Popular Shows by TORCH הרב אריה וולבה
21655 episodes
#
Name
Release Date
Duration
9001
Eruvin 5
Eruvin 5
Aug 14, 2020
25:42
A wall to the Mavoi
9002
Eruvin 5
Eruvin 5
Aug 14, 2020
25:42
A wall to the Mavoi
9003
Eruvin 6
Eruvin 6
Aug 16, 2020
26:33
Carrying in a public domain?
9004
Eruvin 6
Eruvin 6
Aug 16, 2020
26:33
Carrying in a public domain?
9005
Chazara Eruvin 6
Chazara Eruvin 6
Aug 16, 2020
18:06
Conflicting stringencies
9006
Chazara Eruvin 6
Chazara Eruvin 6
Aug 16, 2020
18:06
Conflicting stringencies
9007
Eruvin 7
Eruvin 7
Aug 16, 2020
30:23
A Mavoi opens to a yard
9008
Eruvin 7
Eruvin 7
Aug 16, 2020
30:23
A Mavoi opens to a yard
9009
Chazara Eruvin 7
Chazara Eruvin 7
Aug 17, 2020
14:46
Bent alleyways
9010
Chazara Eruvin 7
Chazara Eruvin 7
Aug 17, 2020
14:46
Bent alleyways
9011
Eruvin 8
Eruvin 8
Aug 17, 2020
36:58
The Centipede Mavoi
9012
Eruvin 8
Eruvin 8
Aug 17, 2020
36:58
The Centipede Mavoi
9013
Chazara Eruvin 8
Chazara Eruvin 8
Aug 18, 2020
22:15
The diagonal crossbeam
9014
Chazara Eruvin 8
Chazara Eruvin 8
Aug 18, 2020
22:15
The diagonal crossbeam
9015
Eruvin 9
Eruvin 9
Aug 18, 2020
31:27
The larger Lavud
9016
Eruvin 9
Eruvin 9
Aug 18, 2020
31:27
The larger Lavud
9017
Chazara Eruvin 9
Chazara Eruvin 9
Aug 19, 2020
17:46
Visible on the outside but not on the inside
9018
Chazara Eruvin 9
Chazara Eruvin 9
Aug 19, 2020
17:46
Visible on the outside but not on the inside
9019
Eruvin 10
Eruvin 10
Aug 19, 2020
37:13
Minimizing a Mavoi that is too wide
9020
Eruvin 10
Eruvin 10
Aug 19, 2020
37:13
Minimizing a Mavoi that is too wide
9021
Chazara Eruvin 10
Chazara Eruvin 10
Aug 20, 2020
21:49
The wide alley
9022
Chazara Eruvin 10
Chazara Eruvin 10
Aug 20, 2020
21:49
The wide alley
9023
Eruvin 11
Eruvin 11
Aug 20, 2020
33:07
Limitations of Tzuras Hapesach
9024
Vayechi – Anti-Oxidance
Vayechi – Anti-Oxidance
Jan 5, 2023
1:17:18
Immediately prior to his passing, Jacob gathered his sons with the intention of revealing to them what will happen at the end of days. With his 12 sons coalesced around him, Jacob was forced to pivot: the Almighty withdrew His Shechinah from him, and he was no longer able to be able to convey to […]
9025
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)
Jan 8, 2023
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, […]
9026
Shemos – Grooming Greatness (5781)
Shemos – Grooming Greatness (5781)
Jan 10, 2023
49:17
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 […]
9027
Shemos – Panache in King
Shemos – Panache in King
Jan 12, 2023
1:06:11
The story of the Jewish people in the book of Exodus gets off to a difficult start. The nation is firmly ensconced in Egypt, but their experience there is decidedly unpleasant. They are enslaved, tormented, and systematically oppressed. Things go from bad to worse when Pharaoh decrees that all Jewish baby boys be killed. When […]
9028
Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)
Jan 15, 2023
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 […]
9029
Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education (5781)
Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education (5781)
Jan 17, 2023
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? […]
9030
Vaeira – Manufactured Adversity
Vaeira – Manufactured Adversity
Jan 19, 2023
1:14:18
Prior to Moshe and Aaron making progress in their mission to extract the Jewish people from Egypt – their first efforts yielded no success, at least not in that realm – the Torah once again introduces Moshe and Aaron and delineates their pedigree. It begins with delineating the families of Ruben and Shimon, and then […]
9031
Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)
Jan 22, 2023
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. – – – – – – – […]
9032
Bo – The Ember of Abraham (5781)
Bo – The Ember of Abraham (5781)
Jan 24, 2023
40:48
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 […]
9033
Bo – The Bloods and The Crisp
Bo – The Bloods and The Crisp
Jan 26, 2023
1:07:27
The dramatic events of the Exodus reach a crescendo with the nation’s Exodus from Egypt. After 210 years of servitude and subjugation, the Almighty people leave Egypt with great miracles and fanfare. A very specific set of things had to happen to enable this redemption. Immediately prior to the Exodus, the nation circumcised en masse […]
9034
Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)
Jan 29, 2023
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 […]
9035
Beshalach – Bread of Angels (5781)
Beshalach – Bread of Angels (5781)
Jan 31, 2023
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 […]
9036
Beshalach – First Mover Advantage
Beshalach – First Mover Advantage
Feb 2, 2023
53:51
After the Exodus, the Jewish people left Egypt, with no plans to return. But the Egyptians followed them in hot pursuit, and seven days later the nation was surrounded, encircled by their enemies, with their backs against the sea. God gave the command: Go. The Talmud tells us that there was one man who leapt […]
9037
Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)
Feb 5, 2023
1:05:33
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. – – […]
9038
Yisro – Jethro’s Epiphany (5781)
Yisro – Jethro’s Epiphany (5781)
