Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] What did Shem and Ever learn that was able to occupy Yaakov day and night for 14 years? The kosher vinegar scandal in the 1980s. I assume the Rav knows about the details, but in short it was discovered that a commonly used ethyl alcohol was accidentally labeled kosher despite coming from grapes which lacked insufficient supervision (Stam Yayin). If anything, kashrus industrialization has become more widespread. If the same case would have happened today (or if the Rav was pasking then), would we have to kasher all of our keilim?Although bitul would have been the easiest answer, it seems to me that wouldn’t apply because the taste of all the products is affected strongly (I assume) by a sharp ingredient like vinegar. How does Yotzei v’Nichnas work for Masgichim if they are under lockdown and can’t get to production plants (especially in Italy, Asia, etc.)? The Abarbenel in Parshat Tazria says that a yoledes brings a chatos because “Ein Yesurim Belo Avon” “vhayoledes savlah tzarah sacanah milsah al avanmi”. This implies that every woman that gives birth has suffered pain in doing so. Would this mean that a woman that has never done an avairah wouldn’t be able to give birth? How can we understand this? It is very confusing for me to know which papers are considered sheimus and require burial and which can be discarded. For example tests my children take and other school work that contain some type of Torah thoughts, pamphlets and magazines that have within them Torah content.I was told by someone over the phone at OU Israel, when asking what to do with their weekly booklet, that I can wrap it in a plastic bag and discard it with the other recyclable papers (there is a bin for recycling papers next to the garbage been here in Israel) Can one who stopped grooming at the beginning of sefira get a haircut or shave this Friday because this Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh? What exactly is and is not allowed to be said or thought in a modern bathroom? I understand that neither Hashem's name nor a pasuk from the 5 books of Moshe should be said (& preferably not thought either). However, Hashem exists literally everywhere, he is permeating our existence, he is also the bathroom itself! What precautions are chumras and what is the ikar that we are not supposed to think or say in a modern bathroom? Is it minhag yershalyuim to wear stockings, if the community you are involved in is kollel? Can one daven with a minyan where the chazzan wears a messiach badge with the crown and flag ? Why are people that were killed because of they are Jews for example in the Holocaust referred to as kedoshim if many were Sinners and rejected their religion and if given the choice would reject Judaism to save their lives? How is a person yotzei the mitzvah of peru u'revu, and how would one apply the gemara in berachos that seemingly talks more about davening to have a son? If, Chas VeShalom, a War breaks out in Eretz Yisrael, would it have the din of milchemes mitzvah and if so would Yeshiva bochorim be required to fight? Does the concept of not studying TaNaCh after sunset until chatzot apply on Shabbas and Yom Tov too? Can you read mispacha magazine in the bathroom? What is Hashem's Shechina? Is someone allowed to generally clean/organize their house/room on shabbos ? How do we understand the concept of Suffik D'Rabbanon L'Hakel? Why are we more meikel? Especially for "easy" d'rabbanon like Sefiras Ha Omer, if it's a suffik, why was Chazal Meikel? TAZRIA-METZORA 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] Corona related:Should one reduce the spend on shabbos and yontiv based upon presumed upcoming diminished income?  