The Parsha Podcast - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
575 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★★ - 95 ratingsThe Parsha Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe was started in 2016 with the goal of making the weekly Parsha accessible and useful. Every Sunday, the Parsha Podcast will feature an hour-long podcast outlining the story, narratives and major themes of that week’s Parsha and offer a selection of valuable and interesting insights from it. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, two more episodes that focuses on one idea, theme, or comment on the Parsha will be released. Please send comments or questions to [email protected].
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Episodes
Ki Seitzei – Roadmap to Victory
August 28, 2020 16:20 - 34 minutes - 16 MBThe Yetzer Hara is described in Jewish Literature as a skillful and dangerous enemy that we must make war with. And unless we devise a comprehensive strategy, our enemy will triumph. How does a winning battle plan look like? In this unique Parsha Podcast we lay out the three distinct steps needed to achieve total victory. […]
Shoftim – Kosher Bribery
August 20, 2020 22:59 - 36 minutes - 16.5 MBA judge must remain impartial to be able to judge correctly. If he receives a bribe, even if it is non-monetary or intangible, he is disqualified from overseeing that case. The Talmud elaborates on this concept and explains the psychology behind how bribes manipulate. In this episode we show how this powerful force can be […]
Re’eh – Influencing People
August 14, 2020 18:57 - 40 minutes - 18.4 MBA wise woman once said: “Judaism is terrible at marketing.” It seems like we are doing a terrible job at influencing others to adopt Torah. It is not only Gentiles that we are not a great job of attracting – and perhaps that is by design – it is also our fellow Jews, our brethren, […]
Parshas Va’Eschanan (Rebroadcast)
July 26, 2020 08:45 - 1 hour - 29.4 MBThis week’s parsha continues Moshe’s monologue to the nation in the weeks preceding his passing. He begins by recounting his repeated efforts in trying to convince God to rescind His decree that Moshe not enter the Land; Moshe then begins the retelling of the Torah; and we read many warnings and predictions about proper behavior […]
The Essence of Tisha B’Av
July 22, 2020 08:08 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MBTisha B’Av (The Ninth of Av) is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. On this day, the Spies returned from scouting the Land and spooked the Nation with their evil report prompting the Nation to needlessly bewail their fate the entire night. As retribution, God pledged: “You cried on this night for no reason, […]
Pinchas – Consistency is Key
July 08, 2020 21:05 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MBWhen the Temple was extant, first thing each morning a Tamid sacrifice was offered, and an afternoon Tamid offering was the last sacrifice of the day. The Midrash reveals to us quite surprisingly that the essence of Torah is encapsulated in the Tamid sacrifices. What is so special about this sacrifice that makes it worthy of that distinction? Please email […]
Chukas & Balak – Second Chances
July 02, 2020 18:07 - 29 minutes - 13.4 MBOver the course of the Nation’s 40 year sojourn in the Wilderness they tested God 10 times. But God believes in second chances, and gave them an opportunity to rectify their misdeeds. This principle applies on a national and individual level. We are all given second chances, but we must listen to those messages and […]
Korach – The Legendary Malcontents
June 25, 2020 21:31 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBDathan and Abiram appear in Scripture for the first time in this week’s parsha as conspirators in Korach’s insurrection, but according to the Midrash this is not nearly their first rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. In fact, since Moshe was a young lad, Dathan and Abiram were thorns at his side, resisting him at every […]
Shelach – Benefiting from Blunders
June 19, 2020 17:49 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MBMistakes are endemic to the human condition. We all make mistakes. Even the titans of our history like Moshe, Aaron, and Joshua made mistakes. In this hastily prepared podcast we speculate that mistakes are not incidental to greatness but are absolutely pivotal. Without mistakes there can be no greatness. Please email me at [email protected] with […]
Behaaloscha – The Eyes of the People
