Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
20103 episodes
#
Name
Release Date
Duration
901
Terumah – Etched in Stone
Terumah – Etched in Stone
Feb 23, 2023
58:25
Please support the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation is DOUBLED. Our organization, TORCH, runs one annual fundraiser, and it is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. We need your support – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Of the various materials […]
902
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Feb 26, 2023
56:25
In a natural continuation to Parshas Terumah, in Parshas Tetzaveh we learn about the instructions to build the Tabernacle. Whereas last week the focus was on the edifice itself and its vessels, this week we will orient primarily on the special garments that the priests wore in the Tabernacle, and of course subsequently in the […]
903
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration (5781)
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration (5781)
Feb 28, 2023
35:09
Besides being brothers, Moshe and Aaron were both leaders of the Jewish people: Moshe was the king and Aaron was the high priest. These brothers had different, but complimentary, skills and characteristics, that were each independently necessary for the nation. In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we do a very deep dive into […]
904
Tetzaveh – The Choshen People
Tetzaveh – The Choshen People
Mar 2, 2023
53:17
The High Priest was bedecked with garments of royalty. Our Parsha details the 8 special garments (vestments) of Splendor and Glory that the Kohen Gadol wore, and the Talmud delineates the various forms of atonement that each garment bestowed upon the nation. In this podcast we focus on the Breastplate, the Choshen, and assembling the various […]
905
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)
Mar 5, 2023
1:05:49
This week’s parsha contains several instructions related to the Tabernacle, but the majority of the parsha is dedicated to arguably the most shocking and troubling episode in the whole Torah, the Golden Calf. Forty days after the nation reached the pinnacle of human accomplishment – a national revelation at Sinai – the same nation committed what […]
906
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire (5781)
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire (5781)
Mar 7, 2023
46:11
Our nation commits the most grievous sin of our history in this week’s parsha. A mere 40 days after we experienced the national revelation at Sinai, the nation made the Golden Calf and began to worship it. How did such a catastrophe happen? When we examine the sin very carefully we find a pattern that […]
907
Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus
Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus
Mar 9, 2023
54:49
The most calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous event in Jewish history – and arguably the most devastating event in all of human history – happens in our Parsha. A mere 40 days after the exultant, euphoric, transcendental Revelation at Sinai, the nation stoops to a very low nadir: they make a golden calf and begin to worship […]
908
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Mar 12, 2023
1:10:06
After the Torah delineates the instructions to assemble the materials for the construction of the Tabernacle in Parshas Terumah and the creation of the vestments of the high priest in Parshas Tetzaveh, Parshas Vayakhel outlines the implementation those plans: The massive fundraising efforts, and the actual building of the Tabernacle and its vessels under the […]
909
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe (5781)
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe (5781)
Mar 14, 2023
27:27
Bezalel was the architect of the most consequential building project of all time. He was tasked with the responsibility of building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the dwelling place for God on this earth. What special skills did Bezalel have that primed him to undertake this ambitious project? Why was Bezalel chosen for this task? When […]
910
Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love
Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love
Mar 16, 2023
43:01
Our double Parsha delineates the implementation phases of the building of the Tabernacle. All the materials are assembled, all the artisans are ready, and the building begins. In this podcast we focus on the construction of one of the vessels of the Tabernacle, the Laver, a copper basin that housed water. Our sages reveal some […]
911
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Mar 19, 2023
52:10
In Parshas Vayikra, the first Torah section in The Book of Leviticus, we learn about the processes and procedures of many different varieties of sacrifices: There are three different types of elevation offerings; three types of peace-offerings; six types of meal-offerings; and numerous sin and guilt offerings. Our exploration of the parsha begins with a […]
912
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice (5781)
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice (5781)
Mar 21, 2023
43:28
Sacrifices sound like a cheat code: You sin and you rebelled against God and your soul gets tarnished. By the strict letter of the law, sin ought to be an executable offense. But God has mercy: Bring a sacrifice and slaughter the animal and you will be expiated. Instead of you dying, the animal will […]
913
Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron
Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron
Mar 23, 2023
47:45
We begin the Book of Leviticus with a Parsha Podcast treat: I invited my friend and study partner Rabbi Dovid Biron to guest host this week’s episode. He did not disappoint. In this podcast we learn about the meal offering, how it differs from ordinary sacrifices, and the powerful and life changing lessons that it […]
914
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Mar 26, 2023
58:43
In continuation of the themes of last week, Parshas Tzav details the procedures of processing many of the sacrifices enumerated in Parshas Vayikra, teaches us about new sacrifices, and we read about the seven days of inauguration of the Tabernacle. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
915
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)
Mar 28, 2023
41:09
The beginning of our parsha details the intricate processing of the Olah offerings. The animal is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled on the Altar walls, it is divided into parts, the parts are elevated to the top of the altar and placed on the fire to burn the whole night. The next morning, a Kohein is selected […]
916
Tzav – Pure-Bread
Tzav – Pure-Bread
Mar 30, 2023
1:04:26
On the first day of a Kohein’s tenure doing service in the Temple, they bring a once-in-a-lifetime offering: a meal-offering that is almost identical to the daily meal-offering offered by the High Priest. This offering is classified by the Torah as the offering of Aaron and his sons. When we analyze this unique meal offering, […]
917
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Apr 2, 2023
53:51
After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle was erected for good, and a Heavenly fire consumed the various sacrifices offered upon the Altar and the […]
918
Shemini – Find Your Breach (5781)
Shemini – Find Your Breach (5781)
Apr 4, 2023
38:40
The 8th day of the Tabernacle’s Inauguration was supposed to be a day of total, exuberant jubilation. The laborious months of preparation were complete, and now God will dwell in our midst. Moshe washes, clothes, and anoints his brother, Aaron and Aaron’s four sons, and a Heavenly fire descends and consumes Aaron’s sacrifices from atop […]
919
Shemini – Fires, Foreign and Domestic
Shemini – Fires, Foreign and Domestic
Apr 11, 2023
1:02:53
Nadav and Avihu were the crown princes of the Jewish nation. These two sons were slated to succeed Moshe and Aaron. Moshe declared, without hyperbole, that his two nephews, Nadav and Avihu, were greater than he and Aaron. These two sons of Aaron were without peer. Yet they acted in an inexplicable manner: On the […]
920
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Apr 16, 2023
1:14:40
A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. This week’s double Parshas of Tazria and Metzora largely deal with these laws. One variant of impurity that is discussed in both parshas is that of a metzora, A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas […]
921
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises (5781)
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises (5781)
Apr 18, 2023
43:16
Tzaraas, the spiritual leprosy whose laws are detailed in our Parsha, appeared in three different areas: the befell sinners’ skin, clothing, and house. How common was Tzaraas of the house? The Talmud reveals that it actually never happened even once and it will never happen in the future. If it never happened, why does the Torah delineate […]
922
Tazria Metzora – Heaven on the Cheap
Tazria Metzora – Heaven on the Cheap
Apr 20, 2023
59:44
This week’s double Parsha contains some of the most intricate and complex laws in the Torah, the laws of purity and impurity. This subject remains an enigmatic mystery for us, in fact, even in Talmudic times it was arcane. That said, there is always something that we can glean from every part of Torah. In […]
923
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Apr 23, 2023
1:47:50
This week’s double-parsha contains a smorgasbord of mitzvos. The three chapters of Parshas Acharei cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against the consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws, and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited […]
924
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted (5781)
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted (5781)
Apr 25, 2023
45:00
Our Nation has always had bad neighbors. The Midrash in our Parsha states that the Egyptians and the Canaanites, both nations that our people lived in close proximity to, are the most morally deficient of all the world’s nations. Moreover, the specific areas in those lands where the Jews resided contained that worst offenders of […]
925
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – It’s a Small World
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – It’s a Small World
Apr 27, 2023
55:11
Our double Parsha contains many different mitzvos. In this podcast we study a set of mitzvos and a very interesting dispute about their nature. We discover a valuable and profound insight that can help us develop and cultivate our potential. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
926
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Apr 30, 2023
1:03:18
Parshas Emor contains a staggering 56 mitzvos, nearly all of them relating to either to the Kohanim, the priests, or to the Festivals, and the parsha ends with a very unusual episode that happened at Sinai. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
927
Emor – Sense of Belonging (5781)
