Audio Roundup 2018:7

by Joel Rich

It’s part of a series in Hebrew. Is anyone familiar with it?
Fuzzy Logic and Quantum States in Talmudic Reasoning (Hebrew Edition)(Hebrew) Hardcover – August 19, 2015
by Michael Abraham (Author),‎ Israel Belfer (Author),‎ & 1 more

On shtarei hedyotot I am mystified why the reading of newspaper advertisements on Shabbat is rarely addressed. If there is no heter is this just a case of mutav sheyihiyu shoggegin? IMHO this really should be clarified. My suspicion is that like a number of gzeirot that according to the algorithm should not be able to be undone, common practice has recognized the reality that perhaps their application today is less clear. (I’m trying to be politically correct)

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna Berura Yomi: Hilchos Pesach 446-2

  How do you get rid of a non-ben brit’s chametz which “lands” on your property? If you find something that looks like matzah on pesach, can you assume it is not chametz? Mixtures with chametz are prohibited even if they only include trace amounts of chametz.

• Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-Is the YU / Dati Leumi Jew a Dying Breed?

  In Israel, the approaches of R’YBS and R’Kotler are fusing together nicely. (I’d be curious how widespread this opinion is).

• Rabbi Yoni Levin-The Torah’s Attention to Detail: The Origin and Halachos of Saying Guzinteit

  When (and why) is it required, permitted, encouraged, or forbidden to say gezundheit (or anything like that)?

• Rabbi Baruch Dov Braun-Who invented the Concept of the Week? And Why It Matters

  The seven-day week is a social convention, not a natural one. The lesson from this convention is that we are to break away from nature and create a human society (R’YBS – become a partner in creation with HKB”H).

• Rabbi Dr. Motti Klein-TorahPsych #6: Al Hanisim, Nietzsche, & Posttraumatic Growth

  What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger (Nietzsche). We had the idea of post-traumatic growth a long time before he did!

• Rabbi Dani Schreiber-Divine Providence – Ramban – Maximalist or Minimalist?

  There seem to be contradictory indications within the Ramban concerning his position on how total HKB”H’s hashgacha is on our everyday lives. Perhaps Ramban means there is always reward and punishment for our deeds but that doesn’t account for 100% of our life events.
  Me-The pendulum in this area seems to swing back and forth over time (we’re in an it’s all HKB”H all the time era IMHO).

• Rabbi Philip Moskowitz -The 3 Most Enigmatic Pasukim in the Torah

  The Tzipora and the brit affair (HT – Man from U.N.C.L.E.)—who was seeking to kill whom and why? Perhaps the message was that Moshe had some doubts concerning his mission and had to get clarity on why he was being sent.

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna Berura Yomi: Hilchos Pesach 447-1

  You need to burn any mixture with chametz in it on Pesach, but if it’s a small amount, you will still be able to use any utensils that came in contact with it. This Shiur also covers some rules of chametz touching non chametz foods.

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring -Civil Marriage in Israel? A Conversation

  This Shiur reviews the current status of marriage and divorce laws in Israel as well as proposals for civil marriage. The key issues are the halachic status of civil marriage (R’Henkin vs. R’Moshe) and the nature of the culture of the Jewish state and its citizens. Various compromise positions are detailed as well.

• Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein-Kaddish if nobody “needs” to say it-Skip or Say?

  The last kaddish of any daily prayer should be said even if there is no mourner. (Me – I think there is a concern among amcha for the heebie jeebies.)

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring -Lashon Hara and Confidentiality: Some Guidelines

  Teacher/student confidentiality issues fall under the general rubric of confidentiality halachot (b’aal tagid lo teilech rachil, lashon hara . . .) R’Ziring believes that most poskim see confidentiality/lashon hara as an ethical subject rather than strict halachic algorithm. There must be a balance of risk and reward, there is not “safe” answer.

• Rabbi Yitzchak Blau -The Nature of Rabbinic Law

  This Shiur is designed to build an understanding of the positions of the Rambam and the Ramban on the nature of Rabbinic authority.

• Chesky Schreier-Stepping Back A Little Bit To Find “My Derech”

  Mussar to talmidim (if I heard correctly) concerning finding your own derech in avodat hashem (but still connecting to the mesorah

• Rabbi Michoel Zylberman-Shemos: Timtum HaLev and the Monsey Meat Scandal

  There are a number of sources indicating that timtum haleiv (spiritual heart disease?) attaches to the eater of forbidden foods irrespective of the halachic acceptability of his eating (i.e., it affects you even if you’re eating treif allowed under the halachic process) but there may be exceptions. (We’ve discussed this before—I take the side that following halacha is sufficient protections.)

