Audio Roundup 2020:45

by Joel Rich

I listened to a podcast from earlier this year interviewing Brian Greene a well-known physicist.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/108-brian-greene-until-end-time-mind-matter-our-search/id1352860989?i=1000468647766

If anyone has a chance to listen to it I’d be interested in hearing their thoughts, my understanding (or lack) follows.

One topic was free well. Brian is a physicalist but tries to explain how we might have free well or the perception of it. I’m not sure I understood it and I’d appreciate some help.

He also states that it’s better to believe that there is no outside force that gives purpose to our lives because that allows us to determine our own purpose. If I understood correctly, we all look into our own gut to figure out what we feel gives our individual lives purpose.

Ethics and morals also come from our guts but he does allow that other civilizations might have their own which differ from ours

Very interesting however was how he allowed that saying Kaddish with a minyan when his father died was very meaningful to him to attach to the ancient tradition rather than something recently mad up.

I’ve listened to a lot of similar podcasts and I still have not found the answer to the question that if you really believe this why not just do whatever makes you individually happy and I care about what anybody else or civilization thinks.

I guess you could consider me right wing modern Orthodox (whatever that means) but I’ve been thinking a lot about how both the modern Orthodox community And chareidi community should relate to recent developments in Israel. In particular Rav Chaim’s edict to open the yeshivot in defiance of the government rules. How do we think about both the individual leader and the community that follows that leader if we think that this is an extremely dangerous protocol both from a health standard and public relations standard.

I have a similar feeling about the US but I think in Israel it’s more pronounced.

• Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh-Issur veheter 9 (91:2-5)

  Basar vchalav series continues. Generally there’s no problem using cold meat utensils for dairy or vice versa, but don’t do it regularly (shema yishtameish) or with a kli cheres.

  Important point: Marit ayin applies when there might be a mistaken factual impression, not when people don’t know the halacha (e.g., R’Moshe being driven to shul after candle lighting).
  Then, onto the complexities of Tatai gavar; Klipah; Ntilah; Maliach, and Kavush.

  Bonus point: The Rama frequently invokes “ein anu bekein” as a reason we don’t follow something allowed by the mchabeir (me – Do you think this was an objective or subjective difference between them!)
   

• Rabbi Avi Kahn-10/17/20 – Show 293 – Being in the Headlines – Did we forget we are in Galus? [me-for sure yes, in many ways] “Our” current Covid response should be informed by chillul hashem and eivah (as has been the traditional Jewish response) considerations. What is the acceptable level of danger that one is halachically permitted to take, and why? (risk/reward) [me – is it the same for endangering others? I think not.] 
• Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky-Relying on A Minority Opinion Beshaas Hadchak

  Shaat hadchak (exigent circumstances) is an important halachic principle but requires understanding (e.g., How defined? Reevaluation timing? Duraita or Drabbanan?)
  Most interesting to me – R’Sobolofsky repeatedly saying he’s not pushing yashan even though he clearly thinks shaat hadchak doesn’t apply for chadash in Teaneck. (Me – then why not push for it?)
   

• Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Hilchos Shabbos Shiur#2 YCQ

  Part of a series dealing with hilchot Shabbat. Details provided concerning when one can violate Shabbat to “save” another. Topics include Pikuach nefesh; Shomer ptaim; Marbeh bshiurim;Kal kal tchila; Bshvil tchilatam; Chateh kdei shetizkeh and more.
  The Miskinot Yaakov posits that any gzeira made by Chazal to uproot a duraita must, by definition, have its reason as an integral part of the gzeirah and thus is reversible if the reason no longer applies. (Me – but how can we be sure we know “The” reason?)
  R’HS explains the lesson of the serpent’s punishment is that he would not have the zchut (right) to pray. (I had always heard it as the need (vs. right) and I do think this is somewhat different.
   

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-HaTov VeHaMetiv on the Birth of Daughters

  Making a bracha on the birth of a daughter (or twin daughters ☺) gives R’JZ an opportunity to analyze psak as the interpretation of what would chazal have said in light of changing realities (me – and whose reality is that kimosabe?) TBC
   

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – One Kohein or Two Kohanim Duchening?

  Is one cohain duchening only drabanan? If so, how should a cohain view the tradeoff of duchening by himself vs. joining another cohain at a different minyan? (Me – Is the answer different if he were to ask for a psak vs deciding on his own? [i.e., whose viewpoint is taken – his own or the kahal’s or HKB”H’ s?] 

• Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein-BeRov Am-Doing A Mitzva with/in front of Many

  There are three types of b’rov am hadrat melech: 1) splitting up roles in a single mitzvah, 2) many folks simultaneously doing the same mitzvah, and 3) one person doing a mitzvah and others watching.
   

• Rabbi Moshe Taragin-Torah of HaRav Amital for Bereishit: The Mystery of Creation

  Religious Zionism is not the same as modern orthodoxy!
  Bereishit and Noach weren’t given to us for philosophical understanding or scientific detail.
  R’Amital pointed out that we shouldn’t be scared nor overconfident: Rashi famously interprets Bereishit as showing our right to the land of Israel, the Ramban adds that national rights to a land can be forfeited.
   

• Rabbi Tanchum Cohen-Speaking with your Kids about Dinosaurs and Bereishis (part 1)

  Part I – There’s always value in talking to your kids about HKB”H, but remember to do it on their level and make sure you understand what they are really asking you (Me – the essence of a good consultant.)
   

