Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
20832 episodes
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Name
Release Date
Duration
7101
A Mystical Approach To The Rosh Hashana Readings ft. Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
A Mystical Approach To The Rosh Hashana Readings ft. Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
Sep 2, 2021
1:06:24
As is true by Shabbos and all Festivals, on the two days of Rosh Hashana we read sections from the Torah and a supplemental reading from Tanach, the Haftorah. At first blush, the four readings of Rosh Hashana have no direct connection to the Festival. One day one, the Torah portion that we read is […]
7102
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
Sep 5, 2021
59:55
The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this […]
7103
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
Sep 6, 2021
54:36
On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac […]
7104
Vayeilech – Man on a Mission
Vayeilech – Man on a Mission
Sep 10, 2021
37:39
Moshe has been the leader of the Jewish people since before the Exodus. Over the course of these forty years, Moshe has led the people through high times and low ones; through a split sea and the Sinai Revelation and countless rebellions. In our Parsha, Moshe hands off the reins of power to Joshua. The […]
7105
Parshas Ha’Azinu (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ha’Azinu (Rebroadcast)
Sep 12, 2021
58:00
Still in the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys to the nation a 43-verse Song predicting the contours of Jewish history, both past, present, and future. The patterns are familiar to the readers of Deuteronomy and even casual observers and students of Jewish history: The nation is recipients of tremendous divine goodness, yet they […]
7106
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Sep 13, 2021
2:05:32
On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of […]
7107
Ha’azinu – Small Step for Eaglet
Ha’azinu – Small Step for Eaglet
Sep 14, 2021
46:23
The Song of Ha’azinu is a richly textured tapestry with layered meaning and subtleties. Our Sages tell us that t incorporates all of Jewish History. In its 613 words, it incorporates all of Torah as well. And it is arguably the most difficult Torah portion to decipher and unpack. In this special penultimate podcast of […]
7108
Parshas Vezos HaBeracha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vezos HaBeracha (Rebroadcast)
Sep 19, 2021
51:22
The final parsha of the Torah details the blessings that Moshe conveyed to the tribes of Israel immediately prior to his passing, and the Torah ends with the description of the death, burial, and eulogy of Moshe. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7109
Vezos Habracha – Antidotes to Mediocrity
Vezos Habracha – Antidotes to Mediocrity
Sep 26, 2021
46:17
In the Torah’s final Parsha, and indeed, in its final words, we say goodbye to the greatest human to have ever lived. With the passing of Moshe, the Torah ends, and on Simchas Torah- the day that we finish the yearly Torah cycle – we roll the scroll back to the very beginning and begin […]
7110
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Sep 30, 2021
1:12:33
With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin another year of Torah study and a new cycle of the Parsha Podcast. This year, we will reupload the previous year’s podcast which covered the entire Parsha in each episode each week, and we will, please God, record a second weekly episode that will delve deeply […]
7111
Bereishis – Making Partner
Bereishis – Making Partner
Oct 1, 2021
52:10
What connection do we have with Genesis? In our parsha, God creates the world in six days and ceases to create of day seven, on Shabbos. What exactly does this have to do with us is a great mystery. In this inaugural edition of the sixth cycle of the Parsha Podcast , we share two […]
7112
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Oct 3, 2021
56:55
In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please email me at [email protected] with any questions or […]
7113
Noach – Company Loves Misery
Noach – Company Loves Misery
Oct 5, 2021
45:14
Our Parsha marks a nadir in the story of mankind. Humanity sunk to such spiritual lows that the Almighty decided to destroy the world and start over with just Noah and his family as humanity’s progenitors going forward. What were the conditions of the Flood’s survivors after spending a year in the Ark? In this […]
7114
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Oct 10, 2021
1:02:06
In this week’s parsha, Abraham is instructed to move to Israel, is given divine promises that he will be the father of many nations; his children will be as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of the heaven, a son Ishmael is born, and he is commanded to circumcise his foreskin […]