Emor – Sense of Belonging (5781)
May 2, 2023
38:13
Our parsha contains the first recorded instance of capital punishment in Jewish history. A disgruntled man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed and was executed as a result. What is the significance of this story? Why do we have the narrative about the blasphemer in middle of the Book of […]
928
Emor – Snowball’s Chance in Heaven
Emor – Snowball’s Chance in Heaven
May 4, 2023
57:28
The story of the first person to ever be executed in a Jewish court of law is featured at the end of this week’s Parsha. An unnamed man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man, blasphemed and was executed. When we ponder the story we discover all sorts of interesting tidbits. The […]
929
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
May 7, 2023
1:38:04
This week’s double-Parsha closes out the Book of Leviticus. Parshas Behar begins at Mount Sinai, where the Almighty instructed Moshe to convey a series of laws to the Jewish people. The first is the mitzvah of Shemittah, the prohibition of engaging in any agricultural work every seven years. In two chapters in the Torah (Leviticus […]
930
Parsha: Behar & Bechukosai – Divine Nudge (5781)
Parsha: Behar & Bechukosai – Divine Nudge (5781)
May 9, 2023
39:47
Two years ago, our nation underwent an unprecedented calamity. At our people’s largest annual festival, the celebration of Lag ba’Omer in Meron, a crowd crush resulted in the death of 45 of our brethren. How do we respond to such a tragedy? What is the way to process such a disaster. In this Parsha Podcast […]
931
Behar Bechukosai – Hostage Letter
Behar Bechukosai – Hostage Letter
May 11, 2023
1:01:54
Our Parsha contains some of the most difficult portions in the Torah, the Admonition. Our nation is told of the consequences of failing to adhere to the rules of God. The consequences are fierce and harsh. When this section is read in the synagogue, it is done quickly and in an undertone to prevent the […]
932
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
May 14, 2023
56:48
We kickstart the Book of Numbers with a census of the twelve tribes of Israel – not including the tribe of Levi who is counted independently – conducted by Moses, Aaron, and the most distinguished leaders of said tribes. Subsequently, we read about the banners of the tribes and their assigned encampments, the transference of […]
933
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers (5781)
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers (5781)
May 16, 2023
52:39
At first glance, Parshas Bamidbar seems like a snoozefest: it’s very technical, counting the people, assigning the tribes to their encampments, counting the Levites separately, designating the responsibilities of the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and its vessels. But upon further examination, our Parsha guides us with the instructions of how to become […]
934
Bamidbar – Common Census
Bamidbar – Common Census
May 18, 2023
59:16
The United States Constitution mandates that a nationwide census is conducted every decade. Other nations also conduct censuses. Censuses are common. Our parsha begins with a nation-wide census, the third census since the Exodus. But this census was highly uncommon. It was conducted completely differently than the way that any other census is done. When […]
935
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
May 21, 2023
59:07
In the longest parsha in the Torah by verses, we continue to read about the Levite families and their responsibilities, we learn about the three tiers of the Nation’s encampment, the laws of a suspected adulteress, the laws of the Nazir, the Priestly blessings, and we read a very wordy account of the gifts of […]
936
Nasso – Princely Pendulum (5781)
Nasso – Princely Pendulum (5781)
May 23, 2023
43:09
The Princes of the Tribes make several notable contributions at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: They contribute 12 oxen and 6 covered wagons to aid the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and each Prince donates a tribute of 21 animals, a silver basin and bowl brimming with flour and oil, and a gold […]
937
*Shavuos Special* – Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos
*Shavuos Special* – Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos
May 24, 2023
1:05:53
The Sinai Revelation is the most significant event in all of human history: God revealed Himself to the entire Jewish people, He spoke to them, He gave them the Torah, and they lived. This day is revisited every single year on the festival of Shavuos. Our objective on this day is to renew our vows […]
938
Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous
Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous
Jun 1, 2023
1:02:06
The Nazir is someone who accepts a vow, typically for 30 days, to abstain from wine, to not cut their hair, and to not come into contact with the dead. This Nazir is holy. They are close to God. They are like a high priest. They are likely to reach prophecy. But there are some […]
939
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Jun 4, 2023
59:29
The Jewish nation has been encamped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year; in this week’s parsha they finally depart from the Mountain of God, and sadly leave gleefully as a child escaping school. This kick starts a series of missteps that carry harsh consequences. – – – – – – – – – – […]
940
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire (5781)
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire (5781)
