The Parsha Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

251

Parshas Va’eira

Jan 1, 2019

1:01:14

In Parshas Vaeira we see the humbling of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We learn about the first seven of the Ten Plagues and their purpose and significance. More broadly, we delve into the objective of the Exodus at large. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

252

Parshas Shemos

Dec 25, 2018

60:00

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, […]

253

Parshas Vayechi

Dec 18, 2018

53:23

Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons. – […]

254

Parshas Vayigash

Dec 11, 2018

56:16

Twenty two years have passed since Jacob and Joseph were separated. Ever since Joseph was torn away from him, Jacob was bereft of prophecy and inconsolable. In Parshas Vayigash this long saga comes to an end and Jacob is finally reunited with his long-lost son. – – – – – – – – – – […]

255

Parshas Mikeitz

Dec 4, 2018

1:06:41

Parshas Mikeitz continues the narrative of Joseph in Egypt. We pick up his story two years after his failed attempt at earning a reprieve via his cellmate, Pharaoh’s butler, who was about to be reinstated to his post as Pharaoh’s side. Joseph is languishing in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit; after being […]

256

Parshas Vayeishev

Nov 27, 2018

1:06:30

Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a slave after they nearly killed him. By Parsha end, Joseph is languishing in an Egyptian prison […]

257

Parshas Vayishlach

Nov 20, 2018

1:02:41

After successfully escaping the clutches of his deceptive father in law, Laban, Jacob heads back west to the Land of Canaan, and back to his family. The journey back home was a lot more tumultuous and chaotic than anticipated. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

258

Parshas Vayeitzei

Nov 14, 2018

1:04:11

Parshas Vayeitzei follows Jacob as he is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and travels to Charan to the house of Laban, his wily and deceptive uncle, and marries multiple wives and fathers 12 children. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

259

Parshas Toldos

Nov 7, 2018

1:06:48

In Parshas Toldos we meet twin boys that are polar opposites: Esau, beloved by his father Isaac, is a man of the fields; while Jacob is loved by his mother Rebecca and prefers to dwell in the tents of scholarship. These two children will spawn nations and ideals that diverged from each other even before […]

260

Parshas Chayei Sarah

Oct 30, 2018

56:37

Some of the highlights of this week’s parsha: Immediately after the Binding of Isaac, Sarah passed away at the age of 127, and soon afterwards Abraham had to procure a burial spot for her. In addition, Abraham sent his trusted confidante, Eliezer, to his hometown to find a spouse for Isaac. – – – – […]

261

Parshas Vayeira

Oct 23, 2018

1:08:11

This week’s parsha features several iconic episodes: Abraham was visited by God as he was recuperating from his circumcision, and concurrently engaged in superlative kindness with three angels masquerading as pagan travelers; Abraham was informed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed and was unsuccessful in interceding on their behalf; […]

262

Parshas Lech Lecha

Oct 16, 2018

1:02:40

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 […]

263

Parshas Noach

Oct 9, 2018

57:52

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making […]

264

All New Parsha Series – Bereishis

Oct 4, 2018

1:19:32

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty we begin another year of Torah study and another cycle of the Parsha Podcast. This year will revisit the format of year one of the Parsha Podcast where we will try to cover the entire Parsha in each episode each week. Thank you for downloading and please share […]

265

Sukkos: A Primer

Sep 19, 2018

42:40

“’In a Sukkah shall you dwell for seven days’ – The Torah is instructing us to leave our permanent dwelling and move into a temporary dwelling.” (Talmud Sukkah 2a). A mere five days after Yom Kippur, we are instructed to abandon our permanent home and move into a makeshift hut and live there for seven […]

266

Ha’azinu – The Song of History (Rebroadcast)

Sep 16, 2018

1:06:17

On the final day of his life, Moshe gathers the nation and sketches out the cycles of history both past and future in a poetic, song like way, all the while providing indispensable lessons. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

267

Ten Days of Repentance: A Primer

Sep 12, 2018

52:40

Yom Kippur marks the final day of the Ten Days of Repentance. On this day all our efforts are focused on repenting and earning atonement for all our sins and getting sealed into the Book of Life for the upcoming year. In this podcast we analyze the notion of repentance in general, the difference between […]

268

Nitzavim & Vayeilech – Eternal Exhortations (Rebroadcast)

Sep 2, 2018

1:02:15

*Please note that this podcast was recorded last year when the Parshas Nitzavim and Vayeilech were together in a double parsha. This year Nitzavim and Vayeilech are separate and read over two weeks.* In the last few days of Moshe’s life, he gathers the entire nation, men women and children, and presents to them his […]

269

Rosh Hashana: A Primer

Aug 29, 2018

54:56

Rosh Hashana is both the day of judgement on our deeds of the previous year and the day of new hopes and new beginnings for the year to come. The responsibilities – and the opportunities – of the day are so significant that we must be ready and prepared for it. In this podcast we […]

