Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
20832 episodes
#
Name
Release Date
Duration
7001
Terumah – Apex Holiness
Terumah – Apex Holiness
Feb 27, 2020
32:10
Our parsha features the greatest bargain in human history: God instructs us to erect a Mashkan, a Tabernacle, for Him, and provided that we follow the rules to a tee, He will dwell amongst us. At Sinai, the nation became God’s Chosen People. What exactly was missing after Sinai that necessitated building the Tabernacle? TORCH […]
7002
Purim: Toasting your Troubles
Purim: Toasting your Troubles
Mar 10, 2020
25:46
Purim contains arguably Judaism’s strangest custom. On the day that we celebrate our nation’s triumph over Haman and his evil plot, we are required to drink and become so drunk that we forget about Haman’s treachery. What is the meaning behind this unusual custom? TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your […]
7003
Ki Sisa – Coronavirus: Three Lessons from the Torah
Ki Sisa – Coronavirus: Three Lessons from the Torah
Mar 12, 2020
39:29
The deadly coronavirus (COVID- 19) is dominating the world’s attention. Our Sages teach us that when danger strikes, we must ponder our behavior and search for lessons. We believe that this virus is a message from God. What is the message? What is He telling us? Of course, only prophets can answer that question definitively, […]
7004
Vayakhel & Pekudei – Sequestered with God
Vayakhel & Pekudei – Sequestered with God
Mar 20, 2020
40:27
This week’s double-Parsha begins with a stern warning against desecrating the Shabbos in order to build the Tabernacle. Absent the verse, I would have thought that you must even work on Shabbos to erect the Tabernacle. Why would I think so? Also, why indeed does it not override the Shabbos? In this special edition of […]
7005
Vayikra – Infectious Spirituality
Vayikra – Infectious Spirituality
Mar 26, 2020
33:12
With the help of the Almighty, we begin a new Book, the Book of Leviticus, Sefer Vayikra. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we read the Ramban’s introduction to the Book, and also analyze a very interesting subject contained within the Book that mirrors the events dominating the world today. This Parsha Podcast […]
7006
Tzav – Essential Oxygen
Tzav – Essential Oxygen
Apr 3, 2020
34:27
Among the many sacrifices discussed in the Book of Leviticus, the Korban Todah, the Thanksgiving Sacrifice stands out. The Midrash teaches us that in the future, all sacrifices will cease, with the exception of the Thanksgiving sacrifice. Similarly, all prayers will be discontinued, but the thanksgiving prayer will endure. What is so unique about giving […]
7007
Special Pesach Episode – The Seder Night: How to Maximize the Year’s Most Powerful Night
Special Pesach Episode – The Seder Night: How to Maximize the Year’s Most Powerful Night
Apr 6, 2020
59:35
The first night of Pesach – the second night as well is the Diaspora – is arguably the most important nights of the year. On this night we were redeemed from Egypt, this is the night of the Exodus, this is the night of the death of the firstborn; tonight we became a nation. This […]
7008
Spiritual Opportunism: A Special Shiur for Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s Yahrtzeit
Spiritual Opportunism: A Special Shiur for Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s Yahrtzeit
Apr 12, 2020
26:14
It has been 15 years since my illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, passed away, on the first day of Chol HaMoed Pesach 2005. In this special shiur to mark his yahrtzeit, we speculate the ways that he became great and take a very valuable lesson on how to become great ourselves during this coronavirus pandemic. […]
7009
Emor – The Addiction Challenge
Emor – The Addiction Challenge
May 7, 2020
30:43
Among the many laws found in our parsha, are the laws governing the Festivals and holidays. Given that we are currently in middle of the Counting of the Omer period spanning from Pesach to Shavuos, in this special episode we presented various ways to maximize this period. We also made a specific challenge to the […]
7010
Bamidbar and Shavuos: The Indispensability of each Jew
Bamidbar and Shavuos: The Indispensability of each Jew
May 21, 2020
56:24
Parshas Bamidbar is the Torah portion that we read immediately prior to Shavuos, the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, each year. In this special episode, we offer a mind-bending idea to ponder the connection between Shavuos and Parshas Bamidbar. To aid with visualizing the contents of this unique episode, please download the accompanying […]
7011
Nasso – How to Find Your Life-Mission
Nasso – How to Find Your Life-Mission
Jun 3, 2020
37:06
A central tenet of Jewish philosophy is that every individual is unique – a world onto their own – and is entrusted by God with a unique, tailored mission. That principle is found several times in our parsha. But how do we discover what our mission is? In the past, that question would be addressed […]