Jun 6, 2023
33:31
Aaron the High Priest held a critical leadership role in the nation. A partial list of his jobs: he offered sacrifices, he did the Yom Kippur services which included the annual trip to the Holy of Holies, and he blessed the people. But there was one job that he was excluded for: When the princes […]
941
Behaaloscha – Bad Old Days
Behaaloscha – Bad Old Days
Jun 8, 2023
1:12:05
After a year at Sinai, the nation is finally on the move. Following the precise protocol of disassembly and decampment, the nation marches off from Sinai. Destination: Land of Canaan. At least that was the plan. More about that next week. In this week’s podcast we explore the events surrounding the Nation’s journey from Sinai. […]
942
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 11, 2023
57:32
The Jewish people were on the cusp of entering the Land of Canaan, and made a prudent, but ultimately tragic, decision: To send a contingent of scouts to reconnoiter the Land, to examine its vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to best plan the conquest. Unfortunately, the report of the scouts sent the nation into a […]
943
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)
Jun 13, 2023
42:36
The final five verses of our Parsha contain the third paragraph of the Shema. In it, we are instructed to place tzitzis strings wrapped with a string of blue techeiles wool on the corner of our garments. Why? “And you shall see them and remember all the mitzvos of Hashem and you shall do them, […]
944
Shelach – Despising Limitations
Shelach – Despising Limitations
Jun 15, 2023
53:30
The nation was on the cusp of entering the Land. After about a year at Sinai, the nation was ready to conquer Canaan. The invasion and war of conquest was imminent. Then catastrophe struck. Moshe sent 12 spies to reconnoiter the Land and report the back with their findings. Their report completely deflated the spirit […]
945
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 18, 2023
58:24
In this week’s parsha, Moshe and Aaron’s first cousin, a man named Korach, launches a rebellion claiming that Moshe is guilty of nepotism in appointing his brother as High Priest. What ensued should give one serious pause before engaging in any similar sort of divisive activities. – – – – – – – – – […]
946
Korach – Demoted For Good (5781)
Korach – Demoted For Good (5781)
Jun 20, 2023
55:04
Korach was a very talented man with a sterling pedigree. He was wise and clever and even had a degree of prophetic clairvoyance. Yet he blundered egregiously by launching a revolt on Moshe and Aaron. When we study what triggered this rebellion we find that Korach has a seemingly legitimate grievance. He believed – and […]
947
Korach – Korach’s Insatiability
Korach – Korach’s Insatiability
Jun 22, 2023
1:05:38
Korach was immensely talented. He was enormously rich, he was clever, and he was devilishly persuasive. His rebellion, however, was doomed from the start. What are the roots of Korach’s rebellion? Why was Jacob dead-set on not having his name associated with Korach? In this Parsha Podcast we engage in a profound study of the […]
948
Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jun 25, 2023
2:01:51
In Parshas Chukas, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact with dead people in order to purify them from their spiritual contamination. We also […]
949
Chukas – Inglorious Origins (5781)
Chukas – Inglorious Origins (5781)
Jun 26, 2023
35:07
The red cow is the Torah’s most mysterious mitzvah. We are told to take a completely red cow and slaughter it, and burn it’s body together with a concoction of other ingredients, the ashes of which become the potion to purify people who have come into contact with dead people. If that doesn’t make sense […]
950
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars (5781)
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars (5781)
Jun 27, 2023
43:30
Our parsha contains an attempted genocide. Bilaam, the prophet of the idolaters, a man of prodigious ability an skill, dedicates himself with tenacity and persistence to curse and destroy the people. Although his three attempts at cursing the nation backfire when he is compelled by God to bless the nation instead, the parsha ends with […]
951
Chukas & Balak – Methods of Transformation
Chukas & Balak – Methods of Transformation
Jun 29, 2023
55:59
In the first of this week’s double parsha, we read about the death of two giants: Miriam and Aaron, Moshe’s older sister and brother, pass away. Our sages tell us that the death of the righteous serves as an atonement in a way similar to sacrifices. Just as sacrifices atone, so too does the death […]
952
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Jul 2, 2023
51:44
Pinchas was a man of action, a zealot who avenged God’s vengeance and was handsomely rewarded for it. In this parsha we read about his reward, Moses’ succession plan, the methods through which the Land will be divided, and another census is done. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
953
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion (5781)
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion (5781)
Jul 4, 2023
48:09
Over the course of the 40 years since the Exodus, the Nation was lead by Moshe and Aaron, the King and High Priest respectively. In our Parsha, successors are designated for both posts. Due to his valiant heroism of the end of last week’s portion, Pinchas is promoted to being a kohein. He would go […]
954
Pinchas – Sons of Anarchist
Pinchas – Sons of Anarchist
