We’re pleased to share a new episode of “Lemaan Yishmeu,” the weekly halacha podcast with Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra, and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, brought to you by AskTheRav.com in partnership with the Lemaan Yilmedu Halacha Institute.
Each week, Rabbi Braun addresses intriguing halachic questions on a wide range of practical topics — real questions that have come to his desk, along with his clear and insightful responses.
You can listen to the podcast on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 24Six Amazon Music and Pocket Casts
The podcast is also available at https://asktherav.com/podcast, where you can see extensive marei mekomos for each answer.
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?
