Audio Roundup 2026:29
by Joel Rich
I was somewhat confused by a recent talk where R’ M Willig stated that one must follow his rebbi’s psak. Yet he also said that R’Moshe was the poseik hador but we can choose not to follow his psak (e.g. defining chatzot). So when is it nuanced and when is a bright line?
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Value billing !
כַּד דָּמַךְ רִבִּי בּוּן בַּר רִבִּי חִיָיא עָל רִבִּי זְעִירָא וְאַפְטַר עִילוֹי מְתוּקָה שְׁנַת הָעוֹבֵד. יָשֵׂן אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא אִם מְעַט אִם הַרְבֵּה יֹאכֵל. לְמַה הָיָה רִבִּי בּוּן בַּר רִבִּי חִיָיא דוֹמֶה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׂכַר פּוֹעֲלִים הַרְבֶּה וְהָיָה שָׁם פּוֹעֵל אֶחָד וְהָיָה מִשְׂתַּכֵּר בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי. מַה עָשָׂה הַמֶּלֶךְ נָטְלוֹ וְהָיָה מְטַיֵּיל עִמּוֹ אֲרוּכוֹת וּקְצָרוֹת. לְעִיתּוֹתֵי עֶרֶב בָּאוּ אוֹתָם פּוֹעֲלִים לִיטוֹל שְׂכָרָן וְנָתַן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ עִמָּהֶן מֻשְׁלָם. וְהָיוּ הַפּוֹעֲלִים מִתְרַעֲמִין וְאוֹמְרִין אָנוּ יָגַעְנוּ כָל הַיּוֹם וְזֶה לֹא יָגַע אֶלָּא שְׁתֵּי שָׁעוֹת וְנָתַן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ עִמָּנוּ מֻשְׁלָם. אָמַר לָהֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ יָגַע זֶה לִשְׁתֵּי שָׁעוֹת יוֹתֵר מִמָּה שֶׁלֹּא יְגַעְתֶּם אַתֶּם כָּל הַיּוֹם כּוּלּוֹ. כָּךְ יָגַע רִבִּי בּוּן בַּתּוֹרָה לְעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנָה מַה שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמִיד וָותִיק יָכוֹל לִלְמֹד לְמֵאָה שָׁנָה.
When Rebbi Abun bar Rebbi Ḥiyya died, Rebbi Zeïra ascended his pulpit and eulogized him: (Eccl. 5:11) “Sweet is the year of the worker.” It does not say here “sleeps” but “whether he eats little or much.” To what can Rebbi Bun bar Ḥiyya be likened? To a king who hired many workers and there was one worker who was exceptionally productive in his work. What did the king do? He took him and walked with him the long and the short. In the evening, the workers came to receive their wages and he gave him his total wages with them. The workers complained and said: we were toiling the entire day and this one did toil only for two hours and he gave him his total wages with us! The king told them: This one produced in two hours more than what you produced all day long. So Rebbi Bun produced in Torah in 28 years what an outstanding student cannot learn in a hundred years.
Me- to me this also implies your objective out put isn’t what counts, but rather what you were capable of.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180333
Rabbi Elliot Schrier-Why Are So Many of Our Children Becoming Charedi?
Teaneck kids become chareidi not because of hashkafa but because they see communities of serious bnai torah.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1178402
Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Coercion in Gittin introduction
A get can be compelled in limited circumstances (some of which are described here). Of particular interest is when can the wife say maus alai?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180384
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Kayli “K”ounselor Shiur – Beracha on my Buddies
The bracha on seeing a friend (TBD) differs between 30 days and a year (shechiyanu vs mchayeh meitim). Are they variations on a theme or inherently different?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180441
Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Fostering Spiritual Connection in Times of Illness and Stress
Talk given to professional therapeutic folks. The main job of a chaplain is to be there to listen, to help heal even when there’s no cure. Rabbis and patients need to know and act on their values. Uplifting stories included.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/458203
R’ Asher Weiss-Safek Berachos Lehakel
Various suggestions have been made as to what to do in a safeik bracha situation – no shem, brich rachmana, read from the gemara, teach a child, and mharheir all or part of the bracha.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180392
Rabbi Shay Schachter-Parshas Chukas – Balak – When Political Alliances Shift: The Collapse of Certainty and the Eternity of Hashem’s Love
We can rely on HKBH and only HKBH. He protects us even when we are not aware we need it.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180462
Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom-Parashat Hukkat: When Did the War at Hormah Take Place?
How do we deal with names of places in Tanach which were not known for that place when the event occured, but are called that contemporaneously.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180522
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Beer at a Ballgame and Coffee at Starbucks
There is a ban on non-Jewish beer drinking in the gemara. Is it applicable to all beers, alcohol and/or all drinks? Is it only in kavua settings? Positions of stringency and leniency discussed.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/458389
R’ Asher Weiss-Can We Learn From What is Not Written?
Can we learn from the fact that a code or a posek doesn’t include something that he doesn’t hold of it? Or not (eg he didn’t mention it here but infers elsewhere, or it’s not shiach)? There’s no general rule, but if all don’t mention it, it certainly points in a direction.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180561
Rabbi Shay Schachter-Contemporary Questions Regarding Tefillas Haderech When Traveling on Modern Day Highways
Do (should) the text and triggers (time/distance/danger) of tfilat haderech change based on changes in technology and society?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180570
Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky-Judaism and Following Organized Sports
There are a number of good reasons to play sports and following them can be a healthy diversion but there are also real dangers. Moderation is required. Last two minutes made me want to cry for my beloved MO.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/1180008/
Rabbi Yona Reiss- Peshara in Beis Din Nowadays
Is pshara required, suggested or forbidden? When is mediation and when is arbitration suggested/allowed? Can lfnim mshurat hadin be compelled? Is pshara splitting the difference or the panel’s best guess?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180698
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-AYS – Answering YUr Shailos – Chukas/Balak 5786
Q&A including baal taschcit (doesn’t apply if leftovers no longer useful), long distance rebbi/talmid relationship (through torah), women tzniut in women only places (lower than in public), siyum timing nine days (chassidim encourage, mitnagdim against), pictures by kotel (not meila), pregnant women in cemetery (not halacha but minhag to avoid), bluffing/lieing in game (not assur), general morning/waking practices, afraid to go into chinuch because not big enough masmid (each is different), and “kosher” ice cream in an unsupervised shop (not simple).
