Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
21655 episodes
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Name
Release Date
Duration
10301
Behar/Bechukosai – Divine Nudge
Behar/Bechukosai – Divine Nudge
May 6, 2021
38:51
This past week 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 […]
10302
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
May 9, 2021
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 […]
10303
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
May 12, 2021
1:01:46
The Book of Ruth – and its eponymous heroine – are true enigmas. The Book contains no new laws and its story, while inspirational and poignant, bears no easily discernible connection to the Festival of Shavuos, when it is read. The Book’s protagonist, Ruth, has a decidedly checkered pedigree, yet becomes the matriarch of the […]
10304
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers
May 13, 2021
55:31
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 […]
10305
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
May 16, 2021
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 […]
10306
Nasso – Princely Pendulum
Nasso – Princely Pendulum
May 20, 2021
44:36
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 […]
10307
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
May 23, 2021
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. – – – – – – – – – – […]
10308
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire
May 27, 2021
34:44
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 […]
10309
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
May 30, 2021
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 […]
10310
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries
Jun 2, 2021
43:36
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, […]
10311
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 6, 2021
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. – – – – – – – – – […]
10312
Korach – Demoted For Good
Korach – Demoted For Good
Jun 9, 2021
55:40
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 […]
10313
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Jun 13, 2021
1:00:57
In this week’s parsha, 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 […]
10314
Chukas – Inglorious Origins
Chukas – Inglorious Origins
Jun 18, 2021
33:45
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 […]
10315
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jun 20, 2021
1:00:57
After the Jewish nation trounced the mighty kingdoms of Sichon and Og in last week’s parsha, the comparatively smaller and weaker kingdom of Moab resorted to unconventional warfare to attack the nation by hiring the prophet of the nations, a wily and devious character named Bilaam, to curse the Jews. It did not work out […]
10316
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars
Jun 25, 2021
45:00
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 […]
10317
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Jun 27, 2021
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10318
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion
Jun 29, 2021
49:05
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 […]
10319
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Jul 5, 2021
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; […]
10320
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator
Jul 8, 2021
47:44
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 […]
10321
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Jul 11, 2021
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 […]
10322
Devarim – Man of Words
Devarim – Man of Words
Jul 14, 2021
49:03
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 […]
10323
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Jul 19, 2021
1:04:11
This week’s parsha continues Moshe’s monologue to the nation in the weeks preceding his passing. He begins by recounting his repeated efforts in trying to convince God to rescind His decree that Moshe not enter the Land; Moshe then begins the retelling of the Torah; and we read many warnings and predictions about proper behavior […]
10324
Va’eschanan – Entry Denied
Va’eschanan – Entry Denied
Jul 21, 2021
59:32
Moshe was very desirous of entering the Land. The Midrash reveals that he prayed 515 separate prayers to petition God to revoke His ban on Moshe entering the Land. But God said no. You may not enter the Land, though He allowed Moshe to visualize the Land from atop a mountain. The dialogue between Moshe […]
10325
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Jul 25, 2021
59:14
We pick up where we left off last week amid Moshe’s speech to the nation before his passing, and as in the previous few weeks, Parshas Eikev is jam packed with insights and timeless lessons. Moshe pivots between looking back on the conduct of the nation in the preceding 40 years and admonishing them for […]
10326
Eikev – Cheat Code for Life
Eikev – Cheat Code for Life
Jul 30, 2021
46:18
The Torah contains a lot of details regarding what the Almighty expects of us. A verse in our parsha purports to get to the bottom line of what – in one sentence – does God actually want of us. But after reading the verse we emerge with more questions than answers. While ostensibly touting simplicity […]
10327
Parshas Re’eh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Re’eh (Rebroadcast)
Aug 1, 2021
1:00:30
This week’s parsha marks a transition in the Book of Deuteronomy: it is no longer primarily about admonishment and rebuke and warnings, instead we read a bevy of mitzvos – some repetitions and some new ones that have hitherto not been mentioned. – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10328
