Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
20814 episodes
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Name
Release Date
Duration
17001
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 […]
17002
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 […]
17003
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 […]
17004
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 […]
17005
*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 […]
17006
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 […]
17007
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. – – – – – – – – – – […]
17008
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 […]
17009
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. […]
17010
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 […]
17011
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, […]
17012
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 […]
17013
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. – – – – – – – – – […]
17014
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 […]
17015
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 […]
17016
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 […]
17017
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 […]
17018
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 […]
17019
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 […]
17020
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
17021
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 […]
17022
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 […]
17023
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; […]
17024
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 […]
17025
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 […]
17026
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 […]
17027
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 […]
17028
#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 […]
17029
#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 […]
17030
#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 […]
17031
#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 […]
17032
#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 […]
17033
#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 […]
17034
#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. —— […]
17035
#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 […]
17036
#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 […]
17037
#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].
17038
#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 […]
17039
#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 […]
17040
#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 […]
17041
#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 […]
17042
#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 […]
17043
#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 […]
17044
#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, […]
17045
#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 […]
17046
#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. – – – – – – – – – […]
17047
#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 […]
17048
#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 […]
17049
#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 […]
17050
#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 […]
17051
#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 […]
17052
#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 […]
17053
#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. […]
17054
#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; […]
17055
#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 […]
17056
#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 […]
17057
#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 […]
17058
#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 […]
17059
#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 […]
17060
#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; […]
17061
#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 […]
17062
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 […]
17063
#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 […]
17064
#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 […]
17065
#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 […]
17066
#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 […]
17067
#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, […]
17068
#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, […]
17069
#41: Immanent Proofs for the Divinity of the Torah + TORCH Fundraiser
#41: Immanent Proofs for the Divinity of the Torah + TORCH Fundraiser
Mar 2, 2021
1:14:01
Please support TORAH 101 Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and TORAH 101 Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
17070
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 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
17071
#42: Torah Study: Our National Pastime
#42: Torah Study: Our National Pastime
Apr 19, 2021
55:04
For the Jewish people. Torah is not just a corpus of law, of an accounting of our past, or even the ancient heritage of our people. Torah and an obsession with Torah study have been the defining characteristics of our nation since its inception. Torah is what we stand for; it’s what we do; it’s […]
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#43: Torah Fusion
#43: Torah Fusion
May 11, 2021
1:02:10
Torah study in not just another discipline; it’s a relationship. Our Sages compare the relationship of the Jew to Torah as that of a husband and wife. It’s deep, intimate, and special. Just as husband and wife can unite to create something new, the objective of Torah study is to transform the person and create […]
