Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
20429 episodes
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Name
Release Date
Duration
14601
Ep. 26: A History of Christian Anti-Semitism Part 2
Ep. 26: A History of Christian Anti-Semitism Part 2
Apr 5, 2017
46:43
In this podcast we detail a shortened version of the shameful history of Christian anti-semitism over the last 500 years. We learn about the ruthless Portuguese Inquisition; the decrepit ghettos of Italy; the horrific massacres of Chmielnitsky in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine; the Pale of Settlement and the various gruesome pogroms in Russia, and survey […]
14602
Ep. 27: Great Jewish Personalities: Ramban (Nachmanides)
Ep. 27: Great Jewish Personalities: Ramban (Nachmanides)
Apr 26, 2017
44:05
Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman was one of the towering figures of Medieval Jewish world, whose impact was unmatched in his lifetime, and whose volumenous and diverse writings continue to educate and inspire – and indeed shape Jewish life – 750 years after his passing. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
14603
Ep. 27: Great Jewish Personalities: Ramban (Nachmanides)
Ep. 27: Great Jewish Personalities: Ramban (Nachmanides)
Apr 26, 2017
44:05
Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman was one of the towering figures of Medieval Jewish world, whose impact was unmatched in his lifetime, and whose volumenous and diverse writings continue to educate and inspire – and indeed shape Jewish life – 750 years after his passing. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
14604
Ep. 28: A History of Zionism
Ep. 28: A History of Zionism
May 3, 2017
49:23
69 years ago, the State of Israel was declared. For the first time since the arrival of Pompey and the Romans in 63 BC, Jews had sovereignty over their homeland; the Land promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Land from which they were twice expelled. For Zionists worldwide, it marked the actualization of their hopes […]
14605
Ep. 28: A History of Zionism
Ep. 28: A History of Zionism
May 3, 2017
49:23
69 years ago, the State of Israel was declared. For the first time since the arrival of Pompey and the Romans in 63 BC, Jews had sovereignty over their homeland; the Land promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Land from which they were twice expelled. For Zionists worldwide, it marked the actualization of their hopes […]
14606
Ep. 29: A History of Halacha
Ep. 29: A History of Halacha
May 10, 2017
45:15
Halacha is the aspect of Oral Torah that teaches the practical instructions of fulfilling the mitzvos. It addresses questions like: What is allowed what is forbidden? What is kosher what is unkosher? Who is liable and who is innocent? For the Jewish people to exist and flourish, knowledge of Halacha must be ubiquitous. In this podcast we trace its […]
14607
Ep. 29: A History of Halacha
Ep. 29: A History of Halacha
May 10, 2017
45:15
Halacha is the aspect of Oral Torah that teaches the practical instructions of fulfilling the mitzvos. It addresses questions like: What is allowed what is forbidden? What is kosher what is unkosher? Who is liable and who is innocent? For the Jewish people to exist and flourish, knowledge of Halacha must be ubiquitous. In this podcast we trace its […]
14608
Ep. 30: The Six Day War Part 1
Ep. 30: The Six Day War Part 1
May 17, 2017
48:49
In June of 1967, the third Arab-Israeli war, a conflict that shaped the modern Middle East, erupted. The Arabs had advantages in terms of numbers of troops, tanks, planes; they had a broad coalition and international support; and their geographical depth gave them a sizeable leg up. The fledgling Jewish State had to fight a multi-front war […]
14609
Ep. 30: The Six Day War Part 1
Ep. 30: The Six Day War Part 1
May 17, 2017
48:49
In June of 1967, the third Arab-Israeli war, a conflict that shaped the modern Middle East, erupted. The Arabs had advantages in terms of numbers of troops, tanks, planes; they had a broad coalition and international support; and their geographical depth gave them a sizeable leg up. The fledgling Jewish State had to fight a multi-front war […]
14610
Ep. 32: A History of False Messiahs
Ep. 32: A History of False Messiahs
Jun 7, 2017
51:53
Belief in the coming of Messiah is a critical component of Jewish faith that is enshrined in Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith. Sadly, ignorance of what exactly Messiah is, what he supposed to do, and how to vet him, coupled with people’s naiveté, gullibility, and vulnerability, has allowed for several imposters to make false Messianic claims, […]
14611
Ep. 33: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)
Ep. 33: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)
Jun 21, 2017
55:58
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746) was a transformative paragon of Kabbalah, Mussar and Jewish theology. Despite living a short and tumultuous life, Ramchal’s writings and teachings were astonishingly prolific, and many of his books became indispensable classics that redefined their genre. In this podcast, we meet a precocious and prodigious youth teaching and practicing Kabbalah; we go […]
14612
Ep. 33: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)
Ep. 33: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)
Jun 21, 2017
55:58
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746) was a transformative paragon of Kabbalah, Mussar and Jewish theology. Despite living a short and tumultuous life, Ramchal’s writings and teachings were astonishingly prolific, and many of his books became indispensable classics that redefined their genre. In this podcast, we meet a precocious and prodigious youth teaching and practicing Kabbalah; we go […]
14613
Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna
Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna
Jul 5, 2017
50:55
