Halacha Headlines

Is Achdus a Halachic imperative, a Hashkafic concept or something else? What’s the definition of “Achdus”? Is it different from “Kiruv”? Can we outwardly express our disagreements? Should we look to have Achdus with groups and movements of Jews who have values that are antithetical to Torah? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** with Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Breitowitz – Renowned Posek and Senior Lecturer at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach – 15:32 with Rabbi Moshe Hauer – Renowned Rabbi and EVP of the Orthodox Union – 43:09 with Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb – Shul Rabbi in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Director of Tzalash https://tzalash.org/ – 1:01:43 with Yoni Alon – Reservist in the IDF and works in the field of education – 1:36:16 with Rabbi Shay Schachter – Rabbi and Rosh Beit Midrash at the Young Israel of Woodmere – 1:50:17 Conclusion and Takeaways – 2:15:08 מראי מקומות

What's your favorite Pesach Devar Torah? Is there something unique you do at your seder? What do you do to prepare for Pesach? Is there something memorable that has happened to you at a seder? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** with Rabbi Shay Schachter – Rabbi and Rosh Beit Midrash at the Young Israel of Woodmere – 14:16 with Rabbi Binyomin Wolff – shul rav and popular magid shiur in Yerushalayim – 33:48 with Rabbi Aron Moss – rabbi of the Nefesh Community in Sydney, Australia – 45:04 with Rabbi Dovid Ostroff – posek and teacher at many seminaries in Yerushalayim – 53:42 with Mrs. Michal Horowitz – popular lecturer and teacher – 1:02:48 with Rabbi Isaac Rice – Mora De'asra of Congregation Anshei Chesed, Hewlitt NY – 1:12:12 with Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein – popular teacher and prolific author – 1:22:26 with Rabbi David Foreman – noted lecturer and founder of Aleph Beta – 1:32:03 Conclusion and Takeaways - 1:49:52 מראי מקומות

Does Eretz Yisroel need an army or can it totally rely on Torah protection? Do we have responsibility to serve - besides the learning protection - like we find previous generations? The Bochurim who aren't learning should they go to the army? Can we have Frum battalions run according to Torah? What's are we going to do when the Chareidim are a majority? with Rabbi Nachum Eisenstein - Talmid Muvhak of HaRav Eliyashiv ZT"L – 22:54 with Yossi Levy – Nachal Chareidi Officer – 48:08 with Rabbi Shay Tahan – Rosh Kollel and Av Beis Din of Shaarei Ezra – 1:00:51 מראי מקומות

What are the biggest challenges, struggles and difficulties confronting our boys today? How do those challenges differ from those of the girls? What impact are technology and alcohol consumption having on the boys? Should Gemara be the focus of yeshiva learning? What’s holding the boys back from performing at their best? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** with Rabbi Avi Wiesenfeld – Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Dovid and posek of Kav Halacha Beis Hora'ah – 9:43 with Rabbi Naftali Kaplan – zekan hamashgichim B'Eretz Yisrael, mashgiach of Yeshivat Netiv Ha’Da’at – 33:05 with Rabbi Dovid Kaplan – Mashgiach Ruchani, Yeshivas Beis Yisrael – 50:09 with Rabbi Daniel Mechanic – Director of Project Chazon – 1:09:30 with Rabbi Aharon Spivak – Rav, Author and Therapist – 1:33:53 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 1:58:32 מראי מקומות

Should each of us be setting up Shidduchim? What are the biggest challenges and difficulties? Is the “shadchanus” fee only paid to a professional Shadchan, or even to beginners? What does the Shadchan need to do to earn the fee? Can you set up two non-observant Jews? One frum and one not frum? Two non-Jews? What advice do professional Shadchanim have for amateurs? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** , Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Moshe Walter – Rabbi of Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah and noted author – 13:41 with Rabbi Dovid Schoen – Av Bais Din for The Bais Din of Florida – 39:16 with Mrs. Miriam Levitan – Noted Shadchan, Eretz Yisroel – 1:09:49 with Shlomo Lewenstein – Noted Shadchan, Lakewood – 1:09:49 with David Katzoff – “amateur” shadchan – 1:49:11 with Noah and Ruchama Tradonsky – “amateur” shadchanim – 2:09:53 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 2:32:20 מראי מקומות