Could someone who has corona and defies quarantine be considered a halachic rodef? Any consideration of internet usage for remote minyan (is there any such thing halachically conceivable?) How can we relate, if possible, the current situation of the world, to the Torah concept of when Yaakov is down, Esau is up and vice versa, when it seems like both are down? Do others besides the balhabais, who aren't getting a kzayis from matzos the brachos were made on, need to eat 2 kzeisim? How does one ask a Rav if they are willing to guide them in Hashkafa long term? Do we have the koach of ketores today, either through tefillah, reading parsha of ketores, or something else, to help stop the magefa? How should a guy approach Shidduchim during COVID19? How should we pace ourselves? Can you recommend any seforim to learn just what the average baal habas needs to know for Pesach? With Hakaras hatov to HK"BH for having survived the C-Virus with only relatively mild symtoms, now I would like to give...  Volunteer or money? What’s the best action someone can take right now to bring Mashiach? Given that Eisav did teshuva, is it possible that he was made out to be more of a rasha then he really was?   Do converts in the process of conversion receive any reward for observing mitzvahs before completion? What is daas torah and how do you know if someone has it? When Moshiach comes, will all minhagim be unified? Will there still be an idea of a chumra? Does it make sense to learn tanach exclusively before starting gemara? How does a chozer b'teshuvah, who didn't grow up with certain minhagim, make a decision to take them on or not? Nusach Sefard has a perek to say inlue of Borch Hu when davening alone, is there such a thing to say during the week also by maariv? Can there be a virtual siyum for taanis bechoros? TZAV 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] Can we have a zoom Seder with family?  The Chayei Adam in siman 5 brings a story of a very righteous man who is ultimately judged to gehinnom because of the many times he said shem Hashem without kavana. For many of us having kavana for every shem Hashem is very difficult. Why did chazal include so many shemos in davening, if it would be such a michshol for so many? On Seder we do Kadesh then Urchatz. This goes against "Sur Meh Ra Ase Tov". Can we apply this all year or only Pesach?! Is it better to just not say shem Hashem except when absolutely necessary? If I can’t see or smell tzoa can I say Shem hashem near it? Can I sell my chometz over the phone? What should one do this year regarding toveling new keilim, considering the lack of accessibility of  mikvaos? Why can’t I wear tefillin at night if the Torah says to? Are the new governmental laws against minyanim halachicly binding? Any difference in israel vs chutz laaretz? When Moshiach comes will we have no more struggles? Was the yehudah HaChosid really a forgery like Rav Moshe said - Yehudah Hachosid states Dovid took parts out of Torah…? Do ladies have to shower after the mikvah in these times ?  Is there any way to avoid the taanis bechorim this year? Since we can't gather for a siyum for the fast of the first born, what is ok and not ok to make a siyum on?   Can one fill up heated water in a crockpot before Shabbat, leave it on a low setting and warm cooked food during Shabbat? Are there any halachic leniencies  for people who've never made pesach before because of the pandemic? Are employers responsible to continue paying workers during the government shutdown? If I am on a ship during shabbos and am not allowed to light a shabbos candles how can I make up for this ? If a Jew borrowed a new pot from a goy to circumvent toiviling, and the goy converts, are the pots then non kosher? Why do some women want to wear tefillin and are they allowed to? Right now, some countries are cremating the dead because of COVID-19. What is the Jewish position on this? How does one define someone being his "rebbi", even not a rebbi muvhak, regarding doing "heseba" in front of them? Is shnayim mikra a stronger chiyuv now that we cant listen to leining in shul? Can one use a timer that is preset for their warming plate or crockpot to heat up cooked food to make it hot on Shabbat? What does a person do if they have to sit Shiva not being able to have a minyan during corona virus? If a non-jew is in the conversion process when mashiach comes. Will they be able to finish their conversion? Can the rav do regular q and a streams?  