The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's 3rd Yarchei Kallah event from July 6th to 8th, 2026! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a and more Click here for more information. Dont miss this one of a kind experience! ---------------------------------------------------- Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Q&A 0:00 What is source of the prohibition not to cause self harm and to what extent does this apply? 4:45 The Mishnah Berurah fowns upon the custom of not wearing a tallit gadol. What should a person do regarding this halacha? 8:55 Should we pronounce hebrew according to a different a minhag if believe that minhag is more authentic? 14:15 Can you rent out glass plates for venues with the intention of kashering them before each use? 15:10 Why can we make the bracha on shabbat candles today if the main pleasure of illumination come from electric lights? 19:14 Who are the Gedolim and what qualifies a Gadol? 22:45 Did Rashi's daughters wear tefillin? 33:25 What is the purpose of the resurrection of the dead if the dead are receiving their reward now in olam haba? 37:45 If limud of Torah is the main way to connect to Hashem why are women not chiyav to learn Torah? 45:05 Is there an inyan to grow peyot and a beard? 51:15 Why is a secular education frowned upon by religious communities? 55:15 Rav Elchanan says emunah in Hashem should be so obvious because a person can clearly see that Hashem is evident everywhere. Is this a universally accept hashkafa? 1:05:15 How does the Ramban define olam haba and how does that differ from the Rambam? Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Support Ohr Somayach! https://causematch.com/osi/osp/ This episode is dedicated by anonymous in honor of HaRav Yitzchok Breitowitz & Yeshivas Ohr Somayach 🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. Q&A 0:00 When the Shulchan Aruch says "a person should be machmir" are we obligated to follow this opinion? 5:40 Does music have spiritual power? 12:25 Are shedim and dibbuks what we call ghost today? 19:15 Does someone fulfill the mitzvah of Shiluach Haken if he doesnt use the eggs? 27:40 Is there any sources of the music and tunes sung by the leviim? 29:45 Why did R'Chaim Kanievsky holds that someone needs to wear a hat and jacket for davening? 37:40 What is the source for lighting fires on Lag BaOmer? 41:20 How are you allowed to dance today on Shabbat and Yom Tov? 43:50 Is there any legitimacy to the story of Shimon Kippah? 50:45 What does the statement "derech eretz come before Torah" mean? 1:01:00 Is there Zevulun and Yissachar relationship exit today and do they have to be a fifty-fifty split? 1:10:45 The Rambam says shevet levi are patur from all wars and this extends to Torah scholars, but it seems from the lashon that the Rambam holds this patur is only for Torah scholars that teach Torah and not just learns Torah? 1:13:00 Is there any issue saying certain names ? 1:15:10 Is there any truth to the saying the more influence one has the less free will that person has? 1:18:45 How are we to understand creation when time itself is also a creation? 1:21:10 Why do Haredi rabbis not recoqnize non-haredim rabbis? (5-6-26) 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921 Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921 🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa Q&A 11-19-25 0:05 Can you take the figs that are on the trees at the Yeshiva and would you have to give Terumah and Maaser? 3:00 What is the difference between a Bas Kol, Ruach Hakodesh and Nevua? 7:00 What is the halacha regarding asking someone for forgiveness for speaking lashon hara about him? 10:42 How did the Tanna R'Elisha ben Avuha become a heretic and was it possible for him to do a teshuva? 21:33 Is the average person under the haschaha pratis or haschaha klalis? 29:47 What is Daas Torah and why should we go to them for life advice? 40:32 How to differentiate between a valid opinion and a heretical one? 43:50 How to understand the passages in the Gemara that says that certain Rabbis attribute their greatness in Torah to seeing a great Rav of the previous generation? 48:30 How was Rebbi allowed to write down the Oral Torah? 55:06 Why don't Yeshivas teach Jewish philosophy such Moreh Nevuim and Kuzari? 59:55 When Mashiach comes do bechorim become Kohanim? 1:06:25 Are Goyim able to build the Beit Hamikdash? 