Feb 7, 2023
39:04
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 […]
9039
Yisro – Sinai Sales Pitch
Yisro – Sinai Sales Pitch
Feb 9, 2023
50:55
Our Parsha contains the most significant event in all of human history: the Revelation at Sinai. An entire nation comprised of millions of people heard the Almighty directly. The nation heard the Ten Commandments and lived to tell the tale. This momentous event kick started our nation: thenceforth, we are bound by the laws of […]
9040
Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)
Feb 12, 2023
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 […]
9041
Mishpatim – Crowning Achievement (5781)
Mishpatim – Crowning Achievement (5781)
Feb 14, 2023
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 […]
9042
The Secret of Parshas Shekalim With Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
The Secret of Parshas Shekalim With Rabbi Shmuly Botnick
Feb 14, 2023
59:52
Please support the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation is DOUBLED. Our organization, TORCH, runs one annual fundraiser, and it is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. We need your support – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This week […]
9043
Mishpatim – System of Sinai
Mishpatim – System of Sinai
Feb 16, 2023
49:32
The Parsha that follows the Revelation at Sinai contains an apparently motley potpourri of subjects: it begins with a wide variety of mitzvos of all types, presented in rapid fire succession. The Parsha concludes with two apparently unrelated subjects: it foretells of the conquest of Canaan and the conditions by which we will acquire it, […]
9044
Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)
Feb 19, 2023
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 […]
9045
Terumah – 3 Points Behind the Ark (5781)
Terumah – 3 Points Behind the Ark (5781)
Feb 21, 2023
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. […]
9046
Terumah – Etched in Stone
Terumah – Etched in Stone
Feb 23, 2023
58:25
Please support the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation is DOUBLED. Our organization, TORCH, runs one annual fundraiser, and it is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. We need your support – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Of the various materials […]
9047
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)
Feb 26, 2023
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 […]
9048
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration (5781)
Tetzaveh – The Great Collaboration (5781)
Feb 28, 2023
35:09
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 […]
9049
Tetzaveh – The Choshen People
Tetzaveh – The Choshen People
Mar 2, 2023
53:17
The High Priest was bedecked with garments of royalty. Our Parsha details the 8 special garments (vestments) of Splendor and Glory that the Kohen Gadol wore, and the Talmud delineates the various forms of atonement that each garment bestowed upon the nation. In this podcast we focus on the Breastplate, the Choshen, and assembling the various […]
9050
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)
Mar 5, 2023
1:05:49
This week’s parsha contains several instructions related to the Tabernacle, but the majority of the parsha is dedicated to arguably the most shocking and troubling episode in the whole Torah, the Golden Calf. Forty days after the nation reached the pinnacle of human accomplishment – a national revelation at Sinai – the same nation committed what […]
9051
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire (5781)
Ki Sisa – Hold Your Fire (5781)
Mar 7, 2023
46:11
Our nation commits the most grievous sin of our history in this week’s parsha. A mere 40 days after we experienced the national revelation at Sinai, the nation made the Golden Calf and began to worship it. How did such a catastrophe happen? When we examine the sin very carefully we find a pattern that […]
9052
Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus
Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus
Mar 9, 2023
54:49
The most calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous event in Jewish history – and arguably the most devastating event in all of human history – happens in our Parsha. A mere 40 days after the exultant, euphoric, transcendental Revelation at Sinai, the nation stoops to a very low nadir: they make a golden calf and begin to worship […]
9053
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)
Mar 12, 2023
1:10:06
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 […]
9054
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe (5781)
Vayakhel Pekudei – On Giants’ Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe (5781)
Mar 14, 2023
27:27
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 […]
9055
Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love
Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love
Mar 16, 2023
43:01
Our double Parsha delineates the implementation phases of the building of the Tabernacle. All the materials are assembled, all the artisans are ready, and the building begins. In this podcast we focus on the construction of one of the vessels of the Tabernacle, the Laver, a copper basin that housed water. Our sages reveal some […]
9056
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)
Mar 19, 2023
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 […]
9057
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice (5781)
Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice (5781)
Mar 21, 2023
43:28
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 […]
9058
Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron
Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron
Mar 23, 2023
47:45
We begin the Book of Leviticus with a Parsha Podcast treat: I invited my friend and study partner Rabbi Dovid Biron to guest host this week’s episode. He did not disappoint. In this podcast we learn about the meal offering, how it differs from ordinary sacrifices, and the powerful and life changing lessons that it […]
9059
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)
Mar 26, 2023
58:43
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
9060
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)
Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)
Mar 28, 2023
41:09
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 is selected […]
9061
Tzav – Pure-Bread
Tzav – Pure-Bread
Mar 30, 2023
1:04:26
On the first day of a Kohein’s tenure doing service in the Temple, they bring a once-in-a-lifetime offering: a meal-offering that is almost identical to the daily meal-offering offered by the High Priest. This offering is classified by the Torah as the offering of Aaron and his sons. When we analyze this unique meal offering, […]
9062
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Apr 2, 2023
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 […]
9063
Shemini – Find Your Breach (5781)
Shemini – Find Your Breach (5781)
Apr 4, 2023
38:40
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 […]
9064
Shemini – Fires, Foreign and Domestic
Shemini – Fires, Foreign and Domestic
Apr 11, 2023
1:02:53
Nadav and Avihu were the crown princes of the Jewish nation. These two sons were slated to succeed Moshe and Aaron. Moshe declared, without hyperbole, that his two nephews, Nadav and Avihu, were greater than he and Aaron. These two sons of Aaron were without peer. Yet they acted in an inexplicable manner: On the […]
9065
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)
Apr 16, 2023
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 […]
9066
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises (5781)
Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises (5781)
Apr 18, 2023
43:16
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 […]
9067
Tazria Metzora – Heaven on the Cheap
Tazria Metzora – Heaven on the Cheap
Apr 20, 2023
59:44
This week’s double Parsha contains some of the most intricate and complex laws in the Torah, the laws of purity and impurity. This subject remains an enigmatic mystery for us, in fact, even in Talmudic times it was arcane. That said, there is always something that we can glean from every part of Torah. In […]
9068
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)
Apr 23, 2023
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 […]
9069
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted (5781)
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Challenge Accepted (5781)
Apr 25, 2023
45:00
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 […]
9070
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – It’s a Small World
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – It’s a Small World
Apr 27, 2023
55:11
Our double Parsha contains many different mitzvos. In this podcast we study a set of mitzvos and a very interesting dispute about their nature. We discover a valuable and profound insight that can help us develop and cultivate our potential. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
9071
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Apr 30, 2023
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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
9072
Emor – Sense of Belonging (5781)
Emor – Sense of Belonging (5781)
May 2, 2023
38:13
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 […]
9073
Emor – Snowball’s Chance in Heaven
Emor – Snowball’s Chance in Heaven
May 4, 2023
57:28
The story of the first person to ever be executed in a Jewish court of law is featured at the end of this week’s Parsha. An unnamed man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man, blasphemed and was executed. When we ponder the story we discover all sorts of interesting tidbits. The […]
9074
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)
May 7, 2023
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 […]
9075
Parsha: Behar & Bechukosai – Divine Nudge (5781)
Parsha: Behar & Bechukosai – Divine Nudge (5781)
May 9, 2023
39:47
Two years ago, 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 […]
9076
Behar Bechukosai – Hostage Letter
Behar Bechukosai – Hostage Letter
May 11, 2023
1:01:54
Our Parsha contains some of the most difficult portions in the Torah, the Admonition. Our nation is told of the consequences of failing to adhere to the rules of God. The consequences are fierce and harsh. When this section is read in the synagogue, it is done quickly and in an undertone to prevent the […]
