The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

Dedicated lzchus Refuah shleimah for שמחה יצחק בן מירעלע יודקא and for אסתר תהלה בת אריאל ציפורה Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos 4:00 - What exactly constitutes a "ben Eretz Yisrael" vs. "ben Chutz l'Aretz" for how many days of Yom Tov to keep? 9:06 - Is there any source for the idea that religious jews need to have marital relations through a hole in the sheet? 11:03 - When we left Egypt, what happened to the Mixed Multitude and why were they not included in the census? 15:30 - There is a biblical obligation to listen to the Rabbis. It would seem that when a Rabbi says something, it would have effect of torah law. So when a person doesn't turn in high school homework on time, that would be a biblical violation. How much agency is a person allowed to have? If I'm a Trump guy, can a rabbi force me to vote for Biden? Can he tell me who to marry or not to marry? How does this work in practice? 25:42 - On the pasuk in Devarim where Moshe is describing that it was his decision to send the meraglim into Eretz Yisrael, and many meforshim comment that this seemingly contradicts the earlier description of the story where it was Hashem's decision. I recently read the Abarbanel's description where he seems to say that he was deliberately lying because he didn't want them to turn against Hashem since this episode caused the entire generation to perish in the midbar. How can the Abarbanel make this interpretation that Moshe was lying? In other contexts we might have said it came from a reform rabbi. How does he have the authority to do this, and why is it not a problematic thing to say? 30:35 - Why is kilayim a seemingly unique mitzvah in that we are not allowed to make it but we can benefit from it, unlike kashrut, shatnez, etc.? 34:23 - From the Hasidic community where a lot of women shave their hair, which became an attack against the Orthodox community, what is the Rav's take on the concept [of shaving]? If someone grew up with that Mesorah, would they be allowed to change such a thing? 38:17 - Could the Rav give some insight on the covid vaccines, vaccines in general, etc.? 43:44 - Are observant Jews allowed to eat in non-kosher certified, but strictly vegetarian restaurants, assuming one is not eating leafy vegetables for example? 46:53 - About the Gemara in Chagigah, could Elisha b. Avuyah ("Acher") done teshuva? How are we to understand the Gemara's aftermath of his death where R' Meyer and R' Yochana see smoke and fire rising from his grave? 53:05 - What are the parameters for what a person can use their maaser ksafim, their tithe? Specifically, can one give out money to Israeli soldiers as it might be good for Haredi public relations? 56:50 - How did Tumas Niddah work during the times of the Beis HaMikdash? When a woman, married or unmarried, became a Niddah, and everything she touched became contaminated, how would that work? How did life look? 1:01:06 - About the luchos shnios. 1:08:02 - How is someone who would want their children to grow up in Israel, are there options, are they allowed to have hobbies, are they encouraged, what is the move for such parents? Is this a system they should try and fit their kids into, or are there other things they should be exploring? 1:14:24 - Are non-misdemeanor traffic offense a chillul Hashem if one can pay the fine without needing to appear in court? 1:16:37 - Is there a problem with saying Hashem's name in a non-pasuk or non-bracha. 1:17:49 - Should terrorists receive the death penalty? 1:20:05 - Is it permitted to daven for something you want but that, if it happens, it could be dangerous? 1:22:37 - Are there any ways to validate the "flat-Earth" view from the Torah or are there any Torah personalities that took such a view? 1:25:45 - How should bnei Torah look at the Pope, Dali Lama, or other religious figures who seem to be doing great things for the world or at least their communities but are likely worshiping idols, not ones that are evil or in context of their relationship with the Jews but promoting good things for the world? 1:30:23 - (Follow up) Would Jews living their Judaism as superficially as [only the practices of their forefathers] be lacking in a certain way, or is it different? 1:32:27 - Regarding teshuva, in general, how does one begin, and specifically, how does someone do teshuva or get a full tikkun for wasting seed? What about someone who had a relationship with one of the prohibitions, arayos or a niddah? 1:36:33 - What advice does the Rav have for children, or parents of children, who just can't seem to wake up in the morning for minyan?

