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.
- Overview – What is a Contemporary Jewish Issue?
- Eclipses
- Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 3 – Pants and Trousers for Women
- Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 2 – Beged Ish
- Objectivity and Subjectivity in Halacha Part 1 – Foundations
- Entering Churches and Mosques – 2023 – Part 2
- Entering Churches and Mosques – 2023 – Part 1
- Hashgacha Pratit – Divine Providence: Part 1
- Astrology and the Occult – Part 2 (2023)
- Astrology and the Occult – Part 1 (2023)
- Multiple Truths in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 2 (2023)
- Multiple Truths in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 1 (2023)
- Torah and The Age of The Universe Part 2 (2022)
- Torah, The Age of The Universe and Non-Literal Readings of Bereishit (2022)
- Ha’aramah – Loopholes in Halacha – Part 2
- Ha’aramah – Loopholes in Halacha – Part 1
- Prozbul
- Shemitat Kesafim
- Judaism and Music – Part 4: Davening and Zemirot to Non-Jewish Tunes
- Judaism and Music – Part 3: Jewish Music
- Judaism and Music – Part 2: Non-Jewish Music
- Judaism and Music – Part 1: Music and Churban
- Zecher Lemikdash and Zecher Lechurban
- Selling a Synagogue
- Calendar Conundrums – Part 4: The Parasha Split
- Calendar Conundrums – Part 3: Tal U’Matar on Dec 4
- Calendar Conundrums – Part 2: Using the Secular Calendar
- Calendar Conundrums – Part 1: Foundations
- Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 1
- Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 2
- Art, Aesthetics and Idolatry (2022) – Part 3
- Mixed Seating at Weddings (2022)
- Dancing and Clapping on Shabbat and Yom Tov
- Showering on Yom Tov
- Conversion – Part 3 – Mila, Tevila, Korban & Mitzvot
- Conversion – Part 2 – Jews & Non-Jews
- Conversion – Part 1 – Hashkafic Foundations
- Saving Klal Yisrael and the Honey Trap
- Halacha and Kabbala – Part 2
- Halacha and Kabbala – Part 1
- Chadash & Chutz LeAretz
- Emuna and Belief – Part 2
- Emuna and Belief – Part 1
- The Wording of Bircot HaMitzva
- Chocolate Raisins & Berachot
- The Beracha on the COVID Vaccine
- Burial, Dissection and Autopsy – Part 2
- Burial, Dissection and Autopsy – Part 1
- Pilegesh – Part 2
- Pilegesh – Part 1
- Brit Avot and Brit Sinai – Living as An Avot Jew
- Did The Avot Keep the Torah?
- Non-Jews and Mitzvot – Part 2 – Lifnei Iver
- Non-Jews and Mitzvot – Part 1 – Noahides
- Torah and Evolution – Part 2
- Torah and Evolution – Part 1
- Torah From Heaven
- The Last 8 Verses in the Torah
- Conjoined Twins
- Multifetal Reducations
- Halachic Wills – Part 2
- Halachic Wills – Part 1
- Oral Torah – Is the Halacha From Sinai Why Should I Keep It?
- Written Torah – How Was the Chumash Written and Why Is That Important Today?
