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

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  

00:00 - Why does Hashem have anger for a single moment each day?

 

03:05 - Why does each Aliyah in Parshas Balak start with ‘Balak’ or ‘Bilam’

 

05:00 - What is a Rashash minyan?

 

08:00 - What was the difference in opinion between the Vilna Gaon and the Chassidism?

 

24:55 - How can a Rebbe give a single mehalech for many unique, distinct neshamos?

 

28:20 - Can someone go up to Har HaBayit?

 

37:40 - What is the significance of the Western Wall?

 

41:45 - Is it permitted for a woman to wear animal-print clothing?

 

44:15 - Where does one’s duty to his family fit into his Avodas Hashem?

 

51:00 - Why is it so significant that Apostomos burned a Sefer Torah?

 

54:00 - Why did Rebbe Nachman object to Moreh Nevuchim - Guide to the Perplexed?

 

01:02:16 - If we’ve lost entire tractates of Gemara, how can we trust what we have?

 

1:11:05 - Why are there more Cohanim than Leviim?

 

1:14:30 - Why doe we sometimes find that Tanaim said harsh words that turned into curses?

 

1:18:10 - Was it common for people to tamper with manuscripts?

 

1:21:20 - If we already did Teshuva why do we ask for it everyday in Shmoneh Esrei?

 

1:23:00 - What advice would there be for someone losing motivation in spiritual growth?

 

1:24:40 - Do we have to stand for everyone who is over 70?

  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.

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PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

 

Dedicated lirefuah shleima Tinok ben Miriam Ahuva   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  

00:00 - What does it mean to see benevolent and malevolent spirits?

 

03:45 - Was Tisha Ba’Av observed in days of Ezra?

 

07:40 - Why do we take tefillin off for Mussaf?

 

09:50 - Is self-esteem bedieved?

 

14:05 - If we are happy with our lot, why do we daven for more?

 

23:25 - We see that Gedolim went off the derech or rabbis were banned and then celebrated. How do we know how to make the right decisions?

 

33:10 - Does G-d have a sense of humour?

 

36:50 - Why are European surnames more assimilated?

 

39:30 - How should I view my relationship with food?

 

44:20 - How do I balance gratitude for people and Hashem?

 

49:10 - Why is Olam Haba not in the written Torah?

 

53:05 - What date did they write on their documents before Hillel created the calendar?

 

58:05 - What’s happening when you stand in front of the grave of a Tzadik?

 

01:06:50 - Why would Hashem allow Jews to have so much success in the world who do not keep the Torah?

 

01:14:44 - Why should a Bochur in yeshiva keep up with the news and how?

 

01:18:48 - Is Kiddushin d’oraita or d’rabanan?

 

01:25:00 - If one could only learn one page of Gemara, which one?

 

01:34:39 - What should I do during Bein Hazmanim?

 

01:36:00 - Why should the son of a Cohen lose his status as a Cohen as a result of his father’s sins?

  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

 

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's Inaugural Yarchei Kallah event from July 1st to 4th, 2024! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a  https://bit.ly/OSYarchaiKallah for more information.   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   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

 

JOIN OUR MISSION!

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​ 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

00:00 Who was Baruch Spinoza?

 

07:01 Is there a right of privacy in Torah?

 

12:15 Do other religions have equivalents to the Shulchan Aruch and the Gemara?

 

18:17 Why was there such ado about kabbalah at the time of the Ramchal?

 

24:10 When did kabbalah become more mainstream?

 

26:01 Why do we repeat certain pesukim three times?

 

28:51 Why don't we have kabbalists today?

 

36:11 Is it possible to be "higiya lehorah" in one sugya, but not in another?

 

40:27 Does the Rav believe in time travel, and to what degree is it possible in Torah?

 

41:54 How does one make sense of the story of Lot and his daughters, given that wine has certain physical side effects and that wine isn't so strong to inhibit moral judgment?

 

46:36 Is math divine or artificial?

 

51:00 Is there an increase in male chauvinist movements, and how should one view women as a whole?

 

1:02:12 If I'm given a dollar in the United States to give tzedakah in Israel, should I exchange it for shekel or use it as it is?

 

1:04:30 What is a love that doesn't depend on any reason?

 

1:07:18 What's the issue with Women of the Wall exactly?

 

1:12:52 Is one yotze the mitzvah of tzedakah with less than a pruta?

 

1:13:29 If there's no such thing as nature, how can one understand Rambam's view of hashgacha pratis?

 

1:18:32 Are there merits according to the Rambam?

 

1:20:00 How should shuls respond to the terrorist attack in Neve Yaakov? Should individuals acquire guns in response?