1:08:25 If you daven a different nusach than the tzibbur and they don't have a siddur with your nusach should you daven from memory or daven the nusach of the tzibbur? 1:13:35 There are certain communities that only follow the Halacha of the a certain Rav like the Rambam or Gra exclusively. Is it proper to follow a single Rav's Halacha even if goes against the mainstream Halacha? 1:19:30 Gemara speaks highly about tefillah, but also says that a person shouldn't daven for a long period of time. How can we answer this contradiction? 1:22:10 Can a person have a girlfriend if she makes him have a stronger connection to Judaism? 1:24:33 There a some concepts in Kabbalah that seem very similar to other religions. Is it possible that other religions were influenced by Jewish Kabbalah? 1:29:48 Does Hashem answer our prayers before we daven? Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu Q&A 11-5-25 0:00 The Gemara says there is a kosher way to have any enjoyment in the world. How does that apply to the sin adultery? 1:40 Where will be the safest place to be during the war of Gog HaMagog? 8:55 If the Torah is infinite how can it be confined to a Sefer Torah/Tanach/Gemara which are finite? 15:05 Does Hashem care if we follow every intricate detail of the halacha? 29:35 If all blessing for the world comes through Shabbos, how do those who don't keep Shabbos receive that blessing? 31:27 Why are some poskim against wearing Sheitels? 38:40 Why do people need to daven? Many Jews and gentiles who don't pray are still successful, and it seems that the overall success rate is relative the same between someone who davens and someone who does not. 42:35 What does that mean that Eliyahu Navi didn't die? 46:10 What is the Jewish perspective on exercise? 49:12 Why does Hashem give us test that he knows we will not be able to pass? 51:21 Does bitachon mean only good things happen when you trust in Hashem? 55:37 In Iggeret Haramban, it says to honor wealthy person? Why? 1:00:52 How to advise a woman who becomes depressed during and after pregnancy? 1:04:13 How to look at and perceive the mayoral election in NYC? 1:08:16 Are the Avot considered the bnei Noah and can a Kohen go to Kever Machpelah? 1:13:03 Why do we hold the Akedat Yitzchak in such high regard, when it is just simply a command of Hashem? 1:14:10 Does Rabbi have any word about the passing Rabbi Ezra Neuberger ZT'L? 1:16:15 Is it good for the Jewish people to have a uniform? 1:22:00 Why do some people have long beards, but have short peyot? 1:24:00 Where does the concept of cutting a child's hair at 3 years old come from? 1:28:15 Does the concept of a "goyish" style of music exist, and if so, why and how does it work? 1:34:05 Can we learn from Avraham's battle with the five Kings that when we have close friend in trouble that doesn't involve us that we should involve ourself to help them? 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921 Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect Ohr Somayach Jerusalem program for you: 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 0:00 why are LED lights not ok on Shabbat for not being in the spirit of Shabbat? 7:30 do we have to be careful on Sun-Tues not to michshol secular Jews who don't say havdala in being mehalal Shabbat mederabban? 12:10 how do you know when a thought is coming from the yetzer hara or yetzer tov? 18:20 would Hashem want one to interrupt his tefilahs when an ani approaches him for tzedakah? 24:35 do we assume that disputable hashkafas that became accepted became so according to divine will? 29:00 when or how did lashon hakodesh come into use? 35:20 that modern phsychology avoids classifying human behavior by a yetzer hara or tov 47:15 does Hashem have desires but not needs? 47:30 why is the lashon in selichot very challenging? 52:30 The Ramban's view on the creation of matter? 54:10 is one held accountable for averahs that are beyond one's bechirah? 55:00 what's the idea behind the fact that the world survives on the merit of 36 tzadikim? 59:00 how did the avot metaken tefilot without a Sanhedrin? 1:02:50 regarding a maaseh in the Gemara about one half of a chavruta pair who decided to leave to make a parnaseh? 1:09:40 does G-d feel emotions and what does it mean for him to love? 1:13:20 why did Yehoshuah marry Rachav who used to be a prostitute? 