7115
Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change
Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change
Oct 13, 2021
45:08
Abraham and Sarah undergo seismic changes in our Parsha. Their names get changed as does their destiny. Originally, they were barren, but in our Parsha, the founding Patriarch and Matriarch are told that they will bear a son, Isaac. The mechanics of how this transformation occurred, however, is a bit of a head scratcher. Our […]
7116
Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)
Oct 17, 2021
1:07:14
This week’s parsha features several iconic episodes: Abraham was visited by God as he was recuperating from his circumcision, and concurrently engaged in superlative kindness with three angels masquerading as pagan travelers; Abraham was informed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed and was unsuccessful in interceding on their behalf; […]
7117
Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom
Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom
Oct 20, 2021
56:50
For the third time in the Torah, we read about destruction. Previously, the Flood destroyed the world save Noah and family, and the Dispersal ended the universal civilization, and in our parsha we read about the overturning of Sodom and Gomorrah. The timing of Sodom’s destruction is really interesting. Our Sages said that it happened […]
7118
Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)
Oct 24, 2021
56:23
Some of the highlights of this week’s parsha: Immediately after the Binding of Isaac, Sarah passed away at the age of 127, and soon afterward Abraham had to procure a burial spot for her. In addition, Abraham sent his trusted confidante, Eliezer, to his hometown to find a spouse for Isaac. – – – – […]
7119
Chayei Sarah – The Transformation of Eliezer
Chayei Sarah – The Transformation of Eliezer
Oct 27, 2021
58:34
Eliezer was Abraham’s right hand man. He was in charge of all of Abraham’s affairs. According to the Talmud, Eliezer was the consummate student of Abraham, drawing from Abraham’s wellsprings of Torah and sharing it with others. In our Parsha, Eliezer was the central protagonist. Eliezer was conscripted by Abraham to travel east to Aram […]
7120
Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)
Oct 31, 2021
1:06:32
In Parshas Toldos we meet twin boys that are polar opposites: Esau, beloved by his father Isaac, is a man of the fields; while Jacob is loved by his mother Rebecca and prefers to dwell in the tents of scholarship. These two children will spawn nations and ideals that diverged from each other even before […]
7121
Toldos – Abraham’s Torah
Toldos – Abraham’s Torah
Nov 3, 2021
50:24
Was Abraham the first Jew? Did Abraham observe the laws of the Torah? The Torah dedicates a huge amount of attention to Abraham and his family. The laws of Torah were conveyed at Sinai to Moshe, Abraham’s great-great-great-grandson. How much of that, if any, did Abraham have? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast […]
7122
Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)
Nov 7, 2021
1:03:08
Parshas Vayeitzei follows Jacob as he is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and travels to Charan to the house of Laban, his wily and deceptive uncle, and marries multiple wives and fathers 12 children. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7123
Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold
Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold
Nov 10, 2021
55:21
Jacob’s accomplishments in our Parsha are remarkable. At the onset of our parsha, Jacob is a 77 year old bachelor without a penny to his name. Having been robbed clean of all his possessions, Jacob undertook the grandest, most ambitious initiative in human history: the founding of the Jewish nation. In our parsha, he pulls […]
7124
Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)
Nov 14, 2021
1:00:57
After successfully escaping the clutches of his deceptive father in law, Laban, Jacob heads back west to the Land of Canaan, and back to his family. The journey back home was a lot more tumultuous and chaotic than anticipated. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7125
Vayishlach – Not Reddy to Change
Vayishlach – Not Reddy to Change
Nov 17, 2021
45:01
Parshas Vayishlach is an action-packed parsha. After a tension-filled 20 years with Laban, Jacob has to dodge bullets for another parsha. Esau wants to kill him. The angel tries to strike at him the entire night. His daughter Dina is kidnapped and raped, and his sons slaughter the perpetrating city in rage. The bulk of […]
7126
Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)
Nov 21, 2021
1:06:01
Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a slave after they nearly killed him. By Parsha end, Joseph is languishing in an Egyptian prison […]
7127
Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds
Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds
Nov 24, 2021
59:09
A pebble and a diamond are similar in one way: they are both rocks. That’s where the similarities end. A diamond is precious and valuable. Diamonds are things that we recite the poems over, and name, and write Wikipedia pages about, and adorn the crowns of Kings and Queens. Pebbles get stuck in your tires […]
7128
Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)
Nov 28, 2021
1:05:03
Parshas Mikeitz continues the narrative of Joseph in Egypt. We pick up his story two years after his failed attempt at earning a reprieve via his cellmate, Pharaoh’s butler, who was about to be reinstated to his post as Pharaoh’s side. Joseph is languishing in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit; after being […]
7129
Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime
Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime
Dec 2, 2021
1:04:38
Joseph is one of the all-time heroes of Jewish history. His strength of character was legendary, his faith was unflappable, and his storyline remains an inspiration for generations. Yet he was harshly criticized for making a huge blunder. The Midrash at the beginning of this week’s Parsha tells us that he relied to heavily on […]
7130
Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)
Dec 5, 2021
55:25
Twenty two years have passed since Jacob and Joseph were separated. Ever since Joseph was torn away from him, Jacob was bereft of prophecy and inconsolable. In Parshas Vayigash this long saga comes to an end and Jacob is finally reunited with his long-lost son. – – – – – – – – – – […]
7131
Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings
Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings
Dec 8, 2021
1:03:29
Amongst the sons of Jacob were two kings: Judah and Joseph. Joseph was viceroy of Egypt. He was a king in his lifetime. Judah was never crowned as King in his lifetime, but his descendants make up the monarchy of the Jewish people. David, Solomon, all the kings of Judah, and even King Messiah are […]
7132
Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)
Dec 12, 2021
52:31
Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons. – […]
7133
Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Dec 16, 2021
1:01:44
Family is everything. If you are fortunate enough to have siblings, parents, and children you know that there are bonds of kinship and brotherhood (and sisterhood, of course) between family members are strong and often unbreakable. This is not something new. When Jacob was on his deathbed he shared with his sons his final thoughts […]
7134
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Dec 19, 2021
59:45
The Book of Exodus begins with the Egyptians cunningly enslaving their Hebrew subjects: mandating that they work in backbreaking labor, killing their male sons, and trying to stamp out their spirit and curb their population. But God heard their cries and saw their suffering and dispatched the greatest of all men, Moses, a reluctant leader, […]
7135
Shemos – Make Your Move
Shemos – Make Your Move
Dec 22, 2021
55:10
Our Parsha is a difficult one to read. Our nation was enslaved, tormented, oppressed, and murdered by the Egyptians. Although we don’t see the salvation in our Parsha, the chess pieces of the redemption are set into place. In this edition of the Parsha Podcast, we study several themes of the Parsha that can improve […]
7136
Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Dec 26, 2021
1:00:59
Our Parsha begins in the middle of the dialogue between Moses and God. Moses’ initial foray into saving the nation has gone horribly awry. Instead of alleviating the pain of the Jewish nation; his intervention exacerbated it, and he returned to the Almighty asking for an explanation. In His response, God tells Moses that he […]
7137
Vaeira – The Endurance Expedition
Vaeira – The Endurance Expedition
Dec 28, 2021
1:01:52
As the tag team representing God in the Exodus, Moshe and Aaron pull off some incredible miracles and feats in this week’s Parsha. When they are formally introduced and their pedigree is laid out, a very interesting praise is bestowed upon them. Upon analysis, we find the identical praise conferred upon many of the great […]
7138
Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Jan 2, 2022
1:00:25
After the first seven Plagues of Egypt related in last week’s parsha, Pharaoh and his people were still unwilling to release the Children of Israel. In Parshas Bo, the miracles and wonders of the Almighty intensified, culminating in the Death of the Firstborn and the Exodus from Egypt. – – – – – – – […]
7139
Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus
Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus
Jan 5, 2022
57:49
