Halacha Headlines

Halacha Headlines

Halachic Debates of Current Events

  1. 6D AGO

    1/17/26 – Shiur 544 – Breaking the Phone Habit – From Compulsion to Conscious Use

    Can a cellphone be used in shul for non-tefillah purposes? Does mindless scrolling on a phone constitute an issur of bitul zman? Is it preferable to daven from a physical siddur rather than from a phone? How do our phones affect our relationships with our spouse, children, and friends? What practical strategies can help us reduce usage and establish healthy boundaries? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz – Rav of Bais Haknesses of North Woodmere, Head of Semicha at RIETs  – 9:39 with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg – Rav of Boca Raton Synagogue, Founder of the Yeshivah of South Florida – 9:39 with Mr. Noach Levin – digital media expert and former contractor for Google – 54:46 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:18:35 מראי מקומות

    1h 24m

  2. JAN 9

    1/10/26 – Shiur 543 – How can you know an abuser (or other criminal) is no longer a threat? Is there a mitzvah of “Pidyon Shvuyim” to get a Jew out of jail when he was convicted of a crime?

    Is it possible to determine that an abuser is no longer a risk? What’s the success rate of treating serious abusers? Why do community leaders sometimes advocate for the early release of an abuser? How does halacha view cases where a Jewish prisoner receives a disproportionate sentence? Should the community celebrate someone’s release from prison? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Dr. Gavriel Fagin – Director of Tikunim Counseling Services – 14:49 with Rabbi Yonah Reiss – Av Beis Din of the CRC – 50:20 with Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg – Rav of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center, Cedarhurst NY – 1:17:47 with Mrs. Nicole Meyer – advocate against abuse – 1:50:14 Conclusions and takeaways – 2:09:07 מראי מקומות

    2h 16m

  3. JAN 2

    1/3/26 – Shiur 542 – Are you taking medication? Are you seeing a therapist? These are Seminary Application questions

    Why are they asking? Is it legal? May you lie? How’s it affecting High School girls? with Rabbi Zecharya Greenwald – Dean of Me’ohr Bais Yaakov Seminary – 13:17 with Mindy Blumenfeld – Renowned Therapist, lecturer and author – 35:36 with Dayan Yitzchok Grossman – Renowned Dayan of Bais Havaad and Poseik, Rosh Kollel in Silver Springs – 54:17 with Yair Bruck – Renowned Attorney – 1:15:16 מראי מקומות

    1h 35m

  4. 12/26/2025

    12/27/25 – Shiur 541 – Are sheitels only b’deieved?

    Why do married women cover their hair? Is a tichel preferable to a sheitel? Why do some women shave their heads after marriage? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Michoel Frank – Mora D'Asra of Kehilas Ohr HaTorah, Silver Spring, MD – 10:36 with Rabbi Dovid Genish – Rav of Kehillat Meam Loez, Ramat Beit Shemesh – 10:36 with Rabbi Tzvi Ortner – Rav of Linas Hatzedek in Boro Park, Director of Halacha and Technology for the OU – 59:43 Summary of the Above Poskim – 1:25:36 with Rebbetzin Shalvie Friedman – senior educator and seminary teacher – 1:29:57 מראי מקומות

    1h 46m

  5. 12/19/2025

    12/19/25 – Shiur 540 – “Leil Shishi” & Friday “To’ameha” – Do they enhance Shabbos or detract from it?

    What draws men to these gatherings? How do they impact the home — especially when alcohol is involved? What is the halachic basis for tasting food before Shabbos? What are the halachic concerns with entering Shabbos intoxicated or eating too close to Shabbos? What should an ideal Erev Shabbos look like? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg – Rav of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center, Cedarhurst NY  – 13:11 with Rabbi Isaac Rice – Mora De’asra of Congregation Anshei Chesed, Hewlitt NY  – 34:36 with Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser – Rav of Khal Bais Yitzchok, Flatbush NY  – 1:05:41 with Mrs. Elisheva Liss – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, lecturer, and author  – 1:22:52 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:42:55 מראי מקומות

    1h 49m

  6. 12/12/2025

    12/13/25 – Shiur 539 – Narco Terrorist being blown out of the water – How does the Torah view it ? | The fascinating saga of the Bochurim in Japan | Dealing with suicide in our community

    Does a person smuggling in drugs have a Din of a Rodef? Should you report someone who's trying to sell drugs in the community? Should you report someone giving out alcohol irresponsibly? What to be aware of when someone asks you to take a package? What causes suicide in our community? How common is it? with Dayan Chaim Yosef Dovid (Chidu) Weiss  – Satmar Dayan of Antwerp – 29:56 with Rabbi Moshe Taub – Rov of Young Israel of Holliswood, Rabbinic Editor of Ami – 52:28 with Tzvi Gluck – Founder of Amudim – 1:06:17 מראי מקומות

    1h 31m

  7. 12/05/2025

    12/5/25 – Shiur 538 – Ponevezh Yeshiva: Understanding the Machlokes and is it finally over?

    How common are controversies over leadership in the Litvish yeshiva system? Is the Ponevezh controversy unique? What were the main points of the machlokes and how did they develop? Who halachically owns assets donated to a yeshiva — the Rosh Yeshiva, the fundraiser, or the institution itself? When, if ever, may a yeshiva bring a dispute to secular arbitration or secular court rather than to Beis Din? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job with Professor Benjamin Brown – Professor at Hebrew University, expert on contemporary Haredi society – 6:49 with Dayan Shlomo Cohen – Dayan and author of the two-volume work Pure Money – 29:08 with Rabbi Pini Dunner – Rov in Beverly Hills CA, historian and lecturer – 45:54 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:10:30 מראי מקומות

    1h 16m

  8. 11/28/2025

    11/29/25 – Shiur 537 – Sacred Roles, Serious Risks: When Rabbis, Male Therapists, and Kiruv Professionals Work With Women

    What are the primary risks and the necessary gedarim? May a Rabbi teach Torah to women or girls? What about one-on-one? How should one handle a situation where women attending a class are not dressed modestly? What can be done about predators who exploit those they are being mekareiv? Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job With Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, LCSW – Rabbi of Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ – 9:19 With Rabbi Daniel Travis – Rosh Kollel Torah Chaim, Yerushalayim; Mechaber Takanas HaShavim – 43:59 With Rabbi Benzion Klatzko – National Director of College Outreach for Olami – 1:07:37 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:37:22 מראי מקומות

    1h 37m
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Halachic Debates of Current Events

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  • Creator
    Halacha Headlines
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
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