Rabbi Eliyahu the son of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Kramer (1720-1797), known to all as the Gaon (genius) of Vilna, or simply the “Gaon”, was a legendary and towering figures of Jewish history. While he never headed a yeshiva, held rabbinic office, or publish in his lifetime, he was universally recognized as the undisputed leader of the nation, […]
14614
Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna
Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna
Jul 5, 2017
50:55
Rabbi Eliyahu the son of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Kramer (1720-1797), known to all as the Gaon (genius) of Vilna, or simply the “Gaon”, was a legendary and towering figures of Jewish history. While he never headed a yeshiva, held rabbinic office, or publish in his lifetime, he was universally recognized as the undisputed leader of the nation, […]
14615
Ep. 35: Emancipation, Haskalah, and Reform: The Zeitgeist of 1800s European Jewry
Ep. 35: Emancipation, Haskalah, and Reform: The Zeitgeist of 1800s European Jewry
Jul 19, 2017
49:07
The 19th Century was a tumultuous time of fundamental change, opportunity, and upheaval for the Jewish people. For centuries, the Jews of Europe were subject to systemic marginalization: They were second-class citizens, were not granted equal rights or protection, were restricted to ghettos. The Age of Reason, alternatively called the Enlightenment, brought about rapid Emancipation for the Jews, that was not […]
14616
Ep. 35: Emancipation, Haskalah, and Reform: The Zeitgeist of 1800s European Jewry
Ep. 35: Emancipation, Haskalah, and Reform: The Zeitgeist of 1800s European Jewry
Jul 19, 2017
49:07
The 19th Century was a tumultuous time of fundamental change, opportunity, and upheaval for the Jewish people. For centuries, the Jews of Europe were subject to systemic marginalization: They were second-class citizens, were not granted equal rights or protection, were restricted to ghettos. The Age of Reason, alternatively called the Enlightenment, brought about rapid Emancipation for the Jews, that was not […]
14617
Ep. 36: Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chasam Sofer) and his Hardline Response to Haskalah
Ep. 36: Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chasam Sofer) and his Hardline Response to Haskalah
Aug 2, 2017
40:33
The Haskalah movement that swept through European Jewry in the 19th Century, brought about several different responses from what became known as the Orthodox communities. In Hungary, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, known by the name of one his books as the “Chasam Sofer”, championed a zero-tolerance approach of rejecting modernity of all kinds. His motto was – Chadash […]
14618
Ep. 36: Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chasam Sofer) and his Hardline Response to Haskalah
Ep. 36: Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chasam Sofer) and his Hardline Response to Haskalah
Aug 2, 2017
40:33
The Haskalah movement that swept through European Jewry in the 19th Century, brought about several different responses from what became known as the Orthodox communities. In Hungary, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, known by the name of one his books as the “Chasam Sofer”, championed a zero-tolerance approach of rejecting modernity of all kinds. His motto was – Chadash […]
14619
Ep. 37: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Torah Im Derech Eretz
Ep. 37: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Torah Im Derech Eretz
Aug 16, 2017
48:04
19th Century German Jewry was faced unprecedented, hitherto unseen threats to its continuity. Due to the rise of Reform and the Haskalah movements bent on drawing Jews away from Torah, coupled with the circumstances – the Emancipation and the relaxing of the hostility towards the Jews all over Europe – that enabled assimilation into the greater […]
14620
Ep. 37: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Torah Im Derech Eretz
Ep. 37: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Torah Im Derech Eretz
Aug 16, 2017
48:04
19th Century German Jewry was faced unprecedented, hitherto unseen threats to its continuity. Due to the rise of Reform and the Haskalah movements bent on drawing Jews away from Torah, coupled with the circumstances – the Emancipation and the relaxing of the hostility towards the Jews all over Europe – that enabled assimilation into the greater […]
14621
Ep. 38: Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and the Mother of all Yeshivos
Ep. 38: Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and the Mother of all Yeshivos
Sep 1, 2017
52:35
To see pictures of the devastation of the TORCH Centre please visit http://rabbiwolbe.com/harvey/ To make a donation to the rebuilding of the TORCH Centre please visit rebuildtorch.com Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin was a man of extraordinary character and scholarship, and the most prominent disciple of the Gaon of Vilna, who succeeded him as leader of Lithuanian Jewry in […]
14622
Ep. 39: Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement
Ep. 39: Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement
Sep 13, 2017
1:16:23
By the 1840s, ferocious winds of changes were sweeping through the Jewish nation, and leaving wreckage and carnage in the wake of their consuming vortexes. The spiritual standing of the nation was under assault from without and vulnerable from within. Several great, innovative leaders rose up and created movements aimed at rebuffing the threats. In this […]
14623
Ep. 39: Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement
Ep. 39: Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement
Sep 13, 2017
1:16:23
By the 1840s, ferocious winds of changes were sweeping through the Jewish nation, and leaving wreckage and carnage in the wake of their consuming vortexes. The spiritual standing of the nation was under assault from without and vulnerable from within. Several great, innovative leaders rose up and created movements aimed at rebuffing the threats. In this […]
14624
