In Episode 16 of the Ask Away series on the Everyday Judaism Podcast, recorded during the month of Elul (preceding Rosh Hashanah 2025), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe answers diverse listener questions with halachic clarity and personal anecdotes, fostering spiritual preparation for the high holidays. The episode addresses:

• Shofar Blowing: Women are obligated to hear the shofar and can blow it themselves if unable to attend synagogue, prioritizing mitzvah observance while respecting holiday sanctity (e.g., avoiding driving). 
• Kosher vs. Glatt Kosher: Kosher includes permissible foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables without insects, animals with split hooves and cud-chewing, fish with fins and scales) certified by agencies like OU. Glatt kosher refers to meat from animals with smooth, defect-free lungs, ensuring higher scrutiny. Rabbi Wolbe recounts finding a tumor during a slaughter inspection, highlighting Glatt's rigor.
• Hospital Kosher Food: Breaking a kosher food seal invalidates its status due to potential tampering or non-kosher equipment exposure. Rabbi Wolbe praises Houston’s Aishel House for providing kosher meals to hospital patients, underscoring community support.
• Jewish Women’s Role: Men are obligated (per the ketubah) to provide financially, physically, and emotionally, while women focus on nurturing and child-rearing, though they can pursue careers. Rabbi Wolbe critiques Gen X and Gen Z’s entitlement and impatience, urging patience and responsibility.
• Yetzer Hara: The evil inclination anticipates choices but can be outsmarted with “trickery” (e.g., acting promptly to avoid procrastination), a key strategy for teshuvah during Elul.

The episode concludes with a shofar blowing to awaken the soul for Rosh Hashanah, encouraging listeners to reflect on personal goals and prayers. Rabbi Wolbe’s responses blend halacha, practical advice (e.g., using Aishel House), and stories (e.g., Rabbi Nota Greenblatt’s shofar ruling in Soviet Russia), aligning with Elul’s introspective theme.

Please submit your questions at [email protected]

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The Everyday Judaism Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way.
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This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Marshall & Doreen Lerner

• Download & Print the Everyday Judaism Halacha Notes:
  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RL-PideM42B_LFn6pbrk8MMU5-zqlLG5

This episode (Ep. #60) of the Everyday Judaism Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH is dedicated to my dearest friends, Marshall & Doreen Lerner! May Hashem bless you and always lovingly accept your prayer for good health, success and true happiness!!!

Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) to a live audience on September 7, 2025, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on October 1, 2025
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Subscribe to the Everyday Judaism Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-judaism-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1600622789) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3AXCNcyKSVsaOLsLQsCN1C) to stay inspired! 
Share your questions at [email protected] or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  
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About the Host:
Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: [email protected]
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Support Our Mission:
Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!
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Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: 

• NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodes
• Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes
• Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes
• Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes
• Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes
• Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes
• Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes

For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org
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Keywords:
#Torah, #Halacha, #Jewish, #ask, #RoshHashanah, #shofar, #womensrights, #kosher, #insects, #glatt, #genderroles, #marriage, #Elul, #mindfulness