Is it permitted, forbidden or a Mitzvah? Are you מקיים פריה וריבה? Does it exempt you from חליצה? Is there an issue of ניוול המת? Is there an issue of הנאה ממת? Is there an issue of ביטול מצוות קבורה? Are there any moral issues? with Rabbi Shlomo Brody – Renowned Lecturer and Author – 15:00 with Irit Rosenblum – Attorney, Founder & Executive Director of New Family – 46:11 with Rabbi Gideon Weitzman – Director of the Puah Institute – 1:07:26 מראי מקומות

Yeshiva Bochurim in the IDF | Is it possible to be Frum in the IDF? Don’t we have an Achrayus הַאַחֵיכֶם יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה וְאַתֶּם תֵּשְׁבוּ פֹה? What difficulties – if any – do Frum soldiers face in the army? What would a Frum army look like? When a majority of Eretz Yisroel is Frum what will become of the army? with Rabbi..... – Rov, Talmid of Tifrach, Reb Shmuel Auerbach, Chevron, 20 Years in the army – 17:46 with Rabbi Pinchas Friedman – Rosh Hakollel of Belz Kollelim, Mechaber Shvilei Pinchos – 42:47 with Naftoli Pudell – Solider – 55:04 with Rabbi Yehosua Pfeffer – Rav in Yerushalayim, Head of Netzach Yisrael – Nachal Chareidi – 1:01:47 והגית בו יומם ולילה – All day and night? Are you obligated to learn every spare second you have? Does it depend on someone’s health, wealth or stamina? with Rabbi Moshe Aharon Friedman – Maggid Shiur in the Mir – 1:26:58 מראי מקומות

What are the biggest challenges, struggles and difficulties confronting our girls today? How have things changed over the years? Should money be given to children if they will use it for the wrong purposes? What’s the impact that technology/smartphones/social media is having on the girls? What solutions do we have to inspire girls today? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** with Rabbi Dovid Ostroff – Posek and teacher at many seminaries in Yerushalayim – 13:33 with Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz – Posek, Rosh Yeshiva & Rav, Givat Ze’ev, Israel – 38:27 with Rebbetzin Esti Hamilton – popular lecturer and teacher – 1:08:55 with Rabbi Daniel Mechanic – Director of Project Chazon – 1:36:48 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 2:07:21 מראי מקומות

What are the halachic obligations spouses have to each other? How does a relationship change over the course of a marriage? Are there differences in how to stay connected at the beginning of marriage, in the middle and later in life? What causes spouses to disconnect from each other? Can you reconnect once you have already disconnected? What’s the impact of social media on marriages? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger – Rabbi of Congregation Beth Abraham, New Jersey – 12:43 with Mrs. Chani Juravel, LCSW – popular lecturer and therapist – 32:00 with Rabbi Shmuel Maybruch, LCSW – psychotherapist specializing in dating & marriage – 55:21 with Mrs. Sara Yoheved Rigler – bestselling author and inspirational teacher – 1:26:26 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 1:48:19 Reflections on the levaya of Maoz Ben Eitan Morell – 1:59:47 מראי מקומות

Hakaros Hatov to the soldiers Being Mevaker Choleh soldiers Being Menachem Avel these families Saying a Mi Shebeirach for the soliders with Rabbi Refoel Wolf – Gabbai of Reb Shach zt"l for over 30 years – 28:04 with Rabbi Yissocher Eichorn– Talmud Muvhak of Reb Meir Solovietchik zt"l, Rav of Kehilas Avreicihim in Yerushalayim, Mechaber Sifrei Pi Kohein – 38:10 מראי מקומות

What are the most common fears that people have? How do we get over those fears? What is “Jewish Mindfulness” and how can it help? What are the most common fears in dating and marriage? Can anxiety or OCD ever make a person patur from mitzvos? Is it permitted to take experimental/homeopathic/Chinese medication treatments? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz – Posek, Rosh Yeshiva & Rav, Givat Ze’ev, Israel – 12:37 with Dr. Jacob Freedman – noted psychiatrist, speaker and author – 1:03:23 with Rabbi Avraham Willig, MSW – Rav, lecturer and psychotherapist – 1:23:00 with Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Epstein – psychologist and author of Living in the Presence – 1:40:00 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 1:58:27 מראי מקומות