7012
Behaaloscha – The Eyes of the People
Behaaloscha – The Eyes of the People
Jun 12, 2020
30:34
Our parsha contains an unusual sequence: The nation is about to leave Sinai, and Moshe makes a prolonged, and unsuccessful, appeal to his father in law, Jethro, to remain with him. Then there is the strange episode of the backwards-facing NUNs. Then the nation commits two grievous sin back to back. Moshe then tells God […]
7013
Shelach – Benefiting from Blunders
Shelach – Benefiting from Blunders
Jun 19, 2020
33:36
Mistakes are endemic to the human condition. We all make mistakes. Even the titans of our history like Moshe, Aaron, and Joshua made mistakes. In this hastily prepared podcast we speculate that mistakes are not incidental to greatness but are absolutely pivotal. Without mistakes there can be no greatness. Please email me at [email protected] with […]
7014
Korach – The Legendary Malcontents
Korach – The Legendary Malcontents
Jun 25, 2020
31:53
Dathan and Abiram appear in Scripture for the first time in this week’s parsha as conspirators in Korach’s insurrection, but according to the Midrash this is not nearly their first rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. In fact, since Moshe was a young lad, Dathan and Abiram were thorns at his side, resisting him at every […]
7015
Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jun 28, 2020
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 […]
7016
Chukas & Balak – Second Chances
Chukas & Balak – Second Chances
Jul 2, 2020
29:12
Over the course of the Nation’s 40 year sojourn in the Wilderness they tested God 10 times. But God believes in second chances, and gave them an opportunity to rectify their misdeeds. This principle applies on a national and individual level. We are all given second chances, but we must listen to those messages and […]
7017
Pinchas – Consistency is Key
Pinchas – Consistency is Key
Jul 8, 2020
25:39
When the Temple was extant, first thing each morning a Tamid sacrifice was offered, and an afternoon Tamid offering was the last sacrifice of the day. The Midrash reveals to us quite surprisingly that the essence of Torah is encapsulated in the Tamid sacrifices. What is so special about this sacrifice that makes it worthy of that distinction? Please email […]
7018
The Essence of Tisha B’Av
The Essence of Tisha B’Av
Jul 22, 2020
31:30
Tisha B’Av (The Ninth of Av) is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. On this day, the Spies returned from scouting the Land and spooked the Nation with their evil report prompting the Nation to needlessly bewail their fate the entire night. As retribution, God pledged: “You cried on this night for no reason, […]
7019
Re’eh – Influencing People
Re’eh – Influencing People
Aug 14, 2020
40:16
A wise woman once said: “Judaism is terrible at marketing.” It seems like we are doing a terrible job at influencing others to adopt Torah. It is not only Gentiles that we are not a great job of attracting – and perhaps that is by design – it is also our fellow Jews, our brethren, […]
7020
Shoftim – Kosher Bribery
Shoftim – Kosher Bribery
Aug 20, 2020
36:04
A judge must remain impartial to be able to judge correctly. If he receives a bribe, even if it is non-monetary or intangible, he is disqualified from overseeing that case. The Talmud elaborates on this concept and explains the psychology behind how bribes manipulate. In this episode we show how this powerful force can be […]
7021
Ki Seitzei – Roadmap to Victory
Ki Seitzei – Roadmap to Victory
Aug 28, 2020
34:54
The Yetzer Hara is described in Jewish Literature as a skillful and dangerous enemy that we must make war with. And unless we devise a comprehensive strategy, our enemy will triumph. How does a winning battle plan look like? In this unique Parsha Podcast we lay out the three distinct steps needed to achieve total victory. […]
7022
Ki Savo – Tiers of Paradise
Ki Savo – Tiers of Paradise
Sep 3, 2020
43:49
Perhaps the most intriguing question of all is” What actually happens after we die? Everyone is curious to know the answer to that question. In this unique Parsha Podcast we venture a peek into a Kabbalistic take on that question. The format is also quite interesting. The Torah is multidimensional, meaning that each verse and […]
7023
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 […]
7024
Nitzavim – Spiritual Interdependence
Nitzavim – Spiritual Interdependence
Sep 10, 2020
30:51
The Jewish nation is unlike every other nation. We are the “Chosen People”. We are “The Nation of God”. What does it mean to be the nation of God? In this podcast we discover that the Jewish people are bound together in the deepest fashion. Each one of us has a portion of our Soul […]
7025
Rosh Hashana Reading (1st day – Genesis Chapter 21)
Rosh Hashana Reading (1st day – Genesis Chapter 21)
