This Jewish Life · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

101

What happens after you die?

Jul 2, 2013

1:02:18

Tune in and listen to the definitive Jewish answer to life’s most compelling question: what really happens after you die. One of the few topics where it is hard to speak from experience, Rabbi Wolbe culls from various sources and Jewish traditions to paint a complete picture that clarifies the basis of the discussion: what […]

102

Four Misconceptions Jews have about Judaism

Jul 2, 2013

1:10:33

Sheets with holes, shaved heads, arranges marriages and tattooed Jews excluded from Jewish cemeteries are but some of the misconceptions Jews have about Judaism. In this discussion, Rabbi Wolbe outlines and disproves the following four core and central misconceptions: Judaism is old, ancient, arcane, irrelevant and not contemporary to modern times. Mitzvas are ritualistic, repetitive and […]

103

Till Death do us part: Can we still have committed relationships

Jun 26, 2013

52:42

“שמח תשמח רעים האהובים כשמחך יצירך בגן עדן מקדם” This statement, part of the Sheva Brachos (Seven Blessings), is recited under the Chuppah ( wedding canopy) of traditional Jewish marriages. Translated into English, we pray: “Gladden the loving couple, like you gladdened your creations (Adam and Eve) in the Garden of Eden years ago.” This […]

104

Spiritual Shortcuts

Jun 4, 2013

58:08

Three fascinating and enlightening stories from the Talmud shed light on the two roadmaps to spiritual growth: the typical slow and steady grind, and the expedited way. Are you going to dip your toe in the pool or are you gonna take the plunge?

105

Honoring Parents

May 21, 2013

52:47

Learn about the responsibilities of children to honor and respect their parents.

106

National Revelation: An experience unlike any other

May 21, 2013

57:08

The answer to the most important question of all: How do we know we are right? Religions are mutually exclusive; The Jews, Christians and Moslems cannot all be right. It’s a zero sum game: If we are right, they all must be wrong! As Jews, we have to ask ourselves the question: are we merely […]

107

Shavuos Snippets

May 9, 2013

11:48

Rabbi Wolbe explains why Jews have traditionally stayed up the entire night of Shavuos studying.

108

The Individual in a community. Ethics 2.4

May 9, 2013

1:12:02

Starting with a riveting history lesson for background, Rabbi Wolbe and his team of collaborators attempt to unravel and decipher a particularly complex Mishna.

109

Ethics of the Fathers: A Truism about Altruism (1:3)

Apr 23, 2013

56:43

Discussing the various philosophical angles and aspects of Altruism invariably generates vigorous debate. In this class, Rabbi Wolbe attempts to unravel the very complex Jewish position on the issue.

110

Ethics of the Fathers: Spiritual Pipes (1.2)

Apr 18, 2013

1:15:23

In this class we learn what distinguishes Man from all other species, about the fascinating Jewish idea of the convergence of the spiritual and the physical and, in a first, Rabbi Wolbe calls out one of the participants as being “flaky”.

111

Ethics of the Fathers: Introduction (1.1)

Apr 18, 2013

1:28:13

Pirkei Avos, or Ethics of the Fathers is a compilation of Rabbinic ethical teachings spanning 500 years of Jewish vibrancy, circa 300 BCE to 200 CE, that, amazingly, retain their relevance to contemporary times. In this class, Rabbi Wolbe outlines the historical background to this fascinating work, explains the structure of the book, and digs […]

112

Grounds for Marriage: Combating Selfishness

Apr 18, 2013

47:55

A small child rarely wakes up to tend to her crying mother. From the beginning of our lives we are self-centered and care about ourselves only; in our quest to build better relationships, we must learn the tools to rid ourselves of this vile characteristic.

113

Why we get Drunk on Purim

Feb 21, 2013

12:33

On Purim we are instructed to intoxicate ourselves with wine till we do not know the difference between “Haman is cursed” and “Mordechai is blessed”. What could possibly be the rationale behind such a strange mitzvah?

114

Why didn’t G-d create the world in one instant?

Feb 15, 2013

9:16

Rabbi Wolbe addresses this interesting question, and also dabbles with the philosophical problems of an infinite existence and a finite world coexisting, and the paradox of Free Will in the face of an All Knowing God.

115

Capital Punishment in Jewish Law

Feb 15, 2013

11:36

Rabbi Wolbe explains the seemingly strange phenomenon where a defendant cannot be executed if the Judges unanimously call for his guilt, and other interesting laws relating to capital punishment.

116

The malleability of Halacha and the integrity of it’s transmitters

Feb 15, 2013

8:34

Is Halacha immutable? Does Halacha adapt to modernity? Did the executioners of the Law have the integrity to stay true and not bend in the face of controversy?

117

Why Adam and Eve did not have Torah

Feb 13, 2013

11:03

Rabbi Wolbe tackles a puzzling point to ponder relating to Adam and Eve and discusses various elements of Free Will.

