In Ask Away #29 of the Everyday Judaism podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe answers a wide range of live and emailed questions on practical halacha, Jewish identity, and intentional living:
- Seven-grain bread — Still hamotzi (bread) because it is made from the five grains + water with bread-like consistency, texture, and taste—even with added grains/flavors.
- Pretzel bagels/pretzel buns — Treated as bread (hamotzi) due to consistency; the pretzel topping/flavor doesn’t change the halachic status.
- Matzah — Hamotzi (considered bread, just unleavened); crackers generally fall into mezonot (pas haba b’kisnin/snack category).
- Matriarchs & grandchildren — No specific tradition explains why Sarah, Rivka, and Rachel never saw grandchildren (Isaac married after Sarah’s death; Rivka died before grandchildren returned; Rachel died en route to Bethlehem). Leah likely saw at least Asenat (Dina’s daughter). Rabbi emphasizes the privilege of seeing grandchildren/great-grandchildren today and grandparents’ responsibility to influence positively without overstepping (e.g., no interference in naming).
- Naming customs — Parents alone decide children’s names (no parental/grandparental veto); alleged Midrash says parents receive prophetic guidance at birth/bris. Adding a second name (e.g., after a deceased relative) is common when appropriate.
- God/Hashem in English — Many poskim consider “God” (G-O-D) equivalent to writing/saying Hashem’s name in English—avoid casual use (“oh my God”); say “Hashem,” “Almighty,” or “Creator” instead. In blessings (e.g., Amidah in English), use “Hashem” with same kavana (focus/intent) as Ado-nai.
- Public Hamotzi & children — Educational (teaches brachot), but ideally includes hand-washing and actual bread-eating; without these, it’s not proper netilat yadayim/hamotzi.
- Gluten-free bread — If made from five grains + water and bread-like, hamotzi; pure potato starch “bread” is not hamotzi (mezonot or shehakol depending on form).
The rabbi stresses halachic precision (e.g., bread vs. snack distinctions), gratitude for seeing grandchildren, and avoiding casual use of God’s name in English.
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. #86) 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 January 11, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on February 4, 2026
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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!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodes
- 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:
#AskAway, #Torah, #Halacha, #Q&A, #Jewish, #Halacha, #Hamotzi, #Bread, #Blessings, #Matzah, #Pretzel, #Bagel, #NamingChildren, #God