Sep 13, 2020
59:55
The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this […]
7026
Rosh Hashana Reading (2nd day – Genesis Chapter 22: The Binding of Isaac)
Rosh Hashana Reading (2nd day – Genesis Chapter 22: The Binding of Isaac)
Sep 14, 2020
54:36
On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac […]
7027
Ha’azinu – Shattering The 6 Biggest Myths about Yom Kippur
Ha’azinu – Shattering The 6 Biggest Myths about Yom Kippur
Sep 24, 2020
43:47
The Shabbos before Yom Kippur, when we read the penultimate parsha, Parshas Ha’azinu, is known as “Shabbos Shuva”, the Shabbos of Repentance. On this day, we are urged to get into the spirit of repentance ahead of Yom Kippur, the day of repentance. But Yom Kippur – and repentance in general – seem challenging to […]
7028
Vezos HaBeracha – Betrothed to Torah
Vezos HaBeracha – Betrothed to Torah
Oct 8, 2020
32:29
What is the most important verse that we need to convey to our children? Perhaps that is a difficult question for us to speculate upon. Thankfully, the Talmud gives a definitive answer: In an interesting citation in Sukkah 42a, we are told that the fourth verse of our Parsha, together with the first verse of […]
7029
Bereishis – You are Adam (Includes New Segment: A&Q)
Bereishis – You are Adam (Includes New Segment: A&Q)
Oct 15, 2020
38:53
Welcome to YEAR FIVE of The Parsha Podcast. It is such a momentous day! It is a total pleasure to begin studying the weekly parsha with the best audience in the podcast universe. In this episode, we debuted a new segment called, “Answers and Questions”, “A&Q”. Thank you for downloading and please share with a […]
7030
Noach – Spiritual Adaptation
Noach – Spiritual Adaptation
Oct 22, 2020
45:23
Noah is arguably the most enigmatic figure in the Torah. The Torah is lavish in his praise: He was a prophet who found favor in Hashem’s eyes and selected to survive the Flood and repopulate the world afterwards. Noach is also the only person that the Torah characterized as a tzadik. Yet Rashi and the […]
7031
Lech Lecha – Go West, Young Man
Lech Lecha – Go West, Young Man
Oct 29, 2020
50:44
Abraham is the Torah’s first protagonist. The entirety of this parsha and the subsequent one are following the forefather of our nation. Why does the Torah spend so much time telling the story of this ancient figure? In this life-changing episode, we study Abraham’s odyssey to find the precise guidelines to fulfill our latent potential. […]
7032
Vayeira – Abraham’s Three Protégés
Vayeira – Abraham’s Three Protégés
Nov 4, 2020
45:53
Abraham was the most influential person in human history. He changed the tides of history, he popularized Monotheism in the world, he is the father of many nations, and fittingly his story is told at considerable length in the Torah. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast we study his relationship and interactions […]
7033
Chayei Sarah – Portal to Paradise
Chayei Sarah – Portal to Paradise
Nov 12, 2020
39:58
The Torah dedicates an unusually large amount of verses in the beginning of this week’s parsha to describe a real estate transaction between Abraham and a gentleman named Ephron. Sarah has passed and Abraham seeks to buy Ephron’s cave to inter her in. Initially, Ephron acts with supposed generosity and offers it to Abraham for […]
7034
Toldos – Esau’s Fatal Flaw
Toldos – Esau’s Fatal Flaw
Nov 18, 2020
38:18
Jacob’s twin brother Esav is one of the worst villains in Jewish history. He seems to be an unending litany of bad character. Our parsha ends with Esav dead set on committing fratricide by actually murdering his own brother. Esav is just one bad apple. But is it possible that things could have ended up […]
7035
Vayeitzei – Laban’s Potion
Vayeitzei – Laban’s Potion
Nov 26, 2020
42:01
As the father of all four of Jacob’s wives, Laban is in effect the father in law of the Jewish people. If we examine Laban’s story, he seems to have both qualities and shortcomings. He is constantly invoking God, he seems to be gracious and hospitable. But he also had a dark side. He is greedy […]
7036
Vayishlach – Unrequited Love
Vayishlach – Unrequited Love
Dec 3, 2020
55:19
This a unique edition of The Parsha Podcast that you dont want to miss. Instead of the usual one big idea that we typically cover in a Parsha podcast, in this version there are FIVE groundbreaking insights that can change your life. We learn about a remarkable staff and its powers, about the pliability of […]
7037
Vayeishev – The Holy Hologram
Vayeishev – The Holy Hologram
Dec 10, 2020
50:47
Joseph is one of the greatest heroes of Jewish history. His greatest deed was when he resisted temptation and rebuffed the seductions of his master, Potiphar’s, wife. Our Sages tell us that thanks to this valorous deed, Joseph became the viceroy of Egypt and merited to sustain the entire world! The Midrash tells us that […]
7038
Mikeitz – Talent Evaluation