118

Moses: The greatest prophet

Feb 13, 2013

19:53

Rabbi Wolbe explains the meaning of Moses being the “father of all prophets”, and delineates the profound differences in the veracity of our Revelations vs. all other religions.

119

Did David Sin?

Feb 13, 2013

6:44

How do we understand Biblical stories that seem to indicate that great men made grave mistakes? In this Q&A episode, Rabbi Wolbe discusses the story of Cain and Ebel, Reuben and Bilhah, David and Bathsheba and more.

120

How to meet your sweet

Jan 29, 2013

1:02:47

In this episode we address the idea of “Bashert” or destined one, the Talmudic sources for it, and outline the plan to find that special one

121

Social pressure vs. Social Influence

Jan 29, 2013

1:09:04

In this episode we discuss the positive and negative effects of our society, our community and our friends

122

How to get your prayers answered

Jan 29, 2013

52:50

In this episode, Rabbi Wolbe explains the theory and the practice of prayer and addresses all the philosophical problems with prayer, and gives us the key to getting our prayers answered.

123

Inspiration to Perspiration: How to implement a great idea

Jan 29, 2013

1:04:28

We all have those moments in life where we are galvanized to change ourselves, our community or the entire world. However, only a select few people actually take the inspiration to the finish line. In this episode, Rabbi Wolbe delineates the fundamental key point that distinguished the great ones from the common-folk. (לע”נ שלמה בן חיים […]

124

Intellectual Prowess: How to mobilize your most important gift

Jan 29, 2013

1:06:06

Our intellect is our most potent of assets. It is what distinguishes us from animals and what enables us to overcome our challenges. Learn the how what and why of maximizing your intellectual power in this episode

125

Introduction to Mussar

Jan 29, 2013

1:40:38

What is Mussar and how did it come about? Those questions, coupled with anecdotes and lessons, are the content of this episode.

126

Suffering: Lessons from Joseph

Jan 29, 2013

56:37

127

The Five C’s of every Happy Harmonious and Stable Marriage

Jan 29, 2013

1:05:18

If we are to believe the statistics, the majority of marriages today end up in divorce. The Torah outlines the five components to a Happy, Harmonious and Stable Marriage , each beginning with the letter “C”. In this episode, Rabbi Wolbe delineates and elucidates these key principles.

128

What are angels: Lessons in relationships

Jan 29, 2013

1:03:03

Can we really learn real life lessons in our relationships from angels. Indeed we can, and Rabbi Wolbe shows us how.

129

Why Jews Don’t believe in Jesus

Jan 16, 2013

1:06:35

All Jews know that we do not believe in Jesus, but not many know why. In this episode, Rabbi Wolbe outlines the reasons why Jew do not believe in Jesus, have not done so in the past and will not in the future.

130

Celebrating A New Wolbe Baby Boy

Jan 14, 2024

55:01

Our family was blessed with a new baby boy this past Sunday evening. With the help of the almighty, he will be joining the covenant of Abraham and receive his Bris tomorrow morning, Monday the 15th of January, in the Young Israel of Houston. In this special, celebratory podcast, I share what I said on […]

131

On the Spiritual Awakening in Israel with Rabbi Eliezer and Malky Wolbe

Dec 27, 2023

53:31

When our nation experiences tragedy, we gravitate back to God. That is how we process pain and suffering. The Jewish people – especially our brothers and sisters in Israel – are exhibiting this response with resplendent nobility and strength of character. During the ongoing war, the Jewish spirit is being awakened. Jewish faith is being ignited […]

132

On the Front Lines in Gaza with Yoshi Rosenbluth

Dec 11, 2023

1:38:24

My dear friend and long time podcast listener Yoshi Rosenbluth spent a month in Gaza as a fighter in the IDF. In this very special podcast, he tells us what things are like on the ground from a soldier’s perspective. If you want an insider’s look into the battlefront in Gaza, this podcast is for […]

133

On the Pulse of Wartime Israel with Blake Cohen

Dec 4, 2023

2:28:54

In the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the terror organization that has governed Gaza since 2007, there is a very big divide between Jews living in the land of Israel and those of us in the Diaspora. While Jews worldwide may empathize with their Israeli brethren and rally and pray for their cause, the […]

134

On Altruistic Kidney Donations with Rabbi Moshe Gewirtz

Nov 27, 2023

1:25:25

Kidneys serve many vital functions. Their primary function is to filter the blood from any toxins or contaminants. Thankfully, the Almighty sends (most of) us to this world with two working kidneys. We have a bit of nephrological redundancy. People who suffer from kidney failure, God forbid, are greatly imperiled. In this podcast, I welcome […]

