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Halacha Headlines

Halacha Headlinespodcast.headlinesbook.com
Halachic Debates of Current Events

Episodes

3/8/25 – Shiur 505 – Purim – Fascinating Sources for our Minhagim | Bringing Simcha into our lives – The stories behind "Bardak" and Suki & Ding

What's the most difficult Mitzvah? Fascinating sources for: Taanis Esther Costumes Purim Torah And more..... Hosted by Rabbi Moshe Taub – Rov of Young Israel of Holliswood with Meni Wakshtock – Founder, Producer and Actor of "Bardak" – 19:45 with Dovid Nachman Golding – "Ding" of Suki and Ding – 48:10 מראי מקומות

Mar 07, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 429

3/1/25 – Shiur 504 – Hamas’ (and Iran’s) depravity - when our enemies know no limits: Should We? Do we need to act morally when dealing with an immoral enemy?

What does Hamas hope to accomplish with their psychological warfare? Should we be swapping live Hamas terrorists for the bodies of captives? Does international law or world opinion halachically govern how the IDF acts? Do the Laws of War (e.g., avoid non-combatants) mean that you can never use a weapon of mass destruction? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges You can pre-order "Halachic Q & A on the Job” at http...

Feb 27, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 428

2/22/25 – Shiur 503 – “Recharging Ambition”: How We Can Inspire an Un-Motivated Generation

Is it stealing from your Kollel or employer if you regularly come late? How hard do you need to work on the job? Can you take personal phone calls, check the news, order your groceries, etc. while on the clock? Does this impact Shalom Bayis, divorce rates, shmiras ha’mitzvos and hasmada in Torah learning? How do we motivate those who don’t have motivation? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges You can pre-order "Hala...

Feb 21, 20252 hr 56 minEp. 427

2/8/25 – Shiur 501 – Roommates – what are the major areas of conflict? Are there ways to resolve them?

What are the most common issues/controversies that come up between roommates? Are there any halachic requirements to keep your place clean? Do you violate Gezel Sheina when your alarm wakes up your roommate? Can you borrow your roommates’ pots, books, pillow, toothpaste, etc. without permission? What happens with the kitchen when roommates have different standards of Kashrus? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges wit...

Feb 06, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 425

1/25/25 – Shiur 500 – “Every shul has one” – dealing with the person who disturbs everyone

What would cause someone to regularly disturb in shul without regard to upsetting others? How should those who disturb be dealt with? Is it impatience or mental illness when someone always pushes the Chazan to go faster? Is it okay to pace for all of davening? To evict guests from seats? To collect the Seforim during davening? Should little children be brought to shul, knowing they may disturb? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workp...

Jan 30, 20252 hr 44 minEp. 424

1/25/25 – Shiur 499 – The Hostage Ransom – Negotiation or Capitulation?

Is it Hatzalos Nefashos or is it encouraging more murder? How can you release murderers on the streets? Are you emboldening Hamas? Is it worth it to stay in good grace with the US? with Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus – Member of Knesset Degel HaTorah – 25:05 with General Tzvika Fogel – Member of Knesset Otzma Yehudit, Israeli Security Expert, Advisor to Itamar Ben Gvir, Former brigadier general – 35:48 with Mr. Gedalia Guttentag – Noted Columnist, Editor of Mishpacha – 46:13 מראי מקומות...

Jan 24, 202557 minEp. 423

1/18/25 – Shiur 498 – Should each community have a “Rebbetzin” to teach, advise and inspire the women?

Are women’s learning programs motivated by feminism and the desire for “equality”? Are women required to learn any Torah? Can they learn Zohar and Gemara? Is it preferable that women teach women? Can men attend the shiurim as well? Does a connection need to be achieved through learning Torah, or do Chesed and Tehillim groups work better? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges with Rabbi Chaim Kohn – founder of the Bus...

Jan 16, 20251 hr 28 minEp. 422

1/11/25 – Shiur 497 – "Gentle Parenting” is in, discipline is out - Should parents discipline their children, or is that only for prior generations?

How has parenting changed over time? What lessons do we learn from Tanach? Should a parent discipline a child when the child will ignore the parent? How does a parent stay calm when the kids are misbehaving and not listening? What if the husband and wife are not on the same page when it comes to parenting? Should kids be brought to shul if they won’t behave? Can you discipline someone else’s child in shul? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Wo...