Re’eh – Look at Me
Re’eh – Look at Me
Aug 4, 2021
50:36
Moshe begins our parsha by presenting the Nation with a choice: See, I have placed before you today blessing and curse. And he continues to state that the blessing is the steadfast observance of the commandments of the Almighty, while the curse is the repudiation of said commandments. In this special edition of the Parsha […]
10329
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Aug 8, 2021
1:00:20
This week we learn the laws governing all kinds of leaders: The parsha begins by detailing the laws of judges, the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court, and what happens to rebellious judges; we read about the unique laws related to kings; there are more laws pertaining to the Kohanim; and we find the […]
10330
Shoftim – Gateways to Great Pursuits
Shoftim – Gateways to Great Pursuits
Aug 11, 2021
50:34
Justice is a virtue that we must vigorously pursue. Our Parsha begins by instructing us to establish a court system with judges and bailiffs throughout our gates and tribes. The judge is tasked with determining the merits of every case and the bailiff is in charge of implementation. This two-tiered model is not limited to […]
10331
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Aug 15, 2021
1:01:03
In the parsha that contains the most mitzvos of any of the 54 Torah sections (a staggering 74 mitzvos), we read about the wayward and rebellious son, the requirement to build a fence around your roof to prevent tragedy, two episodes that we are mandated to remember, and many, many more interesting and insightful mitzvos. […]
10332
Ki Seitzei – A Lifetime A Day
Ki Seitzei – A Lifetime A Day
Aug 18, 2021
53:50
The Midrash in our parsha calculates that the Torah contains 613 mitzvos, 248 positive mitzvos, where the Torah commands us to do something proactive, and 365 negative mitzvos, where we are instructed to refrain from transgressing the Almighty’s will. These figures are not coincidental. They are precisely targeted to enable us to accomplish our life’s […]
10333
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Aug 22, 2021
55:33
As the Book of Deuteronomy draws to its conclusion, the narrative makes a transition: Moshe finishes conveying the mitzvos to the nation, and sets up his final parting message to the people. First, he commands the nation to perform several elaborate ceremonies on the very first day that they cross the Jordan River; then he […]
10334
Ki Savo – Maniacal Determination
Ki Savo – Maniacal Determination
Aug 25, 2021
40:49
Our parsha contains perhaps the most difficult Torah portion to read and digest: The Tochacha (Admonition). In it we are told the consequences of our deeds. If obey the Almighty and hearken to His commandments, He will reward us with bountiful blessings. Should we deviate from Him and repudiate His Torah, however, He promises to […]
10335
Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Aug 29, 2021
1:42:13
On the final day of Moshe’s life, he gathered the entire nation – men, women, children, and according to the Talmud, all souls of future Jews – to pass them through a final covenant with God. The parsha also contains the prophetic predictions of the Messianic times, and it ends with a simple, binary choice: […]
10336
Nitzavim – Drawbridge Of The Soul
Nitzavim – Drawbridge Of The Soul
Sep 1, 2021
45:05
With the entire nation gathered on his final day of life, Moshe warns the people against being seduced by idolatry. The nation, Moshe reveals, is particularly vulnerable to idolatry because of the people whose land through which we have traversed. We saw the Egyptian fascination with idolatry. We saw the various other nations obsession with […]
10337
A Mystical Approach To The Rosh Hashana Readings ft. Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
A Mystical Approach To The Rosh Hashana Readings ft. Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
Sep 2, 2021
1:06:24
As is true by Shabbos and all Festivals, on the two days of Rosh Hashana we read sections from the Torah and a supplemental reading from Tanach, the Haftorah. At first blush, the four readings of Rosh Hashana have no direct connection to the Festival. One day one, the Torah portion that we read is […]
10338
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
Sep 5, 2021
59:55
The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this […]
10339
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
Sep 6, 2021
54:36
On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac […]
10340
Vayeilech – Man on a Mission
Vayeilech – Man on a Mission
Sep 10, 2021
37:39
Moshe has been the leader of the Jewish people since before the Exodus. Over the course of these forty years, Moshe has led the people through high times and low ones; through a split sea and the Sinai Revelation and countless rebellions. In our Parsha, Moshe hands off the reins of power to Joshua. The […]
10341
Parshas Ha’Azinu (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ha’Azinu (Rebroadcast)
Sep 12, 2021
58:00
Still in the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys to the nation a 43-verse Song predicting the contours of Jewish history, both past, present, and future. The patterns are familiar to the readers of Deuteronomy and even casual observers and students of Jewish history: The nation is recipients of tremendous divine goodness, yet they […]
10342
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Sep 13, 2021
2:05:32
On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of […]
10343
