The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Q&A 10-29-25 Q&A: Negiah, Kabbalah & Smartphones

0:00 Why don't we mention the sins/mistakes of modern Gedolim?
5:55 When a person speak lashon hara does he receive all of the sins of the person he spoke lashon hara about? 
6:50 What's is the extent and details of the prohibition of shomer negiah? 
15:09 How was it morally correct for the Israelites to conquer the land the Canaan from the Canaanite's?
29:40 Why is it when you daven you are required to wear shoes, but when Moshe was at the burning bush he was told to remove his shoes because he was in a holy place? 
33:02 Mishnah in Pirke Avot says Hashem created tens things on erev Shabbat. Why did Hashem create them at that time? Why was Bilam's donkey created and this seems to contradict the Rambam who says the whole episode was a prophecy and not an actually occurrence?
37:20 Why is there so many different opinions regarding the resurrection of the dead? 
46:10 Why do we daven silently today?
50:40 Why has it changed today that we are more open to learning the hidden parts of the Torah, when there was a reluctance in the engagement of this knowledge in the previous generations? 
58:00 When a person die his marriage is severed and his wife is allowed to marry someone else. How would this apply during the resurrection of dead, will a person marry his same wife and what would happen if his wife married someone after he passed in his previous life? 
1:01:00 Why is it that when the Kohen Gadol davens on Yom Kippur it seems he prays for trivial things during the auspicious time? 
1:05:02 Why is it do we still eat cholent and gefilte fish when we don't live in those countries where this tradition originated? 
1:09:50 Why is the religious community so against smart phones even with filters, while they are accepting of laptops?
1:14:53 Is whistling allowed and is there a source that whistling summons demons?
1:17:47 Why was there a disagreement between Avraham and Sarah regarding what to do with Yishmael and why do we learn from their disagreement that the wife is always right?

📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs.

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🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa

💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you!

Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs.

📚 Discover the perfect Ohr Somayach Jerusalem program for you:

📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921

🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 

Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu

0:00 why are LED lights not ok on Shabbat for not being in the spirit of Shabbat?
7:30 do we have to be careful on Sun-Tues not to michshol secular Jews who don't say havdala in being mehalal Shabbat mederabban?
12:10 how do you know when a thought is coming from the yetzer hara or yetzer tov?
18:20 would Hashem want one to interrupt his tefilahs when an ani approaches him for tzedakah?
24:35 do we assume that disputable hashkafas that became accepted became so according to divine will?
29:00 when or how did lashon hakodesh come into use?
35:20 that modern phsychology avoids classifying human behavior by a yetzer hara or tov
47:15 does Hashem have desires but not needs?
47:30 why is the lashon in selichot very challenging?
52:30 The Ramban's view on the creation of matter?
54:10 is one held accountable for averahs that are beyond one's bechirah?
55:00 what's the idea behind the fact that the world survives on the merit of 36 tzadikim?
59:00 how did the avot metaken tefilot without a Sanhedrin?
1:02:50 regarding a maaseh in the Gemara about one half of a chavruta pair who decided to leave to make a parnaseh?
1:09:40 does G-d feel emotions and what does it mean for him to love?
1:13:20 why did Yehoshuah marry Rachav who used to be a prostitute?
1:16:45 did the Rav know Rav Moshe Hauer ztl?

Q&A 10-22-25

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

🚨 NOW MORE THAN EVER – Klal Yisrael needs Torah's protection 🚨 📖 Ohr Somayach Yarchei Kallah | July 7–9, 2025 | Yerushalayim 🗣️ With Rav Breitowitz & Rav Asher Weiss + 🔥 3 days of Torah, chizuk & achdus 📩 Reserve: bentzys@ohr.edu | https://bit.ly/OSYarchaiKallah | https://forms.gle/BkNTnfEsvQL3eumG9 Torah protects. Torah unites. Join the mission.  See you there! Dont miss this one of a kind experience! ---------------------------------------------------- Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a  

0:00 how tall are the giants in the Torah
4:20 What would have been the implications if Albert Einstein followed through on becoming frum
10:40 why are false conversions so commonplace 
18:45 do we poskin like the Gemara which says a cohen who has killed someone isn't allowed to duchan
20:55 how do we explain many gezerot that may not seem so applicable today like not swimming on Shabbat so you won't build raft
29:05 do we really have techelet today
41:40: forgetting one's Torah learning upon birth
47:55 what should our avodat Hashem be during this time of war
55:55 why is talmud Torah greater than all the other mitzvot
1:03:00 what are the concerns about eruvim of large cities
1:08:00 are there still demons today which the Gemara discusses, given the claims made by the Catholic Church
1:12:30 are there issues with investing in companies that violate halacha
1:18:55 concerns regarding the seminary system
1:27:20 why would the 10 spies have conspired to lie about the land prior to being there, as stated by Rashi
1:29:50 how do we deal with divrei Kabbalah
1:34:40 what are the source and parameters of das Torah

Q&A 6-18-25   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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   The War of the Eighth   00:00 Should we proselytize at all to our parents?   03:03 Three practical questions about saying Tehillim.   07:08 What situation would obligate one to leave Israel?   09:46 How does one balance joy from learning with pain from the war?   20:00 Is one of the arguments against joining the IDF now disproven?   34:47 Since the Islamist Palestinian enemy also prays for success and has many spiritual merits, how can we be confident in our prayers for their failure?   44:33 Are there any special effects of doing many more interpersonal commandments than commandments between man and God?   49:50 What are the obligations of a Jewish state regarding captives and POWs?   59:00 Does Hashem 'seeing' the light was good imply that He perceived post facto-- that the goodness was not guaranteed?   1:02:37 Why is the major separation between light and dark in time, not in space?   1:04:23 Is there a practical, spiritual difference between learning in Israel and learning in Chutz Laaretz?   1:07:03 How do Biblical literalists explain the age of human artifacts that are seemingly older than 5784 years?   1:11:35 Did R Hai Gaon and the Chasam Sofer give a date for the War of Gog and Magog?   1:13:39 Might Haredi opinions regarding Zionism change because of the war?   1:21:13 Is there a serious concern of lashon hara among baalei teshuva who casually mention their family situations?   1:26:53 Would conditional divorces be effective to prevent agunot in today's war?   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   00:00 Is there any effect on one's wish by telling people what you wished/prayed for?   03:10 Is it true that a bigger tzadik has a bigger yetzer hara?   06:33 Is one allowed to break Shabbos to prevent a chilul Hashem?   09:19 Is there any situation wherein suicide or assisted suicide is allowed?   17:22 How much doubt constitutes a safek?   22:44 Why are wigs so nice-looking if the point is to cover nice-looking hair?   32:27 What is the mazinka and what is its source?   34:33 Would Chazal approve of tenuous analogies from their teachings to contemporary halachic problems?   40:35 Is the story of the man who stole visa papers to escape the Holocaust a proper application of chayecha kodmin?   49:20 Is sleight-of-hand forbidden? Is speaking to the dead forbidden?   54:35 How should one spend the extra time on Rosh Hashanah?   1:01:14 What should we learn from the lynching of Emmett Till?   1:02:57 Can one use zip ties to keep the schach taut if one holds like the Chazon Ish?   1:08:01 How can there be a safek regarding something so common as blowing shofar?   1:16:57  Is there a problem with saying Machnisei Rachamim or even singing it as a song?   1:20:08 Is hope considered a good thing in Judaism or is it considered foolish?   1:25:20 Will there still be new births after techiyas hameisim?   1:27:27 If bitachon already assumes that everything God does is good, then what purpose is prayer?   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   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 @ https://ohr.edu 

PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS