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 bein hashmashos?
• If someone counts early with a minyan, how can they avoid fulfilling the mitzvah before the proper time, so they can count again later at night with a bracha?
• What exactly must one have in mind when hearing another person count out loud to avoid one’s own obligation being fulfilled through hearing (shome’a k’oneh) and be able to recite one’s own bracha?

Cutting Down Trees:

• Is cutting down a dead tree permitted without a special halachic ruling?
• Is there a concern of danger even in cases where halacha permits cutting down the tree?

Reheating Food on Shabbos:

• May an Ashkenazi eat food that their Sephardic host reheated on Shabbos, following the Sephardic view that even cold, moist food may be reheated (provided it was previously fully cooked)?
• What is the logic behind the accepted Ashkenazic custom that moist food may be reheated as long as it hasn’t yet cooled down completely?

Three Steps Back After Shemoneh Esrei:

• What should someone do if they finished Shemoneh Esrei but cannot take three steps back because someone is still davening Shemoneh Esrei behind them?
• Could they daven or answer to devarim shebikdusha while waiting?

Listening to Havdalah in Middle of Shemoneh Esrei:

• Could someone who is behind in davening stop to listen to Havdalah in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei?
• Practically, is it better not to rely on this? And how does this compare to listening to Krias Hatorah in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei?

Reading Private Letters of a Deceased Relative:

• May family members read the private letters of a deceased relative?
• Does the halacha change if the letters might affect the person’s reputation? And what is the practical guidance regarding publicizing such letters?

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 read the entire shema, must they go back to the beginning of shema?
• Is the delay treated as an ones caused by an unsuitable place (makom she’eino ra’uy), which requires returning to the beginning, or as an external ones (like robbers), which does not?

Stopping Shemoneh Esrei for Danger:

• Based on the Gemara’s story of the chossid who did not interrupt his Shemoneh Esrei when addressed by a minister, why can’t a person just continue davening and not go to a shelter when a siren sounds?
• Is an incoming missile comparable to the case of a snake wrapped around a person’s heel (where one does not interrupt Shemoneh Esrei), or is it fundamentally different?
• If a person receives a warning that a siren may come soon, may they begin Shemoneh Esrei with the plan to stop and go to a shelter if the siren actually sounds?

Oat Matzah for Pesach:

• May a person who is gluten intolerant use oat matzah for Pesach, and what concerns exist regarding oat matzahs that are treated with heat?
• Is oat matzah acceptable for fulfilling the mitzvah of eating matzah at the sedarim, given the preference for wheat?
• If a person can only eat one kezayis of matzah at the Seder, what is the proper order of the meal, and when should he eat the matzah and wash (and do they recite the bracha for netilas yadayim)?

Kashering With an Induction Stove:

• May one use water heated on an induction stove to kasher utensils, or must the water specifically be heated by fire?
• If an item became treif or chametz’dig through an induction stove, may it be kashered using water heated on an induction stove?

Saying “Baruch” and Continuing to Eat:

• If a guest at someone’s meal began bentching and said just the first word, “Baruch,” but the host wants to serve more food, may he continue eating, or has his meal ended?
• Does saying the word “Baruch” constitute a hesech hadaas from eating even when relying on the host’s table?

A chag kasher v’samei’ach to all our listeners!

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:

• If water touched by unwashed (or impure) hands drips back into the k’vort, must the k’vort be completely emptied and even dried before refilling it for washing, as inferred from the Alter Rebbe?

Mechiras Chometz and Areiv Kablan:

• Is there a hiddur not to buy chometz after Pesach from stores whose mechiras chometz was arranged without an areiv kablan (guarantor), given the Alter Rebbe’s strong emphasis on this method?

Nusach: “Zu” vs. “Zoi” in Haggadah and Under Chupah:

• In the Haggadah text, is it more correct to say “matza zoi” with a cholam or “matza zu” with a shuruk? What is the preferred vocalization according to instances in Tanach, Chazal manuscripts, and the tradition of the Alter Rebbe’s Siddur and Haggadah?
• Under the chuppah, when saying “harei at mekudeshes li b’tabba’as zoi / zu,” which form is most accurate, and are they both valid after the fact?​

Bracha Acharona While Continuing to Eat or Drink Something Else:

• May one recite a bracha acharona on one item (e.g., fish) while planning to continue eating or drinking other items (e.g., tea) that share the same after‑bracha, relying on specific kavana to limit the bracha only to the first item?

Ratio of Drinking vs. Eating on Purim:

• Is the directive to “drink more than eat” on Purim considered an authentic teaching of the Arizal, and if so, how is it practically interpreted today?