9077
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)
May 14, 2023
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 […]
9078
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers (5781)
Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers (5781)
May 16, 2023
52:39
At first glance, Parshas Bamidbar seems like a snoozefest: it’s very technical, counting the people, assigning the tribes to their encampments, counting the Levites separately, designating the responsibilities of the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and its vessels. But upon further examination, our Parsha guides us with the instructions of how to become […]
9079
Bamidbar – Common Census
Bamidbar – Common Census
May 18, 2023
59:16
The United States Constitution mandates that a nationwide census is conducted every decade. Other nations also conduct censuses. Censuses are common. Our parsha begins with a nation-wide census, the third census since the Exodus. But this census was highly uncommon. It was conducted completely differently than the way that any other census is done. When […]
9080
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)
May 21, 2023
59:07
In the longest parsha in the Torah by verses, we continue to read about the Levite families and their responsibilities, we learn about the three tiers of the Nation’s encampment, the laws of a suspected adulteress, the laws of the Nazir, the Priestly blessings, and we read a very wordy account of the gifts of […]
9081
Nasso – Princely Pendulum (5781)
Nasso – Princely Pendulum (5781)
May 23, 2023
43:09
The Princes of the Tribes make several notable contributions at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: They contribute 12 oxen and 6 covered wagons to aid the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and each Prince donates a tribute of 21 animals, a silver basin and bowl brimming with flour and oil, and a gold […]
9082
*Shavuos Special* – Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos
*Shavuos Special* – Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos
May 24, 2023
1:05:53
The Sinai Revelation is the most significant event in all of human history: God revealed Himself to the entire Jewish people, He spoke to them, He gave them the Torah, and they lived. This day is revisited every single year on the festival of Shavuos. Our objective on this day is to renew our vows […]
9083
Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous
Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous
Jun 1, 2023
1:02:06
The Nazir is someone who accepts a vow, typically for 30 days, to abstain from wine, to not cut their hair, and to not come into contact with the dead. This Nazir is holy. They are close to God. They are like a high priest. They are likely to reach prophecy. But there are some […]
9084
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)
Jun 4, 2023
59:29
The Jewish nation has been encamped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year; in this week’s parsha they finally depart from the Mountain of God, and sadly leave gleefully as a child escaping school. This kick starts a series of missteps that carry harsh consequences. – – – – – – – – – – […]
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Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire (5781)
Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire (5781)
Jun 6, 2023
33:31
Aaron the High Priest held a critical leadership role in the nation. A partial list of his jobs: he offered sacrifices, he did the Yom Kippur services which included the annual trip to the Holy of Holies, and he blessed the people. But there was one job that he was excluded for: When the princes […]
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Behaaloscha – Bad Old Days
Behaaloscha – Bad Old Days
Jun 8, 2023
1:12:05
After a year at Sinai, the nation is finally on the move. Following the precise protocol of disassembly and decampment, the nation marches off from Sinai. Destination: Land of Canaan. At least that was the plan. More about that next week. In this week’s podcast we explore the events surrounding the Nation’s journey from Sinai. […]
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Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 11, 2023
57:32
The Jewish people were on the cusp of entering the Land of Canaan, and made a prudent, but ultimately tragic, decision: To send a contingent of scouts to reconnoiter the Land, to examine its vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to best plan the conquest. Unfortunately, the report of the scouts sent the nation into a […]
9088
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)
Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)
Jun 13, 2023
42:36
The final five verses of our Parsha contain the third paragraph of the Shema. In it, we are instructed to place tzitzis strings wrapped with a string of blue techeiles wool on the corner of our garments. Why? “And you shall see them and remember all the mitzvos of Hashem and you shall do them, […]
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Shelach – Despising Limitations
