing from sefarim53:30 - Vaccinations, Vaccinating01:03:54 - Gam Zu Letova, Nachum Ish Gamzu, Rabbi Akiva01:05:08 - Why was Shmuel upset that Klal Yisroel asked for a king, the origin of Artscroll01:09:34 - When Halacha contradicts personal logic and reason01:16:40 - Staying up to date with Politics01:18:49 - A question on a Rambam that G-d does not have a body01:22:40 - Are having Gedolei Yisroel a concession for not having a Sanhedrin01:25:06 - Goyim as witnesses01:27:32 - Understanding Abaye and Rava, their relationship, Rav Yochanan and Reish Lakish01:36:52 - Women as witnesses01:37:53 - Solving Sinat Chinam01:46:46 - Understanding the Tower of Bavel

(Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayechi)

(Produced: CedarTree Podcasting 1-8-2020)

Q&A-Corporations, Cryogenics & Crossbreeding in Halacha Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

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

00:01 - Corporations in Halacha

10:47 - Ribbis with credit cards, Heter Iska

14:53 - Sheluach Haken

18:40 - A Kasha On The Gemara In Kedushin

21:12 - How Do We View The Role of Women

28:28 - The Halachic Issues of Crossbreeding Humans and Animals

31:56 - Megillas Channukah/ Megillas Antiochus

34:42 - Halacha on Cryogenic Freezing

39:44 - Jewish State With Absence of Sanhedrin

49:20 Is There A Source For The 10 Sefiros

52:16 The War With Rome and The Time of The Famine, Chronology of Events

01:02:13 Rav Kook on the secular government

01:02:54 Tumah of Dead Animals

01:05:14 Halacha on War, Laws of Rodef, Terrorism

01:10:00 Restitution for Stealing Bzman Hazeh

1:12:25 Avodas for Channukah, Kavanahs for Channukah

(Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayeishev)

Q&A-Sheidim, Birthdays & Mashiach Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

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

SheIdim and mazikim (demons and damaging creatures); mention dibuk (troubled soul in limbo)
Parshas Vayera – Avraham asked Hashem that people should get old with visible signs of age, but Sarah became old with clear, fresh skin
Gezel sheina; opening and closing window in winter or summer
Saying tachanun during hazaras hashatz
Celebrating Hebrew and Gregorian birthdays
"Heter kiruv" (mention of inviting secular for shabbos)
Birth control for financial strain
Piru u'rvu (be fruitful and multiply)-why was it given to Adam and Noach and not bnei Noach (non-Jews)
Yishuv Eretz Yisrael
Bircas kohanim (blessing the kohanim) being discontinued/not practiced in chutz laaretz but only in E"Y and by Sephardim
Kohanei chazaka: believing a kohen/cohen that he is a cohen and halachos nowadays that apply to him (e.g. Torah reading, marriage, duchan)
Frequency of going to the Kotel/Kosel-Western Wall
Eliyahu haNavi answering teku and what happens when mashiach comes regarding machloksim, kashiyos, minhagim etc.

(11/13/2012)

Q&A-Rebuke, Tribes & Gilgul (Reincarnation) Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

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 - Telling non-Jews to keep the 7 Noahide Laws

2:52 - Lo sechonen, role of goyim, potential of goyim and potential of Jews, Rabbi Akiva Pirkei Avos

14:23 - Nefesh Hachaim vs Rabbi Akiva in Pirkei Avos

16:54 - Yaakov Avinu kissing Rachel by the well

20:40 - The Chinese social credit system from a halachic perspective

29:48 - Why do Sefardim and Ashkenazim daven differently

35:17 The tribes when Moshiach comes

38:22 The opposition between the litvish world and the chassidish world

50:17 Vayikatz Yaakov, Yaakov Avinu's sleep

53:02 - Mayim achronim

57:09 - Gilgulim and Techias Hameisim

01:03:30 - Reuven bringing Roses to Leah

01:05:27 - The Torah and Olam Habah, reward in this world, reward in Olam Habah

01:15:13 - Why do we die and come back instead of living until we complete our neshama's goal?

01:18:16 - Mitzvahs in Eretz Yisroel vs outside of Israel

01:24:01 - Not learning Tanach at night

01:26:00 - How come Bilaah and Zilpah aren't mentioned as Imahos?

01:27:14 - Why are the Imahos barren?

01:13:16 - Question on the parsha

01:32:44 - The pachad of Yaakov

01:34:20 - Yaakov's journey

(Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayeitzei)

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