Audio Roundup 2026:35
by Joel Rich
What would an fMRI reveal of those saying group Tehilim after tefilah in the USA?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tradition-podcast/id1477348080
A Jewish Theology of Consciousness for the Age of AI
My Comment Very interesting interview I’m just sorry you didn’t have more time. Have you read Dr Shatz‘s new book on Jewish philosophy? I’m about halfway through it and I wish that I had taken a course or someone had given me a book like this years ago. When people ask me what does Jewish philosophy have to say about X I always tell them probably a lot of things. I’m not sure that that’s fully appreciated in the orthodox world in general. Just one technical note I think the consciousness issue is a red herring. From all I’ve read and listened to over the past years there is not even a beginning of an approach to understanding how we would measure consciousness or recognize it. The theories range from from little tubules in the brain to we’re all part of simulation to we’re all part of a cosmic web of his existence and more.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rav-hershel-schachter-finding-meaning-as-a-ben/id1724640544?i=1000783739430
Rav Hershel Schachter: Finding Meaning as a Ben Torah in the Workforce (Shiur plus Q&A)
Baalei batim should learn when they have time (TBD) and it can be other than gemara b’iyun. We need engineers, doctors etc, and they play an important role. Learn Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and Chayei Adam; Mishnah Berurah is hard, complicated and always machmir. It doesn’t reflect practice in the CC’s time and is not the psak hamkubal! Also includes insights re: rabbis’ families, wealth, Ohr Lagoyim and NCSY summer programs.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tradition-podcast/id1477348080
A Jewish Theology of Consciousness for the Age of AI
Easy questions like does HKBH feel, the Rambam’s negative theology, must intelligence be embodied, is there an immeasurable spiritual depth in us/HKBH, and how technology has increased our focus on intellect at the expense of our spirit.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185579
Rabbi Ari Shvat (Chwat) – A Detailed Overview of Rav Kook- His Personality, His Torah & Why it’s so Popular? Yahrtzeit of Rav Kook (3rd of Elul, easy Hebrew)
R’ Kook was a brilliant ish eshkolot and yirei shamayim. His holistic approach and nature was recognized by all. Some of his shitot examined
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185226
Rabbi Etan Schnall – Kibud Av: When a Father Requests Something Dangerous to His Own Health
If a parent asks for something dangerous which will damage him. a child should not give it to him.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185241
Rabbi Moshe Taragin – A Ramban for Shoftim: Emunah and Excessive Weapons Buildup; False Nostalgia; Does Commerce With Non-Jews Lead to Assimilation?
Not going back to Egypt for horses is about technology reliance and triggers/influences.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185211
Rabbi Hershel Schachter – Shoftim 5786
Parsha thoughts including the Gra’s three subcategories of halacha approach (dam l’dam…..), tzelem elokim, kavod hachaim and meitim, truth telling in halachic attributions, war [shu”t], melech, ir hanidachat and milchamet mitzvah/rshut.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185304
Rabbi Moshe Sokoloff – Understanding The Bracha Of Boruch She’Potroni”
The bracha of baruch sheptarani isn’t mentioned in the gemara, thus many (not all) hold there is no bracha with shem/malchut . Maybe say it in in aramaic?
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/468602
R’ Zev Smith – Attaining True Pleasure
We live in a world where learning is easy but so is temptation (materialism, technology…). Real enjoyment / happiness is to be in control of self (me-true, but people will think you odd)
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185294
Rabbi Moshe Walter – Four Critical Days in Elul and Four Minhagim When to Begin Reciting Selichos: Sephardim, Ashkenazim, and Two Little-Known Big Dates
Discussion of practices (past and present) as to saying slichot as well as reasons for those dates.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/18forty-podcast/id1509495701?i=1000779975939
18Forty Podcast: Berel Leib Epstein: Why Be a Believer
One physicist’s journey back to orthodoxy and how he sees science supporting orthodoxy’s beliefs and yet remains open to discussion with non-believers.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/468861
R’ Zev Smith – Yes! You Can… and Will Succeed!
Today people need instant gratification and don’t want to work hard. You need emuna batzmo and to realize HKBH gives each of us abilities which he expects us to use to achieve our best results.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185351
Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich – On the Love of Truth and the Pursuit of Compromise (Shoftim, צדק צדק תרדף)
Emet is the goal for judges, baalei dinim and society as a whole. Sometimes pshara is a form of subjective emet.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185386
Rabbi Jonathan Ziring – Discussion about Autonomy and Agency with SBM 2026
Human autonomy implies no tzivui hashem, whereas agency allows for human intervention. How much freedom/responsibility does an individual have in picking a posek or following his psak?
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185418
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – AYS – Answering YUr Shailos – Shoftim 5786
Q&A including taking a sefer in a bag in a public restroom (ok), taking on rabbeinu tam time(what is mikar hadin or chumra -implications??), BT can ask their rav as much as they like, starting amida (with tzibbur>within first bracha> as long as someone is saying it>with shatz), using hai rather than daled for hashem (hei), tzanua woman atbeach (complex), don’t need two sets of drinking glasses, non-Jewish housekeeper baking in your house (bishul akum vs pot akum), inviting conversion candidate on yom tov (even one kvetches a heter of some kind), and a hairdresser posts a picture of a hairstyle of a woman who doesn’t cover hair (ok).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185348
Rabbi Chaim Brovender – Prophets and Prophecy
What is the Navi’s role in miracles and as an intermediary in transmitting Torah?
