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 explores fascinating halachic questions across a wide range of practical topics — real inquiries that have reached 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/#ep14, where you can see extensive marei mekomos for the answers.

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?

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