The Sunday Shiur By Rabbi Yoel Plutchok

201

Shechita in America Part I: The tumultuous controversies of early America

Dec 17, 2023

31:05

The historic Spanish Portuguese synagogue of 1648: the Brazilian Jews of New York City Yaakov Abram’s shechita : the investigation of R Shmuel Kreiser “Hashgacha”: the great American innovation The monumental shechita lawsuit: Leveraging trademarks to enforce Kashrus Bleeding the Cows: The fiery halachic controversy of 1850 The Shoel Umashuv’s harrowing and prophetic teshuva

202

Megillas Antiochos: The story about the Megilla we used to lein on Channuka

Dec 10, 2023

29:24

Rabbi Shaul Lieberman: The conservative rosh yeshiva who wrote a Pirush on the entire Tosefta The history of the Karaim: Iraq circa 800 Turkey, Year 1500: The Psak of the R'em regarding Kariam The origin of Megillas Antiochos: R Saadia Goan's quest to immortalize the Chashmonaim Are we allowed to study the Book of the Maccabees? "Seforim chatzonim" in Halacha

203

The mysterious journey of the menorah and where it stands today

Dec 3, 2023

34:45

The depictions on the Arch of Titus: What happened next? The Peroiches and the Tzitz: R’ Shimon’s testimony The Radziner Rebbe’s Oddysey to find the Menorah: The Visigoths and King Alaric I The Menorah swap theory: A child's fable that gained traction The conscientious story behind the real gold menorah by the Kosel today Reb Akiva Eiger’s chassideshe Eidem and his Leichter The iconic angled menorah of Chabad: The Rambam’s depiction

204

The Black Shabbos of 2004: The zebu discovery that rocked Eretz Yisroel

Nov 26, 2023

27:22

The gourmet mesorah dinner: A gathering to consume a smorgasbord of rare kosher food A cattle made for the Israeli landscape: In pursuit of the Zebu Understanding the consequential shitas haShach: the Chachmas Adam the Pri Migadim and the ensuing machlokes between the Chazon Ish and R Herzog Reb Elyashiv's psak and modern day distiction

205

Turkey: The great kashrus debate of the new world

Nov 23, 2023

31:41

Menashe Ben Israel, the origins of the Indians and the Aseres hashvatim Anshei India from Moshe Rabbeinu The genomes of modern day birds Turkey in Europe: The Heter of the Netziv The descendants of the Shlah, The Kamenetskys etc.

206

The bold movement to ban chassidishe shechita

Nov 19, 2023

30:01

The anatomy of the shechita knife The legend of the Mezeritcher Maggid’s shechita knife The Tzemach Tzeddek and Yankel am Haaretz : The grand bechina between the shochet and the rav The end of the battle: The Industrial Revolution revolutionizes Shechita Lubavitcher Shechita: The Baal hatanya’s passionate and detailed teshuva regarding shechita The Lubavitcher bachurim of Shanghai

207

Shechita controversies Part II: The position of the Torah

Nov 12, 2023

33:19

R Chaim’s famous grasshopper The Piyuttim of R Eliezer Hakalir [Beribi] How high is the Rekiyah? The machlokes Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi לצרף בריותיו - The Rambam on Shechita, Eiver Min Hachai and Tzar Balei Chayim The letter from the Ramban: An animals ultimate will The dichotomy of Shaul Hamelech’s rachmanus

208

Shechita Controversies Part I: The Intriguing Story of the Sridei Aish

Nov 5, 2023

37:39

Rav Chaskel Sarna’s dramatic burial intervention The Munkatcher chassunah of 1933 Predecessor to the Nuremberg laws: The Nazi ban against shechita R Chaim Ozer’s self-insertion and the comprehensive retrospective review Dr S.D. Rosen and Dr Temple Gandin - Animal rights activists exonerate shechita HaRav Hanazir Dovid Cohen: Rav Kook’s disciple's case for Veganism The Shver and the Eidem: The Din Torah classifying meat between the Bach and Taz

209

The Mediterranean Sea Lizard: The History of the Skinkus Marinus

Oct 29, 2023

30:26

The Fish Matzeiva: The story of the hielige fish of Vienna The Palestinian Avoda Zara The Tosfos Yom Tov’s dilemma and Chazal’s eventual vindication Shliya/Tench: The unique psak of the Baal Shem

210

Sterlit Cavier: The Hungarian fish controversy

Oct 22, 2023

39:41

The Ramban’s definition and experiment The Nodeh Beyehuda’s grand heter Ahron Charaner and the “Tik Fish” controversy Reb Yitzchok Grishiver , the Nodeh Beyhuda’s “chazara” and R Shmuel Landau’s fiery response The ensuing controversy and motives revealed When emes is sheker and sheker is emes - Reb Akiva, the Chassam Sofer, and Reb Yaakov Kamanetsky

