What’s your favorite Devar Torah for the Yamim Noraim?
How can we make our Kabbalos last – and what really works?
What’s the most powerful lesson you’ve learned this past year?
What do you hope to carry forward into the year ahead?
What level of proof is required before sounding the alarm?
When risks are identified, should they be broadcast widely, or kept within a limited circle?
What happens when victims are silenced, ignored, or when abuse is covered up?
How can we, as a community, ensure that abuse is never minimized or swept under the rug?
What role do journalists, news outlets, and podcasts play in exposing the truth and safeguarding the public?
When is it prohibited to interfere with someone else’s pending transaction? (“Ani Hamehapech B’chararah”)
When is it prohibited to capitalize on someone else’s groundwork? (“Ani Hamenakef”)
Beis Din in Action:
• Outbidding someone for an apartment
• Poaching a long-term client
• Taking a business idea and running with it
What are the minimum requirements of Tznius when it comes to women’s dress?
Are the reactions by girls/women when taught Hilchos Tznius any different than for Hilchos Shabbos and the like?
What specific things are more difficult for certain women to be responsive to?
How should Hilchos Tznius be taught so that it will be accepted?
Can up to a Tefach be shown? Long skirts worn? Denim clothing? Slits in skirts?
Should shul Rabbanim speak up against the lack of modest dress and prohibited interactions between the genders?
Do any contemporary Poskim permit smoking?
Is vaping halachically better than smoking?
What’s the argument that smoking is permitted?
What are the risks of second-hand smoking and vaping?
If someone already smokes, do they need to quit?
How far must a smoker distance himself from others?
Can a second business open up next to another and compete?
What if the second business will hurt or destroy the first business?
What does a Beis Din do when potential Hasagas Gevul issues come before it?
How does Hasagas Gevul apply in our modern, large cities nowadays?
Is the prohibition of Hasagas Gevul only on the new competitor, or also on those who purchase from him?
Can you visit Israel during a war due to the danger?
How do hospitals deal with patients during missile alerts?
Is there an obligation to go to a bomb shelter while you are learning Torah?
Is it permitted to travel to and from Israel via Egypt, Jordan or Cyprus when Ben Gurion Airport is closed?
Can someone in Yerushalayim travel to Bnei Brak or Tel Aviv where it’s more dangerous?
Is it prohibited to go to Minyan when the “Home Front Command” and Chief Rabbis say not to go?
Can you carry a phone on Shabbos to hear the warnings of incoming missiles?
Can you leave on the news (radio, TV, Internet) on Shabbos to hear what’s going on?
Should we say Hamapil before sleep, since we may need to immediately head to the bomb shelter?
Do you need to wash Netilas Yadayim before heading to a bomb shelter in the middle of the night?
Does the IDF need to be concerned that the bombing of nuclear reactors could cause “collateral damage” to millions of Iranian citizens?
What’s life like right now living in Israel with regular Iranian missile attacks?
Is using psychedelic drugs to get close to Hashem a Mitzvah or Aveira?
What about for therapeutic and recreational purposes?
How do psychedelics affect people and what are the side effects?
Are people in the frum world really using these drugs and, if so, how broadly?
How should we think about Rabbanim who use – and advise others to use – psychedelics?
Should a boy consult with his friends, like his roommate or chavrusa, if they think he should date a given girl?
Is there a problem discussing the attractiveness of a potential Shidduch with friends?
Have promising Shidduchim been ruined by what friends have said?
Should parents be involved in the Shidduch process? And, what if the child does not want his/her parents involved?
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Did Conservative activists violate Geneivas Daasand Lashon Hara by secretly steering the WZO election?
Is it ethical for Chareidi media to be paid to promote an anti-Eretz HaKodesh agenda?
Should frum magazines vet who’s behind their ads?
Can you trust a “Psak” when you don’t know the full story?
How should our leaders respond now that the truth is out?
What are the long-term political risks for the Chareidi community?
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Is it permitted to not disclose off-the-books income when applying for government benefits?
What if there’s a colorable argument that you fit the criteria? Is that enough?
Are there any Heterim to take funds when you don’t fit the eligibility requirements?
