The Parsha Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

401

Vaeira – Educational Plagues

Jan 22, 2017

1:00:35

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. The topics discussed in this episode: Introduction to the Plagues and Exodus: The various Names of […]

402

Shemos – The Iron Crucible

Jan 15, 2017

56:46

The book of Exodus begins with the enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt. Interestingly, when Abraham was selected to be the father of the Chosen People he was informed that his descendents will be subject to severe national suffering in a foreign land.Seemingly, the enslavement was an ideal, and necessary, component of becoming God’s […]

403

Vayechi – Deathbed Priorities

Jan 8, 2017

58:32

Parshas Vayrchi is oriented around the illness and death of Jacob. The Jewish family is growing and establishing roots in Egypt. Their spiritual leader and guide is going to pass, and they will ease into Egyptian life, culminating in their eventual enslavement. In his waning moments, Jacob gathers his children, blesses them, and provides them […]

404

Vayigash – A Family Descends

Jan 2, 2017

50:37

Parshas Vayigash begins with Joseph’s dramatic revelation to his brothers and ends with the descent of Jacob and his descendents to Egypt, where they will spend the next several hundred years burgeoning into a great nation. The topics discussed in this episode: Joseph reveals his True Identity – [0:00]; The Brothers Silence in the Face […]

405

Mikeitz – From Prisoner to Viceroy

Dec 25, 2016

51:52

Parshas Mikeitz tells the dramatic transformation of Joseph from lowly prisoner to exalted viceroy of Egypt, his oversight of Egyptian preparation for famine and how he related to his brothers who sought grain. The topics discussed in this episode: Joseph’s Ascension to grandeur – [0:00]; Joseph’s Suggestion: Seek a wise person – [10:08]; Joseph enshrined as […]

406

Vayeishev – Strange Paths to Redemption

Dec 18, 2016

1:05:51

Parshas Vayeishev marks the dramatic descent of Joseph, from Jacob’s favorite son to alleged attempted rapist languishing in an Egyptian prison. In retrospect, this Parsha tells the beginning of the founding of the Jewish nation and the back story to the nation’s most prestigious family. The topics discussed in this episode: Jacob’s Favoritism towards Joseph – […]

407

Vayishlach – Twin Tussles

Dec 11, 2016

1:09:45

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: Jacob’s Preparation for the Encounter with Esau – [0:00] Jacob’s Fears: Of Loss of Merits, Of Esau and Of Esau’s “Brotherly Love” – [9:09] The Bribe – [13:29] Jacob Hid Dina to Shield her from Esau – [16:06] […]

408

Vayeitzei – Nation Building

Dec 5, 2016

55:30

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: Jacob’s Dream – [0:00] Jacob’s Ladder – [9:10] Jacob’s Pledge compared to God’s Promise – [13:59] On the Meaning of Stones in the Parsha; The Power of Inspiration – [19:00] Jacob Meets Rachel – [22:54] Seven Years in Exchange […]

409

Toldos – Intrauterine Cosmic Struggle

Nov 28, 2016

1:11:02

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: Praying As Response to Infertility – [0:00] God Answers Isaac’s Prayer – [4:52] Jacob and Esau intrauterine Struggling; Esau Pining for Idolatry; The Cosmic Struggle between the Two Worlds – [10:16] Jacob Seizing the Ankle of Esau and their Childhood; […]

410

Chayei Sara – Unselfish Spouses

Nov 21, 2016

1:08:38

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: The Death, Bereavment and Burial of Sarah – [0:00] The Cave of the Machpelah – [14:23] Eliezer’s Oath, Eligibility Test for a prospective Spouse for Isaac– [23:26] Eliezer’s Encounter with Lavan and Rebecca’s family and the Corruptive […]

411

Vayeira – Reconciling Kindness and Child-Sacrifice

Nov 14, 2016

1:20:04

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: Kindness Superseding Prophecy – [0:00] Deconstructing Abraham’s Kindness with the Three Strangers – [9:57] Abraham’s Intercession on Behalf of Sodom – [25:23] Abraham’s Unsuccessful Kindnesses: How Kindness and Faith are Correlated and How Lot’s Kindness differed from Abraham’s – […]