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Women’s Obligatin in Having Children

  Pru u’rvu is a separate mitzvah from shevet. A woman’s “chiyuv” may be in shevet or eino mtzuveh v’oseh or msayeah l’mitzva or just the general ratzon hashem.
   

• Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Who’s obligated to Daven with a Minyan?

  While there are situations where counter pressure might overcome the chiyuv (yishtadel really implies chiyuv) to daven with a minyan, you really should do so for your own good. Various counterpressures discussed and evaluated.
   

• Rabbi Mark Trencher-Challenges and Opportunities Facing Modern Orthodoxy: What the Research Tells Us

  Report back on surveys (me – lots to discuss on methodologies but better than nothing.) Some results of interest: Diversity of M.O., Importance of community (more than learning/davening); OTD %’s and reasons; and Challenges and opportunities in dealing with the outside world.
   

• Rav Asher Weiss-חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא

  That sakanta (danger) chamurah (is more stringent) misurah (than prohibition) is patently obvious. Listen to the professionals!
   

• Dr. Bat-Sheva Lerner Maslow – New Beginnings: The Human Embryo in Science and Religion

  Defining an embryo biologically and halachically—what are the implications for fertility treatments and the status of non-implanted cells? The Jewish approach is reflective of the HKB”H/human partnership.
   

• Rabbi Ari Ginsberg-The Poverty of Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa

  Review of some of the R’Chanina ben Dosa midrashim. Can you sometimes be too selfless?
   

• Rabbi Aaron Buechler-The Life and Legacy of the Rambam

  The Ramban’s bio (including did he convert? Go on har habayit?) as a lead in to a series on the moreh nevuchim.
   

• Rabbi Isaac Rice-What Are We Asking For During Kaddish?

  Part of a series. Why say kaddish (kavod shamayim) and what do the words mean?
   

• Rabbi Chaim Eisenstein-Ten Minute Mussar: Bereishis, Science and Humility

  “A man’s got to know his limitations” (HT – Dirty Harry [AKA Clint Eastwood]– Magnum Force.) Humility gives us immortality.
   

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-HaTov VeHaMetiv on the Birth of Daughters

  Making a bracha on the birth of a daughter (or twin daughters ) gives R’JZ an opportunity to analyze psak as the interpretation of what would chazal have said in light of changing realities (me – and whose reality is that kimosabe?) TBC
   

• Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The Rabbi’s Desk – The Wrong Ring for Kiddushin

  A jeweler accidentally switched wedding rings for two cousins, can we find a work around to make both weddings valid after the fact?
   

• Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-The Difference Between Yom Tov and Shabbat (1)
  The prohibitions of various mlachot on Shabbat and Yom Tov may be grounded in different underlying theories (Shabbat – no creative activities; Yom tov – focus on resting).
   
• Rabbi Dr. Jacob J Schacter-Ben Adam Lechavero

  There’s little value in doing tshuva for bein adam l’makom if you don’t do tshuva bein adam l’chaveiro. This is part of the “magic” of the tshuva process.
   

• Rabbi Avi Kahn-10/17/20 – Show 293 – Being in the Headlines – Did we forget we are in Galus? [me-for sure yes, in many ways] “Our” current Covid response should be informed by chillul hashem and eivah (as has been the traditional Jewish response) considerations. What is the acceptable level of danger that one is halachically permitted to take, and why? (risk/reward) [me – is it the same for endangering others? I think not.] 
• Rabbi Ari Shvat (Chwat)-Rav Kook: The Universal Role of Religious Zionism in Improving the Morality of Mankind

  HKB”H put us here to spread monotheism, morality plus spiritual and material goods. You need a well-rounded nation/state to accomplish these goals.
   

• Rabbi Yoni Levin-Government Lockdowns: Social Injustice

  Dina Dmalchuta Dina (DMD) theories should inform on our Covid rules compliance (but so will chillul hashem). Of course, DMD doesn’t countervail the Torah (me – reminds me of the shul constitution – all halachic decisions will be made by the Rabbi – but who decides what’s halachic and what’s not?)
   

• Rabbi Menachem Leibtag-From King Cyrus to Lord Balfour: The Biblical Texts of the Temple Period (Part 1)

  First in a series examining geulah and reishit smichat geulateinu. The theme is that geulah is a stage in becoming HKB”H’s people, only nations can influence other nations.
   

• Rabbi Dr. Dvir Ginsberg-Introductions: Saadia Gaon’s Hakdama to Emunot V’Deot

  R’Sadia wrote the first systematic work of Jewish philosophy, Emunot V’deyot, to help folks avoid heresy. Thinking is the most important thing, belief is the internalized result of the thought process. Revelation is one source of truth but there are others.
   

• Rabbi Dr. Dvir Ginsberg-Fundamentals of Philosophy: Crescas and Free Will

  Somehow decision making is deterministic but will is causal and reward and punishment an intrinsic, natural result.
   

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

  Ongoing Talmud shiur. Topics include: Accepting (or not) gifts – especially as a judge; How did the Shunamit know Elisha was a tzaddik?; and Not eating before davening
   

• Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-Rabbis Menashe Klein and Haym Soloveitchik Agree

  More on R’Menashe Klein:
  1) a mchirat chametz mishap and associated fix
  2) “Rupture and Reconstruction,” analysis implying no reimagined measures (or close to it).
   

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