• Rabbi Moshe Taragin-את שמים בתורת הרב עמיטל

  R’Amital believed that building a relationship with HKB”H in modern times can’t focus solely on punishment for misdeeds. This Shiur describes how R’Amital viewed this relationship process.

• Rabbi Michael Taubes-Parshas Shemos Why Are Milk and Cheese Kosher

  Why is milk kosher and not prohibited as ever min hachai (part of a live animal)? Which cheeses need supervision, why, and when? (me-It’s the rennet stupid?)

• Sarah Gordon-Sotah

  Not your standard Sotah Shiur. What was the goal of having such an institution and how did Chazal work with it? . (Actually my impression of the Shiur theme was more along the lines of how did they modify it.) Was it to protect the Sotah from angry crowds? Was it divine punishment or to prove innocence or to enforce social norms or to allow the couple to move on?

• Rabbi Chaim Axelrod-Going Through the Motions: A Study of When and Why We Sit, Stand, and Bow During Tefilah

  This Shiur is an introductory review of the specifics regarding the sitting, standing, bowing, and walking that we do throughout our prayers. Reasons for the requirements are also supplied.

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-פתיחת מסעדות בשבת

  A store (restaurant) owned by a non-ben brit (or a ben brit in partnership with a non-ben brit) could be open on Shabbat but some communities will not allow supervision for such stores (could be practical or philosophical reasons.) In Israel, there are places that have two sets of dishes, one for Shabbat (“non- kosher”) and one for the week (kosher) and are supervised during the week, but not on Shabbat.

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna Berura Yomi: Hilchos Pesach 447-2

  A mixture that occurred between the sixth hour and the actual start of Pesach is not subject to the “mashehu” rule (any amount is prohibited) but to the usual kashrut mixture rules.

• Rabbi Dani Schreiber-Discussing Judaism’s Big Questions: Bitachon vs Hishtadlut

  The Chazon Ish on Emunah/Bitachon—it’s all about relying on HKB”H; he could do what you think is best but may not (me – we go with HKB”H more likely knowing what’s best in total). Yoseif’s hishtadlut(effort) was inappropriate due to its success being way too improbable (per C.I., others disagree). So what about Esther? [Me – bottom line—do your job (it’s a dynamic balance as to how much hishtadlut) and let HKB’H worry about the rest.]

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna Berura Yomi: Hilchos Pesach 447-2

  More on mixtures that include chametz which were mixed before Pesach proper and what happens if you reheat that mixture (in different manners) on Pesach.

• Rabbi Barry Gelman-Masters of The Mishna: Who Was Rabbi Reuven Ben Istroboli?

  The common thread in the R’Istrobli stories is seeing HKB”H in all elements of life. Shiur discusses the issue of karov lmalchut (close to rulers) exemption.

• Rabbi Jeremy Wieder-KJ’s Dr. William Major Memorial Advanced Shiur in Talmud with Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Wieder

  Ongoing Talmud Shiur series. The major focus of this Shiur is on the kedusha (holy) status of gifts to the beit hamikdash and circumstances non status can become undone. Specific discussion of the statuses related to the Temple of Onias.

• Rabbi Yonah Gross-Reasons Not to Do Birchas Kohanim – Halacha from Vayikra Perek 9

  Four reasons why Moshe might not have been able to give birchat cohanim (all the reasons have some flaws). Consult the rules of birchat cohanim in S”A and you can guess the reasons.
  R’YBS held even a Cohain who killed accidentally cannot duchen (me – can anyone confirm this?)

• Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky-How do We Know if Someone is a Navi? Exploring Different Approaches

  The Gaonim believed that producing miracles could prove a prophet’s bona fides, the Rambam less so. It could depend on whether the prophet was going to tell the people to do something unusual (i.e., other than do tshuva).

• Rabbi Etan Moshe Berman-Mental Illness

  Q&A regarding mental illness including: Mental illness was recognized by Chazal. Someone without mental faculties (TBD) is exempt from mitzvot. How do we identify/deal with OCD, ADHD?

• Rabbi Aharon Adler-Psychology: Insights from Gedolim b’Torah

  Chazal were aware of the subconscious. R’YBS saw tshuva as the phony I returning to the real I. The whole makeh oto ad (we beat him until he says he voluntarily agrees) recognizes individual psychological drives (as do other pronouncements by Chazal).

• Rabbi Shay Schachter-Davening Quietly and Out Loud

  There seem to be contradictory sources concerning whether praying out loud is a problem. Perhaps the quiet preference is only for shmoneh esrai or perhaps loud prayer is appropriate in time of great perceived need.

• Rabbi Ezra Schwartz-Life in the Heights #1 Ammira Lnochri

  First in a series concerning halachic issues that come up in life “in the heights”. (Amira l’akum apparently comes up often). Key takeaways—do not ask your minor children to do a mlacha and always keep some spirits at hand.

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