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#44: Torah Study: The Soul’s Panacea
#44: Torah Study: The Soul’s Panacea
May 24, 2021
1:06:54
Why is our nation so obsessed with Torah? Why do we make such an emphasis on it? What benefits do we as individuals and does society at large accrue with Torah study? In this sweeping episode we explore this fundamental question. We begin with the big picture by outlining some of the critical benefits that […]
17074
#45: The Immutability of Torah
#45: The Immutability of Torah
Jun 14, 2021
52:35
In Principle #8 of the 13 Principles of faith, we learned that the Torah is divine. In our exploration of that Principle, we probed many aspects of the idea of the Divinity of Torah, ranging from the history of Torah, to the components of Torah, to Oral Torah, to Rabbinic law, and culminating with the […]
17075
#46: Divine Omniscience
#46: Divine Omniscience
Oct 18, 2021
1:03:44
The Tenth Principle of the Thirteen Principles of Faith states that God is aware of the actions of mankind and acts accordingly. This kickstarts the third section of the Principles which broadly deal with reward and punishment. Divine reward and punishment is only feasible if the Almighty has complete knowledge of all the behavior and […]
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#47: Frameworks for Human Situations, Sufferings, and Successes
#47: Frameworks for Human Situations, Sufferings, and Successes
Oct 25, 2021
43:05
Why are some people rich and others poor? Why do some people have a pleasant life, while others live in grinding, miserable, poverty and privation? Why is there so much inequality in the world? These questions are hard to answer. Rambam tells us that there is a certain kind of heretics that concludes from the […]
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#48: How Pedigree and Past Lives Determine Circumstances
#48: How Pedigree and Past Lives Determine Circumstances
Nov 1, 2021
50:09
How exactly does the Almighty determine what are the circumstances that people are placed in in this world? That is an impossible question for humans to answer with exactitude. Unless the Almighty reveals the answer via one of His prophets, we are in the dark. Nevertheless, our Sages outlines for us a bevy of frameworks […]
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#49: Free Will and Divine Foreknowledge
#49: Free Will and Divine Foreknowledge
Jan 3, 2022
1:08:42
We hold two beliefs that seem to be mutually exclusive. The 10th principle of the 13 principles of faith declares that God knows everything – including the thoughts, deeds, and speech of people – even before it happens. There is nothing that is hidden from Him. We also believe in free will. The principle of […]
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#50: Divine Reward and Punishment: A General Introduction
#50: Divine Reward and Punishment: A General Introduction
Jan 31, 2022
39:21
The 11th of the 13 principles of Faith states that God dispenses reward to those who obey His will and punishes those who violate it. What is the nature of this reward and punishment is a vast and complex subject that we will yet navigate, with the help of the Almighty. In this podcast we […]
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#51: How God Dispenses Divine Reward and Punishment
#51: How God Dispenses Divine Reward and Punishment
Feb 7, 2022
48:09
In our previous episode we established the basic principle that God dispenses reward to those who hearken to Him, and metes out punishment to those who disobey Him. In this episode we get down to specifics: What is the nature of the Divine system of reward and punishment? How is God’s methods of reward and […]
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#52: What Happens After You Die: An Eschatological Timeline
#52: What Happens After You Die: An Eschatological Timeline
Feb 14, 2022
1:07:39
The question of what happens after we die is simultaneously fascinating and terrifying. Death is a future that we all share, and we are all curious about what it will be like, but thinking about it is scary and unsettling. In our exploration of the 13 principles of faith, we are up to the concept […]
17082
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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#53: The Anatomy of the Soul
#53: The Anatomy of the Soul
Mar 7, 2022
1:05:17
The human Soul is the most ethereal of God’s creations. Our Sages tell us that it is spiritually loftier than Angels. Before we continue our discussions related to what happens to the Soul in the Afterlife, it is important to gain a basic understanding of the nature of the Soul: What is it? Where does […]
17084
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 […]
17085
#54: The Origin of the Soul
#54: The Origin of the Soul
Mar 29, 2022
56:49
The Soul is perhaps the loftiest creation of God. Our Sages tell us that the Soul is even loftier than Angels. What does that mean? What is the nature of the relationship of the Soul to its Creator? What are the properties of the Soul? In this fundamental podcast you will learn about the origin […]
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#55: The Transposition of the Soul
#55: The Transposition of the Soul
Apr 11, 2022
58:48
How did the soul end up here? What transpired to the soul before it got here? These are fascinating questions that on the surface seem to be quite theoretical. What difference does studying the history and the backstory of the Soul make for us who are already living? A lot, it turns out. By understanding […]
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#56: The Unique Markers of a Jewish Soul
#56: The Unique Markers of a Jewish Soul
Apr 25, 2022
1:01:42
Our nation purports to be the chosen people. What does that mean? Why were we chosen? What were we chosen for? The notion of being a chosen people is a very interesting and mysterious idea. In this special podcast, we focus on an element of the uniqueness of the Jewish nation: the Jewish Soul. Are […]