- Porch and Street Minyanim Part 2 and Zoom Kaddish
- Porch and Street Minyanim – Part 1
- Halacha and the Internet – Part 2 – Copyright and VPNs
- Halacha and the Internet – Part 1 – Downloading Music and Theft
- Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 3 – Space
- Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 2 – Polar Regions
- Halacha in Extreme Places – Part 1 – The International Date Line (2019)
- Brit Milah – Part 3 – The Controversy over Metzitza
- Brit Milah – Part 2 – Brit on Shabbat – Unusual Cases
- Brit Milah – Part 1 – Use of Anesthetics
- Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 3
- Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 2
- Torah and Chochma (2019 series) – Part 1
- Literal and Non-Literal Readings of Tanach – Part 2
- Literal and Non-Literal Readings of Tanach – Part 1
- Torah and the Age of the Universe
- Having a Secular Name
- Pesukim Engraved on Jewelry
- Yizkor
- The Implications of the Majority of Jews Living in Israel
- Dealing With Difficult Hashkafic Issues
- The Reestablishment of the Sanhedrin – Part 1
- The Reestablishment of the Sanhedrin – Part 2
- Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 1 – Modern Materials
- Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 2 – Disposables
- Tevilat Kelim and Modern Technology – Part 3 – Electrical Equipment
- Ayin Hara – Part 1
- Ayin Hara – Part 2
- Vaccination in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 1
- Vaccination in Halacha and Hashkafa – Part 2
- Torah and the Age of the Universe
- Handwashing and Ruach Ra’ah
- Destroying Amalek
- Vegetarian Cheese
- Shabbat and Medication
- Shabbat and Umbrellas
- Gel Caps and Gelatin
- Wine and Non-Observant Jews
- Leap Year Issues
- The Missing 168 Years (2019 Version) – Part 1
- The Missing 168 Years (2019 Version) – Part 2
- Trees, Grafting and Interspecies
- Egalitarian Weddings
- Learning Halacha From Midrash
- Is There A Psak In Hashkafa?
- What is Hashkafa and Where Does It Come From?
- Ktav Ivri and Ktav Ashuri
- Kever Rachel
- Archeology – Part 2
- Archeology – Part 1 Overview
- Davening At Kivrei Avot
- Davening Through Melachim
- Segulot
- The Case of the Poisoned Sandwich
- The Accidental Heretic
- Contemporary Yichud Issues
- Mechitza – Part 1
- Mechitza – Part 2
- Shaving – Part 1
- Shaving – Part 2
- The Early Shabbat
- The Late Shabbat
- The 10 Commandments
- Driverless Cars
- Climate Change & Environmentalism
- Solstice Surprises: Christmas, 9th Tevet and Nittel Nacht
- Thanksgiving & Chukat HaGoy
- Bat Mitzvah
- Women Rabbis
- Copyright Infringement
- Art, Beauty & Idolatry
- Entering Churches & Mosques – Part 1
- Entering Churches & Mosques – Part 2
- Religious Perspectives on Non-Observant Jews
- The International Date Line (revised 2016)
- Mezonot Bread
- Science & Chazal – Part 1 (Updated 2018) Science & Chazal – Part 2 (Updated 2018)
- Rainbows in Jewish Thought
- Torah and Secular Studies
a) Torah and Derech Eretz
b) Torah and Secular Studies - Tattoos & Body Piercing
- Gambling – The Jewish View
- Torah & The Age of The Universe
- Women & Talmud Torah
- What Do the Poskim Say About Poskot?
(Click here for more Women’s Issues) - What is Hashkafa?
- Democracy in Halacha and Hashkafa?
- Life After Life: Olam Haba, Mashiach and Resurrection
– see Other Topics for more on this issue - Astrology, Superstition and the Occult
- Disgraced Rabbis – 2 Shiurim:
Part 1: Part 2: - Lifnei Iver Issues – 2 Shiurim:
Part 1: Part 2: - Transgender and Gender Reassignment (2018 Updated Version)
- War & Self Defence Against Terrorists (2015)
– longer version and shorter version - Challenging Jewish Issues on Campus
- Wearing Techelet – 2 Shiurim
Part 1: Part 2: - Cohanim in Hospitals and as Doctors
- Cohanim and Airplanes – 2 Shiurim
Part 1: Part 2: - Tuma & Tahara – Washing on Dipped Foods
- Music and Sefira – 2 Shiurim
Part 1: Part 2: - Kol Isha – Contemporary Perspectives
- Shabbat and Electricity – General Principles
- Shabbat and Electricity – Microphones and Shabbat
- Shabbat and Electricity – Electronic Mitzvot, Hearing Aids and Shabbat
- Hand Shaking and Seat Switching
- 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.