Audio Roundup 2026:27
There are sometimes in life when somebody says something to you that captures a really important concept. My friend Rabbi OY Hacohen Glickman Z”L once told me that when his talmidim would stand when he would come into shiur, he told them if you really want to show me kavod, prepare more for my shiur.
Me-Not that rituals are not important but they should not stand in place of the real thing
I once heard in the name of Nechama Lebowitz that when you have a question that bothers you and you can’t find an answer just put it in your pocket and some years later you may find it.
It’s bothering me for a long time that The Rav said that there were only two words on R’ Chaim‘s gravestone Ral(rav chesed)but the pictures of it I was able to find on-line have much more. I recently heard Rabbi Mayer Twersky say that there was an original gravestone which only had those two words but it was replaced by another one after it was destroyed.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179106
Rabbi Shay Schachter-Confiscating the Scooters: Where Do Property Rights End and Protecting People from Danger and from Sin
What steps may one take to save another from physical or spiritual dangers? Who is the authorizing authority or do you only find out in shamayim whether you should’ve confiscated those fidget spinners?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179099
Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Conscientious Objection & Lifnei Iver in Healthcare
What are the “rights” of the medical professional and the community when one has conscientious objection to a procedure? There is a benefit to having Orthodox Jews interacting with people who may do things we think are inappropriate and this may outweigh lfnei iver issues.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179084
Morah Stacey Goldman-Tefila unpacked: the Shaabat Amidah
Why are each of the amidot on shabbat different texts (vs weekday)? Why do some have yanuchu bo, ba and bam? Lots of nice lessons.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179118
Rabbi Yosef Carmel-Rov in Mamonos, Bitul Be Rov, Rov in Yuchsin and a Solution for Giyur Problems
Weaving together rov d’ita kaman, rov d’leita kaman, teisha chanuyot, and DNA statistics to solve the issue of FSU Jews who can’t document their Jewishness.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179249
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-AYS – Answering YUr Shailos – Shelach/Korach 5786
Q&A including owning stock in McDonald’s (ok but some avoid), deciding among multiple opinions in mishna brura (have a rebbi), sleeping with tzitzit or kipa (good idea), meat pizza (hamotzi), rabbis not speaking out (they do when appropriate), rabbi not burning out (bitachon and support), kzayit size (me- halachic reality?), going on vacation where there’s no minyan (can be defended), and why don’t we sing mizmor l’toda (we should).
[My comment: From many of these Q&A – there are a lot of things we “should” do textually,prioritizing how you deploy limited resources is key. Some of this makes me think of “Having lost the touch of His presence, they seek now solace in the pressure of His yoke.”
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179236
Rabbi Yechiel Morris-The story of the Ma’apilim: Why wasn’t their Teshuva accepted?
Actions have consequences! (nuff said)
Ari Wasserman,Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Breitowitz,Jonathan Rosenblum,Rabbi Moshe Taragin -6/13/26 – Shiur 563 –Modern Orthodox, Dati Leumi, and Charedi: Are the Differences Halachic or Hashkafic?
DL, MO, Charedi, Yeshivish, Israel, U.S…. In the words of Rodney King, “can we all get along”? (me- my lack of comment should not be taken as validation of moral equivalence of all ideologies and their specific applications)
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179286
Rabbi Elliot Schrier-Can (Every)One Rely on the Teaneck Municipal Eruv
The Teaneck eruv is fine (physical/food). Can the eruv food be something that not everyone can eat (eg celiacs)? Yes.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/1178276/
Rabbi Yona Reiss-From the Dayan’s Desk #206 – When do we say “Kim Li” in Beit Din Proceedings?
When can a litigant successfully claim kim li (I hold like a minority opinion)? Only to keep $, not to extract, can it go back and forth a number of times, how significant (TBD) must the minority opinion be, does it apply to issur v’heter (no).
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/455428?seriesId=1105
R’ Shraga Kallus-Hilchos Shabbos 347 – Refuah 20 – Detached Retinas and Other Stories
There’s no one fever level that’s considered pikuach nefesh, it’s always situation based (but use an old-fashioned thermometer). We are not michalel shabbat for sakanat ever (even though the meiri allows) but we are for sakanat ayin (even though it doesn’t seem to us that the gemara’s connecting eyes and heart is still accurate).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179272
Rabbi Michael Taubes-Parshas Shelach: “Does Halachah Allow Imprisonment?”
