As the Three Weeks give way to the Nine Days and Tisha B'Av, Jewish life changes dramatically. The music stops, celebrations become more restrained, and we begin mourning the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. But what are we actually meant to be feeling? Why should we mourn something that happened nearly 2,000 years ago? What was truly lost, and what is the avodah of these weeks? In this episode, Rabbi Zimmerman explores the meaning behind the Three Weeks, the real definition of sinas chinam, what it means to believe in the Geulah, how to approach Tisha B'Av, and how each of us can play a part in bringing the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash closer. A timely and practical conversation to help transform the Three Weeks from a period we simply observe into one we genuinely understand.   Timestamps: [0:01:46]–[0:06:31] – Three Weeks as opportunity, not just restriction [0:04:40]–[0:06:31] – Halacha as a “license” to mourn and yearn for Yerushalayim [0:06:31]–[0:09:11] – Avodah when you don’t “feel” the Churban [0:09:20]–[0:11:18] – Halachic framework of aveilus enabling everyone to mourn [0:11:28]–[0:14:27] – Churban as current reality, not only history [0:14:27]–[0:20:54] – What sinas chinam really is and how to work on it [0:23:18]–[0:28:05] – Torah: beyond “how-to” — valuing Torah itself [0:28:05]–[0:35:42] – Growing necessity and role of tefillah today [0:35:42]–[0:43:43] – Belief in and daily anticipation of Geulah/Moshiach [0:43:43]–[0:50:35] – How our broken generation can still bring Geulah [0:51:00]–[0:53:46] – Purpose of the Tisha B’Av fast: teshuvah like Yom Kippur [0:53:54]–[1:00:47] – Using kinnot and modern tragedies to understand and repair [1:00:47]–[1:02:13] – Personal bakashos and their root in geulah consciousness [1:02:33]–[1:07:24] – How to approach Tisha B’Av day; the Kaddish mashal [1:08:00]–[1:11:45] – Building ahavas Yisrael by expanding the self [1:11:45]–[1:16:12] – Shabbos Nachamu and the nature of nechama [1:16:50]–[1:18:39] – Final message: mourning as immediate kirvas Hashem

Electric scooters have become a familiar sight in many communities. For some, they're a convenient way to get to school, shiurim, friends' houses and local activities. For others, they're a growing source of concern. In this special mini episode, Rabbi S F Zimmerman addresses one of the most discussed topics affecting children, teenagers and parents today. Are electric scooters simply a modern convenience, or is there a deeper issue at stake? How should parents respond when "everyone in the class has one"? Who bears responsibility – parents, schools, rabbonim, or the wider community? And what should a family do if a child has already spent hundreds of pounds of Bar Mitzvah money on a scooter? A concise but important discussion offering Daas Torah and practical guidance on a topic generating debate across the UK, the USA and beyond. Sponsored anonymously by someone who believes this episode could save lives.

Asking For A Friend is a new podcast from Kehillas Federation, exploring the real questions that come up in everyday life, in halacha, hashkafa, chinuch, relationships, community, and everything in between. Hosted by Mena Reisner, each episode features one of the Federation’s senior Dayonim, Rabbi S. F. Zimmerman, Dayan Posen, or Dayan Hool, offering grounded Torah perspective drawn from years of guiding families and communities. This trailer offers a first look at the conversations to come. New episodes every two weeks. Please email [email protected] with your questions & feedback...

In Part One of this two part series on Nisyonos, we explore one of life’s biggest questions: why does Hashem test people? Together they discuss whether all suffering is considered a nisayon, why some people appear to face greater hardships than others, the struggle of unanswered tefillos, and why bitachon can feel strong in some areas of life yet weak in others. A thoughtful and honest conversation on faith, struggle and spiritual growth.    Timestamps: - 0:00:00 — Intro and episode topic: Nisyonas (suffering/tests)   - 0:01:31 — Three categories of hardship introduced: Aynish, Tafkid, Nisyonas   - 0:05:13 — Discussion on how to discern type of hardship; common default = punishment   - 0:08:00 — Purposes of Nisyonas: reward, reveal potential, show faith to others (Akedah example)   - 0:11:00 — Physical vs. spiritual tests; hardest are choices between two good options   - 0:18:05 — Prioritizing long-term mitzvah “investments” (learning with children, shalom bayit)   - 0:26:18 — Role of tefilah: praise, gratitude, requests; different views on effects of prayer   - 0:29:30 — Emotional processing of seemingly unanswered prayers; “not yet” and stored credit ideas   - 0:35:00 — Why some suffer more: gilgulim, tikkun, soul capacities; tailored tests   - 0:44:00 — Importance of community/support vs. suffering alone   - 0:47:55 — Free will vs. divine foreknowledge: different frameworks and implications   - 0:52:48 — Human cruelty within divine orchestration and moral accountability   - 0:55:14 — Closing and preview of Part Two