The Exodus from Egypt was the founding event of our people. Our nation had been in Egypt for more than two centuries and we had become acculturated into the Egyptian way of life. Over the year of the Exodus process, our nation was privy to miracles never before seen in history: we saw our masters […]
7140
Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Jan 9, 2022
1:03:51
Parshas Beshalach may be the most action-packed parsha in the Torah. After the Exodus, God directed the people to not take the shortest route to the Land in order to facilitate the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and the final destruction of the Egyptians. After those unprecedented miracles, the trouble began: Twice […]
7141
Beshalach – Songworthy Sequels
Beshalach – Songworthy Sequels
Jan 12, 2022
44:39
The Exodus marked the severing of the Jewish people from their former masters, the Egyptians. With plagues and miracles, the Almighty extracted the Israelites from bondage. That all happened in last week’s Parsha. You would expect that our nation would move on to other pursuits and challenges, but our Parsha begins with the Egyptians again. […]
7142
Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Jan 16, 2022
1:05:59
The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe’s father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process. – – […]
7143
Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro
Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro
Jan 19, 2022
56:06
The eponymous protagonist of our Parsha – Moshe’s father-in-law, Jethro – makes three appearances in the Torah. His story, at first glance, seems wholly unremarkable. His greatest claim to fame was the fact that Moshe married his daughter. But the Torah revisits this interesting and compelling character again and again, and his narrative is positioned […]
7144
Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Jan 23, 2022
59:05
Parshas Mishpatim marks a stark change in the rhythm and pace of the Torah narrative. The preceding 17 Parshas contained a total of 41 mitzvos; this week we begin learning the Torah laws en masse. In this single parsha alone we have 53 mitzvos (only three parshas have more mitzvos). Beyond the varied laws, this parsha […]
7145
Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai
Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai
Jan 27, 2022
53:19
The Sinai Revelation was the most significant event in all of human history, certainly in all of Jewish history. Our nation experienced what no other people has experienced: we heard God speaking the Ten Commandments from amidst the fire and thick cloud on the mountain, and survived to tell the tale. This event – as […]
7146
Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Jan 30, 2022
52:28
One of the fundamental principles of Jewish philosophy is the idea of “Kedushah”, holiness. Holiness, according to the Jewish definition, is when the physical and spiritual worlds meet. In no location in the world is holiness more present than the Temple, and its predecessor, the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle. In this week’s parsha we read about […]
7147
Terumah – The Mystery of the Menorah
Terumah – The Mystery of the Menorah
Feb 2, 2022
1:01:37
This week’s Parsha marks the beginning of the Torah’s detailing of the Tabernacle and its vessels and operations. This subject makes up the bulk of the remaining narrative of Exodus, and Leviticus contains much of the laws related to the Tabernacle. We have never witnessed the Tabernacle, nor it’s successor, the Temple in Jerusalem. The […]
7148
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Feb 6, 2022
56:25
In a natural continuation to Parshas Terumah, in Parshas Tetzaveh we learn about the instructions to build the Tabernacle. Whereas last week the focus was on the edifice itself and its vessels, this week we will orient primarily on the special garments that the priests wore in the Tabernacle, and of course subsequently in the […]
7149
Tetzaveh – What’s In A Name
Tetzaveh – What’s In A Name
Feb 8, 2022
1:03:38
Our Sages tell us that each one of us is unique and has a unique mission to fulfill. Humans are not fungible, moist, robots that can be swapped for each other. Each one of us is our own world. We must each say: “the world was created for me.” But how do we discover our […]
7150
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) & TORCH Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast) & TORCH Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Feb 13, 2022
1:17:59
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7151
Ki Sisa – Counting and Duking the Nation & Annual Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Ki Sisa – Counting and Duking the Nation & Annual Fundraiser (giveTORCH.org)
Feb 16, 2022
52:30
Please support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The […]
7152
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.