June 12, 2020 00:14 - 30 minutes - 14 MBOur parsha contains an unusual sequence: The nation is about to leave Sinai, and Moshe makes a prolonged, and unsuccessful, appeal to his father in law, Jethro, to remain with him. Then there is the strange episode of the backwards-facing NUNs. Then the nation commits two grievous sin back to back. Moshe then tells God […]
Nasso – How to Find Your Life-Mission
June 03, 2020 18:34 - 37 minutes - 17 MBA central tenet of Jewish philosophy is that every individual is unique – a world onto their own – and is entrusted by God with a unique, tailored mission. That principle is found several times in our parsha. But how do we discover what our mission is? In the past, that question would be addressed […]
Bamidbar and Shavuos: The Indispensability of each Jew
May 21, 2020 23:24 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MBParshas Bamidbar is the Torah portion that we read immediately prior to Shavuos, the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, each year. In this special episode, we offer a mind-bending idea to ponder the connection between Shavuos and Parshas Bamidbar. To aid with visualizing the contents of this unique episode, please download the accompanying […]
Emor – The Addiction Challenge
May 07, 2020 22:10 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MBAmong the many laws found in our parsha, are the laws governing the Festivals and holidays. Given that we are currently in middle of the Counting of the Omer period spanning from Pesach to Shavuos, in this special episode we presented various ways to maximize this period. We also made a specific challenge to the […]
Spiritual Opportunism: A Special Shiur for Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s Yahrtzeit
April 12, 2020 02:03 - 26 minutes - 12 MBIt has been 15 years since my illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, passed away, on the first day of Chol HaMoed Pesach 2005. In this special shiur to mark his yahrtzeit, we speculate the ways that he became great and take a very valuable lesson on how to become great ourselves during this coronavirus pandemic. […]
Special Pesach Episode – The Seder Night: How to Maximize the Year’s Most Powerful Night
April 06, 2020 08:08 - 59 minutes - 27.3 MBThe first night of Pesach – the second night as well is the Diaspora – is arguably the most important nights of the year. On this night we were redeemed from Egypt, this is the night of the Exodus, this is the night of the death of the firstborn; tonight we became a nation. This […]
Tzav – Essential Oxygen
April 03, 2020 08:40 - 34 minutes - 15.8 MBAmong the many sacrifices discussed in the Book of Leviticus, the Korban Todah, the Thanksgiving Sacrifice stands out. The Midrash teaches us that in the future, all sacrifices will cease, with the exception of the Thanksgiving sacrifice. Similarly, all prayers will be discontinued, but the thanksgiving prayer will endure. What is so unique about giving […]
Vayikra – Infectious Spirituality
March 26, 2020 23:23 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MBWith the help of the Almighty, we begin a new Book, the Book of Leviticus, Sefer Vayikra. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we read the Ramban’s introduction to the Book, and also analyze a very interesting subject contained within the Book that mirrors the events dominating the world today. This Parsha Podcast […]
Vayakhel & Pekudei – Sequestered with God
March 20, 2020 05:14 - 40 minutes - 18.5 MBThis week’s double-Parsha begins with a stern warning against desecrating the Shabbos in order to build the Tabernacle. Absent the verse, I would have thought that you must even work on Shabbos to erect the Tabernacle. Why would I think so? Also, why indeed does it not override the Shabbos? In this special edition of […]
Ki Sisa – Coronavirus: Three Lessons from the Torah
March 12, 2020 18:56 - 39 minutes - 18.1 MBThe deadly coronavirus (COVID- 19) is dominating the world’s attention. Our Sages teach us that when danger strikes, we must ponder our behavior and search for lessons. We believe that this virus is a message from God. What is the message? What is He telling us? Of course, only prophets can answer that question definitively, […]
Purim: Toasting your Troubles
March 10, 2020 06:57 - 25 minutes - 11.8 MBPurim contains arguably Judaism’s strangest custom. On the day that we celebrate our nation’s triumph over Haman and his evil plot, we are required to drink and become so drunk that we forget about Haman’s treachery. What is the meaning behind this unusual custom? TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your […]
Terumah – Apex Holiness
February 27, 2020 07:00 - 32 minutes - 14.7 MBOur parsha features the greatest bargain in human history: God instructs us to erect a Mashkan, a Tabernacle, for Him, and provided that we follow the rules to a tee, He will dwell amongst us. At Sinai, the nation became God’s Chosen People. What exactly was missing after Sinai that necessitated building the Tabernacle? TORCH […]