How much should parents do for their children? What are parents’ financial obligations to their children? Is there a maximum? What causes a child to be spoiled? Is it detrimental to grow up with less than your peers? Do we need to treat all of our own children the same when buying them items? What are the implications of having a spoiled child when they grow up? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – Rabbi of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere, Head of Semicha at REITS – 13:12 with Dr. David Pelcovitz – Renowned Psychologist – 37:37 with Mrs. Elisheva Liss – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, popular lecturer and author – 1:00:31 with “Leah” – a twelve-year old girl giving her wise insights – 1:29:26 with Rabbi Berel Wein - renowned Rav, author, historian and lecturer – 1:36:50 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 1:40:47 מראי מקומות

Abortion of a fetus conceived through rape Women tying tzitzis Sheva brachos without the chosson or kallah Returning home before Shabbos if one knows they will be called up on Shabbos Returning home while one's wife is niddah if he doesn't think he'll be able to withstand the temptation to hug A hug before a spouse leaves for battle if the wife is Niddah Burying blood-soaked cars Pidyon Haben when the father or kohen is not present Shortening the taharah process for a Niddah during wartime Saying shehecheyanu when one will not light or even see Chanukah candles Eating homemade foods sent to the front Matzah bakery that ran into a shelter in middle of making Matzos Running to a shelter in middle of Shemone Esrei or Krias HaTorah Yichud in a shelter Rewriting Kesubos for people in the North or South who evacuated their homes A Kohein entering an Ohel Hameis for shelter during a siren with Rabbi Chaim Jachter – Rav of Sha’arei Orah in Teaneck, Dayan on the Elizabeth Beis Din, Mechaber Seforim – 23:25 with Rabbi Elli Fisher – Talmud of Reb Osher Weiss – 36:10 with Rabbi Moshe Bransdorfer – Av Beis Din and Rov of Heichal Ho'raah in Yerushalayim, M'Gedolei Haposkim in Eretz Yisroel – 1:01:30 מראי מקומות

What’s currently causing us the most trauma? The war? The captives? Antisemitism? Something else? What’s the implication of not getting a body back from Hamas, and therefore no Kevura and no closure? Is hearing the news and looking at war images helpful or hurtful? How are students from out of Israel who are studying in Yeshivos and Seminaries in Israel handling the war? How can we turn our current plight into a growth opportunity? Will we have “Post-Traumatic Stress” or “Post-Traumatic Growth” from the war? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi YY Jacobson – world-renowned educator and lecturer – 11:47 with Rabbi Aviad Goldvicht – a “Rav Tzvaii,” a rabbi/businessman serving in the IDF as a Rabbi – 35:26 with Dr. Jacob Freedman – noted psychiatrist, speaker and author – 1:04:55 with Mrs. Batya Widowsky BSW – social worker and volunteer for the psycho-trauma unit of Ichud Hatzalah – 1:35:56 Wrap-up, takeaways and lessons learned – 1:52:30 מראי מקומות

How to handle the stress of having a close relative fighting in Gaza and the loss of a loved one killed in battle. Is there a halachic requirement that the IDF bury dead Hamas terrorists? Other Gazans? What are the IDF soldiers experiencing? What about their parents, wives, and close friends? Is it okay for soldiers to use the homes of Gazans without consent? Can soldiers use the food of Gazans left in their pantries and cook in their pots? What are some of the unique halachic questions being asked by soldiers, their wives, and their families? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon – Rosh Yeshiva, Jerusalem College of Technology – 17:33 with Professor Yisrael Aumann – recipient of the Nobel Prize in economics, his son was killed in battle while serving in the IDF – 41:53 with Rabbi Mordechai Becher – popular lecturer and author, with two sons in the IDF – 59:59 מראי מקומות

