Avram is 99 years old when Hashem appears to him with a new name for Himself, El Shaddai, and an interesting command: walk before Me and be perfect. Rabbi Epstein and Tom spend this episode unpacking what that actually asks of a person, and why Rashi reads "walk before Me" as something more demanding than walking with G-d, and what separates Avram's path from Noach's. The verse goes on to talk about circumcision, and Rabbi Epstein relates the Talmud's exchange between Rabbi Akiva and a Roman about whether a perfect Creator would make an imperfect creation. Finally, we learn about the three spiritual safeguards of the land of Israel hidden inside the second blessing of Birkas Hamazon, and why the Crusaders lost Jerusalem to a people who shared at least one thing with Avraham's descendants.

In this Episode (#16) of the Unboxing Judaism Podcast, Rabbi Yaakov Nagel & Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe discuss the controversy surrounding the Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel's Independence Day) and some refreshing perspectives on this national holiday.   ***** Unboxing Judaism Podcast is a discussion on fundamental Jewish and modern cultural topics through the lens of our Torah and heritage with Rabbi Yaakov Nagel and Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe from TORCH, in Houston, Texas To have your questions featured in a future podcast, please submit your questions to [email protected] Rabbi Yaakov Nagel is the founding member of TORCH and has been active since 1998. Additionally, Rabbi Nagel serves as the Rabbi at The Heimish Shul in Houston, Texas and has been delivering the Daf Yomi (Daily Folio of Talmud) since 2003. Rabbi Nagel is the Head of the Court for Jewish Divorce and actively serves as a member of the Houston Beis Din. To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Yaakov Nagel: https://linktr.ee/RabbiNagelDaf Yomi Podcast - https://linktr.ee/DafYomiPodcastUnboxing Judaism Podcast - https://linktr.ee/unboxingjudaism Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe serves as the Executive Director of TORCH since 2005. To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you! For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio B  on April 27,  2023, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on April 30,  2023 ★ Support this podcast ★

The Jewish response to elections – whether the shocking victory of an openly anti-Semitic mayor in New York City or any political upheaval throughout history – must be twofold: before the vote, we exercise full hishtadlut (effort) by voting, cultivating goodwill with leaders, and supporting candidates who protect Jewish safety (as our Sages sent gifts to Caesar and Rabbi Akiva petitioned Rome); after the vote, we immediately pivot to total bitachon, recognizing that the final outcome is 100 % Hashem’s decree, often sent as a wake-up call that we have grown too comfortable in galut. History repeats itself: German Jews declared Berlin their Jerusalem, Polish Jews called Poland “Polin – here we shall dwell,” and today many American Jews act as if the United States is the final stop; every time we forget we are in exile, Hashem sends a jolt – sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right – to remind us that no political party, president, or democracy is our ultimate protector. The comforting truth is that these “potches” (divine smacks) are acts of love meant to push us back toward our mission: to be a light unto the nations wherever we are, and ultimately to yearn for and move toward Yerushalayim. When we respond correctly – by increasing Torah, tefillah, teshuvah, and authentic Jewish pride – the bitterness miraculously turns sweet, just as October 7th produced hundreds of thousands of newly observant Jews and countless stories of open miracles among the hostages. The message is clear: get comfortable being uncomfortable in galut, stop putting ultimate faith in any human leader or system, and remember that only the almighy (Hakadosh Baruch Hu) runs the world – and He is nudging us home. Engage with us by sharing your questions, and we look forward to addressing them in future episodes, fostering a more interactive experience for our audience by submitting your questions to [email protected] This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by the Nagel Family. This Episode (#25) of the Unboxing Judaism Podcast is dedicated in honor of The Nagel Wedding Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) on November 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on November 25, 2025 Unboxing Judaism Podcast is a discussion on fundamental Jewish and modern cultural topics through the lens of our Torah and heritage with Rabbi Yaakov Nagel and Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe from TORCH, in Houston, Texas ASK! To have your questions featured in a future podcast, please submit your questions to [email protected] Rabbi Yaakov Nagel is the founding member of TORCH and has been active since 1998. Additionally, Rabbi Nagel serves as the Senior Rabbi at Heimish of Houston and has been delivering the Daf Yomi (Daily Folio of Talmud) for TORCH since 2003. Rabbi Nagel is the Head of the Court for Jewish Divorce and actively serves as a member of the Houston Beis Din. Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe serves as the Director of TORCH since 2005. DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Yaakov Nagel:Daf Yomi Podcast - https://linktr.ee/DafYomiPodcastUnboxing Judaism Podcast - https://linktr.ee/unboxingjudaism SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.tansistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: [email protected] Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area! #RabbiNagel, #RabbiWolbe, #Jews, #Politics, #Unboxing, #Perspective, #Engagement, #Integration, #Safety, #Mobility, #FreeWill, #Effort, #Exile, #Divine ★ Support this podcast ★