270

Ki Savo – Consequences of Closeness (Rebroadcast)

Aug 26, 2018

54:49

A central theme of Parshas Ki Savo is the idea that we are the Chosen People of God. Why were we chosen, what are we chosen for, and what are the benefits and consequences of being chosen? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

271

Ki Seitzei – Lessons for Living (Rebroadcast)

Aug 19, 2018

49:19

Parshas Ki Sietzei maintains a continuous flow of mitzvos and guidance for the nation on the doorstep to Israel. Its beginning shares a powerful lesson as to how Torah and its mitzvos are the tools given to the Jewish nation to combat the world’s most formidable foe. – – – – – – – – […]

272

Shoftim – Righteous Justice (Rebroadcast)

Aug 12, 2018

1:03:00

In Parshas Shoftim we learn about enactment of judges and a judicial system in Israel. We also learn about the Sanhedrin, its history, and its authority, and what happens when fallible human courts make blunders. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

273

Re’eh – An Attitudinal Shift (Rebroadcast)

Aug 5, 2018

56:29

Parshas Re’eh marks a transition in Devarim. After four sections of Moshe inspiring the nation ahead of his death and their entrance to Israel, the nation is instructed with mitzvos related to their upcoming new world. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

274

Eikev – Count Your Blessings

Aug 1, 2018

29:21

One of the many themes of Parshas Eikev is the mitzvah of blessings. In fact, the Talmud derives from our parsha a requirement to offer 100 blessings to God every day. In this podcast we offer several perspectives on the transformative power of blessings. – – – – – – – – – – – […]

275

Eikev – Earning G-d’s Eternal Promises

Jul 30, 2018

51:57

Parshas Eikev continues the themes of Devarim: Moshe is priming the nation for entering the Land of Israel and flourishing in it, and reveals the secret formula for our nations success. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider […]

276

Va’Eschanan – Preparing the Nation (Rebroadcast)

Jul 23, 2018

1:09:13

Parshas Vaeschanan continues where Parshas Devarim left off. Moshe has about a month left to speak to the nation and prepare them for the challenges awaiting them in Canaan. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider making a […]

277

Tisha B’Av – The Silver Lining of Tragedy

Jul 18, 2018

32:38

Tisha B’av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. Over the millennia, scores of unfortunate events happened to our nation on this inauspicious day. Why is this day so totally designated for bad things, what is the significance of the Temples for us today living in 2018, and what are we supposed to feel […]

278

Devarim – Moshe’s Speech (Rebroadcast)

Jul 15, 2018

50:06

Parshas Devarim, and indeed the Book of Devarim, begins with a lengthy speech from Moshe to the nation about a month before his death. In it he subtly criticizes them regarding all the nation’s misdeeds over the duration of the 40 years in the Wilderness. – – – – – – – – – – […]

279

Mattos & Masei – Promised Land Pending (Rebroadcast)

Jul 8, 2018

56:30

The final two parshiyos of the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar) tell the laws and happenings leading up to the conquest of Canaan (Israel). We are taught the laws of vows, then a war is fought and its booty is divided, and the tribes of Gad and Reuven agree to a pact. – – – – […]

280

Pinchas – Legacies of Great Leaders (Rebroadcast)

Jul 1, 2018

59:18

Pinchas was a great hero who acted out of vengeance for God. In this Parsha, we read about the plaudits for his heroism, the Jews are counted again, a knotty inheritance question is settled, Moshe asked for a successor, and we learn about many sacrifices. – – – – – – – – – – […]

281

Balak – Greatness Gone Awry (Rebroadcast)

Jun 24, 2018

54:01

Bilaam was a gifted prophet on par with Moshe. Sadly, he chose to direct his powers towards a life of evil. In Parshas Balak, Bilaam is hired to curse the Jewish people, but it does not go as planned. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

282

Chukas – Blissful Ignorance

Jun 21, 2018

49:16

The eponymous mitzvah of this week’s parsha, the Red Heifer, is the archetype of a mitzvah that is beyond human comprehension. What can we learn from a mitzvah that we can neither fulfill nor understand? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please […]

283

Chukas -Repentance of the Red Heifer (Rebroadcast)

Jun 17, 2018

1:04:33

Parshas Chukas tells of the red heifer as an atonement from contamination of the dead. What is the meaning behind it and how does it relate to the Golden Calf? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring […]

284

Korach – How to Have Strife-Free Arguments

Jun 13, 2018

49:30

Korach and his comrades launched an insurrection against Moshe that ended catastrophically for them. Our Sages maintain that his mistake was in the underlying cause of his dissent and how he conducted it, not in the fact that he had an argument to begin with. By analyzing this sad episode we can learn the proper […]

285

Korach – A Cousin’s Rebellion (Rebroadcast)

Jun 10, 2018

1:00:32

Korach was Moshe’s envious first cousin who mounted an insurrection against Moshe and Aaron, even questioning their legitimacy. In this story we learn vital lessons about staying true to the role that the Almighty prepares for us and the importance of maintaining peace. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

