Contemporary Jewish Issues

Stand-alone lectures that present a thorough analysis of some of the halachic, hashkafic and ethical issues that Jews face in the modern world.
Click here for a selection of lectures on specific Women’s Issues, here for Medical Ethics issues, here for a series of 3 shiurim relating to animals, and here for Israel-related issues.
  1. Overview – What is a Contemporary Jewish Issue?
  2. Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 3 – Pants and Trousers for Women
  3. Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 2 – Beged Ish
  4. Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 1 – Foundations
  5. Entering Churches and Mosques – 2023 – Part 2
  6. Entering Churches and Mosques – 2023 – Part 1
  7. Hashgacha Pratit – Divine Providence: Part 1
  8. Astrology and the Occult – Part 2 (2023)
  9. Astrology and the Occult – Part 1 (2023)
  10. Multiple Truths in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 2 (2023)
  11. Multiple Truths in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 1 (2023)
  12. Torah and The Age of The Universe Part 2 (2022)
  13. Torah, The Age of The Universe and Non-Literal Readings of Bereishit (2022)
  14. Ha’aramah – Loopholes in Halacha – Part 2
  15. Ha’aramah – Loopholes in Halacha – Part 1
  16. Prozbul
  17. Shemitat Kesafim
  18. Judaism and Music – Part 4: Davening and Zemirot to Non-Jewish Tunes
  19. Judaism and Music – Part 3: Jewish Music
  20. Judaism and Music – Part 2: Non-Jewish Music
  21. Judaism and Music – Part 1: Music and Churban
  22. Zecher Lemikdash and Zecher Lechurban
  23. Selling a Synagogue
  24. Calendar Conundrums – Part 4: The Parasha Split
  25. Calendar Conundrums – Part 3: Tal U’Matar on Dec 4
  26. Calendar Conundrums – Part 2: Using the Secular Calendar
  27. Calendar Conundrums – Part 1: Foundations
  28. Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 1
  29. Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 2
  30. Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 3
  31. Mixed Seating at Weddings (2022)
  32. Dancing and Clapping on Shabbat and Yom Tov
  33. Showering on Yom Tov
  34. Conversion – Part 3 – Mila, Tevila, Korban & Mitzvot
  35. Conversion – Part 2 – Jews & Non-Jews
  36. Conversion – Part 1 – Hashkafic Foundations
  37. Saving Klal Yisrael and the Honey Trap
  38. Halacha and Kabbala – Part 2
  39. Halacha and Kabbala – Part 1
  40. Chadash & Chutz LeAretz
  41. Emuna and Belief – Part 2
  42. Emuna and Belief – Part 1
  43. The Wording of Bircot HaMitzva
  44. Chocolate Raisins & Berachot
  45. The Beracha on the COVID Vaccine
  46. Burial, Dissection and Autopsy – Part 2
  47. Burial, Dissection and Autopsy – Part 1
  48. Pilegesh – Part 2
  49. Pilegesh – Part 1
  50. Brit Avot and Brit Sinai – Living as An Avot Jew
  51. Did The Avot Keep the Torah?
  52. Non-Jews and Mitzvot – Part 2 – Lifnei Iver
  53. Non-Jews and Mitzvot – Part 1 – Noahides
  54. Torah and Evolution – Part 2
  55. Torah and Evolution – Part 1
  56. Torah From Heaven
  57. The Last 8 Verses in the Torah
  58. Conjoined Twins
  59. Multifetal Reducations
  60. Halachic Wills – Part 2
  61. Halachic Wills – Part 1
  62. Oral Torah – Is the Halacha From Sinai Why Should I Keep It?
  63. Written Torah – How Was the Chumash Written and Why Is That Important Today?
  64. Porch and Street Minyanim Part 2 and Zoom Kaddish
  65. Porch and Street Minyanim – Part 1
  66. Halacha and the Internet – Part 2 – Copyright and VPNs
  67. Halacha and the Internet – Part 1 – Downloading Music and Theft
  68. Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 3 – Space
  69. Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 2 – Polar Regions
  70. Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 1 – The International Date Line (2019)
  71. Brit Milah – Part 3 – The Controversy over Metzitza
  72. Brit Milah – Part 2 – Brit on Shabbat – Unusual Cases
  73. Brit Milah – Part 1 – Use of Anesthetics
  74. Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 3
  75. Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 2
  76. Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 1
  77. Literal and Non-Literal Readings of Tanach – Part 2