7153
Parshas Vayakhel (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayakhel (Rebroadcast)
Feb 20, 2022
1:00:50
After the Torah delineates the instructions to assemble the materials for the construction of the Tabernacle in Parshas Terumah and the creation of the vestments of the high priest in Parshas Tetzaveh, Parshas Vayakhel outlines the implementation those plans: The massive fundraising efforts, and the actual building of the Tabernacle and its vessels under the […]
7154
Vayakhel – Heart Donor
Vayakhel – Heart Donor
Feb 23, 2022
1:01:21
LAST CHANCE to support The Parsha Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the Parsha Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7155
Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Feb 27, 2022
34:03
The final parsha in the Book of Exodus wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7156
Pekudei – Bold Initiatives Checklist
Pekudei – Bold Initiatives Checklist
Mar 1, 2022
1:05:22
The most ambitious initiative ever undertook in the history of mankind was the construction of the Tabernacle. Think about it: humans are getting together with the intent of constructing a residence for God on this Earth. And they pull it off! Our Parsha ends with the Presence of God dwelling in the Tabernacle. In this […]
7157
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Mar 6, 2022
52:10
In Parshas Vayikra, the first Torah section in The Book of Leviticus, we learn about the processes and procedures of many different varieties of sacrifices: There are three different types of elevation offerings; three types of peace-offerings; six types of meal-offerings; and numerous sin and guilt offerings. Our exploration of the parsha begins with a […]
7158
Vayikra – From Each According to His Ability
Vayikra – From Each According to His Ability
Mar 9, 2022
51:30
Our Parsha deals exclusively with sacrifices. Since the destruction of the Temple nearly 2,000 years ago, our nation has not offered a single sacrifice. In this podcast we show how, notwithstanding the inapplicability of sacrifices today, there are wonderful lessons to learn from every part of the Torah. The one we learn today is both […]
7159
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Mar 13, 2022
58:55
In continuation of the themes of last week, Parshas Tzav details the procedures of processing many of the sacrifices enumerated in Parshas Vayikra, teaches us about new sacrifices, and we read about the seven days of inauguration of the Tabernacle. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7160
The Book of Esther on an Allegorical Level (Rebroadcast)
The Book of Esther on an Allegorical Level (Rebroadcast)
Mar 15, 2022
1:37:51
On Purim we read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Purim miracle. The Persian king Achashverosh conspires with his Amalekite viceroy Haman to eradicate the entire Jewish nation, but God refused to allow their plans to unfold. Queen Esther, together with her relative Mordechai, spearhead the effort to turn the plan on […]
7161
Tzav – Ready, Steady, Fire!
Tzav – Ready, Steady, Fire!
Mar 16, 2022
47:28
A lot of things are needed for the Temple and the Tabernacle to function properly. There are all kinds of prerequisites, protocols, procedures, and rituals that must be followed. One of the most surprising ones is the requirement to always have a fire atop the altar. Although the fire is needed for the processing of […]
7162
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Mar 20, 2022
53:51
After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle was erected for good, and a Heavenly fire consumed the various sacrifices offered upon the Altar and the […]
7163
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 […]
7164
Shemini – Aaron’s Credentials
Shemini – Aaron’s Credentials
Mar 23, 2022
48:50
In our Parsha Aaron is promoted to become the high priest. Previously, Moshe served as high priest in an interim role, henceforth Aaron and his descendants will serve as the nation’s emissaries before God. Why was Aaron chosen? What were his qualifications? What were the events in his life that rendered him worthy of such […]
7165
Parshas Tazria (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tazria (Rebroadcast)
Mar 27, 2022
50:27
A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. Parshas Tazria deals exclusively with these laws, first with respect to the impurity of a new mother, and second with the impurity of tzaraas a skin disease that comes as a result of sin. What is purity and impurity and […]
7166
Tazria – Torah In A Box
Tazria – Torah In A Box
Mar 30, 2022
1:00:21
The bulk of our Parsha deals with the inapplicable laws of purity and impurity, but we also told about a Mitzvah that is very much applicable today: circumcision. When a baby boy is 8 days old, they are circumcised and thereby entered into the Covenant of Abraham. What is the meaning behind this Mitzvah? Why, […]
7167
Parshas Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Apr 3, 2022
51:14