In the first episode of Asking for a Friend, Mena Reisner sits down with Rabbi Zimmerman to explore the questions shaping today’s Jewish childhood. Why are so many more children anxious? Has therapy become too normalised? Should parents be concerned about the sheer amount of instant frum entertainment? What should we make of teenagers constantly travelling abroad? And how does a parent respond when a child says, “But everyone in my class has it”? A wide-ranging and honest conversation that opens the series by giving voice to the dilemmas parents think about all the time but rarely discuss openly.   Chapters: [0:00:00] Introduction to Podcast and Purpose [0:02:53] Resilience and Adversity in Modern Childhood [0:07:21] Emotional Understanding vs. Emotional Determination [0:09:06] Therapy - Purpose and Pitfalls [0:10:10] Labels and Diagnoses in Modern Education [0:15:31] Spoiled Generations and Parental Influence [0:19:36] Responding to Religious or Educational Drift [0:24:27] Navigating Teenage Trips and Social Pressures [0:58:41] School Selection and Expectations [1:05:36] Defining Success Beyond Traditional Paths [1:12:54] Closing: Back to Basics [1:14:01] Closing Remarks and Listener Invitation

When King Charles III recently visited Golders Green, hundreds of members of the local Jewish community lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the monarch. The visit sparked widespread discussion: why does Yiddishkeit place such importance on kings and royalty, and what is the Torah perspective on monarchy in the modern world? In this special episode, Dayan Hool explores the halachic and hashkafic questions raised by the King's visit. Can one make a brachah upon seeing King Charles? Should a person make a special effort to see a king? What is the concept of כבוד מלכות? Can one shake the King's hand? And why is Hashem so often described throughout our tefillos as a King? Drawing on sources from Chazal, Halachah and Jewish history, this fascinating discussion sheds light on a topic that captured the attention of so many in the community and reveals what earthly kingship can teach us about מלכות שמים.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: King Charles visits Golders Green   01:09 – Why frum Jews are excited to see a king  03:17 – The brocha on seeing Jewish and non‑Jewish monarchs   06:03 – Does the brocha apply to King Charles III and presidents?  09:50 – Can a monarchy be abolished? Acceptance by the people   16:14 – Seeing the king from afar: entourage, cars, and the brocha   22:31 – How often can you say the brocha on a king?  23:33 – Must you go out to see a king? Bitul Torah and mitzvah  29:30 – Kavod malchus: honoring even non‑Jewish and wicked kings   36:13 – Shaking hands with royalty: halacha and real‑world strategies   43:28 – Praying for the welfare of the kingdom in golus 50:29 – Queen Wilhelmina and the Munkatcher Rebbe 54:23 – Dutch royalty, Rav Katz, and modern royal brachos 1:00:00 – Why we call Hashem “Melech”: kindness and authority  1:04:06 – Dina de’malchusa dina and UK land law 1:05:20 – Closing: Malchus shel chesed and Malchus Shamayim

Dayan Hool addresses the realities and dilemmas around school admissions today. What can a school reasonably expect from parents? What responsibility does it have to children left without a place? How should families balance what’s right for their child with communal norms, donor influence or social pressure? And when is opening a new school actually the correct solution? A clear, grounded look at an issue that affects almost every frum family.   Timestamps [0:00:00] - Podcast Introduction: "Asking for a Friend" Episode 2 [0:00:30] - Dayan Biography: Dayan Hool [0:01:30] - Topic Overview: School Admissions [0:02:30] - Halachic Framework for School Admission Policies [0:12:39] - Parental Behavior and School Admission Criteria [0:36:54] - Handling Children Without School Places [0:48:21] - Discussion on Opening New Schools [0:55:36] - Parents' Strategies for School Admission  

A wide-ranging conversation with Dayan Posen exploring the mitzvah of bikur cholim in today’s world, from the halachic foundations of visiting the sick to mental health, trauma response, community support, and the balance between practical help and genuine human presence. The discussion covers what meaningful care really looks like in an age of constant communication, and how small actions can make a profound difference to patients and their families.   Timestamps: - 0:00:00 – Intro, technical note about previous episode; episode focus announced (Bikur Cholim with Daim Posen)   - 0:01:47 – Guest (Daim Posen) greeting   - 0:01:49–0:06:10 – Core halachic sources and purpose of Bikur Cholim; best times to visit (avoid first/last 3 hours)   - 0:06:10–0:11:57 – Scope of the mitzvah, limits, reading the room, and risks of causing distress   - 0:11:57–0:16:00 – Contagious illness, enemies visiting, and modern communications (phone/video/text) as partial substitutes   - 0:16:00–0:21:57 – Benefits of in-person visits; impact on hospital care and staff perception   - 0:21:57–0:31:08 – How to speak with patients, defensive attribution, and aim to uplift/encourage (Gemilas Chesed)   - 0:31:08–0:38:54 – Respecting patient/family wishes, privacy, and when to prioritize next-of-kin support   - 0:38:54–0:46:58 – Community vs. individual responsibility; kehillah rotas and organized welfare support   - 0:46:58–0:50:27 – Gender considerations and modesty when visiting; emotional boundaries   - 0:50:27–1:00:30 – Mental health as Bikur Cholim: parity with physical illness, emotional support, stigma reduction   - 1:00:30–1:09:01 – Practical guidance for supporting those with mental health struggles (boundaries, presence)   - 1:09:01–1:16:42 – Crisis/trauma response overview; SITS crisis teams and trained volunteers (Rabbi Dr. Fox training)   - 1:16:42–1:24:09 – Handling children, age‑appropriate explanations, and preparing for hospital visits   - 1:24:09–1:31:08 – Role and timing of Tehillim (in-person vs. remote); WhatsApp Tehillim groups’ impact   - 1:31:08–1:35:31 – Authenticity in performing the mitzvah (anonymity, intention) and differences from tzedakah   - 1:35:31–1:36:40 – Closing thoughts: presence, empathy, Miriam/Moshe story, final blessings and thanks