Shelach – Despising Limitations
Jun 15, 2023
53:30
The nation was on the cusp of entering the Land. After about a year at Sinai, the nation was ready to conquer Canaan. The invasion and war of conquest was imminent. Then catastrophe struck. Moshe sent 12 spies to reconnoiter the Land and report the back with their findings. Their report completely deflated the spirit […]
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Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)
Jun 18, 2023
58:24
In this week’s parsha, Moshe and Aaron’s first cousin, a man named Korach, launches a rebellion claiming that Moshe is guilty of nepotism in appointing his brother as High Priest. What ensued should give one serious pause before engaging in any similar sort of divisive activities. – – – – – – – – – […]
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Korach – Demoted For Good (5781)
Korach – Demoted For Good (5781)
Jun 20, 2023
55:04
Korach was a very talented man with a sterling pedigree. He was wise and clever and even had a degree of prophetic clairvoyance. Yet he blundered egregiously by launching a revolt on Moshe and Aaron. When we study what triggered this rebellion we find that Korach has a seemingly legitimate grievance. He believed – and […]
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Korach – Korach’s Insatiability
Korach – Korach’s Insatiability
Jun 22, 2023
1:05:38
Korach was immensely talented. He was enormously rich, he was clever, and he was devilishly persuasive. His rebellion, however, was doomed from the start. What are the roots of Korach’s rebellion? Why was Jacob dead-set on not having his name associated with Korach? In this Parsha Podcast we engage in a profound study of the […]
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Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Jun 25, 2023
2:01:51
In Parshas Chukas, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact with dead people in order to purify them from their spiritual contamination. We also […]
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Chukas – Inglorious Origins (5781)
Chukas – Inglorious Origins (5781)
Jun 26, 2023
35:07
The red cow is the Torah’s most mysterious mitzvah. We are told to take a completely red cow and slaughter it, and burn it’s body together with a concoction of other ingredients, the ashes of which become the potion to purify people who have come into contact with dead people. If that doesn’t make sense […]
9095
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars (5781)
Balak – Some Men Are From Mars (5781)
Jun 27, 2023
43:30
Our parsha contains an attempted genocide. Bilaam, the prophet of the idolaters, a man of prodigious ability an skill, dedicates himself with tenacity and persistence to curse and destroy the people. Although his three attempts at cursing the nation backfire when he is compelled by God to bless the nation instead, the parsha ends with […]
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Chukas & Balak – Methods of Transformation
Chukas & Balak – Methods of Transformation
Jun 29, 2023
55:59
In the first of this week’s double parsha, we read about the death of two giants: Miriam and Aaron, Moshe’s older sister and brother, pass away. Our sages tell us that the death of the righteous serves as an atonement in a way similar to sacrifices. Just as sacrifices atone, so too does the death […]
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Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)
Jul 2, 2023
51:44
Pinchas was a man of action, a zealot who avenged God’s vengeance and was handsomely rewarded for it. In this parsha we read about his reward, Moses’ succession plan, the methods through which the Land will be divided, and another census is done. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
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Pinchas – Eternal Promotion (5781)
Pinchas – Eternal Promotion (5781)
Jul 4, 2023
48:09
Over the course of the 40 years since the Exodus, the Nation was lead by Moshe and Aaron, the King and High Priest respectively. In our Parsha, successors are designated for both posts. Due to his valiant heroism of the end of last week’s portion, Pinchas is promoted to being a kohein. He would go […]
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Pinchas – Sons of Anarchist
Pinchas – Sons of Anarchist
Jul 6, 2023
53:05
Korach’s rebellion claimed many victims: Some of the perpetrators were swallowed up in a miraculous sinkhole; some were consumed by a divine fire; and some were killed in a plague. In our Parsha, we discover that the sons of Korach did not die. Although they were participants in the rebellion initially, at the very last […]
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Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)
Jul 9, 2023
1:00:55
This year, the Book of Numbers ends with a double parsha – Mattos and Masei. We learn about the laws of vows and oaths; the miraculous war with Midian; the unusual request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben; the Torah delineates the 42 different places that the Nation encamped for their 40 year sojourn; […]