Mikeitz – Talent Evaluation
Dec 16, 2020
47:18
Joseph is one of the most impressive figures in Jewish history. His accomplishments are vast: His holiness under spiritually treacherous conditions are legendary, his faith in God remained unwavering, he is the paragon of seeing God’s Handiwork in the bad deeds of others. His accomplishments extend beyond the spiritual: At the age of 30 he […]
7039
Vayigash – Fruitful Famine
Vayigash – Fruitful Famine
Dec 23, 2020
39:22
In Parshas Vayigash, the Joseph trilogy comes to a close. The saga that began when Joseph was 17 ends when Jacob is reunited with his favorite son, now viceroy of Egypt. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer three interesting observations: On Yocheved’s border-crossing birth, on Jacob’s second bargain with Esau, and […]
7040
Vayechi – The Five Stages of Transformation
Vayechi – The Five Stages of Transformation
Dec 30, 2020
42:21
The Book of Genesis is replete with interesting stories. We follow the narrative about Adam and Noah and their families, Abraham and his odyssey and trials, Isaac and his family’s challenges and triumphs, and of course Jacob and Joseph and their stories capture our imagination and curiosity. “Torah” means instruction. As part of the Torah, […]
7041
Shemos – Grooming Greatness
Shemos – Grooming Greatness
Jan 7, 2021
49:52
Moses is the greatest leader of our history and the archetype of a great, transformative leader. Why was he chosen for the role? What was his training to become the leader he became? What are the Torah’s guidelines for leaders and people of influence. In this podcast we examine the Torah’s retelling of the protracted […]
7042
Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education
Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education
Jan 14, 2021
44:33
The Jewish people undergo a stunning transformation in our Parsha: It begins with the nation walling in misery; when Moshe offers a plan for salvation, they cannot even hear his comforting message. Yet very quickly they merit a miraculous Exodus, and only fifty days later they experience national prophecy at Sinai. How did this happen? […]
7043
Bo – The Ember of Abraham
Bo – The Ember of Abraham
Jan 20, 2021
44:00
The Jewish nation was in the dumps. They had spent hundreds of years in Egypt, and the possibility of ever leaving and reconstituting as an independent nation, the dream of Abraham, was long abandoned. But something dramatic happened. The Almighty unleashes Ten Plagues on Egypt and with the Death of the Firstborn, the Egyptians usher […]
7044
Beshalach – Bread of Angels
Beshalach – Bread of Angels
Jan 28, 2021
33:53
Parshas Beshalach is arguable the most action-packed Parsha in the Torah. It starts with the Jews hightailing out of Egypt – only to have Pharaoh follow in hot pursuit, and it ends with the nation’s first war. In between these two bookends, there are all kinds of interesting things that happen. In this special podcast […]
7045
Yisro – Jethro’s Epiphany
Yisro – Jethro’s Epiphany
Feb 2, 2021
39:48
The protagonist of our parsha, Jethro, underwent a long and fruitful spiritual journey. When the journey began, Jethro was a idolater who worshipped every pagan deity in the world. At its conclusion, Jethro was give great distinction as a believer in God and a purveyor of His Torah. What went into that transformation? What is […]
7046
Mishpatim – Crowning Achievement
Mishpatim – Crowning Achievement
Feb 11, 2021
48:12
The end of our Parsha revisits the Sinai Revelation of Parsha Yisro and recounts some of the preparations for the Ten Commandments. In the negotiations and deliberations in the runup to Sinai, the Nation declares that they will do and they will listen to all the commandments. This statement, we will do and we will […]
7047
Terumah – 3 Points Behind the Ark
Terumah – 3 Points Behind the Ark
Feb 18, 2021
38:00
In the epicenter of the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. This golden vessel was the receptacle of the Tablets, both the First Tablets which Moshe shattered at the foot of Mount Sinai in the aftermath of the sin of the Golden Calf, and the Second Tablets which endured. […]
7048
Esther on an Allegorical Level
Esther on an Allegorical Level
Feb 22, 2021
1:37:51
On Purim we read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Purim miracle. The Persian king Achashverosh conspires with his Amalekite viceroy Haman to eradicate the entire Jewish nation, but God refused to allow their plans to unfold. Queen Esther, together with her relative Mordechai, spearhead the effort to turn the plan on […]
7049
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration
Feb 24, 2021
36:00
Besides being brothers, Moshe and Aaron were both leaders of the Jewish people: Moshe was the king and Aaron was the high priest. These brothers had different, but complimentary, skills and characteristics, that were each independently necessary for the nation. In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we do a very deep dive into […]