this has been very very enlightening Is there any halachic difference between limud hatorah on digital mediums versus in person? why is it different than tfilla? Why is conversion under the GPS/RCA in the US? Why can't one convert with any orthodox rabbi  in the US/Israel? Should we be concerned that this physical distancing may be similar to that of the Nazi Ghettos? Nus' Sfard has a pusek for Friday night if davening as a yachid for instead of Borech Hu. Can we say it during the week? Should we be mourning now over not being in shul or should we be happy we're in our homes uplifting it? What if you accidentally ate something not kosher? Can a nesspresso machine be kashered for pesach? VAYIKRA 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Pesach Podcasts Coming Soon! Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - How did Avraham Avinu mekariv people? 8:36 - A question on the Corona pandemic, should bochurim be leaving yeshiva? 13:47 - Difference in nusach of Aleinu, Ashkenaz vs Sefard 15:58 - Sukkos bezman HaBeis Hamikdash 19:33 - Why is it disrespectful to walk into a shul without shoes? 25:27 - Can we say there are world leaders that are being controlled by Hashem? 33:15 - Was Adam Harishon comprised of all the neshamos? 36:11 - What if Adam didn't eat from the tree? 41:44 - Is Hashem forcing us into our homes to keep Shabbos and bring Moshiach? 47:10 - Does Rav Chaim Kanievski have ruach hakodesh? And what is it? 49:57 - What are we allowed to ask for on Shabbos? 52:23 - How do we discern which sects of Judaism are supported by Hashem? 54:47 - Is it mutar to wear womens clothing on Purim? VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - Does a Mamzer have a mitzvah of Pru Urvu 1:52 - The machlokes on how the third Beis Hamikdash will be built 4:37 - The proper volume for the first line of Shema, and the proper volume for answering Kaddish 6:30 - Why do we use Hebrew names when we daven for cholim 11:29 - What is Hashem's message with sending the virus, and how do we respond to it 28:00 - getting paid to teach Torah 40:47 - How many hours did the Rambam sleep each night? 41:20 - Shabtai Tzvi, Rav Yaakov Emden, Rav Yonasan Eibshitz 50:41 - Is Hashem truly undefinable? 54:04 - Why is Midbar translated as wilderness instead of desert? 55:14 - Why was Rabbi Nattan Slifkin put in a ban? 01:03:20 - Sheitels 01:06:10 - What should a person think about in the Mikvah? 01:07:41 - Is there an inyun to davening close to the Kotel wall? 01:09:43 - Can Kosher food be brought into a Kosher restaurant that says "no outside food"? 01:11:01 - Hashem's knowledge and essence as one 01:15:41 - Should a bochur read Morei Nevuchim and does it have to be respected as a kadosh sefer? 01:20:00 - The proper position for sleeping, lying down, or reclining? 01:23:12 - What's pshat with saying "vetargileinu bTorasecha"? 01:26:55 - The proper approach to drinking on Purim 01:31:19 - The chiyuv of Tefillin TETZAVEH 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - Why in the second paragraph of Shema do we not say "bechol meodecha" 3:25 - A Question on Maseches Brachos 8:27 - Why were Chassidim allowed to create a new nusach? 12:52 - If Hashem knows everything that will happen how do we have free choice? 20:28 - Could I borrow something without permission if I know my friend would let me? 24:17 - How did Ashkenazim become the majority over Sefardim? 