An inherent law in creation is that the Creator lowers the haughty to ground-level zero but uplifts the humble above the clouds. No one should ever disdain another human being, for often, there's a turnaround, as Rebbe Nachman shows us in Part 2 of "The Clever One and the Simple One." Likutei Moharan is a collection of teachings and insights by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, encompassing a wide range of spiritual topics and profound wisdom, offering guidance for personal growth and connection to God. Taught by the revered and world renowned spiritual master, Rabbi Lazer Brody. Recorded by TORCH via Emuna Beams from a LIVE online presentation by Rabbi Lazer Brody (Ashdod, Israel) on June 12, 2025Released as Podcast on June 12, 2025 Rabbi Lazer Brody is an accomplished Torah scholar, world renowned lecturer, prolific author and the founder and leader of Emuna Beams.To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Lazer Brody: https://www.emunabeams.comand https://lazerbeams.com DONATE to EMUNA BEAMS: Please consider supporting the teaching of Emuna across the globe by Rabbi Lazer Brody at https://secure.cardknox.com/emunabeams. Thank you! EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: [email protected] The Mission of TORCH is to Connect Jews and Judaism by providing meaningful learning opportunities for every Jewish individual in the Houston area irrespective of background, affiliation, denomination or level of observance and to enable them to experience the joy and vibrancy of Judaism in a welcoming environment. Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area! ★ Support this podcast ★

Sarai, the matriarch of the Jewish people, makes a stunning statement to her husband: take Hagar, my maidservant, as a concubine. Whatever child comes from this will be mine. This episode unpacks one of the most emotionally layered moments in Genesis. Why does G-d communicate this plan through Sarai rather than directly to Avram? Why does Avram need convincing? What follows is a layered conversation about how this whole arrangement comes to be, and why G-d chooses to communicate it through Sarai rather than speak directly to Avram. The Talmud draws a striking conclusion from this: Sarai had a greater level of divine inspiration than her husband. Rabbi Epstein traces that idea back to a teaching about modesty that reframes what modesty actually means in Jewish thought, pulling it out of the narrow lane most people put it in and revealing something much deeper about how a person tunes in to the divine. Also in this episode: the backstory of how Hagar ended up in this household, and a Torah-rooted explanation for why you can never truly force a human being to do anything.

Tune in as we unearth a profound mystery at the heart of Genesis Chapter 4: why did God reject Cain's offering while embracing Abel's? The answer will transform your understanding of prayer forever. Rabbi Epstein reveals an earth-shattering insight about what it truly means to connect with the Divine – and why good intentions alone aren't enough. Delve deep into the psychological drama of this pivotal moment as Rabbi Epstein illuminates why being first isn't always best, and how true spiritual connection transcends mere acknowledgment. You'll discover ancient wisdom that challenges modern assumptions about prayer and divine relationships, revealed through the lens of history's first recorded offering to God. This eye-opening exploration goes far beyond surface-level interpretations to expose a truth so powerful it has echoed through millennia. Whether you're a spiritual seeker or biblical scholar, this episode promises to revolutionize your approach to prayer and divine connection. Join us for an unforgettable journey into one of the Bible's most misunderstood stories – and uncover insights that will transform your spiritual practice forever.

Episode 01: A little history of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe (1914-2005), the grandfather of Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe.  The basic definitions of Mussar. A few stories and anecdotes.  Recorded presentation to a live audience at Cong. Beth Yeshurun on September 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas.  Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please send your questions or comments to [email protected] ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We’ve just witnessed the first murder in history, but the story is far from over. In this episode, Rabbi Bentzi Epstein and Tom Levine unpack God's extraordinary response to Cain's infamous question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Learn about the mysterious "mark of Cain" and uncover its true meaning beyond popular mythology. Why did God protect the world's first murderer? Through fascinating Talmudic insights, discover how Cain's transformation from farmer to wandering city-builder carries crucial lessons about human resilience and divine justice. This episode tackles fundamental questions that challenge our understanding of responsibility and redemption: Why does the ground itself refuse to cooperate with Cain? What does it mean when the "voice of blood cries out from the earth"? And most surprisingly – how are we all connected to Cain's lineage? Rabbi Epstein reveals how this ancient story offers striking insights into modern questions of accountability, community, and the true meaning of brotherhood. Through careful analysis of each verse, learn why God's question "Where is your brother?" remains one of the most powerful challenges to humanity, and how its answer defines not just individual responsibility, but the very essence of Jewish community and purpose. Perfect for anyone seeking to understand the deeper implications of personal responsibility, the nature of consequence, and the eternal bond between all people. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that transforms a tale of wandering into a profound meditation on our obligations to one another.

Between the words of Genesis lies a hidden world of wisdom that only the oral tradition can reveal. In this episode of Breakneck Through the Bible, Rabbi Bentzi Epstein uncovers something astonishing - there was a massive flood before the Great Flood, and this deluge destroyed a third of the world’s population long before Noah built his ark. Through meticulous verse-by-verse analysis, discover why Noah waited until age 500 to have children, the true identity of the mysterious Nephilim giants, and how God's reduction of human lifespan to 120 years represents divine mercy rather than punishment. When the Torah says God "reconsidered" creating humanity, Rabbi Epstein reveals what our sages understood about this profound statement—that the Torah speaks in human language while conveying timeless divine truths. Most crucially, learn what it truly meant for Noah to "find grace in the eyes of Hashem" and how this single phrase holds the key to humanity's survival.