135

On Parenting in Difficult Times with the PodParents

Nov 20, 2023

46:58

Few sequels live up to the high standards set by the original. Podfather Part 2 is an exception to the rule. In this special episode covering a variety of parenting subjects, we hear from both PodParents. My father and my mother – Avi and Faige Wolbe – both joined me in the TORCH Centre to […]

136

Discussing Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe on the Chinuch Today Podcast

Nov 6, 2023

1:03:01

The Hebrew word for education is “Chinuch”. Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield is the Head of School of Yeshiva Torat Emet, the school in Houston, Texas that we send our children to, and is the host of the Chinuch Today podcast. In his podcasts, he interviews teachers and educators about Jewish education. He asked my brother and […]

137

The Profound Mystery of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

Oct 30, 2023

1:43:00

Rabbi Shmuly Botnick returns to the podcast with his most mind-bending and dynamic contribution hitherto. In this exhilarating roller-coaster of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick weaves the generation of Enosh, the Flood, the placement of Moshe into the water, his retrieval by Pharaoh’s daughter, his complaint to God about the initial efforts to save the nation, […]

138

The Transcendent Power of a Unified Front

Oct 23, 2023

1:03:23

It is not exactly clear what the participants in the Tower of Babel wanted. We know they wanted to ascend to heaven and to make a name for themselves, but what precisely they wanted is more of a mystery. The Midrash talks about it, the Talmud does as well – and in this podcast we […]

139

On Parenting with the Podfather, Avi Wolbe

Oct 16, 2023

51:09

Parents are sent home with newborn babies without an instruction manual. They are expected to raise their child(ren) to become productive, responsible, and successful adults. As Jews, we have an added responsibility to raise our children as good Jews. Parents face a monumental task. This was always nightmarishly difficult, but with the rapidly-changing world that […]

140

The Joy of Sukkos

Sep 27, 2023

1:05:19

The festival of Sukkos is called “the time of our joy.” The entire festival is associated with joy. Sitting in the Sukkah is joyous, shaking the Lulav is joyous, the traditional celebratory festivities are known as the “Joy of the Drawing.” Why are these days so intimately associated with joy? In this special podcast, we […]

141

Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

Sep 22, 2023

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 […]

142

Repentance Conundrums

Sep 20, 2023

54:36

The days spanning from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. Over the course of these days, we have extra prayers and supplications, and make an extra effort to improve and correct our ways, culminating of course, with the greatest day of them all, Yom Kippur. But repentance is […]

143

Rosh Hashana Opportunities

Sep 13, 2023

1:07:10

Rosh Hashana is a day of repentance. But unlike Yom Kippur, there is nary a mention of sin in all the ceremonies, prayers, and liturgies of Rosh Hashanah. What is the nature of repentance decoupled from acknowledgment of sin? When we study the sources related to Rosh Hashanah, we discover several fascinating opportunities that differentiate […]

144

Rosh Hashana Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

Sep 11, 2023

1:15:57

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning. It is the beginning of the High Holidays. It is the beginning of the 10 days of repentance. It marks the beginning of humanity. On this day, Adam was created. Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of God’s Dominion and Kingship over the world, because a king absent a nation is […]

145

Elul for the Unprepared and the Undeserving

Aug 28, 2023

53:51

The month of Elul is upon us. Over the course of the next few weeks, Jewish communities worldwide will prepare for the high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with special prayers and with a daily blast of the shofar. We are preparing. We are getting ready for the awesome days upcoming. But what […]

146

What God Wants

Aug 6, 2023

39:34

The Torah is an instruction manual from God. The word Torah, in fact, means instruction. The Torah contains many details; in fact, there is no conceivable situation that the Torah does not provide guidance for. But what is the ultimate goal of Torah? What does the finished product supposed to look like? In a surprising […]

147

The Kabbalistic Backstory of Tisha B’av with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

Jul 25, 2023

1:00:52

The Ninth Day of the month of Av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. On this day, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. On this same day the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans. The Bar Kochba rebellion was stamped out with violent finality on this day. This is a […]

148

Exploring the Ohr Hachaim Torah Commentary with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

Jul 4, 2023

1:00:53

The 18th century commentary on the Torah, Ohr HaChaim, is one of the most unique, ingenious, and sprawling works in the Jewish library. In this special podcast, released on the 280th yartzeit of the author of Ohr HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, Rabbi Shmuly Botnick shares with us a sampling of ideas curated from the […]

149

Exploring the Ohr Hachaim Torah Commentary with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

Jul 4, 2023

1:00:53

The 18th century commentary on the Torah, Ohr HaChaim, is one of the most unique, ingenious, and sprawling works in the Jewish library. In this special podcast, released on the 280th yartzeit of the author of Ohr HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, Rabbi Shmuly Botnick shares with us a sampling of ideas curated from the […]

150

Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos

May 24, 2023

1:03:43

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 […]

This Jewish Life · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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