by Joel Rich
I’ve seen pulpit rabbis who take a significantly longer time for their amida than do their congregants and have the shatz say chazarat hashatz (including kedusha) while the rabbi continues his personal amida. I’ve seen others who speed up their amida and have the shatz wait for them in a manner that a significant percentage of the minyan is done but others are not. What do you see as the pros and cons of each approach?
IIUC a book by a sofer recommends not relying on the chazaka of the S”A (or R SZA) but rather a cyclic checking of tfillin/mezuzuot (based on his own experiences). Question- what is the algorithm to determine when a chazaka should be reconsidered?
- Sori Zahler,Mr. Shlomo Yehudah Rechnitz,Rabbi Meir Hertz,Rabbi Dovid Yosef,Rabbi Nachum Eisenstein,Steve Rosenberg,Rabbi Beirach Steinfeld,Mr. Yehuda Geberer.Mr. Shuli Halpert-8/19/23 – Shiur 432 – Exclusivity or Community: The dilemma of school selection policies | The love of the Tosher Rebbe ZT”L Something is rotten in the state of chareidi in-town school placements.
- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Mazal Tov, It’s A Baby, Now What? New baby shailot including: making a bracha (which, when how long do you get, boy v girl), names (shalom bayit is key) and shabbat shailot (making baby food, using baby wipes)
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Does a Splint, Band Aid or Cast affect Netilas Yadayim? Rules for ntilat yadaim for eating bread – are they more like tvila or kashrut? Applications for rewashing and brachot discussed.
- Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky-Changes to Amidah During Aseres Yemei Thsuvah Review of the changes to tefila during the yamim noraim – what is said, what is not, and what to do if you made an error.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Shofar on Rosh Hashana and the Story of Rav Akiva Yosef Shlesinger R A Schlesinger paskened to blow the shofar in yerushalyim on shabbat Would someone who held this was inappropriate (due to the rabbinic enactment not to blow shofar on shabbat) be yotzei a mitzva duraita if they listened to it being blown on shabbat?
- Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst-Teaching Torah to a Non-Jew: Birkas Kohanim, Caregivers, Priest, Prisoner, etc. Is there an issue (for the Jews in shul and/or the non-Jews) if a non-Jewish aide wants to receive birchat cohanim in shul or sit in on a shiur?
- Rabbi Shalom Rosner-Must Know Terms in Hilchos Shabbos Introduction to some basic concepts in mlechet shabbat including mlechet macshevet, eino mtkavein, pski reisha …
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- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Hilchot Yichud 01 – Introduction To Yichud – A Life Filled With Kedusha Yichud violations are so serious because of the taava for arayot.
The rebbi/talmid relationship is an integral part of learning.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Mazal Tov! It’s a Girl! Issues discussed concerning the birth of a girl including: birchat shechiyanu (dad/mom), naming conventions, making a kiddush, davening for the sex of a baby, and appreciating any child.
- Rabbi Yoni Rabinovitch-Is Lab Grown Meat the Future of Kosher Cuisine? Discussion of possible sources for determining the kashrut and bsari status of lab grown meat.
- Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky-Q&A With NCSY Kollel Rebbeim and Madrichim NCSY Kollel Q and A including: how deep are our roots if we don’t have to struggle?, challenges of materialism, using past experiences in avodat hashem, finding one’s tafkid in life, and developing one’s self (including emotionally).
Haskfa is a bell curve, don’t deny the existence of outliers but recognize where the consensus is.
- Confronting Mortality with Faith & Meaning: The Legacy of Dodi Tobin z’l Secular society is in denial about death, Judaism encourages a balanced positive attitude toward our mortality (including helping us appreciate life). Also covered, R Steinsaltz’s four stage transition from this world to the next.
- Rabbi Moshe Walter-The Minhag to Check Tefillin and Mezuzos in Chodesh Elul and Beyond- What’s Required? There’s a practice of checking tfillin and mezuzot in elul – while not required, it’s a nice thing to do. Also covered basic rules of mezuza and tfillin checking.