Ep. 40: Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and the Brisker Method of Talmudic Analysis
Ep. 40: Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and the Brisker Method of Talmudic Analysis
Oct 19, 2017
58:02
Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik, the scion of a prestigious rabbinical family, was the father of a new penetrating, incisive, and brilliant approach to Talmudic study and analysis that took the Yeshiva world by storm and is now ubiquitously accepted in the Yeshiva world. In addition to those accomplishments, he was also the paragon of kindness. In this […]
14625
Ep. 40: Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and the Brisker Method of Talmudic Analysis
Ep. 40: Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and the Brisker Method of Talmudic Analysis
Oct 19, 2017
58:02
Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik, the scion of a prestigious rabbinical family, was the father of a new penetrating, incisive, and brilliant approach to Talmudic study and analysis that took the Yeshiva world by storm and is now ubiquitously accepted in the Yeshiva world. In addition to those accomplishments, he was also the paragon of kindness. In this […]
14626
Ep. 41: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part One: The Slabodka Revolution)
Ep. 41: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part One: The Slabodka Revolution)
Nov 9, 2017
51:30
Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, known the world over as the Alter of Slabodka, was and is the greatest builder of Torah of the last several centuries. The burgeoning yeshiva movement today, and indeed the fact that yeshivos did not go extinct a century ago, is due to him more than any one person. He was the first […]
14627
Ep. 41: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part One: The Slabodka Revolution)
Ep. 41: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part One: The Slabodka Revolution)
Nov 9, 2017
51:30
Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, known the world over as the Alter of Slabodka, was and is the greatest builder of Torah of the last several centuries. The burgeoning yeshiva movement today, and indeed the fact that yeshivos did not go extinct a century ago, is due to him more than any one person. He was the first […]
14628
Ep. 42: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part Two: The Mussar Ideology)
Ep. 42: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part Two: The Mussar Ideology)
Nov 15, 2017
48:30
The burgeoning yeshiva movement today, and indeed the fact that yeshivos did not go extinct a century ago, is due to Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, known the world over as the Alter of Slabodka, more than any one person. He was the first to combine two of the greatest movements of the 19th century into one, […]
14629
Ep. 42: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part Two: The Mussar Ideology)
Ep. 42: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part Two: The Mussar Ideology)
Nov 15, 2017
48:30
The burgeoning yeshiva movement today, and indeed the fact that yeshivos did not go extinct a century ago, is due to Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, known the world over as the Alter of Slabodka, more than any one person. He was the first to combine two of the greatest movements of the 19th century into one, […]
14630
Ep. 43: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans
Ep. 43: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans
Dec 12, 2017
48:44
The holiday of Chanukah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked. NEW PODCAST – […]
14631
Ep. 43: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans
Ep. 43: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans
Dec 12, 2017
48:44
The holiday of Chanukah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked. NEW PODCAST – […]
14632
Ep. 44: Jerusalem: A History of the Holy City from the Bible to Bibi
Ep. 44: Jerusalem: A History of the Holy City from the Bible to Bibi
Jan 2, 2018
1:14:35
The ancient and historic city of Jerusalem is the most contested piece of real estate on the planet. For Jews, it is the center of the world; it is the hallowed grounds upon which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob treaded and prayed; it was the site of the two Temples, and of the long-awaited third Temple. […]
14633
Ep. 44: Jerusalem: A History of the Holy City from the Bible to Bibi
Ep. 44: Jerusalem: A History of the Holy City from the Bible to Bibi
Jan 2, 2018
1:14:35
The ancient and historic city of Jerusalem is the most contested piece of real estate on the planet. For Jews, it is the center of the world; it is the hallowed grounds upon which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob treaded and prayed; it was the site of the two Temples, and of the long-awaited third Temple. […]
14634
Ep. 45: A History of Tefillah (Jewish Prayer), Liturgy, and the Siddur
Ep. 45: A History of Tefillah (Jewish Prayer), Liturgy, and the Siddur
Feb 15, 2018
1:13:02
Prayer is a central aspect of Jewish life. The second mishnah in Pirkei Avos identifies the three pillars that uphold the world, one of them being prayer. Prayer also occupies a large part of Jewish observance: we pray thrice daily, four times on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, holidays and festivals, and five times on Yom Kippur, amounting […]
14635
Ep. 45: A History of Tefillah (Jewish Prayer), Liturgy, and the Siddur
Ep. 45: A History of Tefillah (Jewish Prayer), Liturgy, and the Siddur
Feb 15, 2018
1:13:02
Prayer is a central aspect of Jewish life. The second mishnah in Pirkei Avos identifies the three pillars that uphold the world, one of them being prayer. Prayer also occupies a large part of Jewish observance: we pray thrice daily, four times on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, holidays and festivals, and five times on Yom Kippur, amounting […]
14636
Ep. 46: The Purim Backstory
Ep. 46: The Purim Backstory
Feb 22, 2018
37:48