27:47 - Why do people wait 6 hours between meat and milk? 33:41 - Rambam on Hashem's knowledge and essence 34:49 - Liability for car accidents 39:31 - Is smoking permitted if you have to perserve your life, and can you smoke on Yom Tov? 47:33 - A question about the mishkan 48:57 - The Dairy industry, tzar baalei chayim, dairy kashrus 56:15 - Are we supposed to literally be "marbim besimcha" during Adar? 59:04 - When Rabbi Akiva said "zeh klal baTorah" does klal mean THE klal or A klal? Definition of klal. 01:01:54 - Why don't we learn kaballah? 01:09:40 - A question on Chassidus, Kaballah, the sources of Sifrei Chassidus 01:17:20 - A question on the story of Acher 01:21:50 - Why do we not do kiddush at the third Shabbos meal 01:25:53 - What should a person work on to be ready for marriage? 01:28:50 - Drinking alcohol on Purim 01:32:27 - What areas of Torah are most appropriate to learn in preparation for marriage? 01:33:47 - Olives and memory? The Gemara in Horiyos 01:35:40 - Can we say tachanun during kriyas haTorah? TERUMA 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected]   0:00 - Yimos HaMoshiach, Beis Hamikdash, Tchias Hameisim, Olam Haba, Gan Eden 4:45 - Hiddur Mitzvah, is there objective beauty? 17:00 - A Question on Hiddur Mitzvah for Channukah 21:12 - Would a minyan where everyone needs to say tashlumin have a chazaras hashats for the tashlumin? 23:16 - According to Rav Chaim how do you make a bracha on a safek kosher etrog? 25:19 - Hearing Brachos or Torah reading over the phone 28:35 - Does the sound of the shofar affect the Halacha 30:01 - Do we make Brachos on the mitzvah or on the object 31:04 - Is it permitted for multiple people to make a bracha on one lechem mishnah 34:44 - Is digital theft prohibited? 39:47 - Drinking the wine or grape juice on which kiddush was made? 42:02 - The Sanhedrin being infallible, lo baShamayim he, how could the Sanhedrin make a mistake? 47:22 - Are grasshoppers kosher? 57:10 - How do aveiros affect mitzvos? 01:03:45 - When should tefillin be removed on Rosh Chodesh? 01:06:33 - Menatzpach 01:08:36 - Thoughts on Rav Yehuda HaLevi Ashlag 01:12:17 - Can souls attach themselves to existing human beings? 01:14:04 - controlling charata on aveiros 01:18:42 - Taking on an optional fast 01:21:45 - The machloket of the authorship of the Zohar 01:27:20 - Does Torah support or deny that we are in a base reality? 01:32:29 - What to do if you are in the middle of tachanun and they begin Kaddish 01:33:36 - Praying to Hashem to understand the Torah of a Rishon or Acharon 01:35:27 - Thoughts on the shidduch crisis 01:39:00 - The Ramban on Kilayim, how much can we tamper with Hashem's briah? 01:44:40 - How could the Torah say bad things about Jews? Is this not Loshon Hara? MISHPATIM 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 00:31 - What are the Galgalim? 9:52 - How will we do mitzvos when Moshiach comes? How will Halacha change? 14:06 - Why does the Torah call Yitro before he converted? 15:57 - Why do people take three steps back in the middle of kadish before the amida of mincha and maariv? 19:40 - How do we reconcile that Chazal have made observations of the world which seem to be wrong according to modern science? 32:33 - Did Yitro come before or after Matan Torah? 35:00 - The Mesorah, the destroyed parts of Torah 41:30 - Who redacted the Gemara? 48:52 - Why did Reish Lakish become weakened right when he agreed to learn Torah? 52:20 - A question on the Parsha 54:45 - Why the issur of chicken and dairy but no issur on pareve ice cream and meat? 01:00:06 - Why do we do the order of aliyos as Kohen Levi Yisroel? 01:02:02 - Question on the Parsha 01:07:14 - What will be of the yetzer hara when Moshiach comes? Will we wear kippahs? What Nusach will we daven? 01:09:45 - The differences in nusachs of the Torah 01:13:33 - What is the purpose of Moshiach if we won't have a yetzer hara? 01:19:23 - How do we live in Emes? Nefesh Hachaim on how Man was created 01:22:30 - Is it possible for someone to get reward for someone else's deed? Learning for the zchus of a niftar, etc. 01:29:15 - Praying to Hashem for Yiras Shomayim 01:32:27 - Why not just learn Shas once? 01:36:44 - Putting time into Chumash vs Gemara 01:38:26 - Boycotting Germany? Yisro 5780 (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - Lending a car to someone, and they get a fine 2:04 - Question on Parshas Bo 4:24 - The Jewish view of beauty, Pirkei Avos on beauty 8:21 - Why are there other religions/idolatry? 