Halacha Headlines

4/25/26 – Shiur 557 –Can a non-profit (school, shul, etc.) be run for profit? Can it be treated as a family business?

Are there halachic caps or guidelines on salaries and benefits? Does nepotism ever become a legal or halachic problem? What constitutes "reasonable compensation" for operators of religious non-profits? Can money be taken out in indirect ways, such as consulting fees? Host: Ari Wasserman with Rabbi Chaim Kohn – founder of the Business Halacha Institute (“BHI”) and Av Beis Din – 10:20 with Mr. Raphael Grossman – C.P.A. representing individuals, families, corporations and numerous non-profits – 26:23 with Rabbi Jonathan (Yoni) Schick – president of GOAL Consulting Group – 50:50 Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:05:58 מראי מקומות  [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/tsdi3x7qw5ia556x/shiur_557_Non-Profits-II.pdf]

4/18/26 – Shiur 556 – What's new with Chodosh - Facts on the ground | Why are people so lenient about a Din in the Torah?

Why do we rely on leniency these day when the Heter was due to שעת הדחק and we don't have a shortage of food? If the Heter is based on Safek, nowadays the Safek is verifiable and can't be relied upon If a store has information posted that it's not Yoshon - there's no Safek at all - what do people rely on? Why are people making on Stam Cholov which is maybe a Safek Derabbanan and not on this? If a person needed to eat because of פיקוח נפש and it was a question of הקל הקל תחלה should he eat Chodosh or drink Stam Cholov? People spend a lot of money and time checking vegtables for bugs which the obligation to check is Derabanan but blatantly eat Chodosh - why? Why are Chasidim so lenient - How does a story from the Baal Shem Tov uproot Halacha - even if it's true we go with halacha not stories - we can uproot all the Torah if it's controlled by stories not Halacha? Chassidim specifically love to quote Chasam Sofer "חדש אסור מן התורה" - when it comes to any slight deviance of Minhag or even culture - and חדש itself they don't care about? with Rabbi Menachem Genack – Leading poseik of the OU, Rov in Englewood – 17:35 with Rabbi Dovid Gorelik – Rabbinic Coordinator of the OU – 17:35 with Rabbi Yaakov Teichman – Head of OK Kosher – 43:43 מראי מקומות  [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/s7wbm5mj4jjdhzxa/shiur_556_Chodosh-Yoshon.pdf]

4/11/26 – Shiur 555 – From the Shul to the Shelter: Rabbanim in Israel Reflect on Life During Wartime

How has the role of being a Rav changed due to the war? What should a shul’s policy be when a siren goes off during davening? How are people doing emotionally with the constant sirens, sleep deprivation and stress? What are the most interesting or unusual halachic questions that were asked during the war? 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 Rabbi Avishai David – Rav of Kehillas Beis Tefillah Yonah Avraham – 12:00 Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb – Rav of Beis Kenesses Kol Eliyahu – 37:32 Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz – Rav of Ahavas Shalom – 56:35 Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer – Rav of Ohr Chadash – 1:18:51 Rabbi Shalom Rosner – Rav of Kehillas Ohel Efraim – 1:37:37 Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:57:56 מראי מקומות  [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ifqjxpfxbf2ym9ig/shiur_555_Iran-War.pdf]

3/28/26 – Shiur 554 – What is a Neshamah Yeseirah, and do calories really not count on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Plus, join the Headlines 30-days exercise challenges!

Do we also receive a Neshamah Yeseirah on Yom Tov? Does it have any effect on our capacity to eat? Is there any medical or scientific basis for the claim that calories are “absorbed” by the Neshamah Yeseirah and therefore don’t count on Shabbos and Yom Tov? What are some practical ways to manage our eating on Pesach while still fully enjoying the Yom Tov? 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 Yehonasan Gefen – Dean of Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos, author of 5 seforim – 14:14 with Dr. Diana (Miriam) Isaacs – Endocrine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Cleveland Clinic – 34:45 with Coach K – licensed social worker in New Jersey and Running Coach – 55:26 with Adam Ezekiel – certified fitness trainer and performance coach – 1:15:08 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:28:15 מראי מקומות  [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/92jryigr2kyyi4cd/shiur_554_Excersize.pdf] Sign-up to jog or walk with Coach K at: https://www.runnergize.com/headlines [https://www.runnergize.com/headlines] Sign-up to exercise with Adam Ezekiel at: https://www.soulactive.health/30daychallenge [https://www.soulactive.health/30daychallenge]

3/21/26 – Shiur 553 – Gambling in the Orthodox Community — What’s causing it, and can anything stop it? To what extent is gambling linked to following professional sports?

What makes gambling so alluring, and how widespread is it? To what extent is gambling linked to following professional sports? What strategies are effective in helping someone quit gambling? Should watching professional sports be banned? If a child uses a parent’s credit card to gamble without permission, is that considered stealing? Halachically speaking, is the parent responsible for charges made by the child? 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  – 18:06 with Dr. Jacob Freedman – psychiatrist, speaker and author – 48:02 with Menachem Poznanski, LCSW – Director of The Living Room – 1:04:36 with Ike Dweck – Founder and CEO of the Safe Foundation – 1:35:55 Conclusions and takeaways – 1:59:29 מראי מקומות  [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ssy4key39hyv9ybs/shiur_553_Gambling.pdf]