The Parsha Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

1

Toldos – Who Was Isaac?

Nov 12, 2026

1:06:57

Isaac has the most mysterious storyline of the three forefathers, the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Unlike Abraham and Jacob, who live very dynamic and dramatic lives, it’s not immediately evident from Isaac’s story why, how, or if he achieved exceptional greatness. Isaac’s story is a mystery, an enigma, and to understand it, it is […]

2

Toldos – Jacob’s Heist (5785)

Nov 10, 2026

59:43

We are told to respect the will of our parents. Certainly, if your parent is righteous, it is severely inappropriate to violate their will. All the more so if your parent is one of the greatest men who have ever lived. But Jacob violates the will of Isaac. Isaac wants to give a prophetic blessing […]

3

Chayei Sarah – Who Was Ishmael?

Nov 5, 2026

1:07:13

Ishmael’s story is told at great length in the Torah. We read about his unusual parentage, the dramatic circumstances of his birth, and how Abraham was 86 when he was born. We read about Abraham training him to be hospitable as a lad, circumcising him as a teen, and banishing him as an adolescent. Ishmael’s […]

4

Chayei Sarah – Reverse Repentance (5785)

Nov 3, 2026

1:05:41

Sarah was Abraham’s life partner. She was his superior as a prophetess. She accompanied him in all his journeys. In the aftermath of the Binding of Isaac, she died. How did the Binding contribute to her demise? What exactly was Saran’s role in orchestrating her sudden death? In this Parsha Podcast we explore the very […]

5

Vayeira – Who was Lot?

Oct 29, 2026

1:07:30

Lot, Abraham’s brother-in-law and nephew, has one of the most interesting and unique story arcs in the Torah. He is the son of Abraham’s brother Haran, who joins Abraham for much of Abraham’s journey: When Abraham travels from Ur to Haran, Lot comes along. When Abraham travels from Haran to Canaan, Lot joins. When Abraham […]

6

Vayeira – Five Languages of Laughter (5785)

Oct 27, 2026

1:02:57

Isaac is the most mysterious of the forefathers. His storyline does not have the same rich and dramatic narrative as Abraham and Jacob. What lessons we are supposed to learn from Isaac is an equally confounding mystery. In this very special podcast, we explore a fascinating motif that recurs throughout the Parsha: laughter, and suggest […]

7

Lech Lecha – Who was Abraham?

Oct 22, 2026

1:18:56

Abraham was the most consequential person of all time. In our classic literature, Abraham is graced with superlatives given to no one else: Abraham was the “beloved one of God.” Abraham was “chosen by God.” Abraham was a “partner with God in Genesis.” Abraham “discovered faith without a teacher, and without a guide.” Abraham became […]

8

Lech Lecha – Abraham’s Fellow Travelers (5785)

Oct 20, 2026

1:03:52

Abraham seems to always be journeying. In last week’s Parsha he traveled from his birthplace of Ur to Charan. This week the Parsha begins with Abraham’s journey to Canaan. He traveled there with his family, he traversed the land in every direction; and when famine strikes, he went down to Egypt and returns. Abraham’s journey […]

9

Noach – Who was Noah?

Oct 15, 2026

54:01

Noah was perfectly righteous. He was pristine. He was flawless. In fact, Noach is the only person labeled as a tzaddik in the Torah, and he receives that honorific twice. He lived a very long life (950 years) and had the great distinction of being perfectly righteous when the entire rest of the world seeped […]

10

Noach – Cured Ham (5785)

Oct 13, 2026

48:29

After spending a year in the ark, Noah and his family exited it to find an empty and desolate world. The sinners who dominated the world before the flood were gone as were basically everything else. The animals, not including token representatives of each species, were gone. The trees, the grass, the plants – everything […]

11

Bereishis – Who was Adam?

Oct 8, 2026

1:06:26

Most people don’t know the first man from Adam. Who was this mysterious being created on day 6 of Genesis? What is the meaning of the hybrid nature of Adam’s formation? What is the significance of him being created from the earth? What does it mean to be created in the image of God? What […]

12

Bereishis – Genealogies of Genesis (5785)

Oct 6, 2026

56:25

The end of our Parsha delineates the many families and generations spanning from Adam to Noah. There are all sorts of fascinating factoids, nuggets and vignettes included in this narrative: we study the story of Cain from after his fratricide of his brother until his tragic and surprising death at the hand of his own […]

13

Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)