13:38 - How do we decide when to follow minhagei HaGra? 18:43 - The Cherem of the Morei Nevuchim 24:29 - Midrash on the splitting of the sea 28:21 - Can you postpone a bris if it might cause guests to be mechalel Shabbos? 30:30 - To what extent do we take Agaddeta literally or not at all? 39:39 - Question on Parshas Bo 41:10 - Teaching Torah to a non-Jew 48:39 - Why do some parts of the Gemara make it seem like the Amoraim had poor middos? 54:37 - The two different quail stories 56:54 - Do the restrictions on a king for wealth apply to people? 01:02:30 - Did the sea split after Nachshon or after Moshe spread out his hands? 01:04:34 - The concept of a Ben Pakuah 01:07:40 - Does the water for Pesach Matzos have to be left overnight? 01:09:39 - Where does Islam and its ideas come from? What will happen to the Ishmaelites in the era of Moshiach? 01:12:17 - How could there be a place called Dan in Avraham’s time when there was not yet a shevet or person called Dan? (Produced by: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - Making a shidduch for non-religious friends, making a shidduch for Goyim 3:48 - Cherem of the Baal Hatanya and early Chassidus, Rebbi Nachman 14:08 - Question on Hilchos Kiddushin: Asking a woman to marry and handing her a ring 18:31 - Is there a yezter hara for homosexuality? 25:11 - Relationship between Man and Wife, the effect of a woman on her husband 29:58 - How could it be that Rabbi Yosef Caro learned with a Malach? 36:06 How does Lo BaShamayim He make sense 43:48 - What's special about Shabbos if you spend the whole day learning 46:36 - Tainted money and korbanos 50:25 - Jew reading the christian bible or apikorsus 59:56 - Is the copper snake a graven image? 01:02:16 - Is there a commentary on the relationship between Acher and R' Meir 01:03:30 - Learning on Shabbos or sleeping on Shabbos 01:04:50 - A Question on Sotah 01:06:37 - How can an eclipse be a bad omen if the eclipses run on a cycle 01:13:13 - The Kuzari on the copper snake 01:13:37 - The Ramban on plowing with an oxe and a donkey together 01:14:25 - A question on Maseches Brachos and dreams  

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkinus 4:13 How do we know which hand to put tefillin on 5:22 Chassidim on Zos Chanukah 8:44 Growing when Moshiach comes, being without a yetzer hara 11:37 A question on the parsha 15:07 What's a Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai 19:15 Shomer Negiah when working with people with Autism 23:50 Kasha on Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai 25:02 Referring to our parents by the first name, kasha on Yaakov referring to his parents by name 28:17 Why Yaakov has multiple names 31:51 Who wrote the Torah 40:20 Significance of Aleinu 43:45 Hierarchy of Brachos 46:40 How are the Parshas divided 51:51 Changing Aliyahs (Kohen/Levi) 52:41 Middos of parents of a shidduch 53:42 Talmud Yerushalmi on the east and the west 57:39 Ancient Hebrew alphabet 59:05 Question on Yirmiyahu becoming a Navi 01:02:39 Yeridas Hadoros, Moshe Rabeinu compared to Moshiach 01:04:38 Saving a non-Jew on Shabbos 01:09:44 Why was there no warning on some of the plagues? 