Audio Roundup 2019:40

by Joel Rich

Recent correspondence:
Sholom u’vracha,
I ran across an article that was fascinating to me in The Lehrhaus. It strikes me
that both of you might enjoy it. I’ve noticed that, in particular, RJR, many of your
comments on Avodah, as well as in your Audio Roundup (btw, I love Audio
Roundup, and I also enjoy your lead-off questions in each installment), have to do
with this meta-halachic issue.
What was particularly fascinating to me in this article, was being able to contrast
two different classes/types of halachic change both regarding Tisha B’Av
practices. One class-type results in bright-lines being drawn, the other seems to
morph into an accepted minhag/halachic change of sorts.
I hope you enjoy! (And would love to hear comments from either/both of you if you
do find the time to read it and find it interesting):

How Halakhah Changes: From Nahem to the “Tisha be-Av Kumzitz”

Firstly thanks so much for your kind remarks. I get no feedback since R’ Gil
basically closed-the comment section so I’m glad to know somebody is reading it.
I think this article pretty much comports with my delicate dance theory of Halacha.
Change generally must be seen as organic rather than being forced from the
outside in order for it to be generally accepted. Once the change expands to larger
populations the rabbinic class has to decide whether to go with the flow, encourage
it or try to stem it. That decision will often be made on a very meta-basis.
I used to think that this was completely an artifact due to our lack of a Sanhedrin
but it’s been so long I’m really not sure. Perhaps that was the reason that each
tribe had its own Sanhedrin and perhaps there was not uniformity but rather 1000
flowers bloomed (excuse the Chinese allusion)

Any historical/halachic data on
when and why Jewish burial practice changed from allowing the body to decay and
then “burying” the bones, to the current practice?

• Rabbi Dani Schreiber-Discussing Judaism’s Biggest

  Questions: Artifical Intelligence in Halacha – Part 1 – The Psak Machine
  This is a topic I’ve mentioned in my audio roundup intros and one I’m following
  closely. Here you’ll find a Simplified (over?) introduction to the history and current
  state of AI/Machine learning. R’Lichtenstein affirmed the role of poseik’s human
  element in psak and of course (?), a machine wouldn’t have a divine intervention.

  Perhaps a joint effort (AI writes psak, poseik approves) would work. [me-given
  current ML doesn’t provide a trail, there will be issues where the pilot concern
  comes into play (if pilots rarely fly the plane w/o AI, can they truly be trained to fly it
  in an emergency?) Also IIUC true ML will get the sum total of all poskim’s
  personality.]

• Rabbi Isaac Rice-The Proper Practice When Davening in a Shul With a

  Different Minhag/Nusach
  There’s an opinion that supports just about any approach of what to do when your
  nusach differs from that of the place you are praying (both as an individual and
  shliach tzibbur) [me-you should have a consonant approach]. R’Rice seems to
  have an issue with the Piskei Tshuvot.

• Rabbi Yoni Levin-When Halacha

  Clashes With Kabbalah
  Psak does reflect Kabbalah/Zohar (see S”A et al). The extent varies by poseik (it’s
  complex!) Anyone who doesn’t accept Rashbi’s authorship is stating apikorsus.
  (me-I’m guessing R’Levin has been getting some pushback on the general issue)

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-
  Kiyum D’oraysa When Not Following the Rabanan

  If a Torah mitzvah has rabbinic instructions concerning its fulfillment, and one
  doesn’t follow those instructions, does one still get a torah mitzvah (e.g. partial
  sukkah sitting)? Does it matter if it’s instruction or prohibition (e.g. don’t blow
  shofar on Shabbat)? Tosfot and the Ran disagree.

• Rabbi Meir
  
• Rabbi Meir
  ביהכנ״ס משכן l הרב מאיר אליהו | תיקון קריאת שמע על המיטה – ימי השובבי״ם-Eliyahu
  
• Rabbi Meir
  ביהכנ”ס משכן יהודה l הרב מאיר אליהו | פרשת בשלח – חידושים ופרפראות-Eliyahu
  
  Hiddur in Ner Chanukah, Etrog et al. There are a number of specific types of
  hiddur mitzvah described herein. Bonus – how to get rid of the sitra achra!
• Rabbi Azarya Berzon-The Chatam Sofer’s very original perspective on

  the Mitzva of Mezuzah
  The standard explanation of mezuzah’s protective properties (IIRC R’Slifkin has
  some ideas on this) is based on it bringing shechina [HKB”H] to the home. The
  Chatam Sofer looks at the letter hei (= daled and yud) as reflective of a bayit
  (home) and the tshuva process. Shadai on the outside of mezuzah reflects the
  same theme.

