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:

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?

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