01:14:55 Masoretic Text 01:20:52 Dead Sea Scrolls 01:23:29 Sabbatical Cycle of Creation 01:30:14 What was the purpose of the Egyptians building pyramids 01:31:54 Would a computerized brain be mutar 01:45:10 Moshe Rabeinu almost killed (Produced: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] -Rabbi Breitowitz Autobiography -Evolution Perspectives -Science -Filling our life's mission -Abortion -Judaism approach to minimalist lifestyle -Teachers and Family -Why get challenges to keep Judaism -Marrying Baalei Teshuva -Baal Teshuva communities Pros and Cons -Engaging in secular culture -Rav Wolbe, Jean Piaget, Lord Saks -Which deceased Jewish personality would you want to meet most? -Rav Chaim Ozer -Torah elevating people -Gemara -Closing blessings (ALT 12-19) (Produced: CedarStudios Podcasting 2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:02 - Secular schooling, reading academic journals6:01 - Controversial ideas in Masechet Kedushin and in Gemara in general12:05 - Ibn Ezra controversy, additions made to the Torah, who wrote the last few pesukim16:35 - Discrepancies of the different versions of the Torah23:17 - Why Rashi and Tosfos are more mainstream30:57 - Rambam vs Nefesh Hachaim on Hashgacha Protis and Hashem's involvement with the world35:47 - Proper approach to yearning for Moshiach41:03 - The purpose of the Cosmos, Stars, and Galaxies, space travel, life on other planets49:49 - Copying and distributing from sefarim53:30 - Vaccinations, Vaccinating01:03:54 - Gam Zu Letova, Nachum Ish Gamzu, Rabbi Akiva01:05:08 - Why was Shmuel upset that Klal Yisroel asked for a king, the origin of Artscroll01:09:34 - When Halacha contradicts personal logic and reason01:16:40 - Staying up to date with Politics01:18:49 - A question on a Rambam that G-d does not have a body01:22:40 - Are having Gedolei Yisroel a concession for not having a Sanhedrin01:25:06 - Goyim as witnesses01:27:32 - Understanding Abaye and Rava, their relationship, Rav Yochanan and Reish Lakish01:36:52 - Women as witnesses01:37:53 - Solving Sinat Chinam01:46:46 - Understanding the Tower of Bavel (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayechi) (Produced: CedarTree Podcasting 1-8-2020)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 00:01 - Corporations in Halacha 10:47 - Ribbis with credit cards, Heter Iska 14:53 - Sheluach Haken 18:40 - A Kasha On The Gemara In Kedushin 21:12 - How Do We View The Role of Women 28:28 - The Halachic Issues of Crossbreeding Humans and Animals 31:56 - Megillas Channukah/ Megillas Antiochus 34:42 - Halacha on Cryogenic Freezing 39:44 - Jewish State With Absence of Sanhedrin 49:20 Is There A Source For The 10 Sefiros 52:16 The War With Rome and The Time of The Famine, Chronology of Events 01:02:13 Rav Kook on the secular government 01:02:54 Tumah of Dead Animals 01:05:14 Halacha on War, Laws of Rodef, Terrorism 01:10:00 Restitution for Stealing Bzman Hazeh 1:12:25 Avodas for Channukah, Kavanahs for Channukah (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayeishev)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] SheIdim and mazikim (demons and damaging creatures); mention dibuk (troubled soul in limbo) Parshas Vayera – Avraham asked Hashem that people should get old with visible signs of age, but Sarah became old with clear, fresh skin Gezel sheina; opening and closing window in winter or summer Saying tachanun during hazaras hashatz Celebrating Hebrew and Gregorian birthdays “Heter kiruv” (mention of inviting secular for shabbos) Birth control for financial strain Piru u'rvu (be fruitful and multiply)-why was it given to Adam and Noach and not bnei Noach (non-Jews) Yishuv Eretz Yisrael Bircas kohanim (blessing the kohanim) being discontinued/not practiced in chutz laaretz but only in E”Y and by Sephardim Kohanei chazaka: believing a kohen/cohen that he is a cohen and halachos nowadays that apply to him (e.g. Torah reading, marriage, duchan) Frequency of going to the Kotel/Kosel-Western Wall Eliyahu haNavi answering teku and what happens when mashiach comes regarding machloksim, kashiyos, minhagim etc. (11/13/2012)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. To submit questions, feedback or for sponsorship opportunities, contact us at: [email protected] 0:00 - Telling non-Jews to keep the 7 Noahide Laws 2:52 - Lo sechonen, role of goyim, potential of goyim and potential of Jews, Rabbi