Ha’azinu – Small Step for Eaglet
Ha’azinu – Small Step for Eaglet
Sep 14, 2021
46:23
The Song of Ha’azinu is a richly textured tapestry with layered meaning and subtleties. Our Sages tell us that t incorporates all of Jewish History. In its 613 words, it incorporates all of Torah as well. And it is arguably the most difficult Torah portion to decipher and unpack. In this special penultimate podcast of […]
10344
Parshas Vezos HaBeracha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vezos HaBeracha (Rebroadcast)
Sep 19, 2021
51:22
The final parsha of the Torah details the blessings that Moshe conveyed to the tribes of Israel immediately prior to his passing, and the Torah ends with the description of the death, burial, and eulogy of Moshe. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10345
Vezos Habracha – Antidotes to Mediocrity
Vezos Habracha – Antidotes to Mediocrity
Sep 26, 2021
46:17
In the Torah’s final Parsha, and indeed, in its final words, we say goodbye to the greatest human to have ever lived. With the passing of Moshe, the Torah ends, and on Simchas Torah- the day that we finish the yearly Torah cycle – we roll the scroll back to the very beginning and begin […]
10346
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Sep 30, 2021
1:12:33
With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin another year of Torah study and a new cycle of the Parsha Podcast. This year, we will reupload the previous year’s podcast which covered the entire Parsha in each episode each week, and we will, please God, record a second weekly episode that will delve deeply […]
10347
Bereishis – Making Partner
Bereishis – Making Partner
Oct 1, 2021
52:10
What connection do we have with Genesis? In our parsha, God creates the world in six days and ceases to create of day seven, on Shabbos. What exactly does this have to do with us is a great mystery. In this inaugural edition of the sixth cycle of the Parsha Podcast , we share two […]
10348
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Oct 3, 2021
56:55
In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please email me at [email protected] with any questions or […]
10349
Noach – Company Loves Misery
Noach – Company Loves Misery
Oct 5, 2021
45:14
Our Parsha marks a nadir in the story of mankind. Humanity sunk to such spiritual lows that the Almighty decided to destroy the world and start over with just Noah and his family as humanity’s progenitors going forward. What were the conditions of the Flood’s survivors after spending a year in the Ark? In this […]
10350
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Oct 10, 2021
1:02:06
In this week’s parsha, Abraham is instructed to move to Israel, is given divine promises that he will be the father of many nations; his children will be as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of the heaven, a son Ishmael is born, and he is commanded to circumcise his foreskin […]
10351
Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change
Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change
Oct 13, 2021
45:08
Abraham and Sarah undergo seismic changes in our Parsha. Their names get changed as does their destiny. Originally, they were barren, but in our Parsha, the founding Patriarch and Matriarch are told that they will bear a son, Isaac. The mechanics of how this transformation occurred, however, is a bit of a head scratcher. Our […]
10352
Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)
Oct 17, 2021
1:07:14
This week’s parsha features several iconic episodes: Abraham was visited by God as he was recuperating from his circumcision, and concurrently engaged in superlative kindness with three angels masquerading as pagan travelers; Abraham was informed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed and was unsuccessful in interceding on their behalf; […]
10353
Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom
Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom
Oct 20, 2021
56:50
For the third time in the Torah, we read about destruction. Previously, the Flood destroyed the world save Noah and family, and the Dispersal ended the universal civilization, and in our parsha we read about the overturning of Sodom and Gomorrah. The timing of Sodom’s destruction is really interesting. Our Sages said that it happened […]
10354
Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)
Oct 24, 2021
56:23
Some of the highlights of this week’s parsha: Immediately after the Binding of Isaac, Sarah passed away at the age of 127, and soon afterward Abraham had to procure a burial spot for her. In addition, Abraham sent his trusted confidante, Eliezer, to his hometown to find a spouse for Isaac. – – – – […]
10355
Chayei Sarah – The Transformation of Eliezer
Chayei Sarah – The Transformation of Eliezer
Oct 27, 2021
58:34
Eliezer was Abraham’s right hand man. He was in charge of all of Abraham’s affairs. According to the Talmud, Eliezer was the consummate student of Abraham, drawing from Abraham’s wellsprings of Torah and sharing it with others. In our Parsha, Eliezer was the central protagonist. Eliezer was conscripted by Abraham to travel east to Aram […]
10356
Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)
Oct 31, 2021
1:06:32
In Parshas Toldos we meet twin boys that are polar opposites: Esau, beloved by his father Isaac, is a man of the fields; while Jacob is loved by his mother Rebecca and prefers to dwell in the tents of scholarship. These two children will spawn nations and ideals that diverged from each other even before […]
10357
Toldos – Abraham’s Torah
Toldos – Abraham’s Torah
Nov 3, 2021
50:24