Is putting yourself in a position that you need to take money from the government allowed? Is it le’chatchila to take government assistance in order to stay in Kollel?
Is it a chilul Hashem if many frum people receive government assistance, when it’s not intended for those who can work?
What is Zionism? Did it accomplish its goal? Is it good or bad for Jews?
Assuming Zionism is wrong, can you vote in the WZO election?
What’s the history of the concept of “Daas Torah” and what does it mean? When did the phrase and concept come into being?
Why would one Gadol say it’s mutar to participate in the WZO election and another say it’s totally assur?
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What is the WZO and why is the current election important?
How do the Mizrachi and Eretz Hakodesh parties differ?
How should we relate to Reform and Conservative Jews? Open Orthodoxy?
What lawsuits have the Reform Movement filed against Chareidim, and what’s their motivation?
What does Hamas hope to accomplish with their psychological warfare?
Should we be swapping live Hamas terrorists for the bodies of captives?
Does international law or world opinion halachically govern how the IDF acts?
Do the Laws of War (e.g., avoid non-combatants) mean that you can never use a weapon of mass destruction?
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Is it stealing from your Kollel or employer if you regularly come late?
How hard do you need to work on the job?
Can you take personal phone calls, check the news, order your groceries, etc. while on the clock?
Does this impact Shalom Bayis, divorce rates, shmiras ha’mitzvos and hasmada in Torah learning?
How do we motivate those who don’t have motivation?
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What are the most common issues/controversies that come up between roommates?
Are there any halachic requirements to keep your place clean?
Do you violate Gezel Sheina when your alarm wakes up your roommate?
Can you borrow your roommates’ pots, books, pillow, toothpaste, etc. without permission?
What happens with the kitchen when roommates have different standards of Kashrus?
What would cause someone to regularly disturb in shul without regard to upsetting others?
How should those who disturb be dealt with?
Is it impatience or mental illness when someone always pushes the Chazan to go faster?
Is it okay to pace for all of davening? To evict guests from seats? To collect the Seforim during davening?
Should little children be brought to shul, knowing they may disturb?
Are women’s learning programs motivated by feminism and the desire for “equality”?
Are women required to learn any Torah? Can they learn Zohar and Gemara?
Is it preferable that women teach women? Can men attend the shiurim as well?
Does a connection need to be achieved through learning Torah, or do Chesed and Tehillim groups work better?
How has parenting changed over time? What lessons do we learn from Tanach?
Should a parent discipline a child when the child will ignore the parent?
How does a parent stay calm when the kids are misbehaving and not listening?
What if the husband and wife are not on the same page when it comes to parenting?
Should kids be brought to shul if they won’t behave? Can you discipline someone else’s child in shul?
What did Gedolei Yisrael say about this and how did they behave?
Should Menorah be lit in public? Should a yarmulka be worn at work?
Should we wear black hats, shtreimels and other identifying marks?
Wear talis and tefillin while walking to shul? Build a Succah in a public area?
Should we remove Jewish and Israel references from our resumes when trying to get a job?
What are the biggest religious struggles in the workplace and what is most damaging to a Ben Torah?
How can a child withstand peer pressure
Why do some kids give in easily to peer pressure and others don’t
How should parents educate their children to withstand peer pressure
What are the most common peer pressures in our yeshivos and girls’ schools
Why do kids and teens involved in bad behaviors want to get their peers to join them
Are we obligated to avoid negative influences and make Gedarim for ourselves
What are the arguments that there’s an obligation to serve in the IDF?
What are the arguments that there’s no obligation for someone learning Torah to join the army?
What if the person is not learning, but is working or doing something else?
What are the main challenges of a Chareidi boy/man joining the IDF?
Can those issues be fully addressed? What initiatives are currently under way to address the concerns?
What should be the goal of dating?
What are the minimum interactions required by Halacha before engagement and marriage?
What’s the downside of going too quickly? Of going too slowly?
How clear do you need to be about what you are looking for in advance of dating?
What are some great ways to get to know the other person?
What are the pros and cons of a man teaching girls/women?
If a Rav teaches girls/women, should there be a Mechitza? What if the Rav is not married?
Can/should a Rav call female students by first name or a nickname?