7050
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) + Annual TORCH Fundraiser
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) + Annual TORCH Fundraiser
Mar 1, 2021
1:16:10
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7051
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire + TORCH Fundraiser
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire + TORCH Fundraiser
Mar 3, 2021
54:49
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7052
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 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7053
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Mar 7, 2021
1:11:14
Last chance to Support the TORCH Fundraiser Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be DOUBLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7054
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe
Mar 10, 2021
26:47
Bezalel was the architect of the most consequential building project of all time. He was tasked with the responsibility of building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the dwelling place for God on this earth. What special skills did Bezalel have that primed him to undertake this ambitious project? Why was Bezalel chosen for this task? When […]
7055
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice
Mar 17, 2021
1:05:01
Sacrifices sound like a cheat code: You sin and you rebelled against God and your soul gets tarnished. By the strict letter of the law, sin ought to be an executable offense. But God has mercy: Bring a sacrifice and slaughter the animal and you will be expiated. Instead of you dying, the animal will […]
7056
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up
Mar 24, 2021
43:45
The beginning of our parsha details the intricate processing of the Olah offerings. The animal is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled on the Altar walls, it is divided into parts, the parts are elevated to the top of the altar and placed on the fire to burn the whole night. The next morning, a Kohein […]
7057
Shemini – Find Your Breach
Shemini – Find Your Breach
Apr 7, 2021
41:15
The 8th day of the Tabernacle’s Inauguration was supposed to be a day of total, exuberant jubilation. The laborious months of preparation were complete, and now God will dwell in our midst. Moshe washes, clothes, and anoints his brother, Aaron and Aaron’s four sons, and a Heavenly fire descends and consumes Aaron’s sacrifices from atop […]
7058
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Apr 11, 2021
1:14:40
A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. This week’s double Parshas of Tazria and Metzora largely deal with these laws. One variant of impurity that is discussed in both parshas is that of a metzora, A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas […]
7059
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises
Apr 15, 2021
44:39
Tzaraas, the spiritual leprosy whose laws are detailed in our Parsha, appeared in three different areas: the befell sinners’ skin, clothing, and house. How common was Tzaraas of the house? The Talmud reveals that it actually never happened even once and it will never happen in the future. If it never happened, why does the Torah delineate […]
7060
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Apr 18, 2021
1:47:50
This week’s double-parsha contains a smorgasbord of mitzvos. The three chapters of Parshas Acharei cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against the consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws, and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited […]
7061
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted
Apr 21, 2021
45:57
Our Nation has always had bad neighbors. The Midrash in our Parsha states that the Egyptians and the Canaanites, both nations that our people lived in close proximity to, are the most morally deficient of all the world’s nations. Moreover, the specific areas in those lands where the Jews resided contained that worst offenders of […]
7062
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Apr 25, 2021
1:03:39
Parshas Emor contains a staggering 56 mitzvos, nearly all of them relating to either to the Kohanim, the priests, or to the Festivals, and the parsha ends with a very unusual episode that happened at Sinai. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7063
Emor – Sense of Belonging
Emor – Sense of Belonging
Apr 28, 2021
45:48
Our parsha contains the first recorded instance of capital punishment in Jewish history. A disgruntled man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed and was executed as a result. What is the significance of this story? Why do we have the narrative about the blasphemer in middle of the Book of […]
7064
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