286

Shelach – The Core of Mussar

Jun 6, 2018

27:27

Mussar is frequently translated as “ethics” or “character refinement”. In the debacle of the Spies found in this week’s parsha we see a definition of Mussar that can change our lives. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider […]

287

Shelach – The Sad Saga of the Spies (Rebroadcast)

Jun 3, 2018

59:38

In Parshas Shelach we read about the disastrous episode of the Spies. These 12 men were initially great leaders of the people, but their libelous report about the Land condemned the Nation to 40 years of wandering in the Wilderness. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

288

Behaaloscha – Amplified Output

May 30, 2018

19:30

In a series of events at the end of this week’s parsha we gain a glimpse of how God dispensed reward and punishment. Moshe’s older sister Miriam is stricken with tzaras and thanks to an act that she did as a child, she merited that the entire nation inconvenienced themselves for her. – – – – – […]

289

Behaaloscha – Trouble in Paradise (Rebroadcast)

May 27, 2018

57:12

After nearly a year encamped at Sinai, the Jews begin their journey to Canaan in Parshas Behaaloscha. With the Tabernacle completed, the Levites consecrated and readied, the road was paved for their swift entry into the Promised Land. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. – – – – – – – – – – […]

290

Nasso – Community and Individuality

May 24, 2018

19:44

When detailing the gifts of the tribe leaders to celebrate the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the Torah contains what seems like a twelvefold repetition. Instead of listing the gifts once, the Torah laboriously repeats the exact same tribute 12 times, once per tribe head. In this podcast we offer an answer that gets to the heart […]

291

Nasso – Temporary Insanity (Rebroadcast)

May 22, 2018

1:02:59

Parshas Nasso is the longest parsha in the Torah, 176 verses. It details the final preparations for when the Tabernacle is erected, the laws of Sotah and Nazir, and the detailing of the offerings of the tribal leaders. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

292

Shavuos: A Primer

May 13, 2018

1:02:59

Shavuos marks the time of the giving of the Torah and the climax of the nation building that began with the Exodus. In this podcast we offer a broad overview of the meaning of this Festival and its various themes. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

293

Bamidbar – Stature of a Nation (Rebroadcast)

May 13, 2018

55:16

The book of Numbers begins with a national census conducted by Moshe and Aaron and the heads of the tribes, followed by informing of the encampment structure of the tribes and their flags, and tribe of Levi is counted and their tasks assigned. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

294

Behar & Bechukosai – Consequences of Closeness (Rebroadcast)

May 6, 2018

57:59

In the last two parshas of Leviticus we read what a nation subject to God’s dominion looks like. Our life is regulated by God – lending without interest, annulling loans, freeing slaves, returning rightfully purchased property, and ceasing to work every seventh year. We also learn what happens when Jews opt for rejecting the Almighty’s Torah. […]

295

Emor – Festivals of Hashem (Rebroadcast)

Apr 29, 2018

50:27

In Parshas Emor we learn more laws relating to the sanctity of Kohanim; we get a detailed account of the Jewish festivals; and read about the blasphemer and what happened to him. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please […]

296

Acharei & Kedoshim – The Love Formula

Apr 25, 2018

20:40

In the second of this week’s double parshas we encounter the Torah’s most famous mitzvah, and perhaps the most difficult one to fulfill. We read in Vayikra (19:18): “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your fellow as yourself – I am […]

297

Acharei & Kedoshim – How to be Holy (Rebroadcast)

Apr 22, 2018

50:58

This week’s double parshas include perhaps the most famous verse in the Torah, “Thou shall love your fellow as yourself”, along with a bevy of mitzvos geared towards making a person holier and more similar to his Creator. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

298

Tzaria & Metzora – A Diamond’s Blemish

Apr 18, 2018

18:57

These Torah portions in the middle of Leviticus seem foreign to modern ears and sentiments. In this podcast we offer a common theme for the laws of kosher, purity and impurity, and tzaraas (leprosy) that makes them more relatable and relevant. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

299

Tazria & Metzora – Lessons in Purity and Impurity (Rebroadcast)

Apr 15, 2018

1:01:40

Parshas Tazria and Metzora teach about various forms of purity and impurity, how they are contracted, the laws of a person who has them, and how they are remedied. In our podcast, we attempt to understand what purity and impurity mean and what practical lessons we can draw. – – – – – – – […]

300

Shemini – Aaron’s Stoicism

Apr 12, 2018

23:32

On the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkan, amid the joy and jubilation and ecstasy of having God dwell among the nation, tragedy and disaster strikes when the two sons of Aaron die suddenly. As a reward for not questioning God, Aaron is granted a Mosaic prophecy alone. How does Aaron’s stoicism fit […]

The Parsha Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

The Parsha Podcast Â - הרב יעקב וולבה

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