  78. Literal and Non-Literal Readings of Tanach – Part 1
  79. Torah and the Age of the Universe
  80. Having a Secular Name
  81. Pesukim Engraved on Jewelry
  82. Yizkor
  83. The Implications of the Majority of Jews Living in Israel
  84. Dealing With Difficult Hashkafic Issues
  85. The Reestablishment of the Sanhedrin – Part 1
  86. The Reestablishment of the Sanhedrin – Part 2
  87. Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 1 – Modern Materials
  88. Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 2 – Disposables
  89. Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 3 – Electrical Equipment
  90. Ayin Hara – Part 1
  91. Ayin Hara – Part 2
  92. Vaccination in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 1
  93. Vaccination in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 2
  94. Torah and the Age of the Universe
  95. Handwashing and Ruach Ra’ah
  96. Destroying Amalek
  97. Vegetarian Cheese
  98. Shabbat and Medication
  99. Shabbat and Umbrellas
  100. Gel Caps and Gelatin
  101. Wine and Non-Observant Jews
  102. Leap Year Issues
  103. The Missing 168 Years (2019 Version) – Part 1
  104. The Missing 168 Years (2019 Version) – Part 2
  105. Trees, Grafting and Interspecies
  106. Egalitarian Weddings
  107. Learning Halacha From Midrash
  108. Is There A Psak In Hashkafa?
  109. What is Hashkafa and Where Does It Come From?
  110. Ktav Ivri and Ktav Ashuri
  111. Kever Rachel
  112. Archeology – Part 2
  113. Archeology – Part 1 Overview
  114. Davening At Kivrei Avot
  115. Davening Through Melachim
  116. Segulot
  117. The Case of the Poisoned Sandwich
  118. The Accidental Heretic
  119. Contemporary Yichud Issues
  120. Mechitza – Part 1
  121. Mechitza – Part 2
  122. Shaving – Part 1
  123. Shaving – Part 2
  124. The Early Shabbat
  125. The Late Shabbat
  126. The 10 Commandments
  127. Driverless Cars Driverless Cars
  128. Climate Change & Environmentalism Solstice Surprises
  129. Solstice Surprises: Christmas, 9th Tevet and Nittel Nacht Solstice Surprises
  130. Thanksgiving & Chukat HaGoy Thanksgiving and Chukat HaGoy
  131. Bat Mitzvah
  132. Women Rabbis
  133. Copyright Infringement
  134. Art, Beauty & Idolatry
  135. Entering Churches & Mosques – Part 1
  136. Entering Churches & Mosques – Part 2
  137. Religious Perspectives on Non-Observant Jews
  138. The International Date Line (revised 2016)
  139. Mezonot Bread
  140. Science & Chazal – Part 1 (Updated 2018) Science & Chazal – Part 2 (Updated 2018)
  141. Rainbows in Jewish Thought
  142. Torah and Secular Studies
    a) Torah and Derech Eretz
    b) Torah and Secular Studies
  143. Tattoos & Body Piercing
  144. Gambling – The Jewish View
  145. Torah & The Age of The Universe
  146. Women & Talmud Torah
  147. What Do the Poskim Say About Poskot?
    (Click here for more Women’s Issues)
  148. What is Hashkafa?
  149. Democracy in Halacha and Hashkafa?
  150. Life After Life: Olam Haba, Mashiach and Resurrection
    – see Other Topics for more on this issue
  151. Astrology, Superstition and the Occult
  152. Disgraced Rabbis – 2 Shiurim:
    Part 1: Part 2:
  153. Lifnei Iver Issues – 2 Shiurim:
    Part 1: Part 2:
  154. Transgender and Gender Reassignment (2018 Updated Version)
  155. War & Self Defence Against Terrorists (2015)
    – longer version and shorter version
  156. Challenging Jewish Issues on Campus
  157. Wearing Techelet – 2 Shiurim
    Part 1: Part 2:
  158. Cohanim in Hospitals and as Doctors
  159. Cohanim and Airplanes – 2 Shiurim
    Part 1: Part 2:
  160. Tuma & Tahara – Washing on Dipped Foods
  161. Music and Sefira – 2 Shiurim
    Part 1: Part 2:
  162. Kol Isha – Contemporary Perspectives
  163. Shabbat and Electricity – General Principles
  164. Shabbat and Electricity – Microphones and Shabbat
  165. Shabbat and Electricity – Electronic Mitzvot, Hearing Aids and Shabbat
  166. Hand Shaking and Seat Switching
  167. Mixed Seating At Weddings
Want more? Click here for Rabbi Manning’s shiurim on various other contemporary topics, including Mashiach, Shmitta, Yerushalayim, Tefilla, Ahavat Hashem, Mesorah, Chumash, Torah and Science, and Torah and Art.