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Covering Challah

  on Shabbos
  Why do we cover the challah on Shabbat? There are a number of reasons given in
  Talmud such as kavod Shabbat remembering the maan and not “embarrassing”
  the bread (or its blessing?) Depending on which is the real reason (my usual
  comment about only one reason) there may be different implications.

• Rabbi Shay

  Schachter-Is Fear of God for the Ordinary Jew Really That Easy?
  Leaders need to be role models (but it’s also good to have a critical mass of laity
  on the same page). We’re compared to stars (we have lofty ambitions) and sand
  (we need collective action)

• Rabbi Meir
  
• Rabbi Uri Orlian-Match Made in Heaven – Or Not – Bone Marrow and

  Kidney Donation in Halacha

  Transplants – when are they prohibited, voluntary or required (for both donor and
  donee). From blood to bone marrow and on – it’s a spectrum.

• Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Shomeah Keoneh

  Classic chakira – Is Shomea K’oneh defined as “the act of hearing = the act of
  speaking” or “the listener = the speaker”. Who held each way and what are the
  applications?

• Rabbi David
  
• Rabbi Shraga
  Kallus-Monetary Cases With a Twist
  Some unusual monetary cases including loan collection, inheritances, robbery and
  driving while wacko
• Rabbi David
  
• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-
  Ten Minute Halacha – Learning Torah on Shabbos

  Conflicting sources on appropriateness of learning on Shabbat can be reconciled.
  In general it’s good!

• Rabbi Shay

  Schachter-Can a Husband Be Pressured to Give His Wife a Get?
  A beit din has wide powers, even today, to force a husband to divorce his wife.
  Interesting discussion of internet communities!

• 8/24/19 Safety in Halacha -Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer , Rabbi

  Yitzchok Basser,Dayan Yaakov Rappaport
  What levels of risk is one allowed to undertake for fun or profit? Is the answer
  based on the individual, society (TBD) or a combination of both?

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-DRS Bekius –

  Moed Katan Daf 18a
  Daf shiur covering cutting fingernails and hair as well as engagements and related
  mourning/chol hamoed activities. Interesting explanation of the whole pregnant
  women/fingernail thing.

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Kerisus Daf 02 –

  Numbered Lists
  Daf shiur covering defining caret and why the Mishna sometimes tells you the
  number of items it will then list out anyway.

• Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Parshas Re’eh

  Parsha insights including: Drabanan/asmachta/d’uraita; Navi sheker; Meisit;
  Hachrazah; Ir hanidachat and eating turkey (or not)

• Mrs. Michal Horowitz-Teshuva: The Critical Distinction Between a Bar

  Mitzvah and a Ba’al Aveirah
  Bar mitzvah vs b’al tshuva – a son is forever but a husband can be separated from
  (as can sins through teshuvah). Don’t procrastinate and when you fall get right
  back up.

• Rabbi

  Steven Pruzansky-Great Rabbis of the 20th Century, Part 13: The Chofetz
  Chaim
  The life and times of “the Chofetz Chaim”. Most interesting (to me) is
  R’Pruzansky’s personal practice of asking those who ask mechila from him to tell
  him the specifics of what they did to require the request

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The

  Rabbi’s Desk – Torah in the Lab

  Can one learn while handling shichvat zera in the lab (IVF). Important general
  remarks concerning the status of bathrooms today and differentiating between
  ervah and tzoeh in cases of hirhur (thinking about torah).

• Rabbi Aryeh

  Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Using the Waffle Maker at a Hotel
  Can you use a waffle maker in a hotel where the waffle mix package has
  supervision? Maybe but should be avoided. Issues: bishul akum, trusting others
  to follow the rules, is travelling an excuse?

• Rabbi Dr. Aaron

  Rakeffet-Rothkoff-YU’s CJF & Driving to Events on the Sabbath
  The whole kiruv invitation on Shabbat when you “know” they’ll drive thing.

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna

  Berura Yomi: Hilchos Eruvin 363-10
  Some specific mavoi fixes via tzurat hapetach.

• Rabbi Nosson Rich-Mishna

  Berura Yomi: Hilchos Eruvin 363-11
  Narrow mavoi situations and how an “unusable area” (e.g. waterway, garbage
  dump) can be a mechitza.

• Rabbi Isaac Rice-
  Writing (with a computer or phone) on Chol HaMoed

  (literal) Writing today is generally not professional grade; typing certainly not.

Please direct any informal comments to [email protected].