Was Abraham the first Jew? Did Abraham observe the laws of the Torah? The Torah dedicates a huge amount of attention to Abraham and his family. The laws of Torah were conveyed at Sinai to Moshe, Abraham’s great-great-great-grandson. How much of that, if any, did Abraham have? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast […]
10358
Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)
Nov 7, 2021
1:03:08
Parshas Vayeitzei follows Jacob as he is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and travels to Charan to the house of Laban, his wily and deceptive uncle, and marries multiple wives and fathers 12 children. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10359
Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold
Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold
Nov 10, 2021
55:21
Jacob’s accomplishments in our Parsha are remarkable. At the onset of our parsha, Jacob is a 77 year old bachelor without a penny to his name. Having been robbed clean of all his possessions, Jacob undertook the grandest, most ambitious initiative in human history: the founding of the Jewish nation. In our parsha, he pulls […]
10360
Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)
Nov 14, 2021
1:00:57
After successfully escaping the clutches of his deceptive father in law, Laban, Jacob heads back west to the Land of Canaan, and back to his family. The journey back home was a lot more tumultuous and chaotic than anticipated. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10361
Vayishlach – Not Reddy to Change
Vayishlach – Not Reddy to Change
Nov 17, 2021
45:01
Parshas Vayishlach is an action-packed parsha. After a tension-filled 20 years with Laban, Jacob has to dodge bullets for another parsha. Esau wants to kill him. The angel tries to strike at him the entire night. His daughter Dina is kidnapped and raped, and his sons slaughter the perpetrating city in rage. The bulk of […]
10362
Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)
Nov 21, 2021
1:06:01
Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a slave after they nearly killed him. By Parsha end, Joseph is languishing in an Egyptian prison […]
10363
Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds
Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds
Nov 24, 2021
59:09
A pebble and a diamond are similar in one way: they are both rocks. That’s where the similarities end. A diamond is precious and valuable. Diamonds are things that we recite the poems over, and name, and write Wikipedia pages about, and adorn the crowns of Kings and Queens. Pebbles get stuck in your tires […]
10364
Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)
Nov 28, 2021
1:05:03
Parshas Mikeitz continues the narrative of Joseph in Egypt. We pick up his story two years after his failed attempt at earning a reprieve via his cellmate, Pharaoh’s butler, who was about to be reinstated to his post as Pharaoh’s side. Joseph is languishing in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit; after being […]
10365
Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime
Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime
Dec 2, 2021
1:04:38
Joseph is one of the all-time heroes of Jewish history. His strength of character was legendary, his faith was unflappable, and his storyline remains an inspiration for generations. Yet he was harshly criticized for making a huge blunder. The Midrash at the beginning of this week’s Parsha tells us that he relied to heavily on […]
10366
Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)
Dec 5, 2021
55:25
Twenty two years have passed since Jacob and Joseph were separated. Ever since Joseph was torn away from him, Jacob was bereft of prophecy and inconsolable. In Parshas Vayigash this long saga comes to an end and Jacob is finally reunited with his long-lost son. – – – – – – – – – – […]
10367
Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings
Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings
Dec 8, 2021
1:03:29
Amongst the sons of Jacob were two kings: Judah and Joseph. Joseph was viceroy of Egypt. He was a king in his lifetime. Judah was never crowned as King in his lifetime, but his descendants make up the monarchy of the Jewish people. David, Solomon, all the kings of Judah, and even King Messiah are […]
10368
Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)
Dec 12, 2021
52:31
Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons. – […]
10369
Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Dec 16, 2021
1:01:44
Family is everything. If you are fortunate enough to have siblings, parents, and children you know that there are bonds of kinship and brotherhood (and sisterhood, of course) between family members are strong and often unbreakable. This is not something new. When Jacob was on his deathbed he shared with his sons his final thoughts […]
10370
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Dec 19, 2021
59:45
The Book of Exodus begins with the Egyptians cunningly enslaving their Hebrew subjects: mandating that they work in backbreaking labor, killing their male sons, and trying to stamp out their spirit and curb their population. But God heard their cries and saw their suffering and dispatched the greatest of all men, Moses, a reluctant leader, […]
10371
Shemos – Make Your Move
Shemos – Make Your Move
Dec 22, 2021
55:10
Our Parsha is a difficult one to read. Our nation was enslaved, tormented, oppressed, and murdered by the Egyptians. Although we don’t see the salvation in our Parsha, the chess pieces of the redemption are set into place. In this edition of the Parsha Podcast, we study several themes of the Parsha that can improve […]