412

Lech Lecha – A Covenant of Greatness

Nov 7, 2016

1:11:25

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode: Abraham, the Most Transformative Human of All Time – [0:00] Abraham’s Ten Tests and the Test of Lech Lecha– [2:48] The Souls that they made in Charan – [19:45] Israel, Godly Promises and the Egypt Episode – […]

413

Noach – Treating the Symptoms of Sin

Oct 30, 2016

1:19:49

A synopsis of the parsha and insights and lessons and themes from it. The topics discussed in this epsode: The 120 Year Grace Period for Mankind – [0:00] The Enigmatic Character of Noah – [4:35] The Ark as Refuge; Ark’s Dimensions – [13:25] Fiting everyone into the Ark – [18:45] A Personal Flood And a Personal Ark […]

414

Bereishis – The Ominous Beginnings of Man

Oct 11, 2016

1:11:17

This is the first of a series on the entire Torah. Every week will feature a new episode that begins with a synopsis of the parsha and insights and lessons and themes from it. The topics discussed in this epsode: Parsha Overview – [0:00] The World Was Created with Ten Utterances – [6:46] Hell Created on […]

415

Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

Feb 11, 2024

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 […]

416

Mishpatim – Blind Determination

Feb 8, 2024

1:01:01

Immediately after the Sinai Revelation, the Torah begins telling us many of the laws. In this Parsha podcast we focus on two of the laws: the famous verse of “an eye for an eye”, and the requirement to aid your enemy when his donkey is struggling under its load. As is our mandate in year […]

417

Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai (5782)

Feb 6, 2024

43:54

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 […]

418

Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

Feb 4, 2024

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 […]

419

Yisro – Splitting the Heaven

Feb 1, 2024

56:22

The arrival of Jethro, the preparation for Sinai, and the nature of the Sinai revelation – these are some of the subjects featured in our parsha. In this very special and atypically extemporaneous Parsha podcast, we offer four interesting ideas: one on the unique route that Jethro took to the truth; one on the particular […]

420

Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro (5782)

Jan 30, 2024

55:45

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 […]

421

Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)

Jan 28, 2024

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. – – […]

422

Beshalach – Bones to Pick

Jan 25, 2024

57:55

The Exodus is finally here. After 210 years in Egypt – enslaved, tormented, and oppressed – the nation is leaving with great pomp and ceremony. There is an apparently curious factoid about the Exodus: in the third verse of our Parsha, the Torah tells us that Moshe secured the bones of Joseph, and transported them […]

423

Beshalach – Songworthy Sequels (5782)

Jan 23, 2024

43:00

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. […]

424

Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)

Jan 21, 2024

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 […]

425

Bo – Shots on Goal

Jan 18, 2024

1:04:58

The Jewish people spent several centuries in Egypt, but now it is time to leave – and the nation is leaving with flair, with miracles, signs, and wonders. In this very special, celebratory, Parsha podcast, I share two incredible ideas that I shared over the past couple of days during the festivities surrounding the birth […]

426

Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus (5782)

Jan 16, 2024

53:47

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 […]

427

Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)

Jan 14, 2024

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. – – – – – – – […]

428

Vaeira – Labor and Deliverance

Jan 11, 2024

59:17

The Jewish nation was enslaved in Egypt for 100s of years. What was the essence of the enslavement? What is the consistent theme that is strung throughout the centuries of servitude? More broadly, what is the salience of the Egyptian narrative? Why is it so critical for us to study the exile and Exodus so […]

429

Vaeira – The Endurance Expedition (5782)

Jan 9, 2024

51:06

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 […]

430

Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

Jan 7, 2024

1:00:48

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 […]

431

Shemos – Moshe’s Treatment

Jan 4, 2024

57:28

We begin the new calendar year with a new book, the book of Exodus. The Jewish nation – still a family – is in Egypt, and things go from bad to worse. Pharaoh torments the people, enslaves them, and embitters their lives with back breaking labor. He then implements a policy of infanticide. But a […]

432

Shemos – Make Your Move (5782)

Jan 2, 2024

38:03

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 […]

433

Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)

Dec 31, 2023

59:09

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, […]