Jul 6, 2023
53:05
Korach’s rebellion claimed many victims: Some of the perpetrators were swallowed up in a miraculous sinkhole; some were consumed by a divine fire; and some were killed in a plague. In our Parsha, we discover that the sons of Korach did not die. Although they were participants in the rebellion initially, at the very last […]
955
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Jul 9, 2023
1:00:55
This year, the Book of Numbers ends with a double parsha – Mattos and Masei. We learn about the laws of vows and oaths; the miraculous war with Midian; the unusual request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben; the Torah delineates the 42 different places that the Nation encamped for their 40 year sojourn; […]
956
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator (5781)
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator (5781)
Jul 11, 2023
45:43
Our parsha contains the laws regarding a person who murders someone accidentally. We are told that the accidental murderer must flee to the city of refuge and remain there until the passing of the High Priest. Although we have neither a High Priest nor a Jewish court of laws that adjudicates as per the laws […]
957
Mattos & Masei – 49-Step Program
Mattos & Masei – 49-Step Program
Jul 13, 2023
59:55
What did the nation do over the course of the 40 years in the wilderness? What was their objective? In our parsha we read that the nation stopped in 42 locations over the course of their 40-year sojourn. The Torah delineates the names of the 42 different venues where the nation encamped. What is the […]
958
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Jul 16, 2023
49:44
5 weeks before his passing, Moses gives a three-parsha-long speech to the nation, which constitutes his last will and testament. He begins with a retrospective of the history of the nation over the past 40 years since the Exodus – subtly rebuking the nation, guiding them, admonishing them, ensuring that they don’t repeat their mistakes […]
959
Devarim – Man of Words (5781)
Devarim – Man of Words (5781)
Jul 18, 2023
47:16
At the end of Moshe’s life, he gathers the entire nation for his parting message to the nation. The Midrash makes a remarkable contrast between Moshe’s beginning and end of his tenure: When God initially commanded Moshe to save his brethren from enslavement in Egypt, Moshe protested by saying that he is not a man […]
960
#1: Who Wrote the Torah
#1: Who Wrote the Torah
Oct 7, 2016
49:16
The authorship of the Torah is a highly consequential matter to clarify. If it is – as Jews have traditionally believed – the word of God, then it holds eternal absolute value for all. If it is not the word of God then it is no different than any other ancient document. What are the positions […]
961
#2: The Fallacy of the Bible Critics
#2: The Fallacy of the Bible Critics
Oct 16, 2016
45:12
We continue our dissection of the various options regarding the authorship of the Torah. ——- This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torcweb.org for program details and to make a donation. If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my other podcasts: This Jewish Life – long form […]
962
#3: Implications of the Authorship of the Torah
#3: Implications of the Authorship of the Torah
Oct 30, 2016
46:28
Why it matters who wrote the Torah. ——- This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torcweb.org for program details and to make a donation. If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my other podcasts: This Jewish Life – long form deep dives into critical Torah topics and The […]
963
#4: The Cognitive Dissonance to the Veracity of the Torah and why Sinai Denial is on Shakier Intellectual Grounds than Holocaust Denial
#4: The Cognitive Dissonance to the Veracity of the Torah and why Sinai Denial is on Shakier Intellectual Grounds than Holocaust Denial
Nov 2, 2016
44:15
We face internal resistance to the notion of a God-given Torah because that can create a divide between our beliefs and behaviors. How do we respond to the tumult caused by this revelation? ——- This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torcweb.org for program details and to make a […]
964
#5: An Unprecedented Eternal Nation
#5: An Unprecedented Eternal Nation
Nov 22, 2016
45:10
We explore some predictions in the Torah that have come true and ponder how a human author could have known the future. ——– This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torchweb.org for program details and to make a donation. If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my […]
965
#6: Incontrovertible Evidence to the Divinity of the Torah
#6: Incontrovertible Evidence to the Divinity of the Torah
Nov 30, 2016
38:36
We explore the intricate interrelationship between written and oral Torah and determine that the creation of such a labyrinthine tapestry is beyond the capacity to man. ——– This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torchweb.org for program details and to make a donation. If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe […]
966
#7: Introduction to Oral Torah
#7: Introduction to Oral Torah
Dec 8, 2016
48:16
What are the four components of Oral Torah? What are the four elements of the Oral Torah that are not sourced in the Written Torah? What are some of the classical pieces of evidence proving the existence of the Oral Torah? This is the place to begin if you want to understand Oral Torah. —— […]
967
#8: Why Moses Didn’t Simply Write Down the Oral Torah?
#8: Why Moses Didn’t Simply Write Down the Oral Torah?