Purim is a holiday celebrated by Jews worldwide on the 14th day of the month of Adar, and in Jerusalem and walled cities on the fifteenth day of Adar. It commemorates the story of the salvation of the Jewish nation from the genocidal plans of Haman and Achashveirosh in Persia. How did the Jews end up living […]
14637
Ep. 47: The Purim Story
Ep. 47: The Purim Story
Feb 28, 2018
59:14
The Purim Story begins with King Achashverosh, the Persian king who ruled from Hodu until Cush (India until Ethiopia), making a massive feast for all the ministers and noblemen of Persia and Media that lasted for 180 days. Soon afterwards Achashverosh partners with the wicked Haman to annihilate the entire Jewish nation. In this podcast […]
14638
Ep. 48: The History of the Jewish Calendar (Plus Annual Fundraising Appeal at GiveTORCH.org)
Ep. 48: The History of the Jewish Calendar (Plus Annual Fundraising Appeal at GiveTORCH.org)
Mar 21, 2018
58:37
Annual Appeal To my dear listeners, At TORCH we have a simple philosophy: We give stimulating and engaging and relevant Torah teachings every day. But there is one day a year that we ask our friends, students, supporters and partners to give to TORCH. Today is that day. Today we will, please God, raise the […]
14639
Ep. 48: The History of the Jewish Calendar (Plus Annual Fundraising Appeal at GiveTORCH.org)
Ep. 48: The History of the Jewish Calendar (Plus Annual Fundraising Appeal at GiveTORCH.org)
Mar 21, 2018
58:37
Annual Appeal To my dear listeners, At TORCH we have a simple philosophy: We give stimulating and engaging and relevant Torah teachings every day. But there is one day a year that we ask our friends, students, supporters and partners to give to TORCH. Today is that day. Today we will, please God, raise the […]
14640
Ep. 49: The Story of King David (Part One: Rise to Monarchy)
Ep. 49: The Story of King David (Part One: Rise to Monarchy)
Apr 18, 2018
48:03
King David was anointed as the second king of Israel by the prophet Samuel and is considered the archetype of the Jewish king who earned the mantle of monarchy for his descendants forever. He authored the Psalms, which until this day are the ultimate manifestation of the Jewish soul yearning for its Creator and praying and beseeching […]
14641
Ep. 49: The Story of King David (Part One: Rise to Monarchy)
Ep. 49: The Story of King David (Part One: Rise to Monarchy)
Apr 18, 2018
48:03
King David was anointed as the second king of Israel by the prophet Samuel and is considered the archetype of the Jewish king who earned the mantle of monarchy for his descendants forever. He authored the Psalms, which until this day are the ultimate manifestation of the Jewish soul yearning for its Creator and praying and beseeching […]
14642
Ep. 50: The Story of King David (Part Two: David, King of Israel)
Ep. 50: The Story of King David (Part Two: David, King of Israel)
Apr 25, 2018
1:06:17
David is now the undisputed king of Israel, but before him lay several key tasks: Of course the various Philistine and Canaanite tribes continue to be a pest, and David must subdue them to create lasting stability. Most importantly, however, David needs to corral the tribes of Israel who were formerly loyal to Saul and Ish […]
14643
Ep. 50: The Story of King David (Part Two: David, King of Israel)
Ep. 50: The Story of King David (Part Two: David, King of Israel)
Apr 25, 2018
1:06:17
David is now the undisputed king of Israel, but before him lay several key tasks: Of course the various Philistine and Canaanite tribes continue to be a pest, and David must subdue them to create lasting stability. Most importantly, however, David needs to corral the tribes of Israel who were formerly loyal to Saul and Ish […]
14644
Ep. 51: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part One: From Moshe until the Destruction of the Second Temple)
Ep. 51: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part One: From Moshe until the Destruction of the Second Temple)
May 8, 2018
53:16
The Sanhedrin, the highest halachic authority in the Land comprised of the 71 greatest scholars in the Jewish world, was the Supreme Court of the Jewish Nation. It was founded by Moshe about a year after the Revelation at Sinai and continued almost uninterrupted for 1700 years. This body played an instrumental role in guiding and […]
14645
Ep. 51: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part One: From Moshe until the Destruction of the Second Temple)
Ep. 51: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part One: From Moshe until the Destruction of the Second Temple)
May 8, 2018
53:16
The Sanhedrin, the highest halachic authority in the Land comprised of the 71 greatest scholars in the Jewish world, was the Supreme Court of the Jewish Nation. It was founded by Moshe about a year after the Revelation at Sinai and continued almost uninterrupted for 1700 years. This body played an instrumental role in guiding and […]
14646
Ep. 52: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part Two: From Yavneh Onward)
Ep. 52: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part Two: From Yavneh Onward)
May 15, 2018
59:25
After the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed, the Sanhedrin at Yavneh became the epicenter of Jewish life. Though the pride of the nation – The Holy Temple in Jerusalem which was standing for 420 years – was destroyed, and tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands of Jews were massacred, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai’s negotiations with Vespasian […]
14647
Ep. 52: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part Two: From Yavneh Onward)
Ep. 52: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part Two: From Yavneh Onward)
May 15, 2018
59:25
After the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed, the Sanhedrin at Yavneh became the epicenter of Jewish life. Though the pride of the nation – The Holy Temple in Jerusalem which was standing for 420 years – was destroyed, and tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands of Jews were massacred, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai’s negotiations with Vespasian […]
