Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
21442 episodes
#
Name
Release Date
Duration
7801
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 […]
7802
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, […]
7803
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 […]
7804
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 […]
7805
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 […]
7806
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. – – – – – – – […]
7807
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 […]
7808
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 […]
7809
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. […]
7810
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. – – […]
7811
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 […]
7812
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 […]
7813
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 […]
7814
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 […]
7815
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 […]
7816
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 […]
7817
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 […]
7818
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 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7819
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 […]
7820
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.
7821
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 […]
7822
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 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7823
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7824
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 […]
7825
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 […]
7826
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 […]
7827
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7828
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 […]
7829
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 […]
7830
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 […]
7831
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 […]
7832
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 […]
7833
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 […]
7834
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, […]
7835
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 […]
7836
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 […]
7837
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 […]
7838
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. – – – […]
7839
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. – – – – – – – […]
7840
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. […]
7841
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7842
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 […]
7843
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7844
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 […]
7845
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? – – – – […]
7846
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 […]
7847
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 […]
7848
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 […]
7849
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 […]
7850
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 […]
7851
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 […]
7852
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 […]
7853
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 […]
7854
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. – – – – – – – – – – […]
7855
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 […]
7856
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 […]
7857
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 […]
7858
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. – – – – – – – – – […]
7859
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 […]
7860
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 […]
7861
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 […]
7862
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 […]
7863
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, […]
7864
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7865
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 […]
7866
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; […]
7867
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 […]
7868
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 […]
7869
Devarim – Human Fallibility and What to Do About it
Devarim – Human Fallibility and What to Do About it
Aug 3, 2022
50:39
Parshas Devarim begins the Book of Deuteronomy, the final installment of the Pentateuch. Moshe is destined to pass and he gathers the nation to prepare them for the day after. How will the nation endure after they lose the greatest leader the world has ever known? How will their survive and flourish after Moshe is […]
7870
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)
Aug 8, 2022
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 […]
7871
Vaeschanan – Linked to Sinai
Vaeschanan – Linked to Sinai
Aug 10, 2022
55:24
Although he was the paradigmatic leader of all time, Moshe was barred from crossing the Jordan River and entering the Land. Joshua his student was to succeed him and lead the Nation into the Promised Land. Why was Moshe not allowed to enter? For the sin of striking the rock instead of speaking to it. […]
7872
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)
Aug 14, 2022
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 […]
7873
Eikev – Well-Heeled
Eikev – Well-Heeled
Aug 18, 2022
1:05:32
If the Almighty promises to give you a blessing, your ears should perk up. If God promises to give you abundance, health, prosperity, fertility, security, and all manner of blessing, your question should be – what must I do to be deserving of this? Our Parsha begins with such a promise. In the event that […]
7874
Parshas Reeh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Reeh (Rebroadcast)
Aug 21, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
7875
Reeh – Steak Your Claim to Eternity
Reeh – Steak Your Claim to Eternity
Aug 26, 2022
55:43
The criminal treated most severely under Torah law is the Meisis, a personal tries to entice others to do idolatry. Attempting to persuade people to repudiate God is more severe than any other crime in Torah law. This discovery is the basis of a stunning observation followed by a critical call to action. And this […]
7876
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)
Aug 28, 2022
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 […]
7877
Shoftim – Hill To Die On