17088
#57: The Afterlife in Torah Literature
#57: The Afterlife in Torah Literature
Jun 8, 2022
49:17
A central pillar of our belief is that when we adhere to the word of God, He will reward us in the Afterlife. Conversely, if we disobey God, we will suffer the consequences of our rebellion in the Afterlife as well. In this podcast we ponder an interesting question: the Torah discusses reward and punishment […]
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#58: Post-Mortem Judgment and Cleansing
#58: Post-Mortem Judgment and Cleansing
Aug 29, 2022
49:42
Death is a inescapable part of human life. It was not always like that. Prior to Adam’s sin in the Garden, man was destined to live forever. As a result of his consumption from the Tree of Knowledge Good and Evil, Adam condemned humanity to undergo a necessary purification and cleansing process achieved with death. […]
17090
#59: Paradise and Purgatory
#59: Paradise and Purgatory
Sep 5, 2022
1:04:42
Paradise and Purgatory, “Gehenom” and “Gan Eden” in Hebrew, are two potential destinations of the soul after a person dies. The righteous ones who have lived their lives in complete compliance with the rules, instructions, and guidance of the Torah are brought to Paradise, a venue of sublime, spiritual pleasure. The wicked who have sullied […]
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#60: The Mechanics of the Afterlife
#60: The Mechanics of the Afterlife
Sep 12, 2022
56:54
What happens after we die is an endlessly fascinating – or terrifying – topic. In our exploration of the Afterlife we have covered vast grounds: We’ve spoken about death and the various types of death; we’ve spoken about the reckoning and accounting that a person must submit before the Heavenly tribunal; we have been made […]
17092
#61: Reincarnation
#61: Reincarnation
Sep 19, 2022
1:21:59
After a person dies, the Heavenly tribunal determines the fate of their Soul. If the Soul is pristinely pure, the person having accomplished everything that was expected of them and they are also lacking any blemishes borne about by sin, the Soul is ushered to Paradise. If the Soul needs some cleansing, it can be […]
17093
#62: The Experience of the Afterlife
#62: The Experience of the Afterlife
Sep 28, 2022
1:04:03
What is Olam Haba like? Our sages describe this future world as the world of ultimate reward. Paradise in the Afterlife is a very wonderful and pleasurable experience, but even Paradise is not the ultimate reward. That is reserved for Olam Haba. But what is it like? What does it feel like? In this podcast […]
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#63: Admission to the Afterlife
#63: Admission to the Afterlife
Dec 5, 2022
1:14:31
The term “Olam Haba” refers the world after the Resurrection, the world where there’s life with no death, where there is the dispensing of reward for those who adhere to the word of God. If we were to distill our life mission to one sentence it would be this sentence: our mission in this world […]
17095
#64: Messiah: A General Introduction
#64: Messiah: A General Introduction
Dec 26, 2022
54:24
Our nation has been anticipating and longing for the Messiah, Moshiach (משיח) in Hebrew, for millennia. We are awaiting his arrival, which can come any day. The Messianic era is a utopian world that we yearn for. But what exactly is the Messiah? What are the qualifications to be Messiah? What is the Messianic era […]
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#65: The Objective of Messiah
#65: The Objective of Messiah
Jan 16, 2023
47:32
The subject of the Messiah is notoriously confusing. What is Messiah? How will Messiah change our lives? What will be different in the Messianic era? The answers to these questions are not ubiquitously known. In this podcast we proceed in our studies of the Twelfth Principle of Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith by addressing the […]
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#66: The Mechanisms of Messiah
#66: The Mechanisms of Messiah
Jan 23, 2023
50:59
The sources depicting Messiah and the Messianic Era paint a very different picture of the world than the one we are accustomed to. Knowledge of God will be universal, on that day God will be One and His Name will be One. The pursuit of knowledge will dominate. The Jewish Nation will be heralded. King […]
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#67: The Messianic Revolution
#67: The Messianic Revolution
Feb 7, 2023
1:09:58
Messiah will be an era of seismic changes for the Jewish people and for the world. Knowledge of God will be ubiquitous. The primacy of the Jewish people as God’s chosen Nation will be universally accepted. The pursuit of wisdom will supersede all other pursuits. The world will begin it’s a rapid progress towards perfection. […]
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#68: The Persona of King Messiah
#68: The Persona of King Messiah
Feb 13, 2023
44:22
Messiah will not be an ordinary person. He will be a towering figure who’s impact reverberates the world over. In this podcast we study what our Sages tell us about who Messiah is and what his stature will be, and talk about the wide-ranging and far reaching implications that he will have. – – – […]
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#69: The Miracles of Messiah
#69: The Miracles of Messiah
Feb 20, 2023
56:04
Messiah is not an isolated, discrete, transformation that occurs in a vacuum. Messiah is the ultimate redemption. Our nation has experienced redemption before. The pattern of exile and redemption has been constant feature of our nation’s history. It began in Egypt. Our nation enslaved, tormented, and oppressed in Egypt for centuries until the Almighty redeemed […]