14648
Ep. 53: The Ten Lost Tribes: History, Legends, and Folklore
Ep. 53: The Ten Lost Tribes: History, Legends, and Folklore
Jun 5, 2018
49:59
The story of the Ten Lost Tribes is shrouded in mystery, replete with legends and folklore. At its core it is one of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history. It began with the worst schism and civil war in our history. The rift persisted for decades and was never resolved despite many concerted efforts of the great prophets […]
14649
Ep. 53: The Ten Lost Tribes: History, Legends, and Folklore
Ep. 53: The Ten Lost Tribes: History, Legends, and Folklore
Jun 5, 2018
49:59
The story of the Ten Lost Tribes is shrouded in mystery, replete with legends and folklore. At its core it is one of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history. It began with the worst schism and civil war in our history. The rift persisted for decades and was never resolved despite many concerted efforts of the great prophets […]
14650
Ep. 55: Techeiles: The History of the Mysterious Blue Dye and its Fringe Benefits
Ep. 55: Techeiles: The History of the Mysterious Blue Dye and its Fringe Benefits
Jul 24, 2018
52:06
The word “Techeiles” is mentioned dozens of times in the Torah, and is a subject that appears in many places in the Talmud and associated literature. Techeiles is both a color and a material, namely wool dyed with this color, but to fulfill the Torah’s requirement for this particular color it can only be derived from the […]
14651
Ep. 55: Techeiles: The History of the Mysterious Blue Dye and its Fringe Benefits
Ep. 55: Techeiles: The History of the Mysterious Blue Dye and its Fringe Benefits
Jul 24, 2018
52:06
The word “Techeiles” is mentioned dozens of times in the Torah, and is a subject that appears in many places in the Talmud and associated literature. Techeiles is both a color and a material, namely wool dyed with this color, but to fulfill the Torah’s requirement for this particular color it can only be derived from the […]
14652
Ep. 56: A History of Kabbalah (Part One: Fom Sinai to Safed)
Ep. 56: A History of Kabbalah (Part One: Fom Sinai to Safed)
Sep 6, 2018
47:52
Kabbalah is part of the corpus of Oral Torah – like the Mishnah, the Talmud and Halacha – that was given to Moshe at Sinai and transmitted from generation to generation, but unlike the revealed Torah which was disseminated as widely as possible to the whole nation, the Kabbalah was arcane and esoteric – known to the very […]
14653
Ep. 56: A History of Kabbalah (Part One: Fom Sinai to Safed)
Ep. 56: A History of Kabbalah (Part One: Fom Sinai to Safed)
Sep 6, 2018
47:52
Kabbalah is part of the corpus of Oral Torah – like the Mishnah, the Talmud and Halacha – that was given to Moshe at Sinai and transmitted from generation to generation, but unlike the revealed Torah which was disseminated as widely as possible to the whole nation, the Kabbalah was arcane and esoteric – known to the very […]
14654
Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)
Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)
Oct 10, 2018
56:05
In the 16th century, the city of Safed in Northern Israel became host to one of the greatest collections of Torah Sages ever assembled, none more transformative or influential as Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, known as the Arizal. Though he lived a very short life of 38 years (1534-1572), he revolutionized the study, perception, and understanding of Kabbalah […]
14655
Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)
Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)
Oct 10, 2018
56:05
In the 16th century, the city of Safed in Northern Israel became host to one of the greatest collections of Torah Sages ever assembled, none more transformative or influential as Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, known as the Arizal. Though he lived a very short life of 38 years (1534-1572), he revolutionized the study, perception, and understanding of Kabbalah […]
14656
Ep. 58: Abraham: The Birth of Monotheism and the Origins of the Jewish Nation
Ep. 58: Abraham: The Birth of Monotheism and the Origins of the Jewish Nation
Oct 24, 2018
46:42
The story of the Jewish people – and truthfully the story of all monotheists, Christians and Muslims too – begins with Abraham. Abraham is of course the progenitor of the Jewish nation via his son, Isaac and grandson, Jacob, and his other son, Ishmael, is viewed as the forbearer of the Arabs and by extension […]
14657
Ep. 58: Abraham: The Birth of Monotheism and the Origins of the Jewish Nation
Ep. 58: Abraham: The Birth of Monotheism and the Origins of the Jewish Nation
Oct 24, 2018
46:42
The story of the Jewish people – and truthfully the story of all monotheists, Christians and Muslims too – begins with Abraham. Abraham is of course the progenitor of the Jewish nation via his son, Isaac and grandson, Jacob, and his other son, Ishmael, is viewed as the forbearer of the Arabs and by extension […]
14658
Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History
Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History
Nov 15, 2018
54:23
The oft-repeated refrain “history repeats itself” is especially true with respect to the stories of the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as conveyed in the Book of Genesis. Our Sages have made the bold claim that everything that happened to our forefathers as individuals will be repeated to their children on the national stage. The […]
14659
Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History
Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History
Nov 15, 2018
54:23
The oft-repeated refrain “history repeats itself” is especially true with respect to the stories of the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as conveyed in the Book of Genesis. Our Sages have made the bold claim that everything that happened to our forefathers as individuals will be repeated to their children on the national stage. The […]
