Halacha Headlines

Halacha Headlines
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Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 16min

12/5/25 – Shiur 538 – Ponevezh Yeshiva: Understanding the Machlokes and is it finally over?

How common are controversies over leadership in the Litvish yeshiva system? Is the Ponevezh controversy unique? What were the main points of the machlokes and how did they develop? Who halachically owns assets donated to a yeshiva — the Rosh Yeshiva, the fundraiser, or the institution itself? When, if ever, may a yeshiva bring a dispute to secular arbitration or secular court rather than to Beis Din? 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 Professor Benjamin Brown – Professor at Hebrew University, expert on contemporary Haredi society – 6:49 with Dayan Shlomo Cohen – Dayan and author of the two-volume work Pure Money – 29:08 with Rabbi Pini Dunner – Rov in Beverly Hills CA, historian and lecturer – 45:54 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:10:30 מראי מקומות   
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Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 37min

11/29/25 – Shiur 537 – Sacred Roles, Serious Risks: When Rabbis, Male Therapists, and Kiruv Professionals Work With Women

What are the primary risks and the necessary gedarim? May a Rabbi teach Torah to women or girls? What about one-on-one? How should one handle a situation where women attending a class are not dressed modestly? What can be done about predators who exploit those they are being mekareiv? 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 Larry Rothwachs, LCSW – Rabbi of Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ – 9:19 With Rabbi Daniel Travis – Rosh Kollel Torah Chaim, Yerushalayim; Mechaber Takanas HaShavim – 43:59 With Rabbi Benzion Klatzko – National Director of College Outreach for Olami – 1:07:37 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:37:22 מראי מקומות   
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Nov 20, 2025 • 1h 48min

11/22/25 – Shiur 536 – Chareidim in the IDF – Now that there's Frum Battalions is it an obligation to join? – Hear from the inside!!!

Now that there's a Frum brigade what's the justification of Frum people at least who aren't learning not to go to the army? If there's a shortage of soliders why wouldn't yeshiva bochurim be obligated to join – isn't Pikuach Nefesh Doche the whole Torah? If the Frum will become a majority in the country what will you do then? If Torah obligates hishtadlus, what is the minimum practical hishtadlus a nation must take to prevent harm? Can tefillah alone replace defensive capability? If the IDF ceased to exist tomorrow, what do you realistically foresee happening to Jewish cities like Bnei Brak, Ashdod, or Yerushalayim? with Yonatan - Father of 5 In Miluim for over 400 days – 15:41 with Rabbi Zev Leff - Rav of Moshav Mattisyahu, Renowned teacher and lecturer –  24:39 with Commander Amram Chivan – Commander of Chashmonaim Brigade – 57:39 with Rabbi Yehoshua Pffeffer – Rov in Yerushalayim, Head of Netzach Yehuda – 1:04:45 with Rabbi Nachum Eisenstein – Rav of Ma'alot Dafna neighborhood, Head of the International Rabbinical Committee on Conversion – 1:22:34 מראי מקומות   
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Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 53min

11/15/25 – Shiur 535 – Online Dating in the Orthodox World

How common is online dating in the Yeshivish community? What about Modern Orthodox? Is it ever acceptable to adjust your age, height, or weight on a dating profile? Should men and women post profile photos, and what are the concerns? Is using an older photo to appear younger misleading? What are the halachos of leaving feedback or “reviews” for shadchanim or daters? 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 – Rov of Bais Haknesses of North Woodmere and Head of Semicha at RIETS – 10:37 with Dr. Rachel Ginsberg – Principal Researcher at the Center for Communal Research of the OU – 39:37 with Mrs. Lisa Elefant – Founder and Program Developer of AdoptAShadchan (www.adoptashadchan.com) – 1:09:30 with Mrs. Malka Levitin – Founder of Canopy Shidduchim (www.canopyshidduchim.com) – 1:28:25 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:45:08 מראי מקומות   
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Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 45min

11/8/25 – Shiur 534 – Bullying by children and adults – Who Bullies? Who Gets Bullied? How Should It Be Handled?