Dec 15, 2016
52:12
For nearly a millennia and a half, the entire corpus of Oral Torah was transmitted orally from generation to generation; parents to their children and teachers to their students. Moreover, a fierce prohibition was established to prevent its writing and codification in a finalized canonized format. What are the benefits for maintaining it in that […]
968
#9: Clear and Convincing Evidence to the Error-Free Transmission of the Oral Torah
#9: Clear and Convincing Evidence to the Error-Free Transmission of the Oral Torah
Dec 22, 2016
58:16
The integrity of Jewish law, and by extension the dream of a great Jewish destiny, hinged upon the accurate transmission of an enormous body of law orally for 1400 years. Indeed, a fundamental principle of Jewish faith is that the same Torah given to Moses has been passed down to us mistake-free. How is the transmission of […]
969
#10: Codifying the Oral Torah
#10: Codifying the Oral Torah
Dec 28, 2016
54:17
At the end of the second century of the common era a fateful decision was made to commit the Jewish Law, known as Mishna, to writing. What prompted this dramatic change? What are the unique methodologies employed in this project? Contact: Website: RabbiWolbe.com; Twitter: @RabbiWolbe; Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; Email: [email protected].
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#11: Lost in Transmission: What Happens When Errors Occur in Oral Torah
#11: Lost in Transmission: What Happens When Errors Occur in Oral Torah
Jan 4, 2017
1:06:45
The Jewish nation is entrusted with the task of preserving and perpetuating the Torah mistake-free. We have previously seen the vast ordinances in place to prevent errors. Yet humans are fallible and mistakes happen. What happens if/when things go awry? Contact: Website: RabbiWolbe.com; Twitter: @RabbiWolbe; Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; Email: [email protected]. Podcasts Links iOS: This Jewish […]
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#12: The Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith: God as Creator and Sustainer
#12: The Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith: God as Creator and Sustainer
Mar 14, 2019
58:08
The clearest, most universally accepted articulation of the Principles of Jewish Belief are the Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith. This list of Thirteen Principles were codified in his commentary on Mishnah in the introduction to Chapter 10 of the book of Sanhedrin; they were also added into Jewish Liturgy in the Ani Maamin and Yigdal […]
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#13: Does God’s Creation of the Universe Conflict with the Principle of God’s Perfection?
#13: Does God’s Creation of the Universe Conflict with the Principle of God’s Perfection?
Apr 8, 2019
51:32
This podcast attempts to reconcile a knotty philosophical dilemma: The First Principle of the Thirteen Principles of Faith teaches us that God, Creator of heaven and earth, is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Perfect. If God is Perfect and lacks nothing, then why did He create the universe? Intellect only acts when seeking a certain outcome. There […]
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#14: Faith vs. Emunah: Understanding the Difference between Intellectual and Instinctual Belief in God
#14: Faith vs. Emunah: Understanding the Difference between Intellectual and Instinctual Belief in God
Apr 22, 2019
55:45
The Thirteen Principles of Faith are the foundations of our religion. Just as the foundation of a structure is indispensable for ensuring the integrity of the building; these principles are necessary prerequisites for Jewish faith. But just as is the case in a building, the foundations are in the background – no one resides in […]
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#15: The Singularity of God
#15: The Singularity of God
May 6, 2019
53:33
The Second Principle of Jewish Faith declares that God is One. But not like one of a pair; and not like one of a group; and not like one person that can be divided into many [smaller] units; and not like a thing which is numerically one but can be infinitely divided, rather He – God, may […]
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#16: How can Humans have Free Will if God is in Total Control?
#16: How can Humans have Free Will if God is in Total Control?
May 20, 2019
58:00
In the previous podcast we discussed the Second Principle of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, that God is the sole Singular Power. How can that precept be reconciled with another pillar of Jewish faith – that man is in control of his own destiny and choices via his free will. Is man in charge or […]
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#17: Why Bad Things Happen to Good People: An Introduction to Jewish Theodicy
#17: Why Bad Things Happen to Good People: An Introduction to Jewish Theodicy
Jun 3, 2019
1:00:57
Our nation is no stranger to suffering. Jewish history is a litany of pogroms, holocausts, expulsions, blood libels, and all manners of persecution and oppression. We believe that the Almighty is in full control of everything that transpires in the world. Nothing can happen against His Will. We also believe that the Almighty is good, […]
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#18: Why Bad Things Happen to Good People: Three Torah Perspectives on this Vexing Problem
#18: Why Bad Things Happen to Good People: Three Torah Perspectives on this Vexing Problem
Jun 17, 2019
55:35
The question of theodicy is one that all people of faith grapple with. The Talmud records multiple conversations between Moses and the Almighty on this subject, and even the ministering angels, and Adam before his Sin weighed in on it. It is a very difficult subject to understand, and doubly hard to find answers that […]
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#19: The Incorporeality of God
#19: The Incorporeality of God
Jul 8, 2019
44:25
The Third Principle of the Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith states that God is incorporeal: He has no body, nor does He behave in a bodily way, and all indications in Scripture and other Torah literature to the contrary must be understood as analogies and metaphors. – – – – – – – – – […]
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#20: Creation Ex Nihilo and the Age of the Universe Question
#20: Creation Ex Nihilo and the Age of the Universe Question
Jul 29, 2019
54:41
In the Fourth of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, Rambam codifies the distinction between God and everything else and the manner through which God effectuated Creation Ex Nihilo. In doing so, Rambam departs from the positions of Plato and Aristotle and explains the critical flaw in their thinking that made them incapable of distinguishing between […]
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#21: Torah and Science: Can they be Reconciled?