14660
Ep. 60: Moses: The Quintessential Jewish Leader
Ep. 60: Moses: The Quintessential Jewish Leader
Nov 27, 2018
56:52
Moses was the greatest human of all time. His resume is replete with superlatives: He was the greatest prophet of all time, both qualitatively and quantitatively; He was the humblest man to grace the earth; He ascended to Heaven, negotiated successfully with angels and brought down the Torah and taught it to the Jewish people; […]
14661
Ep. 60: Moses: The Quintessential Jewish Leader
Ep. 60: Moses: The Quintessential Jewish Leader
Nov 27, 2018
56:52
Moses was the greatest human of all time. His resume is replete with superlatives: He was the greatest prophet of all time, both qualitatively and quantitatively; He was the humblest man to grace the earth; He ascended to Heaven, negotiated successfully with angels and brought down the Torah and taught it to the Jewish people; […]
14662
Ep. 61: Joshua: Disciple Par Excellence of Moses
Ep. 61: Joshua: Disciple Par Excellence of Moses
Dec 12, 2018
53:23
Joshua was the undisputed leader of the Jews after the passing of Moses. Even during Moses’ lifetime, Joshua played an important role as Moses’ aide and confidante and protegé. Among his many accomplishments: He led the war effort and vanquished the Amaleks immediately after the Exodus; He was Moses’ right hand man in his lifetime, and […]
14663
Ep. 61: Joshua: Disciple Par Excellence of Moses
Ep. 61: Joshua: Disciple Par Excellence of Moses
Dec 12, 2018
53:23
Joshua was the undisputed leader of the Jews after the passing of Moses. Even during Moses’ lifetime, Joshua played an important role as Moses’ aide and confidante and protegé. Among his many accomplishments: He led the war effort and vanquished the Amaleks immediately after the Exodus; He was Moses’ right hand man in his lifetime, and […]
14664
Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan
Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan
Jan 9, 2019
44:17
After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with the leadership of the people and with the invasion, conquest, and division of Canaan. Precisely 3 days after the 30-day mourning period of Moses, the invasion commenced with a rapid flurry of miracles, battles, and monumental events. This podcast covers the story of Joshua and the […]
14665
Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan
Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan
Jan 9, 2019
44:17
After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with the leadership of the people and with the invasion, conquest, and division of Canaan. Precisely 3 days after the 30-day mourning period of Moses, the invasion commenced with a rapid flurry of miracles, battles, and monumental events. This podcast covers the story of Joshua and the […]
14666
Ep. 63: The Era of the Judges (Part One: Osniel to Deborah)
Ep. 63: The Era of the Judges (Part One: Osniel to Deborah)
Feb 13, 2019
57:37
After the passing of Joshua, the Jewish nation – newly settled in the land of Canaan, the land of Israel – confronted new realities that spawned new challenges. The leadership of the nation was greatly diminished – their future leaders were not of the caliber of Joshua and certainly not of Moses. They were surrounded […]
14667
Ep. 64: The Era of the Judges (Part Two: Gideon and Yiftach)
Ep. 64: The Era of the Judges (Part Two: Gideon and Yiftach)
Mar 6, 2019
52:09
We pick up the story of the Judges after the miraculous destruction of the enemies of Israel – Yavin and his star general Sisera were vanquished, peace reigned for forty years, but as we have seen previously, the period of the Judges is marked by ebbs and flows: When the Jews are behaving as they […]
14668
Ep. 65: The Era of the Judges (Part Three: Samson the Mighty) + ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Ep. 65: The Era of the Judges (Part Three: Samson the Mighty) + ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Apr 3, 2019
1:06:02
Support TORCH and The Jewish History Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser. https://www.charidy.com/torch/History EVERY DONATION IS QUADRUPLED Today, TORCH needs your help!! Today YOU can support the thousands of Jewish Houstonians who learn and get inspired at TORCH Torah classes every year! Today YOU can support the 18 Houston area Congregations spanning from The […]
14669
Ep. 66: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)
Ep. 66: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)
May 17, 2019
1:03:46
On October 6th, 1973 – on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – a coordinated, surprise attack was launched on the State of Israel by its two great adversaries: Egypt in the South and Syria in the North. The Yom Kippur War would go on to be the bloodiest, and most consequential war […]
14670
Ep. 66: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)
Ep. 66: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)
May 17, 2019
1:03:46
On October 6th, 1973 – on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – a coordinated, surprise attack was launched on the State of Israel by its two great adversaries: Egypt in the South and Syria in the North. The Yom Kippur War would go on to be the bloodiest, and most consequential war […]
14671
Ep. 67: The Yom Kippur War (Part Two: Israel on the Brink)
Ep. 67: The Yom Kippur War (Part Two: Israel on the Brink)
Jun 5, 2019
1:01:16
The first few days of the Yom Kippur War were among the most disastrous and devastating days in Israel’s history. Thanks to unprecedented intelligence failures that we detailed in the previous episode, they were ill-prepared for the simultaneous surprise attacks from the Syrians in the Golan Heights in the North, and the Egyptians in the Sinai […]
14672
Ep. 67: The Yom Kippur War (Part Two: Israel on the Brink)
Ep. 67: The Yom Kippur War (Part Two: Israel on the Brink)
Jun 5, 2019
1:01:16