Yisro – Spiritual Metamorphosis
February 14, 2020 17:13 - 27 minutes - 12.7 MBMoshe’s father in law Yisro is arguably the most unusual character in the Torah. His arrival comes at a very crucial time – sandwiched between the major founding events of our nation – and his contribution is somewhat marginal, yet he is given prime real estate in the Torah: In the run-up to the most […]
Bo – 11 Dimensions of Exile
January 30, 2020 05:25 - 39 minutes - 18.1 MBAfter centuries of subjugation and servitude, our nation was redeemed from Egypt and taken out by God on the wings of eagles. How long, exactly, were we in Egypt? That is actually quite a tricky question to answer. In this parsha we read how the Egyptian enslavement lasted for 430 years but in Genesis, God […]
Vaeira – The Object of Exile
January 24, 2020 06:30 - 35 minutes - 16.4 MBIn our parsha we read about the first seven of the eventual ten plagues that precipitated the Exodus. But a fundamental question needs to be asked: Why were we enslaved to begin with? What’s the purpose of enslavement and what’s the purpose of the redemption? Why did our people need to undergo this period of torment, […]
Shemos – True Kinship
January 17, 2020 01:44 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBIn this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we read through Ramban’s introduction to the Book of Exodus, and we examine the special fraternal relationship of Moses and Aaron by contrasting it with the relationships of siblings in Genesis and by demonstrating how their close could have imperiled the Exodus from Egypt. TORCH Shabbat Light […]
Vayechi – The Unexpected Hero
January 09, 2020 23:03 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBIn this special edition of the Parsha podcast, we share several observations and insights on the parsha relating to pedagogical theory and the lengths to which the righteous conceal the misdeeds of others, we ask an interesting question on the episode of Jacob crossing over his hands when blessing his grandsons, and discuss a theme […]
Kindling the Jewish Soul: Understanding the Deeper Meaning of the Menorah: (Recorded Live in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada)
December 26, 2019 10:31 - 53 minutes - 24.7 MBThis unique podcast was recorded live at the Aish Thornhill Community Shul on the third day of Chanukah 5780. In the talk we suggest a cogent and unified explanation of the festival of Chanukah, and specifically, of the menorah candles. We begin by noting the many differences between the Chanukah candles and the other rabbinic mitzvah […]
Vayeishev – Earning Your Stripes
December 19, 2019 10:15 - 33 minutes - 15.3 MBA reappearing theme of this week’s parsha is garments: Joseph’s brothers envy is engendered by a garment; the brothers deceive Jacob by presenting him with a garment; When mourning, Jacob and Reuben rip their garments; Tamar disguised herself by swapping her garment; Joseph is imprisoned when he loses his garment. In this podcast we suggest […]
Vayishlach – Getting A Divine Deposit
December 12, 2019 22:49 - 34 minutes - 15.6 MBThis week’s parsha podcast features three powerful ideas: One relating to God giving Jacob a very unusual nickname; one that follows the aftermath of the episode of Dinah; and one relating to the different names assigned to Esav’s wife. TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch […]
Vayeitzei – Cornerstones of the Nation
December 05, 2019 20:18 - 33 minutes - 15.3 MBThroughout the parsha, there are many references to a stone or stones. Jacob surrounds himself with stones for protection; he pours oil on a stones; he consecrates a stone for the Temple; a large stone is covering a well, and Jacob removes the stone; and at the parsha’s end, Jacob and Laban strike a deal […]
Toldos – Breaking Barriers
November 27, 2019 10:00 - 28 minutes - 12.9 MBAfter nearly two decades of infertility, Isaac and Rebecca conceive, but something does not feel right. Whenever Rebecca passes a house of Torah, she feels her baby stir and get all excited as if he wants to be born. Seemingly, her child is drawn to holiness. Yet when Rebecca passes a temple of idolatry, the […]
Chayei Sara – The Four Ways to Die
November 22, 2019 16:33 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MBThis podcast contains two ideas on Parshas Chayei Sara. First, we examine the Torah’s unusual description of Sarah’s location of death. Then we probe the identity and nickname of Abraham’s second wife, Keturah. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Vayeira – Abraham’s Failures?