Jan 10, 20252 hr 51 minEp. 421

1/4/25 – Shiur 496 – The Halachos of Heter Meah Rabbanim – An Agunah for over a decade – Hear both sides of the story

Can you ever make a Heter Meah Rabbanim without leaving a Get in Beis Din? Is a Beis Din ever allowed to withhold the Get from the woman? In order to get the husband visitation To get the husband financial compensation To get the woman to drop criminal charges To get the woman to drop lawsuits How easy is it to get a court to deny visitation from the father? And much more... with Shaul Cohen – Lawyer for husbands Rov – 32:58 with Rabbi Moshe Schwartz – Friend of the husband – 47:38 with Elad Zam...

Jan 02, 20252 hr 23 minEp. 420

12/28/24 – Shiur 495 – How should we behave in Galus? Should we try to blend in and keep a low profile?

What did Gedolei Yisrael say about this and how did they behave? Should Menorah be lit in public? Should a yarmulka be worn at work? Should we wear black hats, shtreimels and other identifying marks? Wear talis and tefillin while walking to shul? Build a Succah in a public area? Should we remove Jewish and Israel references from our resumes when trying to get a job? What are the biggest religious struggles in the workplace and what is most damaging to a Ben Torah? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of ...

Dec 26, 20242 hr 52 minEp. 419

12/21/24 – Shiur 494 – How to not lose our children – and ourselves – to peer pressure

How can a child withstand peer pressure Why do some kids give in easily to peer pressure and others don’t How should parents educate their children to withstand peer pressure What are the most common peer pressures in our yeshivos and girls’ schools Why do kids and teens involved in bad behaviors want to get their peers to join them Are we obligated to avoid negative influences and make Gedarim for ourselves Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it ...

Dec 20, 20242 hr 6 minEp. 418

12/14/24 – Shiur 493 – What it Takes to release an Agunah | Presidential Pardon – Pardons in Halacha – The Torah approach to pardons

How a Magen was forced to give a Get with Attorney Elad Zamir – Renowned Family Lawyer, Toein Rabbani – 16:56 How the torah would view the presidential pardon of his son Is there a concept of pardons in Torah Do we find pardons in Tanach? Do you always have to be Moichel someone who wronged you? When don't you? A fascinating conversation with Rabbi Hayyim Angel – T’nach Expert RIETS – 29:40 with Rabbi Uri Tiger – Chavrusah and proofreader of Reb Chaim Kanievsky, Mechaber Seforim – 45:50 מראי מקו...

Dec 12, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 417

12/7/24 – Shiur 492 – The new initiative to draft Chareidim into the army. Should Yeshiva boys draft into the all-Charedi “Chashmonaim” Brigade?

What are the arguments that there’s an obligation to serve in the IDF? What are the arguments that there’s no obligation for someone learning Torah to join the army? What if the person is not learning, but is working or doing something else? What are the main challenges of a Chareidi boy/man joining the IDF? Can those issues be fully addressed? What initiatives are currently under way to address the concerns? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it...

Dec 05, 20242 hr 49 minEp. 416

11/30/24 – Shiur 491 – Do we need to give when collectors ask for Tzedakah? What if it’s during davening, or a solicitation via mail or email?

Do we need to give Tzedakah to everyone who asks? Should we give to someone who refuses to work? What if you think the person asking does not look legit? What if he smokes? Or he’s an alcoholic or uses drugs? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges with Dr. Shlomo Black – Psychologist and Research Associate at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) – 13:47 with Rabbi Shimon Taub – Author of The Laws of Tzed...

Nov 29, 20241 hr 23 minEp. 415

11/16/24 – Shiur 489 – How long should you date before getting engaged? How long does it take to get to know the other person?

What should be the goal of dating? What are the minimum interactions required by Halacha before engagement and marriage? What’s the downside of going too quickly? Of going too slowly? How clear do you need to be about what you are looking for in advance of dating? What are some great ways to get to know the other person? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovits – Renowned Rov, Poseik and Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah – 9:48 with Mrs. Aleeza Ben Shalom – international shadchan, relationsh...