434

Vayechi – Jacob’s Strength

Dec 28, 2023

1:07:17

Parshas Vayechi marks the final installment of the book of Genesis. The family of Israel, the sons of Jacob, are all together in Egypt, where they settle and flourish. A lot happened to this family up to this point, and the setting for the next epoch of their story, and of Jewish history, is ready. […]

435

Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (5782)

Dec 26, 2023

51:23

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 […]

436

Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

Dec 24, 2023

52:31

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

437

Vayigash – Come-to-Joseph Moment

Dec 21, 2023

1:03:55

Our parsha is one of unexpected reunions. After 20 plus years of separation, Joseph reunited with his brothers and his father. In this Parsha Podcast we focus on two elements of the reunification: firstly, we ponder the interesting question of whether or not Jacob actually bowed down to Joseph as foretold in the dream. Then, […]

438

Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings (5782)

Dec 19, 2023

1:03:05

Amongst the sons of Jacob were two kings: Judah and Joseph. Joseph was viceroy of Egypt. He was a king in his lifetime. Judah was never crowned as King in his lifetime, but his descendants make up the monarchy of the Jewish people. David, Solomon, all the kings of Judah, and even King Messiah are […]

439

Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

Dec 17, 2023

55:25

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

440

Mikeitz – The End of Days

Dec 14, 2023

52:09

In our Parsha, Joseph is elevated to become viceroy of Egypt. He begins the day languishing in prison, and ends it be decked in garments of royalty and paraded throughout the city. And this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we share three ideas – deep ideas – from our Parsha: one about the end […]

441

Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime (5782)

Dec 12, 2023

56:01

Joseph is one of the all-time heroes of Jewish history. His strength of character was legendary, his faith was unflappable, and his storyline remains an inspiration for generations. Yet he was harshly criticized for making a huge blunder. The Midrash at the beginning of this week’s Parsha tells us that he relied to heavily on […]

442

Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

Dec 10, 2023

1:05:03

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

443

Vayeishev – Dream of the Crop

Dec 7, 2023

35:30

Our Parsha begins with Joseph’s two dreams of grandeur and supremacy. He dreams that he will rule over his brothers, who will bow before him in submission. Joseph decides to tell them about it. Why does he do that? Why does he tell his father about the second dream, but not the first? Why are […]

444

Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds (5782)

Dec 5, 2023

55:56

A pebble and a diamond are similar in one way: they are both rocks. That’s where the similarities end. A diamond is precious and valuable. Diamonds are things that we recite the poems over, and name, and write Wikipedia pages about, and adorn the crowns of Kings and Queens. Pebbles get stuck in your tires […]

445

Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

Dec 3, 2023

1:05:32

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 […]

446

Vayishlach – When Hairy met Srully

Nov 30, 2023

53:53

Jacob and Esau last saw each other 34 years prior. 34 years ago, Jacob, upon the explicit and prophetically inspired instruction of his mother, usurped the blessings reserved for Esau. Esau was piping mad, and sought vengeance. He wanted to kill his own brother. Jacob fled. After spending 14 years in the academy and 20 […]

447

Vayishlach – Not Reddy to Change (5782)

Nov 28, 2023

44:48

Parshas Vayishlach is an action-packed parsha. After a tension-filled 20 years with Laban, Jacob has to dodge bullets for another parsha. Esau wants to kill him. The angel tries to strike at him the entire night. His daughter Dina is kidnapped and raped, and his sons slaughter the perpetrating city in rage. The bulk of […]

448

Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)

Nov 26, 2023

1:00:57

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

449

Vayeitzei – Rock and Roll

Nov 23, 2023

53:45

Jacob undergoes a meteoric transformation in our Parsha. At the onset, Jacob is a 77-year-old penniless bachelor fleeing from his brother Esau’s wrath. When the Pasha concludes, Jacob is at the helm of a veritable empire. He has 12 children with his four wives, is enormously wealthy, and is heading back to encounter Esau’s rage. […]

450

Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold (5782)

Nov 20, 2023

54:32

Jacob’s accomplishments in our Parsha are remarkable. At the onset of our parsha, Jacob is a 77 year old bachelor without a penny to his name. Having been robbed clean of all his possessions, Jacob undertook the grandest, most ambitious initiative in human history: the founding of the Jewish nation. In our parsha, he pulls […]

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