Hear from the trenches – How are the Kehilos and families in Eretz Yisroel Managing with Rabbi Elyada Goldvicht – Rav in Ranana, Head of Semichat Chaver Program, Head of Chevra Kadish in the IDF – 3:58 Shabbos: Is it permissible to place an order with one-day delivery on a Friday? If a package arrives on Shabbos, is it permissible to open and use it? Is it permissible to make an online purchase on Friday when it is already Shabbos in the seller's time zone, knowing the seller is Jewish? Is it permissible to keep an Amazon account active during Shabbos and Yom Tov? Ratings: Is it permissible to leave negative reviews on products? Is it permissible to create positive, but fictitious reviews for your own products to enhance sales? Can one purchase items during the nine days (items like clothes and Keilim that is forbidden to buy in those days), to be delivered after tisha b'av? Can one purchase item prior to the nine day to be delivered during the nine days? Can one purchase items on Chol Hamoed (that are forbidden to purchase on Chol Hamoed) to be delivered after Yom Tov? Can one purchase Chometz on Chol Hamoed to be delivered after Pesach? with Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovits – Renowned Rov Poseik and Rosh Yeshiva of Aish Hatorah – 36:50 with Rabbi Yosef Kushner – Dayan in Beis Havaad, Lakewood, Author of Commerce and Shabbos – 42:40 with Rabbi Tsvi Heber – Halacha Coordinator for COR – 1:32:30 מראי מקומות

Is Hakaras Hatov a halachic requirement, or just a nice thing to do? Do we just feel gratitude, or do we need to say “thank you” or more? Historically, did the Gedolim show Hakaras Hatov towards the soldiers of the IDF? Why have a few Roshei Yeshiva said they are concerned about showing gratitude? If Torah learning protects, why does Israel need an army? Does the Israeli army enable those in Yeshiva to learn? Do those learning in Yeshiva enable the army to have military success? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi YY Jacobson – world-renowned educator and lecturer – 24:19 with Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb – Rabbi in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Director of Tzalash https://tzalash.org/ – 53:55 with Rabbi Doniel Haymann – Rosh Kollel, author of Hakaras Hatov L’Halacha – 1:26:59 with Rabbi Joshua Friedman – founder of Israel Select https://thechesedfund.com/israelselect/tefillin?aff=WA – 1:53:32 Clip from Rabbi Baruch Rosenblum – educator, author, and popular magid shiur – 2:16:47 מראי מקומות

Is there such a thing as the country of “Palestine”? What are the halachic borders of Israel? Is it mutar to give the Gaza Strip back now that Israel has retaken possession of it? Is there a mitzvah to be buried in Israel? To make Aliyah? To exhume a body to Israel? What does international law say about the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights? ***Guest Hosted by Ari Wasserman *** Author of "Making it Work", "Making it ALL Work" (for women) and 10 other Seforim, Maggid Shiur, Yerushalayim with Rabbi Hershel Schachter – Rosh Yeshivah of REITs, Poseik of the OU – 16:15 with Professor Eugene Kontorovitch – legal scholar of international law – 48:40 with Dr. Henry Abramson – historian and a Dean of Touro College – 01:12:39 מראי מקומות

Before WWII a lot of Gedolim were opposed to Zionism, what were their reasons? After the war did a lot of the attitudes switch? Why did they switch? Is Zionism a danger to religion nowadays? with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro – Author of The Empty Wagon, A book against Zionism – 13:56 with Rabbi Yehuda Geberer – Noted Historian – 53:33 with Dr. Einat Wilf – Former Member of Knesset, Author of numerous books on Zionism – 1:16:51 with Professor Derek Penslar – Historian, Author, Professor of Jewish history in Harvard – 1:37:51 with Rabbi Shnayor Burton – Prolific Author – 1:55:47 מראי מקומות

Is there a Torah idea called Daas Torah? Can it override doctors? Does the "Daas Torah" have to know the facts? Can it override Shulchan Aruch? Even if it's not in contradiction with Halacha, must we listen to it ? Is there such a thing as saying blanket statements without proofs that must be listened to? Are we supposed to be using our heads? If someone questions "Daas Torah" should he be explained the position or be branded a Kofer? Do we believe in infallibility of Gedolim? Can there be two "Daas Torah's"? Are two different people allowed to have different views, or is it my way or the highway? How should we treat someone who disagrees with us? with Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky – Rosh Yeshiva of yeshivah Gedolah of Greater Washington – 25:55 with Rabbi Aharon Sorscher – Poseik of the Yeshivah Community of Waterbuty Connecticut – 1:00:15 מראי מקומות