Nov 15, 20242 hr 58 minEp. 413

11/9/24 – Shiur 488 – Tattoos in Halacha: Is microblading permitted? | The Real Deal – avoiding legal trouble

THE REAL DEAL – avoiding legal trouble with Eli Puretz – Real Estate Syndicator – 11:58 Is it microblading Assur because of tattooing? Does it have to be for Avoda Zorah? Does it have to be words or picture or a mark is enough? Does it have to be permanent? How many levels of skin does it have to penetrate? Would it be Mutar for medical reasons, Shidduch reasons or even cosmetic reasons? with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – Rav of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere – 27:04 with Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein – Rav...

Nov 08, 202450 minEp. 412

11/2/24 – Shiur 487 – Should Rabbanim be teaching girls and women?

What are the pros and cons of a man teaching girls/women? If a Rav teaches girls/women, should there be a Mechitza? What if the Rav is not married? Can/should a Rav call female students by first name or a nickname? What Gedarim should a Rav institute for himself when teaching girls/women? How does the relationship a Rebbe has with his male students compare to that of his female students? Are there topics that women should not be teaching, like Halachah? Hosted: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Sadya Gra...

Oct 29, 20242 hr 55 minEp. 411

10/12/24 – Shiur 486 – What’s the role of a shul Rav during the Yomim Tovim? What are the most common and unusual questions being asked to our Rabbanim?

Are your responsibilities as a shul Rav any different during this time of year? What questions are people asking you? Is the war in Israel having an impact on you or your community? What unusual incidents have happened in your shul during Chagim? What’s your favorite Devar Torah for Yom Tov? Hosted by: Ari Wasserman Rabbi Shalom Rosner – Rabbi, Kehillat Nofei Hashemesh, Beit Shemesh, Israel – 9:55 Rabbi Moshe Elefant – Rabbi, Zichron Yosef Ohel Aryeh, Borough Park; Head of Kashrus for OU Kosher ...

Oct 10, 20241 hr 24 minEp. 410

9/28/24 – Shiur 485 – Are you allowed to take a shower on Yom Tov? | Are you allowed to give a donut to an obese person, and other fascinating shailos | Combating domestic abuse in our community

Showering us with Brocha Three day Yom Tov – Are you allowed to take a shower on Yom Tov? with Rabbi Yonah Reiss – Av Beis Din of CRC and Rosh Yeshiva and head of Semicha – 13:22 with Rabbi Mendy Abramson – Mechaber Bnei Avraham, Showering in Halacha – 30:00 לא תעמוד על דם רעך Are you allowed to give a donut to an obese person, and other fascinating shailos With Rabbi Ahron Sorscher – Noted Talmud Chochom, Poseik and Oraysa Maggid Shiur – 46:10 תכלה שנה עם קללותיה Combating domestic abuse in our...

Sep 27, 20241 hr 24 minEp. 409

9/21/24 – Shiur 484 – Ayin Hara – is it a real thing? Should we be concerned? How does it relate to Rosh Hashana and Tashlich?

How does Ayin Hara work, and what causes it? Is there a way to proactively protect yourself from an Ayin Hara? Is there a basis for the hand that people hang up for good luck, the red string or the blue eye? Does it help to say “bli ayin hara” and Poo Poo Poo? Are the services that are for hire to remove Ayin Hara legitimate, and how much do they cost? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Dr. Zvi Ron – Maggid Shiur and prolific author – 9:15 with Rabbi Zev Leff – renowned Rav, Posek, Author and Rosh Y...

Sep 19, 20242 hr 38 minEp. 408

9/14/24 – Shiur 483 – Do women have a Yeitzer Hara? Does Shmiras Einayim also apply to girls and women? Or, is it only a male problem?

Are the Halachos of Shmiras Einayim more lenient for women than for men, and if so, why? What’s the big deal about having thoughts, if they are only thoughts? Is it permitted for a woman to gaze at men? How – and from what age - should we educate our girls to stay away from inappropriate materials? Practically speaking, are the schools seeing this Shmiras Einayim problems in the girls? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – Rabbi of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere, Head of Semicha at R...