- Rabbi Eli Reich,Rabbi Zvi Zimmerman-Great Debates: Smoked Brisket and Watches – Is Our Gashmiyus Affecting Our Ruchnius? Where is the boundary between encouraged enjoyment of this world and a life centered on gashmiyut?
- Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky,Rabbi Moshe Benovitz-Great Debates: Can a Ben Torah Watch the Super Bowl? Where is he boundary between encouraged engagement with sports and a life centered on the wrong values. (me-“Nothing is good nor bad, only thinking makes it so” but even if it makes sense for some, what is the effect on the whole?)
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Our Greatest Strength Enjoying (loving) learning is part of learning lshma. Anyone can reach that level and make a kinyan in ahavat hatorah, but it takes work and desire.
- Rabbi Moshe Shulman-KOHELET! The Sphinx of Scriptures (Part 1) There was a debate as to whether Kohelet should be included in Tanach due to some of its seemingly contradictory (and perhaps apikorsus) content. One approach to resolving the contradictions is to identify four voices throughout the presentation. TBC
- Rabbi Mordechai Burg,Rabbi Yosef Hirschel-Great Debates: Should My Rebbe Know What I am Doing on Saturday Night? Is (should) a rebbi also be a therapist? A friend? A role model? Someone who sees only the best in his talmidim? (me-once again where is the proper balance for the individual? For the tzibur?)
- Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz-Rav Kook & Rav Meir Simcha Some thoughts on R Kook, the Netziv, R Chaim Soloveitchik, R Meir Simcha of Dvinsk and the Rogatchover.
- Rabbi Moshe Taragin-Sichat Mussar for Ki Teitzei: Some Things in Life Cant Be Planned; Becoming a Better Listener; Moral “Know-It-Alls” Mussar for newbie shana alef guys from parshat ki tetzei. Having a consistent schedule, even if not always exciting, is crucial to success but you can also need to be open to change as you mature and progress. Learn to listen and focus on being a better person (not just intellectual success).
- Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-The Mitzvah and Process of Kiddushin Introduction to kiddushin including: kinyan (= seriousness, not purchase), mitzvah status, erusin and nissuin.
- Orthodox Conundrum-Should We Sympathize with Sexual Offenders? (Special Episode) Reaction to a podcast interviewing a married, orthodox community member who is a pedophile. Some somewhat graphic discussion concerning various elements of sexual and power drives. How do the community, the individual, the victims and halacha deal with the alternatives?
- Simi Peters-The Prophet Yona and Maftir Yona (Part 1) Introduction to a series on sefer yona – why did yona not want to accept the role of prophet?
- Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz-Rabbinical Authority (Part 2) What is the source of the authority of rabbinic decrees (lo tasur) and does it apply only to sanhedrin or later authorities as well?
The Ramban defended earlier authorities and had issues with the Rambam’s algorithm for including mitzvot in his sefer hamitzvot.
- Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst-Teach Torah to Non-Jews Examples; Kimli Gabai Discussion of cases where teaching a non jew torah is acceptable due to toelet for jews.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Challenging Shem Hashem Questions Using sheim hashem needs to be taken very seriously. While it can be used ltzorech some are careful not to use then. Specific applications discussed.
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-History of Yeshivot in Eastern Europe – February 27 History of yeshiva chochmei lublin up through the death of RM Shapiro. Fund raising is always a big issue. What are the pluses and minuses of a yeshiva run by a single charismatic individual?
- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Living A Life Filled With Clarity If you have a rebbi you have no sfeikot (in halacha or hashkafa).
- Rabbi Moshe Kurtz ,Rabbi Steven Gotlib-“Challenging Assumptions” Book Interview with R. Moshe Kurtz Book launch for a book challenging certain notion held by different groups. Three examples provided.
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