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Signup for the live Q&A at ohr.edu/rbqa Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. 1:25 Tips how a busy balabus can get into Elul mode? 5:20 Psychology books on boundary setting prioritize one's needs. Judaism acknowledges this prioritization, but it's written as a duty. Can you be assertive as a duty and not a right? 9:17 Why do we wear kippah and tzitzis? 12:40 If the prime minister asked the Rav advice on how Israel should handle the Arabs, what would the Rav answer? 16:32 In Chardeidi Israeli society, why is there so much focus on externalities, but certain activities are not allowed like having a car? 22:43 How can parents help their kids who think these priorities are flawed? 25:34 Does the Rav have advice for a child growing up right now who doesn't fit the norm? 30:49 Having grown up with a TV, what's the Rav's opinion on watching Hollywood films or secular novels? 39:13 In the Rav's view, what are the best ways to acquire yiras shamayim? 45:02 What are the roles of chumras in yiddishkeit? 50:34 In the states, Roe v Wade was overturned. Since there are times abortion is a religious requirement, why did the major orthodox organizations not opose it? 58:21 Does the Rav believe we are in the footsteps of mashiach, and does that practically change anything with our observance? 1:03:56 Could Elisha ben Avuya have done teshuva despite the bas kol? How does the Rav understand the gemara's aftermath of R' Meir and R' Yochanan having smoke and fire rise from his grave? 1:08:46 Since we believe that we are forgiven on Yom Kippur, why does Hashem still feel the need to punish us? 1:11:50 Rashi says in his commentary on Beraishis that the world was created for the sake of the Torah and the Jews. What does this mean for us and for non-Jews? 1:17:10 Does Hashem love the gentile nations or just Am Yisroel? 1:20:18 Will secular people be resurrected? Is it true that only those who believe in resurrection will get it? 1:23:11 What are the various opinions concerning animal sacrifices when mashiach arrive? 1:27:11 Since we're in the ikvos dmashiacha, what is the relationship between ingathering of the exiles and aliyah, and whose responsibility is it, us or mashiach? 1:30:59 A fourth bracha was added to bentching commemorating the event of the corpses not decomposing after the massacre of Beitar. Why of all places was it put here, and what does this miracle have to do with mentching? 1:35:21 Was R' Eliezer ben Hurkunes speaking about the internet when he said that the meeting place of the sages be one of promiscuity? 1:36:55 Is genetic engineering halachically acceptable? 1:41:21 If one is raising a non-Jewish child as Jewish in a mixed marriage, when should you tell him he's not Jewish, and how would you convert such a child? 1:45:16 In the form of a hobby, can a Jew perform in a non Jewish comedy club if his act is completely clean? 1:47:10 What is the Torah's perspective on the influence of the media? Is it avodah zara? Visit us @ ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Please join us live Sunday, 14 August and Thursday, 25 August to ask your own questions! Signup at : ohr.edu/rbqa Dedication opportunities for this episode as well as for future are available for episodes and series at : https://ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? : podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at : https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz : https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at : https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on apple and google play, our website and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ ohr.edu 2:13 How did the Q and A come to be? What's its function? 6:02 Why do people think of math beyond hashem? Why is pi an infinite number? 9:43 Are the Jews supposed to serve G-d in their own bubble or be proactive in influencing the secular world? 15:49 Can a woman be motzei a man in havdala? 19:27 And why was Tisha B'av not observed on the ninth of Av? 20:15 If a woman's husband is not religious anymore, can she be motzei with his kiddush? 22:44 Why does the Rambam list the people who are exempt in the law of talmud torah in the beginning of hilchos talmud torah? 25:48 What is the torah's view on abortion? 35:53 In your experience, was the study of gemara easier or harder than the study of law? And did they benefit each other? 41:46 In regard to the internet and smartphones, it seems like there is so much good, and yet there has never been so much tumah. How are we to understand the diverse answers from various rabbis? 47:47 On what basis are we obligated to believe in kabbalah? 53:19 Were all of the halachos of 'hatov vihameitiv' given by the times of the harugei beitar? 59:52 What is the avodah of the days between now and Elul? 1:02:35 Moshe told the Jews the Shema in the 40th year in the desert. Did they say the Shema between getting the torah and then? 1:07:22 How was Tisha B'av celebrated for 800 years prior to the beis hamikdash getting destroyed? 1:08:57 If physical force is against the law of the land, is there still the concept of forcing a man to give a get? 1:14:21 Is it the responsibility of a Jew to follow politics? And is there a party Jews should identify with? 1:18:05 Does G-d act on the blessings and curses that we may say to each other? Is there a manipulation of G-d by the things we say? 1:23:25 If a person has limited time to learn, what should his priority be? 1:27:53 Can the Rav expand on the mitzvah of living in Israel? 1:33:27 Why do we not fast Taanis Esther on Shabbos? 1:36:23 'Even Rabbis have Rabbis' Who would Rav Breitowitz ask if he had a shaila? 1:38:07 If one commits a financial crime while doing an act that gets capital punishment, he is not chayav to pay the financial loss. But if one would not be killed - if he escaped, why should he not be required to pay? 1:42:56 How do we understand the Jews of Beitar not mourning the destruction of the beis hamikdash? 1:45:36 How do we understand the ceremony done on Tu B'av?

