She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

R' Aaron Cohen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Judaism
  • Series

She’eilos U’Teshuvos Mi’maamakim: A series of short shiurim (app. 5-10 minutes each) given by Rabbi Cohen based upon the sefer “She’eilos U’Teshuvos Mi’maamakim” by Rabbi Ephraim Oshry. This moving sefer was written during the Holocaust in the Kovno Ghetto as Rabbi Oshry grappled with issues of halacha and observance amongst his fellow Jews in the ghetto. This window into the suffering and spiritual triumph of our people during this dark period is an important lesson we can especially learn from and be inspired by during the three week period leading up to Tisha B’Av.

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  1. Episode 1

    Eating non-kosher to avoid eventual self-danger in the future - is this considered Pikuach Nefesh - v1 #2 by R' Aaron Cohen

    On the 27th of Elul, 5701 (September 19, 1941), the Nazis began forced labor in which one thousand Jews from the Kovno ghetto worked daily under brutal conditions in an airfield outside of the ghetto. They were given meager rations, and the main nutrition was a bowl of meat soup. A few days later, during Aseres Yimei Teshuva of 5702, a number of men approached Rav Oshry with the question of whether they were allowed to refrain from eating the non-kosher soup. They reasoned that the lack of nutrition was not an imminent danger to them and therefore this was not categorized as being needed for Pikuach Nefesh. Were they obligated to eat the soup if the danger would only emerge at some later point?

  2. Episode 2

    Siddur Kiddushin when the bride might not be able to go to the Mikveh - analysis of Lifnei Iver - v1 #4 by R' Aaron Cohen

    On the 12th of Tishrei, 5702 (October 3, 1941), a rumor spread that the Nazis were planning to round up and murder widowed women, whose husbands had already been killed by the Germans. These women sought to marry quickly in order to avoid this threat. However, there was no Mikveh in the Kovno ghetto, and the question arose as to whether being Mesader Kiddushin for these couples would be considered Lifnei Iver, placing a stumbling block that would result in transgression. The Devar Avraham, the Rav of Kovno, asked Rav Oshry to look into this pressing question, and Rav Oshry provided a wide-ranging analysis of many facets of the prohibition of Lifnei Iver.

  3. Episode 3

    Taking one's life to avoid suffering - v1 #6 by R' Aaron Cohen

    The 6th of Cheshvan, 5702 (October 27, 1941), was but two days prior to the liquidation of the Kovno ghetto. One of the respected members of the community approached Rav Oshry with a heart-rending shaila. He was certain that he and the member of his family would be killed, and the Nazis would likely make him watch as they murdered his family. He would certainly suffer a painful death as well. Would it be permitted for him to take his own life to avoid this physical and emotional suffering?

  4. Episode 4

    Birchas Hagomel when one's life is spared but there is continued danger -v1 #7 by R' Aaron Cohen

    R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

  5. Episode 5

    The obligation to protect and bury pages of Seforim that were subject to degradation -v1 #30 by R' Aaron Cohen

    R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

  6. Episode 6

    Can a Kohein who served another religion duchen after doing Teshuva -v2 #2 by R' Aaron Cohen

    R' Aaron Cohen — She'eilos U'Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

See All Season 5 (6)

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out of 5
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About

She’eilos U’Teshuvos Mi’maamakim: A series of short shiurim (app. 5-10 minutes each) given by Rabbi Cohen based upon the sefer “She’eilos U’Teshuvos Mi’maamakim” by Rabbi Ephraim Oshry. This moving sefer was written during the Holocaust in the Kovno Ghetto as Rabbi Oshry grappled with issues of halacha and observance amongst his fellow Jews in the ghetto. This window into the suffering and spiritual triumph of our people during this dark period is an important lesson we can especially learn from and be inspired by during the three week period leading up to Tisha B’Av.

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