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Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Dec 26, 2021
1:00:59
Our Parsha begins in the middle of the dialogue between Moses and God. Moses’ initial foray into saving the nation has gone horribly awry. Instead of alleviating the pain of the Jewish nation; his intervention exacerbated it, and he returned to the Almighty asking for an explanation. In His response, God tells Moses that he […]
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Vaeira – The Endurance Expedition
Vaeira – The Endurance Expedition
Dec 28, 2021
1:01:52
As the tag team representing God in the Exodus, Moshe and Aaron pull off some incredible miracles and feats in this week’s Parsha. When they are formally introduced and their pedigree is laid out, a very interesting praise is bestowed upon them. Upon analysis, we find the identical praise conferred upon many of the great […]
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Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Jan 2, 2022
1:00:25
After the first seven Plagues of Egypt related in last week’s parsha, Pharaoh and his people were still unwilling to release the Children of Israel. In Parshas Bo, the miracles and wonders of the Almighty intensified, culminating in the Death of the Firstborn and the Exodus from Egypt. – – – – – – – […]
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Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus
Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus
Jan 5, 2022
57:49
The Exodus from Egypt was the founding event of our people. Our nation had been in Egypt for more than two centuries and we had become acculturated into the Egyptian way of life. Over the year of the Exodus process, our nation was privy to miracles never before seen in history: we saw our masters […]
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Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Jan 9, 2022
1:03:51
Parshas Beshalach may be the most action-packed parsha in the Torah. After the Exodus, God directed the people to not take the shortest route to the Land in order to facilitate the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and the final destruction of the Egyptians. After those unprecedented miracles, the trouble began: Twice […]
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Beshalach – Songworthy Sequels
Beshalach – Songworthy Sequels
Jan 12, 2022
44:39
The Exodus marked the severing of the Jewish people from their former masters, the Egyptians. With plagues and miracles, the Almighty extracted the Israelites from bondage. That all happened in last week’s Parsha. You would expect that our nation would move on to other pursuits and challenges, but our Parsha begins with the Egyptians again. […]
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Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Jan 16, 2022
1:05:59
The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe’s father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process. – – […]
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Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro
Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro
Jan 19, 2022
56:06
The eponymous protagonist of our Parsha – Moshe’s father-in-law, Jethro – makes three appearances in the Torah. His story, at first glance, seems wholly unremarkable. His greatest claim to fame was the fact that Moshe married his daughter. But the Torah revisits this interesting and compelling character again and again, and his narrative is positioned […]
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Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Jan 23, 2022
59:05
Parshas Mishpatim marks a stark change in the rhythm and pace of the Torah narrative. The preceding 17 Parshas contained a total of 41 mitzvos; this week we begin learning the Torah laws en masse. In this single parsha alone we have 53 mitzvos (only three parshas have more mitzvos). Beyond the varied laws, this parsha […]
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Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai
Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai
Jan 27, 2022
53:19
The Sinai Revelation was the most significant event in all of human history, certainly in all of Jewish history. Our nation experienced what no other people has experienced: we heard God speaking the Ten Commandments from amidst the fire and thick cloud on the mountain, and survived to tell the tale. This event – as […]
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Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Jan 30, 2022
52:28
One of the fundamental principles of Jewish philosophy is the idea of “Kedushah”, holiness. Holiness, according to the Jewish definition, is when the physical and spiritual worlds meet. In no location in the world is holiness more present than the Temple, and its predecessor, the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle. In this week’s parsha we read about […]
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Terumah – The Mystery of the Menorah
Terumah – The Mystery of the Menorah
Feb 2, 2022
1:01:37
This week’s Parsha marks the beginning of the Torah’s detailing of the Tabernacle and its vessels and operations. This subject makes up the bulk of the remaining narrative of Exodus, and Leviticus contains much of the laws related to the Tabernacle. We have never witnessed the Tabernacle, nor it’s successor, the Temple in Jerusalem. The […]
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Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Feb 6, 2022