May 2, 2021
1:38:04
This week’s double-Parsha closes out the Book of Leviticus. Parshas Behar begins at Mount Sinai, where the Almighty instructed Moshe to convey a series of laws to the Jewish people. The first is the mitzvah of Shemittah, the prohibition of engaging in any agricultural work every seven years. In two chapters in the Torah (Leviticus […]
7065
Behar/Bechukosai – Divine Nudge
Behar/Bechukosai – Divine Nudge
May 6, 2021
38:51
This past week our nation underwent an unprecedented calamity. At our people’s largest annual festival, the celebration of Lag ba’Omer in Meron, a crowd crush resulted in the death of 45 of our brethren. How do we respond to such a tragedy? What is the way to process such a disaster. In this Parsha Podcast […]
7066
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
May 9, 2021
56:48
We kickstart the Book of Numbers with a census of the twelve tribes of Israel – not including the tribe of Levi who is counted independently – conducted by Moses, Aaron, and the most distinguished leaders of said tribes. Subsequently, we read about the banners of the tribes and their assigned encampments, the transference of […]
7067
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
May 12, 2021
1:01:46
The Book of Ruth – and its eponymous heroine – are true enigmas. The Book contains no new laws and its story, while inspirational and poignant, bears no easily discernible connection to the Festival of Shavuos, when it is read. The Book’s protagonist, Ruth, has a decidedly checkered pedigree, yet becomes the matriarch of the […]
7068
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers
May 13, 2021
55:31
At first glance, Parshas Bamidbar seems like a snoozefest: it’s very technical, counting the people, assigning the tribes to their encampments, counting the Levites separately, designating the responsibilities of the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and its vessels. But upon further examination, our Parsha guides us with the instructions of how to become […]
7069
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
May 16, 2021
59:07
In the longest parsha in the Torah by verses, we continue to read about the Levite families and their responsibilities, we learn about the three tiers of the Nation’s encampment, the laws of a suspected adulteress, the laws of the Nazir, the Priestly blessings, and we read a very wordy account of the gifts of […]
7070
Nasso – Princely Pendulum
Nasso – Princely Pendulum
May 20, 2021
44:36
The Princes of the Tribes make several notable contributions at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: They contribute 12 oxen and 6 covered wagons to aid the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and each Prince donates a tribute of 21 animals, a silver basin and bowl brimming with flour and oil, and a gold […]
7071
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
May 23, 2021
59:29
The Jewish nation has been encamped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year; in this week’s parsha they finally depart from the Mountain of God, and sadly leave gleefully as a child escaping school. This kick starts a series of missteps that carry harsh consequences. – – – – – – – – – – […]
7072
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire
May 27, 2021
34:44
Aaron the High Priest held a critical leadership role in the nation. A partial list of his jobs: he offered sacrifices, he did the Yom Kippur services which included the annual trip to the Holy of Holies, and he blessed the people. But there was one job that he was excluded for: When the princes […]
7073
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
May 30, 2021
57:32
The Jewish people were on the cusp of entering the Land of Canaan, and made a prudent, but ultimately tragic, decision: To send a contingent of scouts to reconnoiter the Land, to examine its vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to best plan the conquest. Unfortunately, the report of the scouts sent the nation into a […]
7074
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries
Jun 2, 2021
43:36
The final five verses of our Parsha contain the third paragraph of the Shema. In it, we are instructed to place tzitzis strings wrapped with a string of blue techeiles wool on the corner of our garments. Why? “And you shall see them and remember all the mitzvos of Hashem and you shall do them, […]
7075
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 6, 2021
58:24
In this week’s parsha, Moshe and Aaron’s first cousin, a man named Korach, launches a rebellion claiming that Moshe is guilty of nepotism in appointing his brother as High Priest. What ensued should give one serious pause before engaging in any similar sort of divisive activities. – – – – – – – – – […]
7076
Korach – Demoted For Good
Korach – Demoted For Good
Jun 9, 2021
55:40