What Gedarim should a Rav institute for himself when teaching girls/women?
How does the relationship a Rebbe has with his male students compare to that of his female students?
Are there topics that women should not be teaching, like Halachah?
Are your responsibilities as a shul Rav any different during this time of year?
What questions are people asking you?
Is the war in Israel having an impact on you or your community?
What unusual incidents have happened in your shul during The Yomim Tovim?
What’s your favorite Devar Torah for Succos?
How does Ayin Hara work, and what causes it?
Is there a way to proactively protect yourself from an Ayin Hara?
Is there a basis for the hand that people hang up for good luck, the red string or the blue eye?
Does it help to say “bli ayin hara” and Poo Poo Poo?
Are the services that are for hire to remove Ayin Hara legitimate, and how much do they cost?
Are the Halachos of Shmiras Einayim more lenient for women than for men, and if so, why?
What’s the big deal about having thoughts, if they are only thoughts?
Is it permitted for a woman to gaze at men?
How – and from what age – should we educate our girls to stay away from inappropriate materials?
Practically speaking, are the schools seeing this Shmiras Einayim problems in the girls?
What causes someone to be unhappy with their looks?
Are our bodies halachically our own, such that we can do what we want with it?
Can we take medications when we don’t understand how they work and when there are serious side effects?
Should weight-loss injections be used only after trying to diet and control eating?
Can we suppress our appetite if it will take away from Oneg Shabbos and Simchas Yom Tov?
If someone uses Ozempic to lose weight while dating, does it need to be disclosed?
Why are people getting psychologically sicker and sicker despite there being more therapists and more mental health awareness?
How does having experienced “trauma” when younger impact one’s Bechirah Chofshis and being responsible for your own actions?
Do therapists focus too much on “trauma”?
Should podcasts, shiurim, etc. have “trigger warnings” to warn those with sensitivities that they should not watch/listen?
Do we need to use someone’s chosen pronouns, even calling a man by “she/her” and a woman by “he/his”?
What criteria should we use for finding a good therapist?
What causes someone to become an extremist?
Is extremism stronger now than 20-30 years ago?
Are there similarities between Chareidi extremism, the Hilltop Youths and Leftists against Chareidim?
If you don’t agree with a law, can you violate it?
Are there times when extremism is warranted?
Is being OTD another form of extremism? And are there ways to improve the system?
Do all non-Jews hate us?
Does exposure to the non-Jewish world help or hurt our children when they grow up?
What are the hazards of teaching children negative attitudes about non-Jews?
What separations did Chazal institute between us and non-Jews? Why did Chazal feel that was necessary?
Do we need to be concerned with causing “Aivah” (animosity) with non-Jews, even if we are doing nothing wrong?
What’s the rationale to halachically permit targeted killings of Israel’s enemies?
Is there any difference between a targeted killing during an active war and when there’s no active war being fought?
What if there’s only a 10%, 20% or 30% chance that the target is where you think he is?
Do you need to be concerned about collateral damage during a targeted killing? And, what if it could be significant?
Is there a problem celebrating when our enemies are killed?
Is there an obligation to support a son (or son-in-law) in learning?
If the father (or father-in-law) commits to support, can he get out of it, for example when business is bad?
Does living comfortably facilitate or get in the way of quality learning?
Is it best to fund the strongest learner, the neediest person, or a relative?
When does conversation between parents go from “discussing difficult issues” to being offensive and prohibited speech?
Should parents avoid all conflict in front of their children?
If there is ongoing tension between parents, should they attempt to hide it from the children?
What’s the impact of bad Shalom Bayis on children?
How should children handle when parents regularly fight?
What are valid reasons to cancel on your chavrusa or to miss your daily shiur?
How can you concentrate on your learning when you are stressed about life and so distracted?
How do you keep on learning over the long-term?
What gets people off-track from learning when they leave Yeshiva?
How can an IDF solider learn when fighting in Gaza or on the Lebanon border?
What keeps us spending when we can’t afford it?
What’s the impact on children when parents have an expensive standard of living?
Is there an obligation to refrain from looking at materialism which may tempt us?
Can we spend on luxuries when people need tzedakah?
What are the minimums required to celebrate a bar/bas mitzvah and a wedding?