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 […]
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Tetzaveh – What’s In A Name
Tetzaveh – What’s In A Name
Feb 8, 2022
1:03:38
Our Sages tell us that each one of us is unique and has a unique mission to fulfill. Humans are not fungible, moist, robots that can be swapped for each other. Each one of us is our own world. We must each say: “the world was created for me.” But how do we discover our […]
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Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) & TORCH Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) & TORCH Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Feb 13, 2022
1:17:59
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
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Ki Sisa – Counting and Duking the Nation & Annual Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Ki Sisa – Counting and Duking the Nation & Annual Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Feb 16, 2022
52:30
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The […]
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Special: An Interview About My New Book, Upon A Ten-Stringed Harp
Special: An Interview About My New Book, Upon A Ten-Stringed Harp
Feb 17, 2022
36:28
In conjunction with our annual fundraiser this week at giveTORCH.org (every donation is tripled), we are releasing a special interview conducted by the TORCH Board President, Dan Kullman, about my new book, Upon A Ten-Stringed Harp. Please consider contributing to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org.
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Parshas Vayakhel (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayakhel (Rebroadcast)
Feb 20, 2022
1:00:50
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 […]
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Vayakhel – Heart Donor
Vayakhel – Heart Donor
Feb 23, 2022
1:01:21
LAST CHANCE to support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
10391
Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Feb 27, 2022
34:03
The final parsha in the Book of Exodus wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
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Pekudei – Bold Initiatives Checklist
Pekudei – Bold Initiatives Checklist
Mar 1, 2022
1:05:22
The most ambitious initiative ever undertook in the history of mankind was the construction of the Tabernacle. Think about it: humans are getting together with the intent of constructing a residence for God on this Earth. And they pull it off! Our Parsha ends with the Presence of God dwelling in the Tabernacle. In this […]
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Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Mar 6, 2022
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 […]
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Vayikra – From Each According to His Ability
Vayikra – From Each According to His Ability
Mar 9, 2022
51:30
Our Parsha deals exclusively with sacrifices. Since the destruction of the Temple nearly 2,000 years ago, our nation has not offered a single sacrifice. In this podcast we show how, notwithstanding the inapplicability of sacrifices today, there are wonderful lessons to learn from every part of the Torah. The one we learn today is both […]
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Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Mar 13, 2022
58:55
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
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The Book of Esther on an Allegorical Level (Rebroadcast)
The Book of Esther on an Allegorical Level (Rebroadcast)
Mar 15, 2022
1:37:51
On Purim we read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Purim miracle. The Persian king Achashverosh conspires with his Amalekite viceroy Haman to eradicate the entire Jewish nation, but God refused to allow their plans to unfold. Queen Esther, together with her relative Mordechai, spearhead the effort to turn the plan on […]
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Tzav – Ready, Steady, Fire!
Tzav – Ready, Steady, Fire!
Mar 16, 2022
47:28
A lot of things are needed for the Temple and the Tabernacle to function properly. There are all kinds of prerequisites, protocols, procedures, and rituals that must be followed. One of the most surprising ones is the requirement to always have a fire atop the altar. Although the fire is needed for the processing of […]
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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Mar 20, 2022
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 […]
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We Have Been Blessed With a Baby Boy
We Have Been Blessed With a Baby Boy
Mar 20, 2022
40:55
With deep appreciation to the Almighty for all the goodness that He has bestowed upon us, I’m happy to share that my wife, Chaya, and I were blessed with a beautiful baby boy on Monday, March 14. Thank God, both Mom and baby are doing fabulous! In this special edition of the podcast, I share […]
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Shemini – Aaron’s Credentials
Shemini – Aaron’s Credentials
Mar 23, 2022
48:50
In our Parsha Aaron is promoted to become the high priest. Previously, Moshe served as high priest in an interim role, henceforth Aaron and his descendants will serve as the nation’s emissaries before God. Why was Aaron chosen? What were his qualifications? What were the events in his life that rendered him worthy of such […]