Korach was a very talented man with a sterling pedigree. He was wise and clever and even had a degree of prophetic clairvoyance. Yet he blundered egregiously by launching a revolt on Moshe and Aaron. When we study what triggered this rebellion we find that Korach has a seemingly legitimate grievance. He believed – and […]
7077
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Jun 13, 2021
1:00:57
In this week’s parsha, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact with dead people in order to purify them from their spiritual contamination. We […]
7078
Chukas – Inglorious Origins
Chukas – Inglorious Origins
Jun 18, 2021
33:45
The red cow is the Torah’s most mysterious mitzvah. We are told to take a completely red cow and slaughter it, and burn it’s body together with a concoction of other ingredients, the ashes of which become the potion to purify people who have come into contact with dead people. If that doesn’t make sense […]
7079
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jun 20, 2021
1:00:57
After the Jewish nation trounced the mighty kingdoms of Sichon and Og in last week’s parsha, the comparatively smaller and weaker kingdom of Moab resorted to unconventional warfare to attack the nation by hiring the prophet of the nations, a wily and devious character named Bilaam, to curse the Jews. It did not work out […]
7080
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars
Jun 25, 2021
45:00
Our parsha contains an attempted genocide. Bilaam, the prophet of the idolaters, a man of prodigious ability an skill, dedicates himself with tenacity and persistence to curse and destroy the people. Although his three attempts at cursing the nation backfire when he is compelled by God to bless the nation instead, the parsha ends with […]
7081
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Jun 27, 2021
51:44
Pinchas was a man of action, a zealot who avenged God’s vengeance and was handsomely rewarded for it. In this parsha we read about his reward, Moses’ succession plan, the methods through which the Land will be divided, and another census is done. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7082
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion
Jun 29, 2021
49:05
Over the course of the 40 years since the Exodus, the Nation was lead by Moshe and Aaron, the King and High Priest respectively. In our Parsha, successors are designated for both posts. Due to his valiant heroism of the end of last week’s portion, Pinchas is promoted to being a kohein. He would go […]
7083
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Jul 5, 2021
1:00:55
This year, the Book of Numbers ends with a double parsha – Mattos and Masei. We learn about the laws of vows and oaths; the miraculous war with Midian; the unusual request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben; the Torah delineates the 42 different places that the Nation encamped for their 40 year sojourn; […]
7084
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator
Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator
Jul 8, 2021
47:44
Our parsha contains the laws regarding a person who murders someone accidentally. We are told that the accidental murderer must flee to the city of refuge and remain there until the passing of the High Priest. Although we have neither a High Priest nor a Jewish court of laws that adjudicates as per the laws […]
7085
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Jul 11, 2021
49:44
5 weeks before his passing, Moses gives a three-parsha-long speech to the nation, which constitutes his last will and testament. He begins with a retrospective of the history of the nation over the past 40 years since the Exodus – subtly rebuking the nation, guiding them, admonishing them, ensuring that they don’t repeat their mistakes […]
7086
Devarim – Man of Words
Devarim – Man of Words
Jul 14, 2021
49:03
At the end of Moshe’s life, he gathers the entire nation for his parting message to the nation. The Midrash makes a remarkable contrast between Moshe’s beginning and end of his tenure: When God initially commanded Moshe to save his brethren from enslavement in Egypt, Moshe protested by saying that he is not a man […]
7087
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Jul 19, 2021
1:04:11
This week’s parsha continues Moshe’s monologue to the nation in the weeks preceding his passing. He begins by recounting his repeated efforts in trying to convince God to rescind His decree that Moshe not enter the Land; Moshe then begins the retelling of the Torah; and we read many warnings and predictions about proper behavior […]
7088
Va’eschanan – Entry Denied
Va’eschanan – Entry Denied
Jul 21, 2021
59:32
Moshe was very desirous of entering the Land. The Midrash reveals that he prayed 515 separate prayers to petition God to revoke His ban on Moshe entering the Land. But God said no. You may not enter the Land, though He allowed Moshe to visualize the Land from atop a mountain. The dialogue between Moshe […]
