Lemaan Yishmeu - Rabbi Braun

Can ChatGPT Pasken Halacha?

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 halachic status of using it for answering shailos? * What are the dangers involved in asking halachic questions to AI? Bracha on tzitzis: * When is a bracha on tallis katan appropriate, and when should the tallis gadol cover it? * Is wearing “night tzitzis” a good idea or does it become a kesus lailah (a garment designated for sleeping)? * What is the best way to arrange the rotation of tzitzis to be able to make the bracha every morning? * Is the interruption of a night’s sleep sufficient to require a new bracha in the morning? Birchas kohanim at a chuppah:  * Is a kohen obligated to go up for birchas kohanim when called independent of davening (e.g. at a chuppah)? * Why do non-kohanim use the nusach of birchas kohanim when blessing children?

Typos in the Rebbe’s Printed Letters, or Edits?

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 drawn? * May later printed editions possibly reflect the Rebbe’s subsequent edits to the original letter? And what are examples of this? Newly published notes of the Rebbe Rashab: * What is the background behind the recently published Toras Shalom – Hagahos Al Sefer Kaf HaChaim? Stepping forward after Shemoneh Esrei:  * We normally wait until the Chazzan is about to reach Kedusha before returning to our place after Shemoneh Esrei. Since there’s no repetition at Maariv, when do we step forward? * On Friday night, when do we step forward relative to the Me’ein Sheva recited after Shemoneh Esrei? * If Kedusha starts immediately, do the three steps back need to be followed by a wait, or can one return right away? Asher Yatzar in morning berachos:  * Should one say Asher Yatzar in the morning even without having used the bathroom? * Is there a basis for saying it as a fixed part of the morning routine? Rounded corner for kapota:  * How rounded does a corner have to be for a kapota or blanket to be exempt from tzitzis? * Must the entire corner of 3 by 3 etzbaos (approx. 2.5 inches) be rounded? Kaddish said by a child:  * Can a child say Kaddish alone, or must another adult say Kaddish together with him? * Does it matter what type of Kaddish it is (e.g., yasom, derabanan)? Tucked-in tzitzis and tefillin straps:  * Is there a halachic concern for tzitzis strings or tefillin straps to be tucked into a gartel? * How does this differ from the gartel or bendel worn on top of a tallis katan to keep it fully spread out? * How should the front and back tzitzis strings be positioned when tucking them in? Reciting Ketores by heart: * May Ketores be said by heart? * What is the concern when reciting it from memory, and what practical steps can be taken to mitigate this concern?

Accidentally Knocked Laptop Off of Shtender - Must He Pay?

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 Sefer Torah make it permitted? * What is the context of the Rebbe’s request for children to hear the Aseres Hadibros, and what is the proper way to fulfill it? Eruv Tavshilin:  * Can a person appoint a Rov through a phone system as his shliach to make an eruv tavshilin on his behalf in case he forgets? * Does an eruv tavshilin need to be made with the person’s own food? * Does the host’s eruv tavshilin exempt guests who are eating over but sleeping elsewhere? * When do the guests need to be eating over to be included: on erev yom tov, on yom tov, or on Shabbos? What should the guests do practically? Kesubah Design:  * Is it proper to use the pasuk “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” in a kesubah design? * Are decorative pesukim on a kesubah appropriate in general? * Is there a problem if the design makes the kesubah text hard to read? Responsibility for Breaking a Laptop:  * A person was stretching in a beis midrash and accidentally knocked a laptop off a nearby shtender: what factors do we account for to decide whether he must pay for the damage? * Is a person ever not held responsible for absolute accidents?

Organ Donation for Scientific Research

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 tznius? * How should we understand the fact that some within earlier generations, in certain circumstances, appear to have placed less emphasis on particular aspects of tznius dress than is standard today? Organ donation for scientific research:  * Is it halachically permitted to donate one’s body for the benefit of scientific and medical research? * Does the answer change for a non-Jew who wishes to do so? * Is there a difference dependent on the actual medical or scientific benefit involved? Promises and shidduchim:  * If someone says their child is busy now but will return to this shidduch suggestion later, is that considered a binding promise? * Which kinds of commitments are mutually understood as tentative, carrying no real obligation to follow through? Shabbos reheating:  * If fully cooked chicken was placed wet on a heat source on Shabbos for a brief amount of time, is the food permitted after the fact? * Does it matter whether it actually reached the halachic level of cooking? Kiddush for a baby girl:  * Is there a source for making a celebration or seudah for the birth of a girl? * When is the best time to hold such a gathering?

Removing Mezuzos When Moving Out

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 Sefer Torah make it permitted? * What is the context of the Rebbe’s request for children to hear the Aseres Hadibros, and what is the proper way to fulfill it? Eruv Tavshilin * Can a person appoint a Rov through a phone system as his shliach to make an eruv tavshilin on his behalf in case he forgets? * Does an eruv tavshilin need to be made with the person’s own food? * Does the host’s eruv tavshilin exempt guests who are eating over but sleeping elsewhere? * When do the guests need to be eating over to be included: on erev yom tov, on yom tov, or on Shabbos? What should the guests do practically? Kesubah Design * Is it proper to use the pasuk “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” in a kesubah design? * Are decorative pesukim on a kesubah appropriate in general? * Is there a problem if the design makes the kesubah text hard to read? Responsibility for Breaking a Laptop * A person was stretching in a beis midrash and accidentally knocked a laptop off a nearby shtender: what factors do we account for to decide whether he must pay for the damage? * Is a person ever not held responsible for absolute accidents?