A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas caused by a variety of sins, most notably the sin of lashon hara, evil talk and slander. Last week we read about two varieties of this illness: when it strikes a person’s garment or body; the bulk of our parsha orients around […]
7168
Metzora – 21st Century Prophecy
Metzora – 21st Century Prophecy
Apr 6, 2022
1:11:21
How involved is God in the day-to-day lives of humanity? What is the nature of divine communication to humanity? The central subject of our Parsha offers a fascinating window into this question. In antiquity – when our people were very close to the Almighty and very elevated spiritually – every sin would register as a […]
7169
Pesach Special with Akiva and Yehoshua Wolbe
Pesach Special with Akiva and Yehoshua Wolbe
Apr 12, 2022
47:01
This upcoming Shabbos coincides with the first day of Pesach. Consequently, there is no new Parsha this week. But there will still be a new Parsha Podcast. My dear friend Dan Kullman, host of the Shema Podcast interviewed my two oldest sons, Akiva and Yehoshua, about Pesach, it’s history, lessons, and ceremonies. He graciously agreed […]
7170
When God Positions Man: A Yahrzeit Tribute to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
When God Positions Man: A Yahrzeit Tribute to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
Apr 20, 2022
37:46
This Pesach marks the 17th yahrzeit of my grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe. Because this week is Pesach and does not feature a new Parsha, I recorded a special tribute to my grandfather of righteous memory. May we all be inspired to emulate his ways and may his Soul be elevated in Heaven. – – – […]
7171
Parshas Acharei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Acharei (Rebroadcast)
Apr 24, 2022
1:03:09
The three chapters of our parsha cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws; and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited sexual relationships. – – – – – – – […]
7172
Acharei Mos – A Consequential Life
Acharei Mos – A Consequential Life
Apr 27, 2022
57:31
The verse in our Parsha makes a big promise: if you adhere to the Mitzvos and statutes and laws of the Torah you will be granted life. Life is what we all so deeply covet. Torah and Mitzvos are the ways to get it. But it doesn’t seem to bear out in the real world. […]
7173
Parshas Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
May 1, 2022
57:03
This week’s parsha has the highest mitzvah density of any parsha: In its 64 verses we learn 51 separate mitzvos covering many different areas of Jewish practice, including arguably the most famous mitzvah in the whole Torah. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7174
Kedoshim – The Superhuman Imperative
Kedoshim – The Superhuman Imperative
May 4, 2022
51:01
Our Parsha begins with an unusual ceremony: Moshe gathers the entire Jewish Nation, men, women, and children, to convey to them the mitzvos of our Parsha. Unlike the rest of the Torah where the nation is conveyed the Law in shifts, in this week’s Parsha everyone has to be together. When we examine the reasons […]
7175
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
May 8, 2022
1:03:18
Parshas Emor contains a staggering 56 mitzvos, nearly all of them relating to either to the Kohanim, the priests, or to the Festivals, and the parsha ends with a very unusual episode that happened at Sinai. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7176
Emor – Spiritual Fingerprint
Emor – Spiritual Fingerprint
May 10, 2022
1:04:20
The Kohanic family is the most prestigious and sanctified family in our nation. Direct descendants of the legendary Aaron, this family was consecrated as the priests of our nation. They oversee the temple and its operations, they do the service of the Temple, they process the sacrifices – they are the spiritual leaders of our […]
7177
Parshas Behar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behar (Rebroadcast)
May 15, 2022
58:55
At Mount Sinai, 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. What is the lesson inherent in this mitzvah and what are the consequences of transgressing it? – – – – […]
7178
Behar – The Jubilant 50’s
Behar – The Jubilant 50’s
May 18, 2022
1:07:09
Being a farmer in antiquity was a hard job. Without any mechanized tools and plows, farming demanded a great deal of sweat and toil. But what choice did you have? If you want to feed your family, you need to work the land. Then comes the Shemitah. Every 7th year, the farmers in the Land […]
7179
Parshas Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
May 22, 2022
51:23
In two chapters in the Torah (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28) we read about the positive consequences of obeying the Torah and heeding its laws; and the terrible, painful consequences of disobeying the Law. Though reading this week’s Torah portion is scary and a tad depressing, the truth is that this framework is the secret to […]
7180
Bechukosai – Self-Assembly Kit
Bechukosai – Self-Assembly Kit
May 25, 2022
53:53
Why was our soul sent to this world? What was lacking for it in Heaven? That is not an easy question to answer. There are other hard questions to ponder: why are we so obsessed with Torah? How is Torah beneficial for mankind? In this superb episode of the Parsha Podcast, we discover a higher […]
