Steal with a Click? The Halachic Ethics of Downloading Music, Seforim, and Media without authorization

Suggested Episode for Halacha Headlines

Title Idea: “Kollel, Accountability, and Gezel — Could Bittul Torah Be a Sakana?”

Core Question:

In Israel, thousands of kollel learners receive government stipends and military exemptions on the condition of full-time Torah study, often believing their learning protects Am Yisrael. What are the halachic, ethical, and legal responsibilities when that commitment isn’t fulfilled? Could willful bittul Torah ever cross into the territory of endangering lives — even approaching rodef status?

Points to Explore:

1. Obligations in Kollel:

• Halachic requirements for hours, attendance, and what must be learned (Mikra, Mishnah, Gemara, Halacha Lema’aseh).

• Is learning dikduk, lashon hakodesh, Nach, and practical halacha a halachic obligation?

• Should there be exams, and should they include applying Torah to modern-day halachic issues?

2. Accountability & Public Funds:

• If stipends are paid for full-time learning, is skipping seder or days without a valid excuse gezel?

• Should stipends be reduced or refunded for missed time?

• Would “time cards” like in an office be halachically justified to prevent geneivat da’at?

3. Army Exemptions:

• If someone accepts a military patur but doesn’t actually learn full-time, is this gezel m’dina or chilul Hashem?

• Does dina d’malchuta dina apply here?

4. Bittul Torah as Sakana:

• If a learner believes Torah protects the Jewish people, does willful bittul Torah make him partially responsible if tragedy strikes?

• Could this be classified as mesaye’a l’rodef or even rodef?

• How have poskim historically addressed spiritual protection versus practical military defense?

Why This Matters:

The question of kollel accountability is a flashpoint in Israeli society, affecting public trust, army policy, and the integrity of Torah learning itself. Exploring it with clear halachic sources could reshape the conversation — and address whether “learning as protection” comes with life-and-death level responsibility

Hi I’d love if you would do a week on some of these new methods coming out and very popular in the frum community… (Often even with frum practitioners). Including but not limited to: emotion code/energy healing/muscle testing. Astrology(not to read the future but to tell ppl things about themselves/or sometimes they claim based on kabalah/horoscopes. I’m sure there are other similar ones.

Because I’m Chabad I’d love if one Chabad rav was included 🙂

Gut voch

Is a Jewish organization (or anyone for that matter) allowed to schedule an event that severs traffic and causes businesses direct financial loss. (ex B4C closed Monticello many ppl were stuck in traffic and Mountain food grocery claims to have suffered drastically, other examples in the past was Yoeli landau distributing food before you tov that caused harm!, same conversation can be had about building a building next to someone that neighbors are caused indirect and sometimes direct financial harm or discomfort) is this allowed? Can one argue it’s for a cause etc

I really enjoy listening to your Shiurim and I have gained a lot from them.

I do have a question regarding the latest shiur 524.

When Reb Chaim Jachter was on there was a topic regarding a famous singer using goyishe music and changing the words, on a few songs however has it not occurred to anyone that perhaps the singer bought the song from the goy??

It happens all the time, people can buy the right to use the background music and use their own words so in accordance to halacha it is not considered stealing!!

I was quite upset that no one dan lecaf zechus that he might have done that.

I am sure that singers do not regularly steal music from anyone, even goyim.

I am a woman, so some of the halacha talk goes over my head as I don’t learn gemurah but the idea that people would take music without permission even from goyim is something that I can’t get my head around.

I feel strongly that you should do a shiur focusing on dan lecaf zechus as I feel a lot of people forget that when it comes to daily life.

Thank you

For intelectual copyright- Chazal encourage us by מדבר דבר מדברי האומר. So any thought given over by a Rav or Rebbe should be considered copyright but if we quote in his name it’s OK.

I’m pretty sure here in the US wcmvwry book is registered in the library of congress. So at a minimum I can go to the library if congress and photo copy the pages.

– any Daf mekoros should be an infringement especially if someon is getting paid to give that shiur..