7089
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Jul 25, 2021
59:14
We pick up where we left off last week amid Moshe’s speech to the nation before his passing, and as in the previous few weeks, Parshas Eikev is jam packed with insights and timeless lessons. Moshe pivots between looking back on the conduct of the nation in the preceding 40 years and admonishing them for […]
7090
Eikev – Cheat Code for Life
Eikev – Cheat Code for Life
Jul 30, 2021
46:18
The Torah contains a lot of details regarding what the Almighty expects of us. A verse in our parsha purports to get to the bottom line of what – in one sentence – does God actually want of us. But after reading the verse we emerge with more questions than answers. While ostensibly touting simplicity […]
7091
Parshas Re’eh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Re’eh (Rebroadcast)
Aug 1, 2021
1:00:30
This week’s parsha marks a transition in the Book of Deuteronomy: it is no longer primarily about admonishment and rebuke and warnings, instead we read a bevy of mitzvos – some repetitions and some new ones that have hitherto not been mentioned. – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7092
Re’eh – Look at Me
Re’eh – Look at Me
Aug 4, 2021
50:36
Moshe begins our parsha by presenting the Nation with a choice: See, I have placed before you today blessing and curse. And he continues to state that the blessing is the steadfast observance of the commandments of the Almighty, while the curse is the repudiation of said commandments. In this special edition of the Parsha […]
7093
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Aug 8, 2021
1:00:20
This week we learn the laws governing all kinds of leaders: The parsha begins by detailing the laws of judges, the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court, and what happens to rebellious judges; we read about the unique laws related to kings; there are more laws pertaining to the Kohanim; and we find the […]
7094
Shoftim – Gateways to Great Pursuits
Shoftim – Gateways to Great Pursuits
Aug 11, 2021
50:34
Justice is a virtue that we must vigorously pursue. Our Parsha begins by instructing us to establish a court system with judges and bailiffs throughout our gates and tribes. The judge is tasked with determining the merits of every case and the bailiff is in charge of implementation. This two-tiered model is not limited to […]
7095
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Aug 15, 2021
1:01:03
In the parsha that contains the most mitzvos of any of the 54 Torah sections (a staggering 74 mitzvos), we read about the wayward and rebellious son, the requirement to build a fence around your roof to prevent tragedy, two episodes that we are mandated to remember, and many, many more interesting and insightful mitzvos. […]
7096
Ki Seitzei – A Lifetime A Day
Ki Seitzei – A Lifetime A Day
Aug 18, 2021
53:50
The Midrash in our parsha calculates that the Torah contains 613 mitzvos, 248 positive mitzvos, where the Torah commands us to do something proactive, and 365 negative mitzvos, where we are instructed to refrain from transgressing the Almighty’s will. These figures are not coincidental. They are precisely targeted to enable us to accomplish our life’s […]
7097
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Aug 22, 2021
55:33
As the Book of Deuteronomy draws to its conclusion, the narrative makes a transition: Moshe finishes conveying the mitzvos to the nation, and sets up his final parting message to the people. First, he commands the nation to perform several elaborate ceremonies on the very first day that they cross the Jordan River; then he […]
7098
Ki Savo – Maniacal Determination
Ki Savo – Maniacal Determination
Aug 25, 2021
40:49
Our parsha contains perhaps the most difficult Torah portion to read and digest: The Tochacha (Admonition). In it we are told the consequences of our deeds. If obey the Almighty and hearken to His commandments, He will reward us with bountiful blessings. Should we deviate from Him and repudiate His Torah, however, He promises to […]
7099
Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Aug 29, 2021
1:42:13
On the final day of Moshe’s life, he gathered the entire nation – men, women, children, and according to the Talmud, all souls of future Jews – to pass them through a final covenant with God. The parsha also contains the prophetic predictions of the Messianic times, and it ends with a simple, binary choice: […]
7100
Nitzavim – Drawbridge Of The Soul
Nitzavim – Drawbridge Of The Soul
Sep 1, 2021
45:05
With the entire nation gathered on his final day of life, Moshe warns the people against being seduced by idolatry. The nation, Moshe reveals, is particularly vulnerable to idolatry because of the people whose land through which we have traversed. We saw the Egyptian fascination with idolatry. We saw the various other nations obsession with […]