 

 

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

New Updated Q&A Coming Soon   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​ 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​ 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   Apply to Ohr Somayach! https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​   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   00:00 If Bnei Yisrael was only obligated in korban Pesach once they entered the land, why does Rashi say that Bamidbar doesn't start with korban Pesach because it was only done once in the midbar?   03:21 Should a ger say "shelo asani goy"?   04:05 What is the Jewish view of acupuncture, qi, etc?   13:12 Is it heretical to say that God needs us?   19:17 Why can't a worker, since he could quit, keep an object he found on the job?   23:38 If the firstborn has a natural spiritual power, why are so many important ancestors (Yitzchak, Yaakov, Yehudah, Moshe) younger brothers?   28:40 What is the source of tefillas hageshem, and why does it say to remove the yetzer hara?   32:28 How does bitachon work with the Rambam's view of hashgacha pratis?   38:00 Can a ger fulfill the commandment to honor one's parents?   40:32 How do we explain to those in the secular world that we, in yeshiva, learn Gemara all day?   47:55 Why is there a difference between when a human baby is born and when an animal baby is born?   52:21 What is the Torah opinion on mental health issues that inhibit a person's ability to interact with the world?   54:18 Who was Ovadiah the prophet?   57:26 What is the significance of the different spellings of mezuzzah in the Shema?   58:47 What is the source for the verses for peoples' names, and why are there different verses for the same names?   1:01:48 Why would God create someone who won't do teshuva?   1:03:49 Wouldn't the Egyptians notice so many Israelites were missing after the plague of darkness?   1:05:15 Rambam seems to define apikoros in two different ways. Are they contradictory?   1:09:22 Why does the Sephardi nusach have "chayim tovim", whereas the Ashkenazi nusach has just "chayim"?   1:13:59 If one does teshuva on a certain sin, but falls into that sin later, is the original teshuva nullified? Does teshuva take a set amount of time?   1:16:33 What is the importance of physical beauty?   1:21:00 Should one eat while learning?   1:23:36 How do we respond to the argument that because the Jews were oppressed, we should support homosexuals and Palestinians and the like?   1:25:36 Can one pray regarding an event that happened already but has an unknown outcome?   1:29:05 Is there such a thing as a legal coup?   1:32:00 How could the Day of Judgment, filled with fear, fall on Shabbos, filled with rest?   1:33:40 Why didn't the Baal Haggadah give the Torah's answer to the wicked son's question?   1:36:41 Should a religious person commit tax evasion in Israel?   1:39:56 What are the halachic considerations of moving a parent into a nursing home?   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 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   00:00 Why was Moshe punished for not circumcising his son in the wilderness, while Bnei Yisrael didn't circumcise in the wilderness?   01:22 Is someone a tinok shenishba if they've tried Judaism?   09:53 Regarding gadolim, which came first: the middos or the Torah?   16:51 How does one discuss the death of a family member with a toddler?   20:53 What are some halachic details of washing hands?   24:57 What is daas Torah?   32:08 Is there a makor for daas Torah?   36:40 Who was Rav Pam?   38:11 What makes Jerusalem fitting for the Temple over other holy cities?   40:11 What is the most important Jewish value?   46:42 How do we understand stories in the Gemara that display a lack of kindness?   50:45 Why did Moshe keep asking about his "uncircumcised lips"?   53:44 If one is at a Shabbos meal, and the host's daughter sings along in zemiros, should one leave the table?   59:10 What should we think about the political party "Tes", or the Religious Zionist Party?   1:02:05 How does one take terumah and maaser on demai nowadays?   1:03:31 Can one sing "Every Yid's a Big Tzadik"?   1:06:30 Why is work such a taboo in charedi society?   1:14:11 What does Torah have that geula doesn't, to bestow menuchas ruach?   1:17:59 What does "until this very day" mean?   1:19:28 What is the source for the "cry of humanity"?   1:23:40 Why should a name be based on life events, eg. Reuven?   1:25:37 What is the source for the Big Three aveiros?   1:26:57 Now that helping someone across the world is so easy, does that take priority over helping someone locally?   1:29:17 How did Dathan and Aviram deserve to leave Egypt?   1:32:22 Will I have similarities to my namesake? Can I change my own name?   1:35:28 Is there a hashkafic reason why dati leumi carry more guns?   1:36:18 How can there be basheret when there is divorce?   1:39:23 How do daas Torah and ruach hakodesh differ?   1:41:57 How could Elisha call bears on teenagers?   1:43:30 Can one say lashon hara on non-Jews?   1:44:23 Can one do an aliyas neshama for a living person?   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