#21: Torah and Science: Can they be Reconciled?
Sep 16, 2019
57:33
There are many areas where Torah and the consensus of modern scientists seem to irreconcilably differ. The Torah indicates that the first man, Adam, lived around 6,000 years ago, and the universe is roughly that age. The consensus of the scientists is that the universe is multiple billions of years old. Can that gulf be […]
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#22: God Alone is Worthy of Worship
#22: God Alone is Worthy of Worship
Oct 6, 2019
59:33
In the fifth of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, Rambam codifies that God alone is worthy of our worship and that we ought not worship anything else, nor worship God via intermediaries. What is the general concept of worshipping God and why it is such a central pillar of our religion that it merits a […]
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#23: The Parameters of Divine Providence
#23: The Parameters of Divine Providence
Oct 30, 2019
1:00:01
A central tenet of Jewish theology is that the same Creator who created the Heavens and the Earth also supervises His creation on an ongoing basis. Moreover, that supervision, that oversight is personal and down to the most minute detail. As such, it would seem that everything that happens to us is the product of […]
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#24: Prophecy: An Introduction
#24: Prophecy: An Introduction
Nov 25, 2019
48:45
Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith can be divided into three general concepts: God, Torah, and Reward and Punishment. The first five principles oriented around the Jewish understanding of God. The four Principles from six through nine revolve around Torah. The first of those Principles in the concept of prophecy in general. In this podcast, we […]
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#25: The History of Prophecy + FREE TORCH Gift
#25: The History of Prophecy + FREE TORCH Gift
Dec 9, 2019
1:14:13
In this sweeping retrospective of prophecy from Adam until the extinction of prophecy at the onset of the Second Temple Era, we address many fundamental questions: What is the critical difference between the prophecy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all other prophets? How did an entire nation merit prophecy at Sinai? How did a wicked man […]
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#26: Moses: The Greatest Man
#26: Moses: The Greatest Man
Dec 31, 2019
56:37
The Seventh Principle of Faith orients around the greatest man and the greatest prophet of them all, Moses. Moses towered above all members of the human species, and indeed over angels too. As a result of his supreme stature, Moses became the sole prophet who could bridge the two words and convey Torah to humanity. […]
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#27: Mosaic Prophecy
#27: Mosaic Prophecy
Jan 21, 2020
44:08
The prophecy of Moses differs from all other prophecies. In fact, Rambam tells us that they are only nominally similar – in truth, they are two totally different experiences. When we break down the subject we find that the differences fall into several categories: Mosaic prophecy contains a different level of understanding than all other prophecies; […]
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#28: The Divine Torah: An Expanded Definition
#28: The Divine Torah: An Expanded Definition
Feb 4, 2020
55:06
The Eighth Principle, that the Torah is Divine, is the central principle upon which all the Thirteen Principles lean. Our entire religion hinges upon the fact that the Almighty gave us His Torah. But what exactly does that mean? In this podcast we discover that the Eighth Principle is much deeper than a question of […]
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#29: The Comprehensiveness of Torah
#29: The Comprehensiveness of Torah
Mar 3, 2020
59:24
Please support TORCH and The TORAH 101 Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser giveTORCH.org Support the TORAH 101 Podcast – https://www.charidy.com/torch/101 EVERY DONATION IS QUADRUPLED Today, TORCH needs your help!! Today YOU can partner with us in the largest and most downloaded Jewish Podcast Network (The Jewish History Podcast, This Jewish Life, The Parsha […]
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#30: What is Oral Torah?
#30: What is Oral Torah?