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Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to Ohr Somayach! https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to Ohr Somayach! https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Rav address two sent it questions, regarding anistanus and talmud Torah 08:30 It is said that if someone makes 3 shidduchim, they are guaranteed Olami Habo—how does this work? 13:42 Where do the traditions for tefillin designs and wrapping techniques come from? 21:37 What are the pleasures of this world that we are essentially obligated to enjoy according to the Yerushalmi? 27:52 If Judaism is meant to be authentic, why is it that in Kiruv, we offer so many fancy trips and gourmet food? 33:09 In terms of the sun being stopped for Moshe and Joshua, it says it never happened before by Joshua—how do we understand this? 35:30 What are the different opinions of taking early Shabbos? 45:03 These days, there are often discounts given by insurance companies to women and the gender is defined by what the insured person states. Would it be mutar for a biological man to say he identifies as a woman in order to pay a smaller premium? 49:57 How could two opposite statement be true? 52:38 In terms of Tu B'Av, how do we understand the gemara's reasons for a public shidduch day so to speak and how did times change? 58:56 How is it that Targum Onkelos was min HaShamyim? 1:02:29 Do we make Yam Hagadol bracha on the Pacific Ocean? 1:03:24 Why wouldn't the whole world be made Jewish such that everyone would have the maximum opportunity for closeness to Hashem? 1:07:02 if the Talmud discusses 8 genders of Judaism, what does that mean? 1:08:37 Why do we accept Kabbalah today in Halacha? 1:13:09 If I can't finish slichos, tachanun, general tefillah or the like, am I'm missing out on certain forgiveness capacity? 1:16:43 How do we relate to the destruction of the Temple if we never experienced it and why would our lowly generation be fortunate enough to have it rebuilt? 1:22:53 Why do Ashkenazim and Sephardim differ in the way they cover their eyes in Shema? 1:24:50 Kesubos is the current masechta in Daf Yomi cycle. A lot of the material discussed is about rape and other material that some may find disturbing. Can the Rav share some advice on how to approach this masechta with the right perspective. Alternatively, if learning this masechta will bother or discourage someone everyday, is it better to just learn something else? 1:30:16 How does it work that Torah is the ultimate healer but the Rambam states that one needs other outlets? 1:32:30 Why do we follow certain halachos today that some rabbanim wouldn't have approved of? 1:36:25 Rashi in Moed Katon explains the practice of the Beis Din placing a stone on someone's coffin as a זכר בעלמא of stoning someone who died while excommunicated. If so, why do we place stones on graves today? 1:37:32 Why didn't Avraham get punished for asking for a guarantee for Israel's quality while the Meraglim did? 1:39:36 How do we view the seemingly vain descriptions of women in Ta'anis? 1:41:31 If creative acts are forbidden on Shabbos (melachos) why is intimacy permitted, isn't that the most creative act? 1:43:47 What messages was Hashem trying to convey to Eliyahu during Har HaCarmel events? Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to Ohr Somayach! https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ 00:00 Rav address two sent it questions, regarding anistanus and talmud Torah 08:30 It is said that if someone makes 3 shidduchim, they are guaranteed Olami Habo—how does this work? 13:42 Where do the traditions for tefillin designs and wrapping techniques come from? 21:37 What are the pleasures of this world that we are essentially obligated to enjoy according to the Yerushalmi? 27:52 If Judaism is meant to be authentic, why is it that in Kiruv, we offer so many fancy trips and gourmet food? 33:09 In terms of the sun being stopped for Moshe and Joshua, it says it never happened before by Joshua—how do we understand this? 35:30 What are the different opinions of taking early Shabbos? 45:03 These days, there are often discounts given by insurance companies to women and the gender is defined by what the insured person states. Would it be mutar for a biological man to say he identifies as a woman in order to pay a smaller premium? 49:57 How could two opposite statement be true? 52:38 In terms of Tu B'Av, how do we understand the gemara's reasons for a public shidduch day so to speak and how did times change? 