November 15, 2019 20:44 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MBA casual reading of our parsha would give the impression that Abraham fails at everything he tries: He tries to feed guests, yet we find out that they are angels who need no food; He tries valiantly to save Sodom and Gomorrah, yet God overturns the city nonetheless; He tries to find safety and sustenance; yet […]
Lech Lecha – How Small Steps Yield Huge Results + New TORCH Initiative
November 07, 2019 19:14 - 27 minutes - 12.8 MBThis week’s Parsha orients around our patriarch, Abraham, and more specifically his 10 tests that formed his spiritual makeup, and more broadly the spiritual fabric of our nation. In this podcast, we dwell on the first of those tests – when Abraham is commanded to abandon his homeland and travel to Canaan/Israel. To participate in the […]
Noach – How to Become a Tzadik
October 31, 2019 22:07 - 29 minutes - 13.3 MBOnly one man is classified by the Torah as a “Tzadik”, the eponymous hero of our Parsha, Noah. “Tzadik” is generally translated as “righteous” or “upstanding”. Why doesn’t the Torah apply that appellation to other great figures, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Moses? – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Bereishis – Ramban’s Introduction to the Torah
October 25, 2019 16:37 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MBIn his introduction to Torah, Ramban discusses some of the most critical questions about the Torah: He discusses the Torah’s authorship and its writing process; the nature of its content; and the various dimensions of the Torah. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Parshas VeZos HaBeracha + Plans for Year 4 of the Parsha Podcast
October 20, 2019 20:40 - 53 minutes - 24.4 MBThe final parsha of the Torah details the blessings that Moshe conveyed to the tribes of Israel immediately prior to his passing, and the Torah ends with the description of the death, burial, and eulogy of Moshe. At the beginning of this episode, we also detail the plans for the fourth year of the Parsha […]
Parshas Ha’Azinu
October 10, 2019 19:35 - 58 minutes - 26.6 MBStill in the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys to the nation a 43-verse Song predicting the contours of Jewish history, both past, present, and future. The patterns are familiar to the readers of Deuteronomy and even casual observers and students of Jewish history: The nation is recipients of tremendous divine goodness, yet they […]
Book of Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Chapter 1)
October 06, 2019 21:23 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBOn 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 […]
Parshas Vayeilech
October 04, 2019 16:39 - 50 minutes - 23.3 MBMoshe is 120 years old to the day. He was born on the seventh of Adar and now it is the seven of Adar 120 years later. Today is his last day before his passing and he is taking leave from the nation and handing over the reins to Joshua. – – – – – […]
Insights from the Rosh Hashana Torah Reading (2nd day – Genesis Chapter 22: The Binding of Isaac)
September 29, 2019 18:17 - 55 minutes - 25.2 MBOn 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 […]
Parshas Nitzavim
September 25, 2019 19:58 - 53 minutes - 24.4 MBOn the final day of Moshe’s life, he gathered the entire nation – men, women, children, and according to the Talmud, all souls of future Jews – to pass them through a final covenant with God. The parsha also contains the prophetic predictions of the Messianic times, and it ends with a simple, binary choice: […]
Insights from the Rosh Hashana Torah Reading (1st day – Genesis Chapter 21)
September 23, 2019 21:01 - 1 hour - 29.1 MBThe 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 […]
Parshas Ki Savo
September 19, 2019 05:37 - 56 minutes - 25.7 MBAs the Book of Deuteronomy draws to its conclusion, the narrative makes a transition: Moshe finishes conveying the mitzvos to the nation, and sets up his final parting message to the people. First, he commands the nation to perform several elaborate ceremonies on the very first day that they cross the Jordan River; then he […]
Parshas Ki Seitzei
September 11, 2019 19:39 - 1 hour - 28.4 MBIn the parsha that contains the most mitzvos of any of the 54 Torah sections (a staggering 74 mitzvos), we read about the wayward and rebellious son, the requirement to build a fence around your roof to prevent tragedy, two episodes that we are mandated to remember, and many, many more interesting and insightful mitzvos. […]
Parshas Shoftim
September 06, 2019 16:07 - 1 hour - 27.9 MBThis week we learn the laws governing all kinds of leaders: The parsha begins by detailing the laws of judges, the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court, and what happens to rebellious judges; we read about the unique laws related to kings; there are more laws pertaining to the Kohanim; and we find the […]
Parshas Re’eh
August 29, 2019 06:52 - 1 hour - 28.1 MBThis week’s parsha marks a transition in the Book of Deuteronomy: it is no longer primarily about admonishment and rebuke and warnings, instead we read a bevy of mitzvos – some repetitions and some new ones that have hitherto not been mentioned. – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Parshas Eikev
August 22, 2019 20:54 - 1 hour - 27.5 MBWe pick up where we left off last week amid Moshe’s speech to the nation before his passing, and as in the previous few weeks, Parshas Eikev is jam packed with insights and timeless lessons. Moshe pivots between looking back on the conduct of the nation in the preceding 40 years and admonishing them for […]
Parshas Va’Eschanan
August 16, 2019 18:21 - 1 hour - 30.1 MBThis week’s parsha continues Moshe’s monologue to the nation in the weeks preceding his passing. He begins by recounting his repeated efforts in trying to convince God to rescind His decree that Moshe not enter the Land; Moshe then begins the retelling of the Torah; and we read many warnings and predictions about proper behavior […]
Parshas Devarim
August 06, 2019 23:32 - 50 minutes - 23.1 MB5 weeks before his passing, Moses gives a three-parsha-long speech to the nation, which constitutes his last will and testament. He begins with a retrospective of the history of the nation over the past 40 years since the Exodus – subtly rebuking the nation, guiding them, admonishing them, ensuring that they don’t repeat their mistakes […]