Is the use of jail by chazal a din (punishment – halacha moshe misinai) or to protect society (makin v’onshin)? Review of different applications in different times and places. No mention of mishpat hamelech.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1177732
Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank-Development in the Approach to Hashgacha Pratis
The concept of complete hashgacha pratit (i.e. teva doesn’t really exist) is not found in the rishonim, but now seems universally accepted; why? Maybe in hashkafa there’s less nitkatnu hadorot and more evolution (i.e. kabala).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179334
Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank-Development in the Approach to Hashgacha Pratis: Kuzari and Zohar
There’s no real nafka mina as to whether you believe in complete hashgacha pratit or not, but that belief can help you do a more complete teshuva. The shift over time to hard core hashgacha pratit was probably due to kabala being introduced to the main line Jewish community.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179196
Rabbi Yona Reiss-From the Dayan’s Desk #207 – When Do We Say “Kim Li” in Beit Din Proceedings Part 2
Will we make a claim of kim li for someone? Does it make a difference if there’s a tofes or a muchzak? Best practice is to include a clause that no one will invoke kim li.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179266
Rabbi Shmuel Lesher-Responsa Revealed: Rav Ovadia Yosef’s Teshuva on Being Sandik Twice
What is the source of the minhag not to give the same person sandakut twice? Probably tzavaa of R’ Yehuda HaChassid. How seriously is it taken?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179303
Rabbi Dovid Miller,Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh,Dr. Adam Ferziger,Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman-Agents of Change: The Impact of RIETS Israel Kollel Alumni on Israeli Society – Past, Present & Future
Worth it to listen to, if just to ponder whether you make decisions based on what’s best for you or for klal yisrael.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179436
Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Challenging and unique Halacha questions of a hospital chaplain
Issues include patient who will pull the plug once the rabbi comes, psak based on the country’s medical system, keeping patient “alive” for reasons related to burial, taking organs from an unidentified corpse, respecting patient’s religious values, inheritance directing, and proof of afterlife.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/455898?seriesId=164
R’ Shmuel Fuerst-Using strainer and recycling on Shabbos, marer blood, time zones and counting, bringing children to shul, interruptions during Shemoneh Esrei, clothes with pictures of planets, shnayim mikra v’targum, mezzuzahs affixed without berachah, microblading, hospital id on Shabbos, standing for person over 70
Q&A including borer using sink strainer (no – it’s ra from ra), nida issues (place and changing time zones), moving or hinting during amida rules (crying or dirty baby, dropped sefer, halachic question), shirt with sun or moon (maybe b’dieved), woman davening at home without head covering (avoid), shnayim mikra shomea koneh (not really), forgot to make bracha on mezuza (ok to make later if want), microblading (no), hospital bracelet worn outside (no tzorech), and standing for someone over 70 (w/in 4 amot, headfake is enough)
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179432
Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Theological reflections on AI in Medicine
How are different faith traditions responding to AI? (quite a spectrum) How do we define humanity, death…? What “values” will AI have? (facing all trolleyologists)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/456182
R’ Doniel Osher Kleinman-הלכות מזוזה: שו״ע יו״ד סי׳ רפה סעיף א – The Definition Of Mitzvas Mezuza
Is it a mitzvah to write a mezuza, to install it, and/or to live in a house with a mezuza?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179232
Rabbi Daniel Fridman-Yehoshua and Calev: Profiles in Halakhic Courage
Relationships to role models allow one to make courageous decisions in trying circumstances (eg dmut dyokno shel aviv)
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179115
Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Bait and Switch in Jewish Ethics
Bait and switch practice can raise issues of hin tzedek, onaat dvarim and gneivat daat. Is gneivat daat about gneiva or sheker? What are the nafka minas?
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/456419
R’ Zev Smith-Physically Standing Up For Mitzvos (Is it required at a Bris, Chuppah, When Making a Bracha…) – M”B Chelek Daled – Siman 426
Which mitzvot do we stand for and why? (one application, when do we go by chashivut vs kviyut?)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/456363
R’ Zev Smith-The 3 Weeks in Halacha
Nine days vs three weeks vs shavua shechal bo practices. Issues discussed include hair, nails, shechiyanu, shopping, house repairs, moving in/home hunting, and dangerous activities.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/456563
R’ Asher Weiss-Value Your Learning
Divrei bracha to yeshiva talmidim. When to learn and how much to learn are important questions, but remember learning is our greatest joy.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179405
Rabbi Isaac Rice-Answering Amen During Birchos Krias Shema: Part 2 – The Debate Over Ending Ga’al Yisrael Quietly
The chazan not saying ga’al yisrael out loud is claimed as a minhag yeshivot but there’s no clear source for it. There are similar varying practices for the brachot before kri’at shma (to avoid hefsek).
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/456439
R’ Shraga Kallus-Bais Yisroel Q&A Part 2
Q&A including distractions impact on the time it takes to get into learning, echad hamarbeh means to the full extent of your capabilities, 5786 is literal, leaving yeshiva doesn’t change anything (just applying it elsewhere), eilu velu doesn’t mean changed values, haircuts (don’t look like non-frum), and marrying a girl with a smartphone.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179381
Rabbi Dr Aaron Glatt ,Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody-Maximizing Rabbi/Physician Communication
The rabbi may play both a therapeutic and halachic role in end-of-life situations. Pick one rav, get the family on board early, and try to have everyone involved in real-time communications.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179395
Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein-Where is the אבן השתייה?
Review of traditional Jewish sources concerning the location of har habayit, kodesh kadashim, and even shtia. Since there’s not 100% certainty, do you play it safe (on going up) due to the issur karet or aggressively due to the site’s centrality in Jewish thought.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179509
Rabbi Reuven Brand,Rabbi Kalman Laufer-Dementia Dilemmas – End of Life Through a Jewish Lens
Description of the physical and mental progression of dementia. How does halacha view the requirement of kibud av in such cases? How do we evaluate decision making capacity and who steps in when it’s lacking? Specific cases discussed.