Shoftim – Hill To Die On
Aug 30, 2022
50:07
Our Parsha contains the instructions for how to conduct war. We are told that we must extend peace overtures before launching an attack, we are told about the special nature of the Canaanite wars, and we are prohibited from felling fruit-bearing trees in order to make siege works. This podcast discusses the very unusual way […]
7878
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Sep 4, 2022
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. […]
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Ki Seitzei – The Payoff Pitch
Ki Seitzei – The Payoff Pitch
Sep 7, 2022
43:18
What is the nature of the conflict of life? How, indeed, are we suspended between good and bad, between mitzvos and sin, between the evil and good inclinations? The Almighty designed the world based upon the principle of free will, meaning that we all have the choice of how to live our lives and what […]
7880
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)
Sep 11, 2022
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 […]
7881
Ki Savo – Clinging to Gold
Ki Savo – Clinging to Gold
Sep 14, 2022
55:13
On the surface, Bikkurim appears to be an ordinary, tithe-like Mitzvah. When the first fruits of a season’s crop begin to sprout, you designate them as Bikkurim, and eventually bring them to Jerusalem with much pomp and ceremony. Upon closer examination, this mitzvah is associated with all kinds of surprising people: When we bring the […]
7882
Parshas Nitzavim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nitzavim (Rebroadcast)
Sep 18, 2022
52:07
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: […]
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Nitzavim – The Penitent Manifesto
Nitzavim – The Penitent Manifesto
Sep 21, 2022
1:04:26
Repentance is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. When we blunder; when we err; when we create distance and barriers between us and God, we are afforded the ability to rectify and restore our previous pristine state. But repentance, at first glance, seems nightmarishly hard. To change demands an admission that we are flawed; […]
7884
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)
Sep 25, 2022
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 […]
7885
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)
Sep 25, 2022
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 […]
7886
Parshas Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)
Sep 28, 2022
50:41
Moshe is 120 years old to the day. He was born on the seventh of Adar and now it is the seven of Adar 120 years later. Today is his last day before his passing and he is taking leave from the nation and handing over the reins to Joshua. – – – – – […]
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Vayeilech – Career Capstone
Vayeilech – Career Capstone
Sep 30, 2022
49:49
On the last day of Moshe’s life, he accomplished a lot. He wrote 13 copies of the Torah, one per tribe and one to be permanently stationed in or near the Ark, he spoke words of comfort to the people, and he formally passed the baton of leadership of the nation to his disciple and […]
7888
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
Oct 2, 2022
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 […]
7889
Parshas Haazinu (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Haazinu (Rebroadcast)
Oct 6, 2022
58:16
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 […]
7890
Haazinu – Torrential Torah
Haazinu – Torrential Torah
Oct 6, 2022
47:04
The Song of Haazinu, the third of three Songs on the Torah, tells the story of the Jewish people, past, present, and future. It speaks of high points and nadirs, this world and the next, devastation and reclamation. In this podcast we examined the Song’s beginning. Moshe compares his words and his speech to rain, […]
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Parshas Vezos Haberacha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vezos Haberacha (Rebroadcast)
Oct 9, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
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Vezos Haberacha – An Offer You Can Refuse
Vezos Haberacha – An Offer You Can Refuse
Oct 14, 2022
48:08
The final Parsha of the Torah contains the blessing of Moshe to the nation, his death, burial, and eulogy. Rashi tells us that his blessing began with a recounting of the offer of the Torah to the Nations and to Israel. Before the Sinai Revelation, God offered the Torah to every other Nation, and they […]
7893
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)
Oct 16, 2022
1:12:33
With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 7 of the Parsha Podcast. This year, we will reupload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 5th cycles episode from 5781 each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly episode each Thursday. Thank […]
7894
Bereishis – You are Adam (5781)
Bereishis – You are Adam (5781)
Oct 19, 2022
43:05
As we begin year 7 of the Parsha Podcast, we are excited and overjoyed to share the plan for this year, with the help of the Almighty: each Sunday, we will release the rebroadcast episode that covers the entire Parsha in about an hour. On Tuesday, we will re-release the corresponding episode from the 5th […]
7895
Bereishis – Cain’s Discovery
Bereishis – Cain’s Discovery
Oct 20, 2022
49:49
Welcome to Year Seven (!) of The Parsha Podcast. Each week will feature, with the help of the Almighty, three episodes, two ones from previous years and a new one: On Sunday, the Parsha Rebroadcast that covers the whole Parsha in about an hour will be released. On Tuesday, we will release the episode from […]
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Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
Oct 23, 2022
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making […]
7897
Noach – Spiritual Adaptation (5781)
Noach – Spiritual Adaptation (5781)
Oct 25, 2022
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 […]
7898
Noach – The Flood and The Fish
Noach – The Flood and The Fish
Oct 27, 2022
1:02:00
Please take the short one-question Parsha Podcast Survey https://forms.gle/LkCDUJhCYCnnYasS6 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The Flood was a disaster for all the Earth’s inhabitants, humans and animals alike. With the exception of Noah and his family and the […]
7899
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
Oct 30, 2022
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 […]
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Lech Lecha – Go West, Young Man (5781)
Lech Lecha – Go West, Young Man (5781)
Nov 1, 2022
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. […]