Audio RoundupLatest Essays
Audio Roundup 2025:36
by Joel Rich
The rambam uses the expression “vchen” thousands of times in the yad. Any insights as to what goes before vchen and what goes after and why? (eg avel 14:1 listing bikur cholim, hachnasat kala …and then saying vchen to gladden the kala and chatan).
When rabbis discuss in a public shiur (vs in yeshiva) the need to observe yom tov sheini shel galiyot ISTM I often hear “hizharu bminhag avoteichem byadeichem” but not the follow on “zimnin dgazra hamalchut gzeira vati lkilkulei” (rashi – you’ll forget how to do the calendar calculation and mess it up). Is this a conscious omission?
- R’ Yisroel Reisman – Shoftim: Perek 16, Pasuk 18 Biography of the ran in the drashot he explains that the purpose of punishment bolam hazeh is to help us have our seichel triumph over our taavot. Unfortunately most people go right back to their old ways after a “punishment” (like covid).
- https://chat.whatsapp.com/DLp7AWFpUubAjZsNdfJgjC Q&A including: setting up little kids to turn on a light on shabbat (no), starting a stopped watch on shabbat (no), shabbat times in far north (no simple answer), aveilim attending wedding (depends on music/dancing),tehillim for rfua (everyone does it but unclear if should), counting tehillim/mishnayot for two people (me-ask HKBH’s accountant), why thank HKBH for the mitzrayim experience (we needed it) and elul kabalot (should be limited and achievable).
- Rabbi Moshe Taragin-10 Minute Rashi for Re’eh: Who is “Off the Derech”; Miracles as a Harbinger for Settling Israel; Identity Building in israel Wil Take Generations; International Opposition to Israel is a “Nisayon” of Faith Topics include: real OTD vs wrestling w/HKBH, the many miracles since 1948 demonstrate the reality of the geulah process, being makir shivto vchelko is an ongoing process, and other nations’ opposition to us is part of our test.
- Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Can Pigs Become Kosher? And other issues Does the medrash that pigs will eventually become kosher actually exist? If so, how do we understand it?
What can we learn from the fact that a bird with a positive name (chasida) is not kosher?
Is bishul basar vchalav siyag to eating it? What are the implications?
- R’ Shraga Kallus-Hilchos Tzedakah – Money Tips Tzedakah is a big mitzvah! What are the parameters of being able to test HKBH with this mitzvah? One should give bsever panim yafot. Specific issues addressed include what if you don’t remember how much you committed to give, being matir a tzedaka neder, investing maaser money, tzavah bshat mita, and more.
- Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Daf Yomi topics: Asmachta and Bishul Akum Ritva vs Rambam on the force, if any, of defining an asmachta in a posuk. Also covered, what are the rules for chazal making a takana and how and when can it be undone?
- Rabbi Wein,David Kopciel,Rabbi Mendy Weinberger,Rabbi Yitzhak Grossman,Rabbi Dovid Schoen-8/23/25 – Shiur 525 – UnKosher Competition – The Four Halachic Red Lines in Business You Can’t Cross | Rabbi Berel Wein ZT”L – never published interview | The Headlines Quit Smoking Challenge Topics include smoking (don’t), R Wein (he’ll be missed), and business halacha (ani hamihapech, maharufia, hasagat gvul and the like). Remember – halachic enforceability (or lack of such) doesn’t mean it’s the “right” thing to do.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman – Parashat Shemot:” Vayimariru Et Chayeihem”“Ach tov vchesed yirdifuni” tells us we’ll always be chased, so it’s best to be “chased” for good things. Pray ltova, that HKBH answers your prayers in a good way. A chamor represents gashmiyut, riding means we need to be in control of our gashmiyut.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman–Elul Is Coming We (klal yisrael) are not beinonim but fully committed – this is the definition of ahavat hashem.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman–The Meaning of a Ben Torah A ben torah has values and acts on them. He takes on something more bein adam latzmo.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – What Can You Put on a Bimah The bima is most likely tashmishei kdusha and shouldn’t be used for holding anything else but we assume lev bet din matneh and thus it can be used to hold certain other (TBD) items.
- Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Counteracting the Denial of Death: Jewish Sources on Facing Mortality Discussion of Jewish sources which give meaning to life and help us deal with our mortality.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman—Torah UMesorah Convention 2022: Thursday Keynote Address Being a positive personality is very important especially for a mchanech relating to his talmidim.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter–Kesuvos Shiur#2 – Davar SheBaminyan Tzarich Minyan Acher Lehatiro, Akiras Davar Min HaTorah, When an Arusa can eat Terumah (2a) When did chazal make gzeirot/takanot bminyan (by vote) and when not?, when did they give a reason and when not?, and what difference does it make if, and when, a reason was given?
- Rabbi Ezra Schwartz-Learning Halacha: what is it all about? Introduction to a stern college halacha series focusing on amira lnachri and pikuach nefesh. The series goal is to transmit shitot, terminology and analysis.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Sichas Mussar – Writing the Torah on Our Hearts Mussar to first year bet medrash talmidim – write down on paper new things you hear but also write on your heart so that every moment is infused with torah no matter what you are doing.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman – Shoftim Perek 16 Pasuk 18 – Using Shem Shamayim in Ordinary Speech To the degree we recognize kedusha we are mkadeish it and give it efficacy (birchat cohanim, bracha of a tzaddik, tfila, marriage …) we need to appreciate kedusha as well as what we have in life.
- Rabbi Amos Luban-Hitbonenut 1 First in a series for shana bet boys. We need to connect with HKBH by reflection, we are way too diffuse!
- Rabbi Chaim Brovender-Mitzvot To Increase Merits How many mitzvot must one do to be worthy of the brachot of parshat reah? What did r chanania ben akasha mean concerning why HKBH gives us lots of mitzvot?
- Rabbi Daniel Cohen-Path of the Just- Understanding Your Why Part I Introduction to a msilat yesharim series. What was the ramchal’s goal in writing it? We need to reveal HKBH’s light to ourselves and others and to do so as frequently as possible. This is the road to self-improvements.
- Rabbi Elchanan Adler-The Ramban ‘s Introduction to Sefer Devarim and its Relevance for Tisha B’Av Dvarim and vetchanan are about tochecha but long term the midat harachamim will prevail. There’s always hope!
- Mrs. Michal Horowitz-Elul, Tishrei and the Mitzvah of Tzedaka: The Third Key That Unlocks the Sefer Ha’Chaim Tzedeka is a big mitzvah; it unlocks rachamim.
- R’ Shraga Kallus-The Cry of the Generation, “But Its Not My Fault” It is your fault! Today we need to validate, empower others (especially our kids) and give a reality check but focus on taking achrayut every day.
What is the status of kapara for an aveira bones? Perhaps it depends on whether only you were unaware of the prohibited status or whether no one could be aware of it? or maybe we differentiate based on the type of issur resolved by achila vs others)?
- Rabbi Daniel Hartstein-Keeping Kosher On The Go Various and sundry travel kashrut issues.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman – Parashat Va’eira Various approaches to understanding how HKBH could take away Pharo’s free will may all be a version of it wasn’t a punishment but an intrinsic result of Pharo’s free will (eg his own choices meant he formed himself into someone who couldn’t change).
- Rabbi Hershel Reichman-מצות ישוב ארץ ישראל Rambam and ramban both agree that there are both an individual and a tzibbur “mitzvah” of yishuv eretz yisrael. Derech eretz kadma ltora means there are some basics that precede mitzvot – like talmud tora and yishuv eretz yisrael.
- R’ Yisroel Reisman-Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed Navi Shiur: Shoftim Perek 16 Pasuk 23 The letter nun represents gadlut of selflessness and humility (it’s not about me).
- R’ Yisroel Reisman-Shoftim Perek 16 Pasuk 21 We must have hope even in despair and always focus on what does HKBH want from us?
- R’ Zev Smith-Food in Hilchos Shabbos (Tzoveia, Makeh B’Patish, and Mimareiach) – M”B Chelek Gimmel – Siman 321 Which shabbat mlachot apply to food and which don’t? Discussion includes a tzviah, ibud, mmareach and more.
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