1:16:45 did the Rav know Rav Moshe Hauer ztl? Q&A 10-22-25 PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Sponsored by Mark and Tammy Friedman and family in memory of the 1st yartzeit of their father Marshall Friedman, Mutyah Yechezkel ben Shimon. 🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921 0:00 why do we allow Cohanim to duchan given the psak of Moshe Feinstein for a convert married to a cohen 5:50 does Halacha require Israel to release many of their prison inmates who were not convicted al pi halacha 13:40 how do we decipher bad simanim such as eating vinegar on Rosh Hashana 17:40 how is it that the planet sustains itself and yet is also damaged by what we do to it 23:05 addressing family problems privately vs publicly 28:55 can we learn from avraham, Yaakov, and David that silence is the best response to harsh outcomes 34:14 do we have a definite list of mitzvot that are purely chok 36:00 does the akedah teach us that human sacrifice is wrong 41:10 why is it important to attend Jewish philosophy classes here 44:00 does a phone that has a Torah app open allow you to rest it atop comparable sefarim to the one on the phone 46:40 is there utility to writing tehilim verses in a comic book 48:45 what were the steps between scribes and the modern printing press for sefarim 52:30 why is there no Gemara on perkei avot 56:00 can puberty blockers be given to special needs kids to prolong their cuteness so they receive more care and attention 1:00:35 how to avoid prohibiting things under the assumption of being magical that may later be discovered to have a scientific basis 1:06:50 what is the issue with the book The Making of a Gadol 1:13:10 why was it more dangerous for the Jews in the midbar to get a Brit Milah than Avraham who was an old man 1:16:30 how should the current generation learn about Elul in contrast to earlier ones where fear was more real 1:20:15 does one have to stop an audio shiur whenever passing by garbage on the street 1:21:50 how has the medical process of circumcision changed since its inception 1:24:20 should one engage with mysterious science Q&A 9-3-25 Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Episode dedicated by Moshe, Naftoli & Avigdor Streicher 🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our Yeshiva placement specialist for the best Israel program for you: +972 52-312-5921 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 0:00 gedolim using aggressive language 4:00 how did the view of G-d switch to hashkacha pratis 12:30 was is the practical difference is between the Koach of tefilah and tehilim 20:00 teachings of geula 30:00 can one be yotzei kedusha without hearing the chazan 31:30 what caused the switch from Jewish poverty in shtetles to Jewish wealth 36:00 can the Rav speak on the mahloket on whether mitzvot need cavanah 47:30 can a slave master also be with non-Jewish women to make more slaves 1:04:20 why must we repeatedly be mochel those in a different gilgul every kriat shema alhamita, given that we also don't know them 1:05:50 should we believe that mashiach will come today every day despite the disappointment that may entail 1:10:15 are we mechiuv to follow traffic laws that are non-dangerous 1:12:00 what's the rationale for corbanot 1:16:00 since we need bachira to grow, then why should we want mashiach to come which would end that 1:21:00 what is the Torah view on the alleged miracles that Yashka performed 1:23:00 why does the shulhan aruch quote multiple opinions 1:26:50 how do we reconcile free will with divine providence 1:30:00 is slavery inherently bad 1:32:45 why does Jewish identity come through the mother and is Judaism both a nationality and religion 1:35:00 did Hashem create the world so we could be better off (7-17-25) Produced by: Cedar Media Studios

🎙️ Dedicate a Shiur or Podcast Series: Opportunities available at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa 💬 Got Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at: podcasts@ohr.edu 📍 About Yeshivat Ohr Somayach Located in the heart of Jerusalem, Ohr Somayach is a premier institution for young, English-speaking Jewish men. Whether you're new to Jewish learning or already proficient in Gemara and other original sources, we offer tailored programs to meet your needs. 📚 Discover the perfect program for you: 🌐 Visit: https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel 📞 Call our placement specialist: +972 52-312-5921