The first few days of the Yom Kippur War were among the most disastrous and devastating days in Israel’s history. Thanks to unprecedented intelligence failures that we detailed in the previous episode, they were ill-prepared for the simultaneous surprise attacks from the Syrians in the Golan Heights in the North, and the Egyptians in the Sinai […]
14673
Ep. 68: The Yom Kippur War (Part Three: The Tide Turns)
Ep. 68: The Yom Kippur War (Part Three: The Tide Turns)
Aug 12, 2019
58:48
The Yom Kippur War is – at least from a military perspective – a tale of two conflicts: The early stages of the war were completely one-sided, with the combined Arab armies of Syria and Egypt dominating the battlefields and making huge gains and inflicting punishing blows to the Israelis. But the tide dramatically turned, and ultimately […]
14674
Ep. 68: The Yom Kippur War (Part Three: The Tide Turns)
Ep. 68: The Yom Kippur War (Part Three: The Tide Turns)
Aug 12, 2019
58:48
The Yom Kippur War is – at least from a military perspective – a tale of two conflicts: The early stages of the war were completely one-sided, with the combined Arab armies of Syria and Egypt dominating the battlefields and making huge gains and inflicting punishing blows to the Israelis. But the tide dramatically turned, and ultimately […]
14675
Ep. 69: The Yom Kippur War (Part Four: Ceasefire and Aftermath)
Ep. 69: The Yom Kippur War (Part Four: Ceasefire and Aftermath)
Nov 5, 2019
53:55
The turning point in the trajectory of the State of Israel was the Yom Kippur War. In almost every way, the history of the State can be divided into two eras, before and after this pivotal conflict. In the fourth and final installment on the Yom Kippur War, we tell the stories of the war’s […]
14676
Ep. 69: The Yom Kippur War (Part Four: Ceasefire and Aftermath)
Ep. 69: The Yom Kippur War (Part Four: Ceasefire and Aftermath)
Nov 5, 2019
53:55
The turning point in the trajectory of the State of Israel was the Yom Kippur War. In almost every way, the history of the State can be divided into two eras, before and after this pivotal conflict. In the fourth and final installment on the Yom Kippur War, we tell the stories of the war’s […]
14677
Ep. 70: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part One: Torah Renaissance Man)
Ep. 70: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part One: Torah Renaissance Man)
Jan 28, 2020
57:26
The destruction of European Jewry during the Holocaust decimated more than the thousands of Jewish communities of Europe. Europe had been the epicenter of Ashkenazic Jewish life for 1,000 years, and with the destruction of the 6 million Jews, came everything that generations of Jewish communities had built over the millennium. A world of Jewish […]
14678
Ep. 71: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part Two: Making the Spiritual Desert Bloom)
Ep. 71: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part Two: Making the Spiritual Desert Bloom)
Feb 11, 2020
58:23
In 1933, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz – the Chazon Ish – moved to British Mandate Palestine. Prior to his departure, the recognized leader of the Torah world, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky of Vilna had sent a letter to the leaders of the Yishuv informing them that a Torah giant was coming. Employing classic Talmudic phraseology, he wrote […]
14679
Ep. 71: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part Two: Making the Spiritual Desert Bloom)
Ep. 71: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part Two: Making the Spiritual Desert Bloom)
Feb 11, 2020
58:23
In 1933, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz – the Chazon Ish – moved to British Mandate Palestine. Prior to his departure, the recognized leader of the Torah world, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky of Vilna had sent a letter to the leaders of the Yishuv informing them that a Torah giant was coming. Employing classic Talmudic phraseology, he wrote […]
14680
Ep. 72: Chazon Ish: Part Three – On Politics and the Conflict of Religion and State
Ep. 72: Chazon Ish: Part Three – On Politics and the Conflict of Religion and State
Mar 3, 2020
44:31
Please support TORCH and The Jewish History Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser giveTORCH.org Support The Jewish History Podcast – https://www.charidy.com/torch/History 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 […]
14681
Ep. 72: Chazon Ish: Part Three – On Politics and the Conflict of Religion and State
Ep. 72: Chazon Ish: Part Three – On Politics and the Conflict of Religion and State
Mar 3, 2020
44:31
Please support TORCH and The Jewish History Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser giveTORCH.org Support The Jewish History Podcast – https://www.charidy.com/torch/History 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 […]
14682
Ep. 73: Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky: The Exemplar of Slabodka
Ep. 73: Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky: The Exemplar of Slabodka
Jul 14, 2020
57:34
Rabbi Avraham Grodzinski was the last head of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Lithuania. He was primary disciple of the Alter of Slabodka, and his successor after the Alter moved to Chevron, heading the yeshiva until WW2 broke out, and even leading a cadre of students in the ghetto under ghastly conditions. With the destruction of European […]
14683
Ep. 73: Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky: The Exemplar of Slabodka
Ep. 73: Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky: The Exemplar of Slabodka
Jul 14, 2020
57:34
Rabbi Avraham Grodzinski was the last head of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Lithuania. He was primary disciple of the Alter of Slabodka, and his successor after the Alter moved to Chevron, heading the yeshiva until WW2 broke out, and even leading a cadre of students in the ghetto under ghastly conditions. With the destruction of European […]
14684
Ep. 74 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part One – The Prince of Torah