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/458691
R’ Zev Smith-Is One Required to Stand for Kaddish, Laining, and Birchas HaTorah? – M”B Chelek Daled – Siman 426
Standing or sitting for various brachot – general rules for birchat hanehenin, hodaah and shevach. Specific cases discussed (including tzitzit, tfillin, tfila…)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/458807
R’ Zev Smith-כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד
HKB”H only gives you nisyonot you can handle and are specifically designed for you. You have to believe in yourself and then you will soar. Torah is the best schora.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/458388
R’ Doniel Osher Kleinman-Parshas Shelach: How Much Flour Is Needed For Hafrashas Challah?
How much flour (and what is defined as flour) is needed in order to require taking challa?
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/eqkrx8eiifcnrsqx/Headlines_6-27-26.mp3
Rabbi Chaim Jachter,Rabbi Moshe Rotberg,Mr. Yehuda Liff -6/27/26 – Shiur 565 – The New Gambling Epidemic: Sports Betting, Kalshi, Day Trading, and Halacha
Gambling can be a very harmful addiction, avoid even in cases where it might not be halachically forbidden (me-kdoshim tihyu).
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/459109
R’ Asher Weiss-Bava Basra: Hezk Riyah
Why should mechila work for hezek riah (can you permanently be mochel an ongoing right)? Approaches of the C”I, R’ S Shkop, and R’ Elchanan presented. R’ Weiss understands it as a combination of hilchot nizikin and schainim.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180583
Rabbi Yona Reiss-From the Dayan’s Desk #208 – Insect Checking and cRc Policies
Analysis of the manifold issues and opinions re: bug checking, using the NYC water copepod issue as a case study.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180696
Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Taking Medicine on Shabbat: The halacha, reasons, contemporary applications & exceptions
How do we look at the gezeira of not taking medicines on Shabbat? More and less stringent opinions discussed and exceptions enumerated.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180975
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Giving a Child Two Names
Double names were not common but now are (unclear why). Are there any rules or implications regarding two or more names?
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/459224?seriesId=164
R’ Shmuel Fuerst-Interesting Shailos: Women & Havdalah; Kevurah of Kohanim, 7-branch Menorah, Building a Mikvah, Gomel, Fallen Mezuzah, Yahrzeit of First Spouse, Separate Beds
Q&A including woman saying morai haeish (ok), woman being motzi a man in Kiddush (in a pinch), cohen going in middle of cemetery to bury a karov (ok), menorah in shul (electric or curved ok), building mikvaot (include all shitot), saying hagomel (usually within three days but tashlumin much longer, say after chatzi kaddish at kriyat hatorah), fallen mezuza (no new bracha), skip az yashir even if started to catch up for yishtabach, remarried marking death of prior spouse (ok if new spouse not married or doesn’t know), and how far apart should beds be (depends, at least ma shehu).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180976
Rabbi Mordechai I. Willig-Yesodos in Psak Halacha
Follow your rabbi if he’s higia lhora’a (but we don’t follow R’ Moshe and R’ Schachter all the time??)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/459280
R’ Asher Weiss-Parshas Pinchas: Kedima B’Mitzvos
Tadir vs mkudash is a baya dlo ifshita based on kodshim. Defining mkudash isn’t so pashut. How do we take into account elements such as duraita vs drabanan, chovat haguf vs. cheftza, and what if one mitzva came first? Specific applications discussed.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/459307
R’ Zev Smith-What Can Maaser Money be Used For? (Seforim? Aliyos? Chinuch Habanim? Yeshiva Dinner? …) – M”B Chelek Daled – Siman 429
Maaser ksafim is very important, the goal is to partner with Hakadosh Baruch Hu and increase your ruchniyut. It can only go towards mitzvot you would otherwise do and are not required to do. Many applications discussed.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180948
Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein-Can One Go Up to Har HaBayit if the Gedolim Forbid It?
Do the gedolim of each generation have the same authority as Sanhedrin did to impose their will on all “poskim”?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180707
Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-Ownership and Liability: Bailments, Loans, and Investment Ventures
What are the legal differences between halva’ah (loan) and pikadon (bailment)? When is title conveyed? Concepts considered include milva lhotza’ah nitna, hadra be’eina, and priat chov mitzva.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1181042
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Saying a Beracha (She’hechiyanu) When Making Aliya
Why is there no bracha on yishuv Eretz Yisrael? Different understandings of the underpinnings of shechiyanu will explain why, or why not, to make shechiyanu upon making aliyah.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1180974
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The Rabbi’s Desk: California Mom Checked Out… But Did She Ever Leave?
Grandma had a Conservative conversion with two (personally Orthodox) Conservative rabbis plus one unknown. She had gone to mikveh and had accepted mitzvot. What is the status of this beit din (and her conversion)?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1181041
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The Rabbi’s Desk: The Whatsapp Education I Didn’t Want
If a woman had relations with her ex-husband after their divorce, is the presumption of his and her intent one of znut or ishut?