Oct 5, 2026

1:12:33

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 11 of the Parsha Podcast (5787). This year, we will re-upload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 9th cycle’s episode (5785) for each respective Parsha each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly […]

14

Vezos Haberacha – Black on White

Oct 1, 2026

55:27

The Torah preceded the world. In fact, the Almighty used the Torah as a blueprint for the creation of the world. But the primordial Torah was formatted differently than the Torah we have today. It was black fire on top of white fire. Our Torah is black ink on white parchment. The heavenly Torah is […]

15

Vezos Haberacha – Family Above (Almost) Everything (5784)

Sep 29, 2026

47:49

The final Parsha of the Torah tells of Moshe’s deathbed blessing to the tribes. For the duration of the Torah, Moshe has been constantly criticizing and reprimanding the nation. Praising the people is something that he does only on his last day. After Moshe blesses the nation, he ascends the mountain and passes away. The […]

16

Haazinu – Surprisingly Joyous Song

Sep 17, 2026

56:40

The last day of Moshe’s reign, coincided with the first day of Joshua’s reign. For one day, Moshe and Joshua led the nation together as co-heads. On that day, Moshe and Joshua together conveyed the exquisite, comprehensive sound of Haazinu. A song that spans everything: the past, the present, the future, this world, the world […]

17

Haazinu – Trees with 70 Branches (5784)

Sep 15, 2026

46:54

Parshas Hazinu is one of the most fascinating, poetic, and richly profound Parshas in the Torah. It is also arguably the most mysterious one. The majority of the Parsha is the Song of Haazinu, an intricate tapestry of prophecies that encapsulate the grand scope of Jewish history. The commentators on this Parsha strive to even […]

18

The Binding of Isaac (Second Day of Rosh Hashana Torah Reading)

Sep 8, 2026

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 […]

19

The Origin of Isaac (First Day of Rosh Hashana Torah Reading)

Sep 6, 2026

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 […]

20

Nitzavim & Vayeilech – Mavericks vs. Heat

Sep 3, 2026

59:29

The entire book of Devarim occurs over the span of 36 days, the final 36 days of Moshe’s life. The final four Parshas are an account of the last day of Moshe’s life. As he is about to transition to the other world, the reliable shepherd gathers all the people together for one last covenant […]

21

Nitzavim Vayeilech – Like Clockwork (5784)

Sep 1, 2026

47:06

We are not machines. We are humans. And that’s messy. We have all sorts of struggles doing the right thing. We are influenced by a myriad of impulses, inclinations, and predispositions. We don’t operate like clockwork. There are other things that always follow a prescribed pattern: The sun always rises in the East and sets […]

22

Ki Savo – The Joystick

Aug 27, 2026

1:02:43

Sadness and hopelessness are modern societal epidemics. Notwithstanding the fact that our time has seen more material abundance than ever before, the share of Americans, especially young Americans, who feel consistent and persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness has skyrocketed in recent years. The Torah offers salient guidance. In our Parsha, we learn how to […]

23

Ki Savo – Gaze from Heaven (5784)

Aug 25, 2026

57:05

Blessings and curses. That is the dominant theme of our Parsha. We read the admonition of Deuteronomy – 98 bone-chilling curses that will befall our people in the event that we repudiate our covenant with God. Blessings and curses appear a second time: the nation is instructed to assemble at Mount Gerizim and mount Ebal […]

24

Ki Seitzei – Moabite the Hand that Fed You

Aug 20, 2026

56:01

Our number one goal in life is to achieve perfection. Perfection of character, perfection of behavior, profession of speech, profession of thought, perfection in every possible way. Our bad character needs to be fixed, our shortcomings need to be rectified, our bad habits need to be reversed, our maladies of character need to be remedied. […]

25

Ki Seitzei – Conscience Cleanser (5784)

Aug 18, 2026

46:31

Of the motley potpourri of subjects featured in Parshas Ki Seitzei are several fascinating mitzvos that we address in this week’s Parsha podcast. We begin with a fascinating analysis of the law of the beautiful captive woman. We proceed with a heartening insight based upon the wayward and rebellious son. Finally, we offer a sharp […]

26

Shoftim – Selfless, Fearless, Flawless, Scholars

Aug 13, 2026

1:08:27

Our Parsha features laws relating to all types of leaders: Judges must not corrupt judgment, must not accept bribery, must hearken to the rulings of the Grand Sanhedrin, and must relentlessly pursue justice. Kings may not have too many wives, too many horses, too much silver and gold, and must always be cognizant of the […]

27

Shoftim – Government-in-Exile (5784)