Ep. 74 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part One – The Prince of Torah
Aug 5, 2020
44:26
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, known the world over as “Chacham Ovadia” or simply “Maran”, was one of the most important rabbinical personalities of the 20th Century. His career accomplishments were staggering: He was a Torah scholar of absolute unmatched greatness. He was a transformational Rabbi – with rabbinic posts both in Israel and abroad – who […]
14685
Ep. 74 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part One – The Prince of Torah
Ep. 74 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part One – The Prince of Torah
Aug 5, 2020
44:26
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, known the world over as “Chacham Ovadia” or simply “Maran”, was one of the most important rabbinical personalities of the 20th Century. His career accomplishments were staggering: He was a Torah scholar of absolute unmatched greatness. He was a transformational Rabbi – with rabbinic posts both in Israel and abroad – who […]
14686
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 […]
14687
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 […]
14688
Ep. 75 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part Two – Restoring the Crown of Sephardic Jewry to its Former Glory
Ep. 75 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part Two – Restoring the Crown of Sephardic Jewry to its Former Glory
Oct 21, 2020
1:15:32
Chacham Ovadia Yosef was one of the most impactful and transformative Jewish leaders of recent history. In Part One we discussed Chacham Ovadia’s complete Torah mastery, in this episode we will explore his role as a leader: as a Rabbi, as Rishon LeZion (Sephardic Chief Rabbi), as a halachic arbiter, as a Posek (halachic arbiter), as […]
14689
Ep. 75 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part Two – Restoring the Crown of Sephardic Jewry to its Former Glory
Ep. 75 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part Two – Restoring the Crown of Sephardic Jewry to its Former Glory
Oct 21, 2020
1:15:32
Chacham Ovadia Yosef was one of the most impactful and transformative Jewish leaders of recent history. In Part One we discussed Chacham Ovadia’s complete Torah mastery, in this episode we will explore his role as a leader: as a Rabbi, as Rishon LeZion (Sephardic Chief Rabbi), as a halachic arbiter, as a Posek (halachic arbiter), as […]
14690
Ep. 76: JC in Jewish Sources: Exploring the Censored Text
Ep. 76: JC in Jewish Sources: Exploring the Censored Text
Dec 21, 2020
56:20
As we approach the end of December, I chose to experiment by doing something a bit different in examining the Jewish take on the Christian hero and on early Christianity. When we look at the Talmudic sources on the matter we find that our version of this story is radically different than the Christian one, […]
14691
Ep. 76: JC in Jewish Sources: Exploring the Censored Text
Ep. 76: JC in Jewish Sources: Exploring the Censored Text
Dec 21, 2020
56:20
As we approach the end of December, I chose to experiment by doing something a bit different in examining the Jewish take on the Christian hero and on early Christianity. When we look at the Talmudic sources on the matter we find that our version of this story is radically different than the Christian one, […]
14692
Start 2021 Right with The Parsha Podcast
Start 2021 Right with The Parsha Podcast
Jan 3, 2021
1:02:17
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to record more episodes of The Jewish History Podcast in 2021. If you may indulge me, I would like to suggest to the audience to sample my Parsha Podcast in 2021. In this episode which covers Parshas Shemos, you can take it for a test drive to see […]
14693
Start 2021 Right with The Parsha Podcast
Start 2021 Right with The Parsha Podcast
Jan 3, 2021
1:02:17
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to record more episodes of The Jewish History Podcast in 2021. If you may indulge me, I would like to suggest to the audience to sample my Parsha Podcast in 2021. In this episode which covers Parshas Shemos, you can take it for a test drive to see […]
14694
TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
Mar 4, 2021
24:30
Please support The TORCH Podcasts and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the TORCH Podcasts and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
14695
TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
Mar 4, 2021
24:30
Please support The TORCH Podcasts and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the TORCH Podcasts and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
14696
Ep. 77: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 1: From Moses to Men of the Great Assembly)
Ep. 77: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 1: From Moses to Men of the Great Assembly)
Mar 23, 2021
1:05:46
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 […]
14697
Ep. 77: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 1: From Moses to Men of the Great Assembly)
Ep. 77: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 1: From Moses to Men of the Great Assembly)
Mar 23, 2021
1:05:46
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 […]
14698
Ep. 78: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 2: Hasmoneans, Herod, and Hillel)
Ep. 78: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 2: Hasmoneans, Herod, and Hillel)
Mar 30, 2021
47:30
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; […]
14699
Ep. 78: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 2: Hasmoneans, Herod, and Hillel)
Ep. 78: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 2: Hasmoneans, Herod, and Hillel)
Mar 30, 2021
47:30
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; […]
14700
Ep. 79: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 3: Roman Rule and Rabbinic Reconciliation)
Ep. 79: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 3: Roman Rule and Rabbinic Reconciliation)
Apr 13, 2021
53:51
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 […]