https://minchasasher.com/he/shiur/%d7%a4%d7%a8%d7%a9%d7%94-%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%a2%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%9d/%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%97%d7%93-%d7%95%d7%97%d7%99%d7%95%d7%91-%d7%94%d7%a9%d7%91%d7%aa%d7%95/
Rav Asher – Weiss- שוחד וחיוב השבתו
The Rambam paskins that shochad must be returned if the giver demands return. Why? Quite a few explanations posited.
https://torahinmotion.org/classes/parshat-shoftim-rabbinic-infallibility-the-curious-case-of-the-rebellious-elder?check_logged_in=1
Rabbi Asher Finkelstein – Parshat Shoftim: Rabbinic Infallibility? The Curious Case of the Rebellious Elder
Both zaken mamre (can’t go against Sanhedrin) and par helelem (Sanhedrin can err) reflect a breakdown in the aspirational halachic system.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185435
Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky – Assorted Halachos- Part 88
Q&A including why don’t chassidim say tachanun at mincha (Kabbalah), going up to har habayit (don’t), standing for Icha dodi (adam chashuv), don’t use same water bottle for dairy/meat meal, frozen fruits and veggies (follow CRC rules), ger tovel his old keilim (machlokes),and Sunday havdala (wine only).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185481
Rabbi Michael Taubes – -Parshas Shoftim “What is the the Status of a Law Derived from an Asmachta?
Is an asmachta purely a memory hook for d’rabbanan, a higher level d’rabbanan (ratzon hashem), or sometimes one and sometimes the other?
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/qs2wfk6nmakuyimz/Headlines_8-15-26.mp3
Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Rabbi Chaim Jachter – 8/15/26 – Shiur 572 – SIMCHOS IN HALACHA – MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED SHAILOS
Wedding issues including can you take home food, not show up, bring a friend, not give a gift, leave early, post pictures, … Also covered, taking and paying from maser issues. Important — plan ahead, don’t be matriarch, and be a mentch.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185489
Rabbi Avishai David – Parshas Shoftim – Tripartite analysis of the components of Mishpat from the perspective of Hagaon Harav Yisroel Belsky ztzl and the compelling obligations to attach oneself to Gedolei Yisroel and Torah personalities
R’Belsky was a broad genius of geniuses. The major functions of beit din are to give psak between litigants in a righteous way, punish evildoers and be mvarer the emet. Everyone should attach themselves to the biggest gadol they can.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185425
Rabbi Etan Schnall – The Nature of Rosh Chodesh Yaleh V’Yavo in Tefilla
R’YBS on why we repeat the amida on rosh chodesh day if we didn’t say yaaleh v’yavo but we don’t repeat it if we forgot at night (we act as sanhedrin b’birur hadavar and musaf in bet mikdash is full hallel/holiday only during day)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/469447?seriesId=164
R’ Shmuel Fuerst – Interesting Shaillos: Relating News from Hospital on Shabbos, Rffles on Shabbos, Obligation to Marry Off Children, Use of Maaser Money for Weddings & Support, Shabbos Bris when Father Not Jewish, Handicapped Child in a Nursing Home, Putting up Mezzuzah, Paying for Repairs with Rent Money
Q&A including asking a non-Jew on Shabbat to call to give update (no, unless nervous choleh), raffle on shabbat for child learners (ok – cheftzei shamayim), chiyuv to marry off children (not chiyuv gamur -many halachic implications discussed), shabbat brit if father is non-Jew (yes), institutionalizing in a non-kosher facility (ok, if no da’at), mezuzot on rental (scotch tape first day, nail on 31st in chu”l), and withholding rent for repairs (ok, but document)
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/469444
R’ Zev Smith – Selling/ Using Non Kosher Food
Schora in non-kosher items which are not issurei hanaa is still assur (probably duraita). There are a number of exceptions including selling issurei d’rabanan, not grown to eat, nizdamein, and matzil miyado. Many specific applications discussed.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185708
Rabbi Roy Feldman – Becoming Jewish in America Part 1: Halakhic Background and Conversion in Early America
Review of the basic requirements for conversion and their application in the 1700’s in the US when there were no rabbis and lots of intermarriage.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185521
Rabbi Michael Taubes – Hope in the Ashes: Final Messages Across the Generations
Letters and wills from those who were mkadeish hashem (eg crusades, shoah) showing how to transmit values and hope.
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185767
Rabbi Shay Schachter – Chodesh Elul: Allowing Ourselves to Enter Into the Experience and Not Remain an Outsider
Elul mussar – don’t just be in proximity to Jewish life but enter it. Elul is a good time to do a eulogy for yourself as a spring board to writing a new chapter in your story.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/469915
R’ Asher Weiss – האם תשובה פוטרת מעונשין
Why doesn’t tshuva work for being pardoned from malkot or mitah? Either they will lose their deterrent effect, or because bet din can’t really know if tshuva was done, or (R’ Weiss) tshuva is a gift from HKBH not applicable to bet din.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/469890?seriesId=1005
R’ Shraga Kallus – We’re Back – This Week’s Interesting Stories Episode 111
Issues discussed include rebbi/talmid relationship, damaging one of a matched pair of items (grama), katan choleh / memareach on shabbat, and security guard mistakenly tackling the wrong person (maybe min hashamayim that person needed kapara of busha).
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1185830
Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb – Mitzvah and Minhag: How Many Shabbos Candles Should You Light?
Number of Shabbat candles 1, 2 – various basic practices (1, 2, # of family members) discussed and special situations (guest, wife changing practice, forgot to light) discussed.