Sep 13, 20242 hr 33 minEp. 407

9/7/24 – Shiur 482 – Aliyah L’har Habayis – An Aliya or a Yeridah? | El Al price gouging

El AL Price Gouging with Mrs. Tzippy Yarom – Noted Israeli Journalist - 1:50 Is there Kedusha on the har Habayis Nowadays? Can a טמא enter? Which טמאים can't enter? Is the Kosel the wall of the עזרה or the הר הבית? Can you put your fingers into the wall of the Kosel? Are you a Rodeif if you go up to the Har Habayis? with Rabbi Shlomo Aviner – Rosh Yeshiva Ateret Kohanim – 37:13 with Rabbi Nachman Kahane – Mechaber Mei Menuchos, Rav Chazon Yecheskel – 46:36 מראי מקומות...

Sep 06, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 406

8/31/24 – Shiur 481 – Ozempic and weight loss injections – wonder drugs or a failure of our generation?

What causes someone to be unhappy with their looks? Are our bodies halachically our own, such that we can do what we want with it? Can we take medications when we don’t understand how they work and when there are serious side effects? Should weight-loss injections be used only after trying to diet and control eating? Can we suppress our appetite if it will take away from Oneg Shabbos and Simchas Yom Tov? If someone uses Ozempic to lose weight while dating, does it need to be disclosed? Host: Ari...

Aug 29, 20242 hr 33 minEp. 405

8/24/24 – Shiur 480 – Is therapy good or bad? Has the mental health industry lost its mind?

Why are people getting psychologically sicker and sicker despite there being more therapists and more mental health awareness? How does having experienced “trauma” when younger impact one’s Bechirah Chofshis and being responsible for your own actions? Do therapists focus too much on “trauma”? Should podcasts, shiurim, etc. have “trigger warnings” to warn those with sensitivities that they should not watch/listen? Do we need to use someone’s chosen pronouns, even calling a man by “she/her” and a ...

Aug 22, 20242 hr 18 minEp. 404

8/17/24 – Shiur 479 – Real Estate Syndications: Quick easy buck or risky pot luck

Lacetop Sheitels – Response to callers – 12:47 Is a syndicator who is overly daring or reckless with their clients' money required to use their own funds to compensate for the losses? What questions should an investor be asking? with Rabbi Chaim Yosef Perlman, Av Beis Din Beis Aharon – 29:58 with Rabbi Zalman Graus – Renowned Dayan, Toen and Mechaber Seforim – 35:22 with Yitzy Friedman – CEO of TowerFive Real Estate Group – 53:14 with investor – 1:09:17 מראי מקומות...

Aug 16, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 403

8/10/24 – Shiur 478 – Extremism – What causes Chareidi extremism? Is it a bad thing? What about Hilltop Youth extremism against Arabs?

What causes someone to become an extremist? Is extremism stronger now than 20-30 years ago? Are there similarities between Chareidi extremism, the Hilltop Youths and Leftists against Chareidim? If you don’t agree with a law, can you violate it? Are there times when extremism is warranted? Is being OTD another form of extremism? And are there ways to improve the system? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Eliezer Breitowitz – Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Toronto – 9:52 with Rabbi Yehoshua Pf...

Aug 09, 20242 hr 5 minEp. 402

8/3/24 – Shiur 477 – Teaching our children about the dangers of camp (and life) | Lacetop Sheitels | Voting in Halacha

Teaching our children about the dangers of camp (and life) Should you teach or them, or should you shield them from exposure? with Rabbi Moshe Aharon Kahane – Head of Machon Zichron Kehuna – 15:10 with Rabbi Yaakov Ephraim Forcheimer – Poseik of Lakewood – 15:49 Lacetop Sheitels in Halacha – Erase the Lace or Embrace the Lace? Is it a new question or an age old Machlokes? with Rabbi Aharon Sorscher – Renowned Poseik and Magid Shiur – 21:03 with Rebbetzin Rivka Slonim – Director Chabad at Bingham...

Aug 01, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 401

7/27/24 – Shiur 476 – What should we think about – and what should we teach our children about – non-Jews and the non-Jewish world?

Do all non-Jews hate us? Does exposure to the non-Jewish world help or hurt our children when they grow up? What are the hazards of teaching children negative attitudes about non-Jews? What separations did Chazal institute between us and non-Jews? Why did Chazal feel that was necessary? Do we need to be concerned with causing “Aivah” (animosity) with non-Jews, even if we are doing nothing wrong? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Moshe Walter – Rabbi of Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah and n oted aut...

Jul 26, 20242 hr 25 minEp. 400