58:56 How is it that Targum Onkelos was min HaShamyim? 1:02:29 Do we make Yam Hagadol bracha on the Pacific Ocean? 1:03:24 Why wouldn't the whole world be made Jewish such that everyone would have the maximum opportunity for closeness to Hashem? 1:07:02 if the Talmud discusses 8 genders of Judaism, what does that mean? 1:08:37 Why do we accept Kabbalah today in Halacha? 1:13:09 If I can't finish slichos, tachanun, general tefillah or the like, am I'm missing out on certain forgiveness capacity? 1:16:43 How do we relate to the destruction of the Temple if we never experienced it and why would our lowly generation be fortunate enough to have it rebuilt? 1:22:53 Why do Ashkenazim and Sephardim differ in the way they cover their eyes in Shema? 1:24:50 Kesubos is the current masechta in Daf Yomi cycle. A lot of the material discussed is about rape and other material that some may find disturbing. Can the Rav share some advice on how to approach this masechta with the right perspective. Alternatively, if learning this masechta will bother or discourage someone everyday, is it better to just learn something else? 1:30:16 How does it work that Torah is the ultimate healer but the Rambam states that one needs other outlets? 1:32:30 Why do we follow certain halachos today that some rabbanim wouldn't have approved of? 1:36:25 Rashi in Moed Katon explains the practice of the Beis Din placing a stone on someone's coffin as a זכר בעלמא of stoning someone who died while excommunicated. If so, why do we place stones on graves today? 1:37:32 Why didn't Avraham get punished for asking for a guarantee for Israel's quality while the Meraglim did? 1:39:36 How do we view the seemingly vain descriptions of women in Ta'anis? 1:41:31 If creative acts are forbidden on Shabbos (melachos) why is intimacy permitted, isn't that the most creative act? 1:43:47 What messages was Hashem trying to convey to Eliyahu during Har HaCarmel events? Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu Subscribe to Ohr Somayach! https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu

Would you like to sponsor an episode? A series? We'd love to hear from you : podcasts@ohr.edu 00:00 What does the notion of writing BS"D on top of documents mean? 04:55 Can I throw away documents that have an image of the Temple? 06:38 Why does the chazan say the duchening bracha before the Kohanim? 10:10 What is the Rebbe's personal approach to kiruv rechokim? 17:00 Since the Torah forbids usury, are we allowed to invest in interest-bearing assets? 20:19 In terms of the above, what about Israeli bonds? 23:45 What exactly is the shidduch crisis and are secular people involved? 27:52 If a non-Jew who is a chalal converts to Judaism do they retain their status as chalal? 31:45 What kinds of methods do stores use to check for shatnez? 35:18 Why would someone be able to lend on interest to an apostate Jew? 38:07 What is the story with Yushkas death? 42:27 Should we trust Rambam's health advice more than present day nutritionists and doctors? 45:27 What do we learn from the Choni Hamagul story in maseches Taanis—"I'd rather find a friend or die"? 50:30 Why does the Torah allow polygamy? 54:28 According to the sugya in Succah, why do we repeat words in Hallel but seemingly shouldn't repeat Hashem's name (Kah)? 1:02:04 How do we understand beseeching Hashem in prayer with written, fixed prayer versus my own words? 1:12:05 What is the difference between the prayer statements of Baruch Atah Hashem and Yehi Ratzon? 1:13:00 In the Haftora for Mattos, why is there a pun and then not a pun? 1:16:30 How do we view Israeli land sold to gentiles? 1:21:04 If the order of Brachos in Shemona Esrei were predetermined and there was leeway in terms of content, why are brachos still so similar? 1:23:47 How old is the Ashkenazi nusach? 1:25:10 Why don't we see rhymes so much in Psalms or Torah songs? 1:28:45 Is there a real source for Armenians being Amalek? 1:32:23 How would you respond to someone who used dinosaurs and other similar points as attacks on Judaism? 1:37:33 How should we view modern day biblical criticism? 1:42:01 Were the wives of Bnei Korach allowed to remarry? 1:44:24 In terms of the counting of Bnei Israel, what is the significance of the age of 20? 1:48:27 What is the proper kavana to have in praying at the grave of a tzadik? Why would I physically go there? https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ Visit us @ ohr.edu Produced by: Cedar Media Studios