211

Watch what you eat: The history and psakim of Timtum Halev

Oct 15, 2023

34:29

Intentional vs inadvertent - The Monsey shechita fraud of 2006 The story of the Baal Hatenya’s geziera and the incredible discovery of R Akiva Eiger The Chasam Sofer’s psak halacha on the physical difference between a Jew vs non Jew Blood transfusions from a non Jew: the psak of the Chelkas Yaakov, and the extraordinary story with Ponevezher rav’s transfusion in Mount Sinai NYC Eating fish on shabbos d’oraisah? The Tzemach Tzedek’s boycott

212

The Wondrous World of Aggadata: Literal or Mystical

Sep 26, 2023

36:00

The Sukkah shel Levyason The origins of the polarizing sefer "Meor Einayim" and the Maharal's criticism The Rambam's 3 categories The Nodeh Beyehuda's elaborate mashul

213

Avinu Malkeinu: The Origin, Evolution, and Modern Day Adaptations

Sep 20, 2023

34:42

The story of the Ancient Machzor of Vermaiza (Worms) Tach Vetat - The last 9 Avinu Malkeinus The scope of dying "Al Kiddush Hashem" R' Moshe Shtenbach on the Sh"tz vs the Tzibbur

214

Rosh Hashanah in Yerushalaim 1905: The story of the movement to blow shofar on shabbos

Sep 13, 2023

36:30

The Psak from the Rif, and the precedent of the Maasah Rav The fascinating history of Reb Akiva Yosef Schlesinger including: -His migration to Eretz Yisroel -The Zionists attempt to claim him as one of their own - His polarizing quest to blow shofer on shabbos

215

Beis Din in the Modern Era - Part III: Halacha L’maasah

Sep 10, 2023

28:51

DISCLAIMER: CONSULT WITH YOUR RAV BEFORE ACTING UPON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE. The Tannah Reb Elazar collaborating with local authorities When mesira is a mitzva: the opinion of the Rashba Reb Elyashiv's teshuva to the Badei Hashulchan on Mesira "Lesheim tikkun olam" Killling Terrorists as Mosrim Next episode (coming on Wednesday): The story of the movement to blow shofar on shabbos

216

Beis Din in the Modern Era - Part II: The Moser

Sep 3, 2023

25:22

Mutilation vs killing The Chazon Ish’s progressive psak Moser - the great exception The Czar Nikolai investigation that led to the Ruzhiner’s lengthy imprisonment Coming next week: Part III - The Rabbanim that sit on the Israeli Supreme Court

217

Beis Din in the Modern Era - Part I: The Death Penalty

Aug 27, 2023

31:40

- Beis din and their diminished power - The Mesora from the Geonim - The woeful story of Yannai Hamelech - Shimon Ben Shetach's unique rule and grand rectification Coming Next Week: Beis Din in the Modern Era - Part II

218

Tzipisah leyeshuah - Part II: The 3 weeks, 9 days and year round

Jul 23, 2023

25:23

The forgotten tribe of Yemen and their strange customs Operation flying carpet Tikkun chatzos…..During the day

219

Shabbos in America - Part III: The Satmar Rebbe leaves his mark

Jul 9, 2023

31:32

Nightfall in Halacha The background and machlokes The minhag through the generations and the minhag today America the melting pot Elevating Shabbos

220

Tzipisah leyeshuah: The paradoxical hashkafa of waiting for Moshiach

Jul 4, 2023

29:36

The approach of the Chofetz Chaim Do we just wait or should we force the yeshuah? The Chasam Sofer and the fantastical tale of Reb Yosef Delerana The Rambam's torah and his practical advice

221

Shabbos in America - Part II: The battles and psakim that helped shape Shabbos.

Jul 2, 2023

29:15

Reb Shlomo Eiger's poignant missive to deal with the Reform movement and the dissenting opinion from the Aruch La-ner The psak of the Roshei Yeshivos. Reb Moshe sets the enduring policy

222

Vav Chukas: From the Paris trials thru Gush Katif

Jun 25, 2023

31:12

The mock trial of the Balei Tosfos and burning of the Talmud The history of burning seforim to prevent further bizayon The Gush Katif "disengagement" and the dilemma with it's shuls R Moshe and R Hutner on bringing tefillin into a typhus ward

223

Shabbos in America - Part I: Background and Introduction

Jun 18, 2023

35:12

The “psak” of the Akeida Setting a precedent Aveira vs. rationalization From Munkatch to Berlin to New York City R Moshe's landmark approach

224

The “Shabbos Elevator” Controversy: Part 2

Jun 11, 2023

27:18

Peeling back a layer The battle over Reb Shlomo Zalman's legacy Trains, trolleys, bikes and umbrellas

225

Shabbos Elevators :The “new”/old shailah

Jun 4, 2023

30:09

Understanding the core issues Zilusah dishabatta Long-standing precidents?