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     00:00 Does Rashi mean to imply that the blessings in this week's parsha are b'dieved?   01:25 If someone is forced to eat non-kosher, should they make a bracha? What if they're getting all nutrients through IV?   04:07 How does something become the hashkafic norm?   11:44 Why does Levi become accepted and blessed, whereas Shimon becomes relatively rejected?   18:15 Should someone name their child after an irreligious ancestor?   20:40 Is there a cognovit promissory note in halacha?   22:44 Is a cash discount a form of ribis?   25:03 Is there a halachic basis for co-ed events?   34:01 Where is radioactivity in the Torah?   37:56 How can we reconcile the Rambam's opinion on the immutability of the Torah with the multiple versions that existed before the Masoretes?   45:34 How early of a source do we have for gilgul?   48:30 Why doesn't every shul daven for the welfare of IDF soldiers?   52:17 What happened to the masorah during the reigns of Menashe and Amon?   56:44 Should one rely on their Rav to determine who to vote for?   1:00:13 Why should it be that one can get a retrial when coming to Eretz Yisrael?   1:04:09 Do Sephardim have a spiritually stronger nusach, based on extra amen, vidui, etc.? If so, should we all follow their nusachot?   1:06:56 What is the source for "daas Torah"?   1:12:00 Why don't yeshivos teach Nach?   1:18:48 Is there a good reason to visit Har haBayis, especially that people might forget we have a connection to the Mount?   1:24:00 Can Jews say the name of a goy, if that goy's name is a Shem Hashem?   1:26:34 Is there a mitzvah today to build a Beis Hamikdash? Or must we wait until Moshiach?   1:30:37 Why wear a kippah all day?   1:33:07 Should we take Rashi's supernatural midrashim literally?   1:34:13 Can we use teabags on Shabbos?   1:36:25 There might be an opinion that the learning of only Gemara applies only to talmidei chachamim. Is this true?   1:37:52 How can we blame someone for not believing the fundamental principles, considering the world we live in today?   1:41:12 What is the source for everything being in the Torah?   1:43:39 How does one give maaser with expenses?   1:47:20 Can the extreme phrasing of a true, halachic statement be a chilul Hashem?   1:50:59 Is it universally accepted that the Moshiach comes after 6000 years?   1:53:20 Are recorded shiurim talmud Torah? Should one say amen to a recorded bracha?   1:54:23 Is there a concept of giving a good impression in Judaism?   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

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   00:00 Why show the brothers the bris mila?   2:50 What is the Torah's perspective on Open AI?   10:45 How did the brothers not know he was an Ivri when all Egypt knew?   12:19 Why is there no archaeological evidence of the Israelite presence in Egypt?   17:48 What are some halachos of trimming the beard?   21:14 Did the Nazis learn from the Egyptians? Who was worse: Pharaoh or Hitler?   24:38 Why should the School in Heaven allow Levi back in, just because Shmuel asked?   28:29 What is the origin of the "Jewish mother" stereotype, and does it have significance?   34:55 Why should it be that the most assimilated Jews celebrate Chanukah? Why are all exiles mentioned in Maoz Tzur?   44:45 How is there machlokes in the Mishnah, since the Sanhedrin still existed at that time?   48:17 Why does God need to mention the Exodus after He revealed Himself at Har Sinai?   52:47 Why did the Sages have to destroy Rabbi Eliezer's vessels in front of him?   54:28 Why are we thanking Hashem for taking us out of Egypt when He's the One Who put us there?   1:00:36 Have our Rabbanim made themselves unreliable to determine who the Moshiach is?   1:05:45 What is a person allowed to do before davening in the morning?   1:07:51 What does it mean that animals sing pesukim?   1:12:29 What signs might the Moshiach provide to prove to us, in the same way that Moshe had signs?   1:13:47 Is King Saul's "ruach ra" a violation of free will?   1:18:56 What are the halachos of yoga?   1:24:01 For a better relationship with a non-Jewish relative, what can one say and do on their holidays?   1:27:04 How does Har haBayis have kedushah of the shechinah if the shechinah left with the people?   1:31:22 Can one celebrate Thanksgiving?   1:33:59 What's the connection of the brothers' crying to the destructions of the Mishkan and the Beis haMikdash?   1:37:06 Why did the ring specifically say "This too shall pass"?   1:37:32 Why are there many Jews who dress like Polish nobility or like American businessmen?   1:39:31 How could one "reject" certain Midrashim?   1:41:35 What level of control does a neighborhood have within its borders, halachically?   1:43:39 Do we have a pronunciation for the Tetragrammaton, and when should it be pronounced?   1:47:31 How can there be chiddushim if Hashem gave the whole Torah to Moshe?   1:49:50 What is the source for holding the thumb during havdalah?   1:50:13 What is Sheol and why does Yaakov say he's going there?   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