Akiva Pirkei Avos 14:23 - Nefesh Hachaim vs Rabbi Akiva in Pirkei Avos 16:54 - Yaakov Avinu kissing Rachel by the well 20:40 - The Chinese social credit system from a halachic perspective 29:48 - Why do Sefardim and Ashkenazim daven differently 35:17 The tribes when Moshiach comes 38:22 The opposition between the litvish world and the chassidish world 50:17 Vayikatz Yaakov, Yaakov Avinu's sleep 53:02 - Mayim achronim 57:09 - Gilgulim and Techias Hameisim 01:03:30 - Reuven bringing Roses to Leah 01:05:27 - The Torah and Olam Habah, reward in this world, reward in Olam Habah 01:15:13 - Why do we die and come back instead of living until we complete our neshama's goal? 01:18:16 - Mitzvahs in Eretz Yisroel vs outside of Israel 01:24:01 - Not learning Tanach at night 01:26:00 - How come Bilaah and Zilpah aren't mentioned as Imahos? 01:27:14 - Why are the Imahos barren? 01:13:16 - Question on the parsha 01:32:44 - The pachad of Yaakov 01:34:20 - Yaakov's journey (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayeitzei)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. Submit questions or feedback here 0:01 - Elokai Neshama, what is the true person 2:59 - Doing an aveira chayav misa, Rambams 4 categories of sins, teshuva 6:30 - Why does Avraham daven for Sodom to be saved but not for Yitzchak to be saved from the akeida 9:13 - The admission of a party is as good as one hundred witnesses, hodaas Baal din 11:48 - Why there is no word for million in lashon kodesh, why zachor and nekeiva is different in numbers, masculine and feminine  16:36 - How Jews should be a light onto the nations, why non-Jews aren't obligated to have children 20:43 - saying kiddish in front of married relatives with uncovered hair, saying a bracha in front of an untznius woman 25:51 - Is it lifnei iver to sell cigarettes 28:08 - Inviting non-observant Jews for Shabbos 33:54 - How did Eliezer know Rivka was the right match for Yitzchak 36:52 - How does Hashem get pleasure from Korbanos, reyach nichoach 38:47 - Is learning kabalah part of the requirement to learn Torah, Vilna Gaon on Kabbalah, chassidus 42:57 - What is the Torah 44:12 - Is Klal Yisroel responsible for the tragedies caused by Karl Marx's 49:11 - Kol Isha and recorded music 51:45 - The curse to Adam of "the sweat of your brow" 54:29 - The shalshelet, why Eliezer hesitated, Eliezers name not being mentioned, Eliezer's name not being mentioned 01:00:15 - What am I allowed to do if someone owes me money and won't pay 01:03:35 - Why is there so much repetition in the parsha, the Ran on the mida of kindness 01:12:44 - printing money, inflation, assuming the risks of a system 01:15:11 - why did Hashem allow so many types of Jews, Ahavas Yisroel 01:16:59 - The color for tzitzis 01:20:40 - Yeshiva bochur giving tzedaka 01:21:56 - Do not kill, do not murder, the conquest of Eretz Yisroel 01:26:27 - Davening in a public place without a mechitza 01:28:58 - On the Parsha 01:31:30 - Why is the amida silent (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Chayei Sarah)

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. Submit questions or feedback here 0:00 Yetzer Hara, aveiros, teshuva in the days of Mashiach 1:53 Rambam on Korbanos, Morei Nevuchim, Avodah Zara, pork is bad for your health 9:44 Chelek Olam Habah, Yimos HaMoshiach, reward vs effort, why we yearn for Moshiach 21:03 What will happen to the Malach Hamaves when Mashiach comes, Rambams 13 principles of faith, Techiyat Hameisim 30:34 Wearing a watch on Shabbos, eruv 35:10  Malachim who disturbed Avraham Avinu after the bris 37:43 Tzoar, the destruction of Sodom, the five cities, Eretz Yisroel when there is sin, Lot 42:00 10 commandments, the first commandment, Anochi Hashem, why Morei Nevuchim is usually not in the beis medrash, Chovos Halevavos 50:32 Why are the commandments anochi Hashem and lo yihiye lecha divided 54:24 Rambam's 13 principles of faith, Kefira,  tinok shenishba, Rav Albo's 3 principles, Apikorus 01:05:51 Relying on Torah in a dangerous place 01:08:08 Halacha on what a Jew has to believe 01:09:14 Why the minhag Ashkenazi is to stand during kaddish, learning during kaddish, kedusha 01:14:10 Dead sea scrolls, book of Chanoch 01:17:57 Yemenite Torah, 13 Sifrei Torah from Moshe Rabeinu, 13 Nusachs for tefillah 01:22:42 The book of maccabbis, guerilla warfare, book of jubilees 01:26:07 Rambam, Ramchal, Angels, Dreams 01:28:06 When did Bnei Yisroel start wearing tefillin (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Vayera)  

Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. Submit questions or feedback here (0:17)- Writing a Sefer Torah for a reform congregation (2:57)- Origin of not wearing a tallis before marriage (5:23)- Why we don’t have a minhag/mitzvah to keep track of our geneology/ancestry back to har sinai (10:56)- Why did Noach send a dove to find dry land if he was waiting for Hashem’s command to leave the ark? (14:01) - Jewish response to christians who say that the Jews haven’t experienced Yoshka or are missing something from the Torah (18:10) - Kuzari and Divine Revelation (20:42)- Avos doing mitzvos (28:15)- Growing a beard, trimming a beard, shaving a beard (34:07)- The multiverse theory/ parallel universes  (40:01)- Did every Tanna and Amora have the koach to revive the dead? (42:05)- Sefer Yetzira, The Gollum (45:14)- Can a Gollum count for a minyan (48:05)- Images of G-d, visualizations of Hashem (50:19)- A tammeh/impure kohen (52:52)- Source of Tikkunim (55:50)- Why is there a big deal made about Avraham having a baby at an old age if Noach gave birth at an old age too. (55:50)- Why is there an emphasis made about Avraham having a baby at an old age if Noach gave birth at an old age too. The Mabul. The changing of tevah/nature (59:34)- The reason sefardim and ashkenazim have different davening, and why chasidim have different davening (01:04:45)-  Who can a safek mamzer marry, why can a geirus marry a safek mamzer (01:06:21)-  The kedusha of a mantle that is used to wrap a sefer Torah (01:08:25)-  Seudas mitzvah (01:11:16)- Halachos of policing in a goyishe government, violating shabbos, carrying a gun (01:14:52)-  Deriving pleasure from the physical world, gashmius, the Jewish approach to appreciating the beauty of the world, making time for enjoying the world (01:21:35) -  When to be machmir and when to be makpid, chumra, heter  (Center-Q&A-5780-Parshas Lech Lecha)

Rabbi Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. 11/06/2012 Midrash and aggadatah's respective placement Beis Hillel/Beis Shammai machlokes better (or not) for man to be created Incorrect citation of verses in gemara by Chazal Sifra, Sifre, Mishna, Baraisa, etc. Chiyuv (obligation) to learn nister (i.e. kaballah) Why Yitzchak was given his name-regarding laughter Proper conduct at the Kotel Constant creation and speaking world into existence Differences of Tanya and Nefesh HaChaim Certain charitable causes taking precedent over others; mention of Rubashkin and Pollard; incarceration of religious Jews Jews being imprisoned and tainted money

09/10/2012 Rabbi Breitowitz, of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem, discussing the most common questions about Judaism. Hasheves aveida (returning lost object) to a non-Jew Mi chamocha b'elim hashem; Hashem yimloch leoloam vaed-meaning of such verses Piyutim of Rosh Hashana-what one can focus on if he can't follow Sotah referred to in Berachos 31b 3 stages of Tachanun; no sefer Torah tachanun Internet and non-kosher phones Blowing shofar at musaf and its relevance over shachris Kol isha-its spectrum and opinions Milchemes reshus similar to pillage and plunder campaign Women covering hair 50 years ago and its laxness; women covering hair in general 2 days yontif in Eretz Yisrael Onas devarim and geneivas daas applying to jokes Giving reproof to those who don't listen (shortened)