Aug 11, 2026

45:28

In this Parsha Podcast we share two fascinating and deep insights from our Parsha. The first relates to the method by which capital punishment must be meted out. The second is a novel and fascinating spiritual and cosmic perspective on the monarchy as a method of government, both in the era when monarchies were widespread […]

28

Reeh – Root Force

Aug 6, 2026

1:03:25

Idolatry is anathema. Idolatry in the Holy Land is totally intolerable. Multiple times in the book of Devarim, we are exhorted to thoroughly and utterly destroy any remnant of idolatry that we encounter in the Land, be it altars, pillars, idolatrous trees, or molten images. But it is insufficient to eliminate the idols. We are […]

29

Reeh – Idle Tree, Idle Warship, and Falls Profits (5784)

Aug 4, 2026

57:00

The Torah spends a lot of time cautioning us against idolatry. As the nation is about to cross over the Jordan and enter Canaan, they are repeatedly warned to not fall prey to the idolatrous practices of the indigenous population. Instead, they must shatter the idolatrous altars, destroy idolatrous infrastructure, obliterate idolatrous paraphernalia , uproot […]

30

Eikev – Hidden Mechanisms

Jul 30, 2026

1:02:33

Several themes seem to be repeating themselves again and again throughout the Book of Devarim. For example, the nation is repeatedly encouraged to not be fearful of the formidable Canaanite Nations waiting for them on the other side of the Jordan. But the one theme that repeats itself more frequently than any other is the […]

31

Eikev – Shock and Awe (5784)

Jul 28, 2026

1:05:26

Flashy achievements make the news. Great triumphs, awesome deeds, transcendent moments grab our attention and seize our imagination. Humdrum acts fail to stir excitement. But when we are devising a strategy for how to prepare our ladder of ascension, it may be ill-advised to pursue quantum leaps of greatness. In fact the most effective process […]

32

Vaeschanan – Denied Entry

Jul 22, 2026

1:06:37

Prayer always makes an impact. Moshe’s prayer was exceedingly powerful and made a supercharged impact. But all of Moshe’s prayer, and all of his pleading, and all of his incessant Divine entreatment did not succeed in getting God to change his decree barring Moshe from entering the Land. Moshe’s 515 prayers was unable to reverse […]

33

Vaeschanan – Get a Life (5784)

Jul 21, 2026

59:44

Moshe was Joshua’s teacher. By any measure, Moshe was a greater leader of the nation than Joshua was. Moshe was the sun to Joshua’s moon. But Moshe was unable to lead the nation across the Jordan; a feat that Joshua pulled off. How did Joshua the acolyte manage to outshine and upstage the master? That […]

34

Devarim – Og, the Places You’ll Go

Jul 16, 2026

1:07:14

A month before his passing, Moshe gathers the nation for a final message. He begins with a two-verse critique of the nation, not excoriating them for their sins, but gently reprimanding them in a veiled and subtle manner. Moshe then pledges to begin to explain the Torah with scintillating clarity. Before he does so though, […]

35

Devarim – Citizen of Heaven (5784)

Jul 14, 2026

47:25

A year after the Exodus Moshe dispatched a contingency of dignified men to scout the land of Canaan prior to the Nation’s invasion. It was a catastrophic debacle. The scouts returned with a devastating, slanderous report about the Land, prompting the nation to bewail needlessly all night, and condemning the nation to 40 years of […]

36

Mattos & Masei – Talk is Expensive

Jul 9, 2026

55:48

Freedom of speech is enshrined in the First Amendment. Our society allows people to say whatever they want so long as they’re not perjuring themselves or making explicit calls to violence. In our society, words don’t carry weight. A verbal agreement without a signed contract carried no legal muster. The Torah has a very different […]

37

Mattos & Masei – Order of Sisters (5784)

Jul 7, 2026

35:48

The Book of Bamidbar ends on a bit of a surprising note. The final chapter of our book revisits the somewhat technical narrative relating to the inheritance of the ancestral lands of a man named Tzelafchad. This man from the tribe of Menashe died without sons, and in chapter 27 of the book of numbers […]

38

Pinchas – Dual Tracks

Jul 2, 2026

1:05:24

Certain legends are irreplaceable. There was never a man like Moshe who spoke to God face to face. Aaron, the first high priest, set an incredibly high bar for all high priests who followed. In this week’s Parsha, successors are designated for both Moshe and Aaron. Aaron’s grandson Pinchas was elevated to the priesthood which […]