In Part 2 of our discussion on nisyonos, Rabbi Zimmerman explores some of the most relevant and challenging questions facing people today. Can pressure from family, school or community become a nisayon in its own right? Is questioning Hashem always a weakness in emunah, or can honest struggle sometimes deepen a person's relationship with Him? We discuss whether wealth and success can be as great a test as poverty and hardship, how to cope with challenges that feel constant and never-ending, and whether shielding children from difficulty truly protects them or leaves them unprepared for life. We also examine whether people should search for reasons behind suffering, and how to navigate uncertainty, responsibility, mental health, and personal growth through a Torah perspective.   Timestamps: 0:00:00 – Introduction, recap of Part 1, framing Part 2 (modern struggles) 0:01:05 – Expectations, spiritual burden, joy vs obligation in mitzvos 0:05:04 – Personal enjoyment in avodas Hashem; “cog in the system” and individuality 0:08:19 – Each person’s unique purpose and contribution 0:08:46 – Balancing bitachon with hishtadlus; avoiding denial / toxic positivity 0:12:34 – Questioning Hashem, anger, and honest relationship with Hashem 0:19:10 – Modern nisyonos vs previous generations; changing Yetzer Hara 0:24:38 – Wealth and poverty as different tests; emotional equilibrium 0:27:32 – Never-ending struggles (e.g., shemiras einayim); value of the battle itself 0:30:09 – Children and chinuch; sharing struggles with kids appropriately 0:38:11 – Emotional/psychological struggles vs mental health conditions; seeking help 0:41:37 – Destigmatizing mental health; communal responsibility 0:44:26 – How much we’re responsible for others’ suffering; healthy boundaries 0:47:20 – Searching for “reasons” for suffering; middah k’neged middah and introspection 0:52:00 – Uncertainty in major life decisions; advice vs personal responsibility 0:58:15 – Finding meaning in nisyonos; Avraham’s legacy and our spiritual DNA 1:02:12 – Closing remarks and podcast wrap-up

Dayan Posen examines sibling rivalry through a halachic and human lens. Why do siblings compete so intensely for parental attention? How much damage does perceived favouritism cause, even years later? What should parents be careful about at the Shabbos table, around praise, or when helping children differently? And when old grievances resurface in adulthood, is reconciliation always the goal, or are boundaries sometimes healthier? A fascinating discussion on how family dynamics shape children long after they leave the home.   Timestamps: 0:00:00 — Intro / episode overview   0:02:13 — Cause of sibling rivalry explained   0:03:35 — Comparison to peer conflicts   0:03:56 — Home as safe space / jealousy effects   0:04:53 — Parents’ limited bandwidth / favoritism question   0:06:08 — Yaakov–Yosef lesson on visible favoritism   0:09:36 — Will case causing family estrangement   0:10:20 — Halachic note on wills / differentiation   0:11:44 — Emotional vs. financial harm discussion   0:12:04 — Discreet parental help vs. public recognition   0:12:31 — Question: treat children equally day-to-day?   0:13:11 — Tailored parenting  0:13:39 — One-on-one time recommendations   0:15:18 — Practical rotation / monthly outings example   0:15:46 — Anecdote about small moments mattering   0:17:19 — Sponsor acknowledgment / dedication   0:17:40 — Remarks about the dedicatee   0:18:14 — Return to topic / impact of distractions   0:19:42 — Shabbos table as educational opportunity   0:22:30 — Managing Shabbos Q&A / tailored quizzes   0:23:26 — Guests vs. prioritizing family time   0:25:12 — Balancing parents’ needs and relationship-building   0:25:42 — Value of sharing real-life stories with children   0:27:29 — Adult grievances / moving on question   0:30:37 — Mediation: misunderstandings / “filling in the dots”   0:31:15 — When to air grievances / sleep on it advice   0:32:08 — Confrontation timing / calm approach   0:32:56 — Discussing issues with parents   0:33:57 — Children questioning favoritism / letter suggestion   0:34:30 — Writing letters as therapeutic tool   0:37:31 — Letters can facilitate dialogue / validation   0:38:44 — Spouses: can help or inflame rifts   0:41:19 — Depth of sibling wounds / impact on self-worth   0:42:07 — Report-card approach: emphasize effort first   0:44:09 — Potential for healing long-standing rifts   0:44:59 — Reconciliation depends on context / toxicity caveat   0:46:19 — Closing / episode wrap-up and call for feedback