May 6, 2020
41:24
When Rambam lays out the Eighth Principle of his Thirteen Principles of Faith, that the Torah is divine, he includes believing in not only the Written Torah but also the Oral Torah as a necessary belief for Jews. But what exactly is Oral Torah? What is the relationship between the Written and Oral Torahs? In […]
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#31: Innovation and Dynamism in Oral Torah
#31: Innovation and Dynamism in Oral Torah
Jul 13, 2020
40:21
In the narrow sense, Oral Torah refers to the interpretation and understanding of the Written Torah. The Written Torah is written cryptically, and the Oral Torah demystifies and explains it. But the truth is that Oral Torah includes much more than that. Oral Torah includes all of Torah that is not included in the Written […]
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#32: From Moses to the Men of the Great Assembly: Development, Systematization, and Perpetuation of Torah
#32: From Moses to the Men of the Great Assembly: Development, Systematization, and Perpetuation of Torah
Jul 20, 2020
37:16
Although the process to formally codify the Oral Torah did not begin for more than 1500 years after Sinai, there were many advancements in organizing and systematizing Oral Torah that began in earnest soon after Moses’ passing. In this special edition of the TORAH 101 podcast, we discuss the various developments in Oral Torah from […]
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#33: Torah in the Second Temple Era
#33: Torah in the Second Temple Era
Jul 27, 2020
48:15
The Second Temple Era was an eventful time for the Jewish People and the perpetuation of Torah. Over the course of the Second Commonwealth our nation was blessed with great legends, such as Ezra, Shimon Ben Shetach, and Hillel, but the Nation faced unprecedented tests too: We were forced to contend with hostile foreign nations; […]
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#34: Torah Under Siege: The Grounds for Codification of Oral Torah
#34: Torah Under Siege: The Grounds for Codification of Oral Torah
Aug 3, 2020
54:19
The final century of the Second Temple and the one that followed its destruction were pivotal ones of Jewish history. It was an era replete with absolute Torah giants – Hillel the Elder, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh and his colleagues, Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva and his students, among […]
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Thanks a Million!
Thanks a Million!
Sep 9, 2020
32:31
Of all the episodes that I have recorded over the years, this will be perhaps the most unique one. For one, it will be released simultaneously on all 6 channels that I am fortunate enough to host: The Parsha Podcast, The Jewish History Podcast, The Mitzvah Podcast , This Jewish Life, The Ethics Podcast, and […]
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#35: What is Mishnah?
#35: What is Mishnah?
Sep 10, 2020
37:29
For 1500 years, Oral Torah was just that: Oral. It was not committed to canonized writing. Circa 200 CE, that changed. Under the leadership of Rabbi Judah the Prince, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin, and the greatest Sage of his day, the laws of Oral Torah were codified and canonized in a series of 63 […]
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#36: What is Talmud?
#36: What is Talmud?
Nov 9, 2020
57:17
The Talmud, or how it is often called, “Gemara”, is an ancient set of books written as commentary and elaboration of Mishnah. Despite being 1500 years old, the Talmud is still studied today by millions of people worldwide. In this podcast we get educated in what exactly the Talmud is? Why are there two versions […]
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#37: What is Aggadah?
#37: What is Aggadah?
Nov 23, 2020
54:48
The Talmud is comprised of two general formats: The Halachic portions (known in Talmudic parlance as, “shemaytza“), and the non-Halachic portions which are called “Aggadah”, or “Aggadata” or “Hagada”. These two parts of the Talmud cannot be more different: whereas in the Halachic portions the objective of the authors was to reveal their true meaning, in […]
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#38: What is Halacha?
#38: What is Halacha?
Nov 30, 2020
57:28
With all the development and codification of Oral Torah that went into the Talmud, one areas was still incomplete: Halacha. Halacha refers to the practical application of Torah law, and despite the tremendous efforts invested in the Talmud in clarifying all the Torah laws, only an accomplished scholar would be able to extract the practical […]
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#39: What is Kabbalah?
#39: What is Kabbalah?
Jan 11, 2021
59:17
Kabbalah, the hidden, mystical parts of the Torah, is arguably the most misunderstood area of Torah. It is a subject rife with misconceptions and misinterpretations; it is also a subject that is bursting with charlatans seeking to take advantage of the gullible masses. In this sweeping episode, we try to understand what, exactly, Kabbalah is, […]
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#40: The Case for the Divinity of Torah
#40: The Case for the Divinity of Torah
Feb 8, 2021
54:21
The most important question we must ask is, “who wrote the Torah?” The consequences of this question are vast: If the Torah is divine, then its laws are obligatory and immutable; if the Torah is a hoax, then studying it and obeying its laws are ultimately a waste of time. If the Torah is legit, […]