226

Reishis hagez

May 29, 2023

26:51

Seeking out obscure mitzvos Performing mitzvos in the public eye

227

Ruach Rah and Shaidim l’halacha: The Ger Tzedek of Vilna

May 21, 2023

27:29

Do Shaidim still exist today? Can Halacha change? The famous melody of Mesirus Nefesh

228

The Rama: Posek Of The Generations

May 14, 2023

33:52

Understanding some כללי הפסק The anatomy of a קולא Why his success was not a given?

229

Singing in shul: A beautifying edition, or an unnecessary distraction?

May 14, 2023

30:12

The epic battle over song Seforim of the Reform movement Rabbi Ahron Choriner and his innovations The Chasam Sofer charts the course

230

The World of Tehillim: Part III

May 14, 2023

33:54

Tehillim as a song Songs of davening The early Reform Understanding the shiras haliviim

231

The World of Tehillim: Part II

May 14, 2023

29:59

The most potent tefillah The sword of King David Understanding tikkun haklali and its power

232

The World of Tehillim: Part I

May 14, 2023

31:16

Tehillim vs. fasting 100x? As a Seder halimud Rabbi Yizchok Alfiah and WWII Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeirah

233

Avodah Zara beshituf

May 14, 2023

31:11

The egel and klal Yisroel’s survival The gedolei reshonim disagree and the occurrence that changed minds The Charles Bridge and the stories of sacrifice

234

Shovavim! When did it start and what does it mean

May 14, 2023

36:17

Is fasting the only way? Are there special aveiros that Shovavim is supposed to address? Limud HaTorah

235

The Noam Elimelech: His life and works

May 14, 2023

26:51

Mystical secrets and guaranteed protection? Sefer Raziel Hamalach - a comparison?

236

Klapping during krias hamegillah: The minhag

May 14, 2023

34:12

Shul decorum Music….talking Amsterdam…a Purim miracle

237

Fasts of tzadikim: The 9th of Teves

May 14, 2023

37:57

The history of yeshu: The book

238

Nittel nacht: A night varying of minhagim

May 14, 2023

39:03

Napoleon's wars and their effect on the Jews of his time Nittel through the eyes of the Chasam Sofer The pros, the antis, and the in-betweeners Nittel - a moving target understating the calendar changes

239

Zayen Adar: A day of significance

May 14, 2023

33:43

The death and burial of Moshe Rabbeinu Marking a yahrtzeit when there is no known day of death Chevrah Kadisha and their secret traditions Why the IDF marks the day

240

Maos chittim

May 14, 2023

13:47

Charity or tax? Pesachdig alcohol?

241

Machine matzoh part 2

May 14, 2023

37:13

Arrival in Galicia Controversy erupts Families torn apart Understanding the rationale

242

Machine matzoh part 1

May 14, 2023

29:44

From invention to acceptance Early rabbinic approval Understanding the political climate in 19th Century Poland An unsolved murder in Lemberg?

243

East to West Between Sefard and Ashkenaz: Part III

May 14, 2023

29:54

Lo Sisgodidu and it’s implications Tefillin on chol hamoed Kabbalah’s Influence on Halacha Minhag Eretz Yisroel

244

East to West Between Sefard and Ashkenaz: Part II

May 14, 2023

33:24

The Mechaber and the production of the Shulchan Aruch The Rama, his heartbreak and great success Halacha kibasrai

245

East to West Between Sefard and Ashkenaz: Part I

May 14, 2023

30:00

Minor or substantial The chief rabbinate and it’s dual leadership The chain of masorah Bavel and eretz Yisroel The 4 captives

246

Dikduk wars!

May 14, 2023

30:00

Nikud and trup The mesorah of our sefer Torah The Aleppo codex The War of the Scribes Rabbeinu Tam weighs in

247

The Impossible Shailah: The Riots of York

May 14, 2023

30:22

The ballei Tosofos legacy of mesiros nefesh The kinnah of Kloinemes Hakatan Eyewitnesses report - kvar horah zaken

248

The Teshuvah odyssey of a Meshumad

May 14, 2023

29:42

Rabbeinu Gershon’s Teshuvah and his tragic personal experience Full body shaving like a metzorah A bris? Kol nidrei Jacob Dhan and his odyssey

249

Reciting ”Leshem yichud” : A necessary preparation or a presumptuous declaration?

May 12, 2023

27:29

The Nodah Biyhudah's groundbreaking teshuvah A case study in greatness A missing line…..or hidden mastery?

250

The Magen Dovid symbol: An ancient secret or a modern invention?

May 12, 2023

28:32

Understanding the symbol The jailing and narrow escape of the Reyatz (the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe) The mystical menorah inside Dovid Hamelech's shield The sefiras haomer connection