39

Pinchas – Eggs Not Cheese (5784)

Jun 30, 2026

53:54

Pinchas, Aaron’s grandson, did a valorous and zealous act of bravery when he skewered the prince of the tribe of Shimon and stopped the plague from wiping out the entire nation. What motivated Pinchas’ behavior? What attributes were at play during his act of zealotry? This question is answered in a comment in Rashi in […]

40

Parsha: Chukas & Balak – The Flintystones

Jun 25, 2026

1:00:33

This week’s double Parsha is chock-full of fascinating narratives, story lines, and mitzvos. We begin with the great mystery of the red heifer. We then read about the passing of Miriam, sister of Moshe and Aaron, and its repercussions. There are wars against foes, water coming out of rocks, talking donkeys, and two plagues, including […]

41

Balak – Donkey Gait Keeper (5784)

Jun 24, 2026

55:19

In every generation there are malevolent forces seeking to destroy the Jewish people. They have never been successful, nor will they ever be. The Almighty always protects our people and ensures our continuity. Most of the time we are completely unaware of the mortal dangers that the Almighty thwarted on our behalf. The canonical example […]

42

Chukas – Mourning Clouds (5784)

Jun 23, 2026

49:47

Two giants passed away in this week’s Parsha: Moshe two elder siblings, his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron – two of the great leaders and benefactors of the nation – both die in Parshas Chukas. In this special Parsha podcast we share two profound insights relating to the death, mourning, and aftermath of these […]

43

Korach – Debate and Switch

Jun 18, 2026

1:07:22

Cousins don’t always agree on everything. Korach and Moshe had a disagreement, a debate. Moshe was instructed by God that the nation is limited to one high priest, Aaron. Korach argued that the entire nation is entirely holy, and why can’t everyone be a high priest? Korach has some apparent legitimacy to his perspective. Prior […]

44

Korach – The Jewish Kryptonite (5784)

Jun 16, 2026

47:21

We all have weaknesses. Nations, as well, have witnesses. When the Almighty sought to give the Torah to the Jewish people at Sinai, He first offered it to all the nations. When they asked what was included in it, God revealed to them how the Torah disallowed that particular weakness that that particular Nation had. […]

45

Shelach – Founding Grandfathers

Jun 11, 2026

54:58

The twelve men who Moshe sent to scout the Land were all righteous leaders of the tribes. There were not lightweights. In fact, Joshua, who would succeed Moshe as the leader of the people, was only the 5th greatest of this cadre. Yet ten of these men conspired to provide a deflating and slanderous report […]

46

Shelach – Prophylactic Phylacteries (5784)

Jun 9, 2026

1:00:16

Prior to initiating the war of conquest of the land of Canaan, the nation did the prudent thing: they undertook a reconnaissance mission to scout out the enemy defenses. Moshe selected 12 righteous men, one from each tribe, to traverse the land and inspect it from the inside. The result was a catastrophic disaster: the […]

47

Behaaloscha – Shrieking Wilderness

Jun 4, 2026

1:01:43

Parshas Behaaloscha contains a smorgasbord of fascinating narratives and storylines. In this interesting and fun edition of the Parsha podcast, we propose a theme that connects many of the intersecting storylines together. What does Aaron’s kindling of the menorah, the nation’s method of encamping and decamping, the makeup date for the Paschal offering for impure […]

48

Behaaloscha – Honeymoon Phases (5784)

Jun 2, 2026

59:17

After nearly a year at Sinai, the nation is on the move: in perfect formation, each tribe perfectly positioned and oriented, the nation finally departed the site of the Sinai Revelation. Following the cloud, the nation traveled. In this very special Parsha podcast, we go deep and deeper in trying to plumb the depths of […]

49

Nasso – Four Paces

May 28, 2026

58:35

The longest Parsha in the Torah (Nasso) contains a seemingly unconnected string of subjects. It begins by detailing the responsibilities of adult working-age Levites from three Levite families, followed by a census of those Levites. In the middle of the Parsha contains the laws of the sotah (the suspected adulteress) and the Nazir (a person […]

50

Nasso – Gordian Knot (5784)

May 26, 2026

48:19

Parshas Nasso is the longest Parsha in the Torah by verses. In this very special Parsha podcast we explore three different elements of the Parsha: We offer a deep examination of the banishment of the various impure people from the camp; a profound approach to the system of change featured in the Nazir; and a […]

The Parsha Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

The Parsha Podcast Â - הרב יעקב וולבה

More by TORCH