Why does bullying happen, and who is most at risk? How should victims respond, and what are the best ways for families, teachers, and community leaders to intervene? How should the bullies themselves be dealt with? What practical strategies can we employ to prevent abuse and foster respect? 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 Guests: Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz – Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah – 9:47 Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky – Vice Chairman of Vaad Rabbanei Chabad in Israel – 30:14 Dr. Rona Novick – Dean of Azrieli, Clinical Psychologist and expert on bullying – 59:07 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:36:46 Please donate to the 10 orphans of the Makeler family in Rechovot, Israel https://www.charidy.com/keren375?2 מראי מקומות   
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Oct 30, 2025 • 1h 22min

11/1/25 – Shiur 533 – NYC EXCLUSIVES: THE ERUV CONTROVERSY | NY ELECTIONS

NYC ELECTIONS with Curtis Sliwa – 1:14 The NY Eruv: Should you be carrying - Become educated Is NY surrounded by walls? Does that help? Was Reb Moshe's Shita a Chumra or a Kula And much much more.... with Rabbi Shmuel Pultman – Eruv expert on the board of the Eruv, Talmid of Reb Fishel Hershkowitz – 21:39 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 – 1:03:39  מראי מקומות   
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Oct 23, 2025 • 2h 2min

10/25/25 – Shiur 532 – Men & Women Working Together: The Frum Woman’s Perspective

Risks, Concerns, and Practical Solutions What’s the proper way to interact with male colleagues? How should a frum woman dress in the workplace? How do Heimish workplaces compare to secular ones? How should a woman respond to uncomfortable moments – like a handshake or a hug? Should she attend office events, parties, and social gatherings? 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 Mordechai Torczyner – Moreh D’asra of Congregation Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park – 12:36 with Mrs. Sara Gordon – sharing her experiences in the Heimish workplace – 36:25 with Mrs. Cohen – sharing her experiences in the Heimish workplace – 47:53 with Mrs. Elisheva Liss – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, lecturer, and author – 56:06 with Mrs. Miriam Brilleman – human resources (HR) executive – 1:38:43 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:53:32 מראי מקומות   
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Oct 17, 2025 • 2h 38min

10/18/25 – Shiur 531 – Men & Women in a Mixed Workplace: What Are the Risks? Can We Stay Separate While Working together? | Plus, Thoughts and Memories in Tribute to Rabbi Moshe Hauer, EVP of the OU

What are the risks and halachic concerns of a mixed gender workplace? Should conversations be limited to only what’s necessary for work? Can first names be used? What if a woman extends her hand to shake hands with a man? How can couples protect their shalom bayis when one spouse works in a mixed environment? 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 Moshe Hauer ZT”L with Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph – Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, OU – 12:44 with Rabbi Avi Berman – Executive Director of OU Israel – 22:09 with Rabbi Chaim Gottesman – close friend and neighbor of Rabbi Hauer for 30+ years – 35:30 Men & Women in a Mixed Workplace with Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Breitowitz – posek, Rav and Senior Lecturer at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach – 50:32 with Charlie Harary – Business Executive and author of “Unlocking Greatness” – 1:26:10 with Rabbi Naftali Horowitz – Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and author of “You Revealed” – 1:26:10 with Harry Rothenberg, Esq. – partner at The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP (InjuryLawyer.com) and lecturer – 1:26:10 Conclusions and takeaways – 2:29:54 מראי מקומות   
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Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 2min

9/26/25 – Shiur 530 – Is Charlie Kirk in Gan Eden? Who really gets in? | How do we navigate the Issur of לא תחנם?

Most religions teach that only insiders make it to heaven - what does Judaism really say about the eternal fate of righteous non-Jews?  Can someone like Charlie Kirk merit Gan Eden?  How do we balance admiration for non-Jews with the Torah’s command of Lo Sechaneim? with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg – Rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue, Founder Yeshivah of South Florida – 13:53 with Rabbi Moshe Taub – Rabbi Young Israel of Holliswood, Rabbinical editor of AMI magazine – 27:49 מראי מקומות   
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Sep 19, 2025 • 2h 11min

9/20/25 – Shiur 529 – Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur Special: Making 5786 into “The Year”

What’s your favorite Devar Torah for the Yamim Noraim? How can we make our Kabbalos last – and what really works? What’s the most powerful lesson you’ve learned this past year? What do you hope to carry forward into the year ahead? 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 Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreis Wolff – teacher, author and lecturer – 11:03 with Rabbi Michoel Frank – Rav, Ohr HaTorah, Silver Spring, Maryland – 18:50 with Rabbi Dovid Ostroff – posek and teacher at many seminaries in Yerushalayim – 34:26 with Rabbi Binyomin Wolff – shul Rav and magid shiur in Yerushalayim – Rebbe at Aish and Shapells - 52:50 with “Rav Gav” Friedman – lecturer at Aish HaTorah, Yerushalayim – 1:05:37 with Rabbi Yaakov Wolff – host of the Shtark Tank podcast – 1:22:05 with Mrs. Michal Horowitz – lecturer and teacher – 1:30:53 with Rabbi Aron Moss – Rabbi of the Nefesh Community in Sydney, Australia – 1:51:30 Conclusions and takeaways – 2:02:24 מראי מקומות   

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