7181
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
May 29, 2022
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 […]
7182
Bamidbar – Autopsy of Giants
Bamidbar – Autopsy of Giants
May 31, 2022
55:08
Our Parsha recounts – for the third time hitherto in the Torah – the episode of the untimely death of Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. These two young priests were destined for greatness. Moshe believed that they were in fact greater than him and Aaron. Yet they brought an unauthorized sacrifice and died […]
7183
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
Jun 2, 2022
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 […]
7184
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Jun 7, 2022
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 […]
7185
Nasso – The Fourth Crown
Nasso – The Fourth Crown
Jun 9, 2022
1:01:10
Our Parsha contains the interesting law of the Nazir. A Nazir is someone who has accepted upon themselves a vow to abstain from wine, haircuts, and contact with the dead for a given period, typically 30 days. The details of this law are featured in our partial and elaborated upon in appropriately named book of […]
7186
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Jun 12, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – – […]
7187
Behaaloscha – Follow the Cloud
Behaaloscha – Follow the Cloud
Jun 16, 2022
59:07
Traveling in the wilderness was not simple. The nation was guided by the clouds of Glory. When the clouds of Glory would depart from a top of the Tabernacle, that signaled it was time to go and the nation decamped and began to move. Where to? No one knew ahead of time. Wherever the cloud […]
7188
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 19, 2022
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 […]
7189
Shelach – Enter Via the Window
Shelach – Enter Via the Window
Jun 23, 2022
1:03:22
One of the most unfortunate events in our history is chronicled in this week’s Parsha. The nation was on the doorstep of entering the Land of Canaan and actualizing the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In an effort to not to rely on Divine miracles, Moshe commissioned 12 righteous men to reconnoiter the […]
7190
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 26, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – […]
7191
Korach – Debating Back to Sinai
Korach – Debating Back to Sinai
Jun 28, 2022
46:06
Debate and disagreement are part of the human condition. We are all unique and we all see the world differently. It should come as no shock, therefore, that disagreements exist between different people. Our nation has made debate into a favorite pastime – just visit any Yeshiva and you will see what I mean. But […]
7192
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)
Jul 3, 2022
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 […]
7193
Chukas – Between a Rock and a Watery Place
Chukas – Between a Rock and a Watery Place
Jul 6, 2022
53:22
Parshas Chukas contains some of the most interesting and iconic sections of the Torah. It begins with the mysterious red cow, a blush bovine whose burnt ashes are part of the cleansing cocktail needed to purify the impure. Afterwards, we read about the death of Miriam and its aftermath, including the cessation of the well […]
7194
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jul 10, 2022
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 […]
7195
Balak – A Single Point
Balak – A Single Point
Jul 14, 2022
53:32
Our nation has no shortage of enemies. This is not new. Even in antiquity, our nation was always a target. Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law, try to smothered the Jewish Nation in its infancy. I’m this week’s Parsha, to fearsome, shadowy figures try to do the same. Balak, king of Moab, commissions Bilaam, master sorcerer and prophet, […]
7196
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Jul 17, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7197
Pinchas – Staying Hungry
Pinchas – Staying Hungry
Jul 19, 2022
42:17
Although a paternal grandson of Aaron the Kohein, Pinchas was not initially – prior to his heroic act of martyrdom – a Kohein. The law stated that only Aaron and his sons were to be anointed as Kohanim. All sons born to Kohanim subsequently were to be Kohanim, but Pinchas who was alive at the […]
7198
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Jul 24, 2022
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; […]
7199
Mattos & Masei – Contrarian Guide
Mattos & Masei – Contrarian Guide
Jul 28, 2022
51:50
This week we conclude the Book of Numbers with a double-Parsha, the sole double-Parsha of this calendar year. Of the myriad of interesting subjects found in our Parsha is the long and detailed negotiations between Moshe and the tribes of Reuben and Gad. These tribes sought to permanently settle on the East Bank of the […]
7200
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)
Jul 31, 2022
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 […]