Lemaan Yishmeu - Rabbi Braun

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Challah knives

Is there a preference to use a smooth knife over a serrated one for cutting challah on Shabbos?Does a serrated knife create a halachic concern because it has “pegimos”?What are the reasons for sharpening knives before Shabbos? And does it apply to serrated knives?

AI and psak:

Is it halachically proper to rely on AI for halachic rulings? Does a posek need to be human?Theoretically, if and when an AI were perfectly accurate, would that change the halach...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Tznius for young girls:

At what age does a girl need to start dressing tzniusly?
From what age does a young girl’s ervah and tefach megulah present a problem for a man saying krias Shema?
What sources do we have from the Rebbe regarding this?

Typos and edits in the Rebbe’s letters: 

How should we deal with typos in printed letters in Likkutei Sichos and Igros Kodesh?From what sources were the letters in the hosafos to Likkutei Sichos...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Neder to Hear Kiddush Only from Husband: 

If a woman committed to hear Kiddush only from her husband, does she need hataras nedarim when that’s not possible?Does it make a difference whether the commitment was mental or verbal?Can hataras nedarim for this purpose be done on Shabbos?

Transporting a Sefer Torah: 

May a Sefer Torah be taken out to a park for Krias HaTorah (e.g., for children to hear Aseres Hadibros)?Does having ten people walk along with the Se...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Torah reading and haftorah:

Can a minyan for Torah reading (e.g., Aseres Hadibros on Shavuos) be arranged in a way that skips the maftir and haftorah?Can the maftir of Parshas Hachodesh or Parshas Zachor be read on its own as an independent obligation?What is the practical setup for children to come and hear the Aseres Hadibros as the Rebbe wants?

Tznius standards in earlier generations: 

Why do some older photographs appear to reflect a less stringent standard of tzn...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Neder to Hear Kiddush Only From Husband

If a woman committed to hear Kiddush only from her husband, does she need hataras nedarim when that’s not possible?Does it make a difference whether the commitment was mental or verbal?Can hataras nedarim for this purpose be done on Shabbos?

Transporting a Sefer Torah

May a Sefer Torah be taken out to a park for Krias HaTorah (e.g., for children to hear Aseres Hadibros)?Does having ten people walk along with the...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Making Up Missed Shema: 

Can a missed recitation of the morning Shema be made up later (similar to the tashlumin for a missed tefilah)?If one chas v’shalom missed Shema, should they make it up later, and how would that be done practically? What would the makeup accomplish if the opportunity for the mitzvas asei had already been lost?

Sefiras Haomer: 

What is the earliest time to count Sefiras Haomer? And what’s the status of counting after plag hamincha or during...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Asking Shailos via Technology:

Is it appropriate to ask shailos via text, email, or websites rather than in person or by phone, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of written communication with a rav?

Hefsek in Shema Due to a Siren: 

If a minyan heard a missile siren in the middle of shema and had to go to a shelter, where a horrible smell prevented them from continuing to daven, and they waited longer than the time it takes to rea...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Netilas Yadayim for Wet Foods: 

When eating wet foods dipped in one of the seven liquids, does eating with a fork or spoon exempt you from washing, and how do we define what is “normally” eaten with utensils vs. by hand (e.g., chicken)?​If a cooked potato is usually eaten with a spoon or fork, do you still have to wash when you dip and eat it with your hands (e.g., karpas at the seder)?​

Drops of Impure Water in the K’vort...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Tefillin – Kavana and Mivtza Tefillin: 

Is the detailed kavana printed in the siddur before putting on tefillin truly essential to fulfilling the mitzvah?​If proper kavana is required, how can we justify doing mivtza tefillin with people who are not instructed to have that kavana in mind?​

Tzaar Baalei Chaim – Fish and Other Creatures:  

When catching fish that continue to gasp for some minutes, is there a halachic obligation to kill the fish immediately to avoid tzaar baalei chaim?​Is there any difference, in...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

AI & Automation on Shabbos: 

May one program an AI coding agent before Shabbos to build or maintain systems (fix bugs, run a production line, etc.) while it continues working on Shabbos?​Does the concern of avsha milsa (“noise-making”) apply to automated processes on Shabbos, and how is “noise” defined — is it the physical sound, or public awareness that work is being done?Is there reason to enact new restrictions on automated systems (answering machines, automated factories) because they may erode the spirit and kedusha of Shabbos?​

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In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Krias Shema on Mivtzoim: 

When saying Krias Shema with people who do not understand Hebrew, is there a requirement that they understand the meaning or basic content of Shema?​During mivtza tefillin, what is the halachic value of having a person say Shema after the zman?​What types of mistakes in the reading of Shema necessitate repeating from the beginning of the passuk?​ And is there room for leniency for a person with OCD?​

A Grandfather’s Request: 

Grandchildren whose grandfather requested they never ret...

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include: 

Bris and baby naming: 

If a bris needed to be done by a frum mohel surgeon in a hospital, is it better to name the baby immediately with just the parents present, or to delay a few hours in order to name him at home with a minyan and a cup of wine?​How closely must the bracha of “asher kideish yedid” be to the actual bris?​

Brachos for parents after birth:

What are the guidelines for the brachos made by the parents foll...

In this week’s episode #2, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Changing place while eating:

Changing location in the middle of eating or drinking: when is a new bracha rishona required?​Does one’s intention during the original bracha rishona to go to another room in the middle (even without intending to eat there) prevent the need for a new beracha?​

Non‑Jews and mitzvos:

May a non‑Jew perform mitzvos (e.g., shaking lulav) to receive reward, and for which types of mitzvos is this discouraged or restricted?​Is the leniency of “not preventing h...

Episode #01: 

Is there a halachic problem when the lines of a mezuza (and by extension tefillin and sefer Torah) are not exactly parallel, gradually becoming wider or narrower, and how many such lines constitute an issue?May one rely on correcting such non-parallel lines (e.g., by stretching or shrinking letters) without creating a problem of shelo kesidran?How should one deal with the halacha of not giving food to someone who will not make a Bracha when this concerns non-frum siblings or guests, and what are acceptable solutions?Is it appropriate to use a large amount of w...