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