Can having a low-budget bar/bas mitzvah or wedding hurt our children longer-term?
Is Achdus a Halachic imperative, a Hashkafic concept or something else?
What’s the definition of “Achdus”? Is it different from “Kiruv”?
Can we outwardly express our disagreements?
Should we look to have Achdus with groups and movements of Jews who have values that are antithetical to Torah?
What’s your favorite Pesach Devar Torah?
Is there something unique you do at your seder?
What do you do to prepare for Pesach?
Is there something memorable that has happened to you at a seder?
What are the biggest challenges, struggles and difficulties confronting our boys today?
How do those challenges differ from those of the girls?
What impact are technology and alcohol consumption having on the boys?
Should Gemara be the focus of yeshiva learning?
What’s holding the boys back from performing at their best?
Should each of us be setting up Shidduchim?
What are the biggest challenges and difficulties?
Is the “shadchanus” fee only paid to a professional Shadchan, or even to beginners?
What does the Shadchan need to do to earn the fee?
Can you set up two non-observant Jews? One frum and one not frum? Two non-Jews?
What advice do professional Shadchanim have for amateurs?
What are the biggest challenges, struggles and difficulties confronting our girls today?
How have things changed over the years?
Should money be given to children if they will use it for the wrong purposes?
What’s the impact that technology/smartphones/social media is having on the girls?
What solutions do we have to inspire girls today?
What are the halachic obligations spouses have to each other?
How does a relationship change over the course of a marriage?
Are there differences in how to stay connected at the beginning of marriage, in the middle and later in life?
What causes spouses to disconnect from each other?
Can you reconnect once you have already disconnected?
What’s the impact of social media on marriages?
What are the most common fears that people have?
How do we get over those fears?
What is “Jewish Mindfulness” and how can it help?
What are the most common fears in dating and marriage?
Can anxiety or OCD ever make a person patur from mitzvos?
Is it permitted to take experimental/homeopathic/Chinese medication treatments?
How much should parents do for their children?
What are parents’ financial obligations to their children? Is there a maximum?
What causes a child to be spoiled?
Is it detrimental to grow up with less than your peers?
Do we need to treat all of our own children the same when buying them items?
What are the implications of having a spoiled child when they grow up?
What’s currently causing us the most trauma? The war? The captives? Antisemitism? Something else?
What’s the implication of not getting a body back from Hamas, and therefore no Kevura and no closure?
Is hearing the news and looking at war images helpful or hurtful?
How are students from out of Israel who are studying in Yeshivos and Seminaries in Israel handling the war?
How can we turn our current plight into a growth opportunity?
Will we have “Post-Traumatic Stress” or “Post-Traumatic Growth” from the war?
How to handle the stress of having a close relative fighting in Gaza and the loss of a loved one killed in battle.
Is there a halachic requirement that the IDF bury dead Hamas terrorists? Other Gazans?
What are the IDF soldiers experiencing? What about their parents, wives, and close friends?
Is it okay for soldiers to use the homes of Gazans without consent? Can soldiers use the food of Gazans left in their pantries and cook in their pots?
What are some of the unique halachic questions being asked by soldiers, their wives, and their families?
Is Hakaras Hatov a halachic requirement, or just a nice thing to do?
Do we just feel gratitude, or do we need to say “thank you” or more?
Historically, did the Gedolim show Hakaras Hatov towards the soldiers of the IDF?
Why have a few Roshei Yeshiva said they are concerned about showing gratitude?
If Torah learning protects, why does Israel need an army?
Does the Israeli army enable those in Yeshiva to learn? Do those learning in Yeshiva enable the army to have military success?
Is there such a thing as the country of “Palestine”?
What are the halachic borders of Israel?
Is it mutar to give the Gaza Strip back now that Israel has retaken possession of it?
Is there a mitzvah to be buried in Israel? To make Aliyah? To exhume a body to Israel?
What does international law say about the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights?
What’s the original Samtar Rav’s argument against the State of Israel?
Has the concept and definition of Zionism changed over time, and what does it mean today?
How are Satmar and Neturei Karta similar, and how do they differ?
Is there a prohibition of publicly going against the consensus view of Klal Yisrael?