This Jewish Life

Shiurim

• Core Beliefs of Judaism Part 7

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

• The Golden Calf: A Scriptural Analysis

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Jewish attitude to Torah study has always been to not accept the words on a simplistic and superficial level. We view the text of the Torah as having infinite depth and subtle nuances and meanings. In this class we will attempt to disse

• Yom HaAtzmaut Special: How Israel Unites Jews of all kinds

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Patterns in Jewish History, like cliches, repeat themselves. We are told that disunity, discord and disassociation brought down the Second Commonwealth of Israel nearly 2000 years ago. Implied is that unity will be the quality that is neces

• But I’m a Good Person with Dan Kullman

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  When my dear friend, Dan Kullman, asked me to join him on The Shema Podcast to discuss the phenomenon of people saying, “But I’m a good person,” I was not aware of how pervasive such a sentiment is and why discussing it would be interesting

• Is Believing in the Supernatural Irrational? How to Build a Rational Life Philosophy

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  This part 6 of the Proofs of Torah series, and Part 17 of the Torah Series overall. In this podcast we analyze and investigate select Torah verses and ponder the feasibility of human authorship. Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wol

• Bamidbar and Shavuos: The Indispensability of each Jew

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Parshas 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

• The Pesach Puzzle: Explaining Exodus via Genesis and Deuteronomy

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Exodus is the most oft-referenced event in Jewish life. Twice daily we invoke it in the Shema, and every Shabbos holiday is characterized as “a remembrance for the exodus of Egypt”. Why is the exodus so central to Jewish life? In this p

• On Visiting Wartime Israel with Dr. Alan Kritz

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Our nation is at war. Our brothers and sisters are in combat in Gaza, displaced from their homes in the north and the south of Israel, traumatized from the atrocities of October 7th, and of course there are 100 plus hostages still in Gaza.

• A Rigorous and Comprehensive Torah Study Regimen

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  What would a comprehensive and rigorous regimen of Torah study look like? Suppose someone wants to really become a Torah maestro. What would be a fitting schedule of course work for them to become a well-rounded Torah scholar? Torah is the

• The Secret of the Scapegoat

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  One of the most mysterious elements of the Yom Kippur ceremony is the scapegoat ceremony. The High priest took two identical male goats and made a lottery, one was offered as a sacrifice to God in the Temple, and the other one was a scapego

• Omer: Seven Themes for the Seven Weeks of Seven Days

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The days spanning the Festivals of Pesach and Shavuos, of Exodus and Sinai, are called the days of the Omer. During these 49 days, during these 7 weeks of 7 days, we are commanded to count the days by mentioning each day’s number and the co

• Social pressure vs. Social Influence

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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

• Life Begins Before Conception (Jewish Life Cycles Part 1)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Us Jews are privy to the most valuable thing on Earth: The Almighty’s precious Torah. All too often we neglect to realize the enormity of this reality, but if you stop for a second and truly analyze it you will recognize how astonishing it

• Core Beliefs of Judaism Part 1

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

• The Sukkos/Shemini Atzeres Revelation

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Sukkah that we dwell in for 7 days is a reenactment of the Clouds of Glory that enshrouded the nation for 40 years. Starting right after the Exodus, the nation was cocooned in miraculous clouds. These clouds flattened mountains, filled

• Spiritual Shortcuts to Greatness: How to Change the World in One Hour

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Talmud records three episodes where individuals acquired Olam Haba in one instant. In these stories we learn a formula for accomplishing the work of a lifetime in one day. Let us be prepared to seize the once in a lifetime opportunities

• The Shabbat Dinner: Customs, Rituals, and Practices

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Shabbat is the beating heart of the Jewish family and the Jewish week. It is the portal through which the spiritual vitality for the entire week flows. This podcast idea was proposed in my email newsletter (visit rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter t

• The Secret of the Month of Shevat with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Jewish months are replete with secrets and mysteries. Studying the months and their hidden messages reveal to us the power contained with the days and the spiritual energy of the times. The month of Shevat is known for the minor festiva

• The Jewish Obsession with Torah Study

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 1

• The Gates of Repentance

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Ten Days of Repentance are upon us. In just a few days is the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah. These powerful high holidays culminate with the climax of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What exactly is repentance though? How are we supp

• Alei Shur Vaad: Emunah Part 2

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Alei Shur Vaad: Emunah Part 2 by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• The Power and Opportunity of Elul

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  These 40 days from the beginning of the month of Elul, the final month in the Jewish calendar, and Yom Kippur are the most powerful days of the year. These 40 days coincide with the 40 days that Moshe was in Heaven for the third 40 day stin

• The Magical Jewish Potion

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to The Magical Jewish Potion by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• The Shema: Condensing Jewish Philosophy into Six Words (Or Three Paragraphs)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Shema prayer is arguably the most well-known prayer of them all. It is the first words that we teach our children, and the last ones uttered by a Jew in their tenure in this world. A Jewish life is bookended by recitations of the Shema.

• The Secret of the Sukkah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We are instructed to sit in a Sukkah for the seven days of the holiday of Sukkos. What is the meaning behind this strange mitzvah? Why must we leave our climate-controlled homes and move into a sukkah that resembles huts in third world coun

• Are the Miracles, Revelations and Prophecies of the Torah Myths or Realities?

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Torah weaves law and instruction with dialogue and narrative; often miraculous and supernatural events and stories like the Exodus narrative of the Ten Plagues, the splitting of the sea into 12 walkable dry paths and the momentous natio

• Introduction to Mussar

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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

• Rosh Hashana Reading (1st day – Genesis Chapter 21)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 banishme

• Yom Kippur In Modern Times: How to Have The Most Meaningful Yom Kippur Ever

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Yom Kippur In Modern Times: How to Have The Most Meaningful Yom Kippur Ever by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• Overwhelming Evidence to the Divinity of the Torah and its Ramifications

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The reality of the Torah being divine and immutable can be agitating and frankly a bit terrifying. As the word of God, every word of the Torah is true and obligatory, and that may trigger cognitive dissonance if we do not behave in a way th

• Book of Jonah Part Two: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Chapters 2-4)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 resu

• The Essence of Pesach

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Festival of Pesach is described as, “The time of our Freedom”, and “The Festival of Matzos.” What is the essence of these days? What is the distinct power that we can tap into over the course of this 8-day Festival? In this special pre-

• Man, Judaism and the pursuit of Pleasure Part 3

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We continue with enlightening and sobering guidance from the Torah regarding happiness and Love.

• Thanksgiving in Jewish Philosophy and Ethics

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Gratitude is one of the most, if not the most, important values in our religion. In fact, our sources tell us that the reason why God created His creation was to enable us to express our gratitude. But what if what we receive is a mixed bag

• The Four Sons of the Seder: Strategies to Motivate all types of Children

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Torah provides four verses that describe the appropriate conversations fathers should have with their sons on Pesach Eve. The Haggadah explains that each conversation refers to a different type of son. There is a distinct dialogue with

• Exile and the Emergence of Moses

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Exile and the Emergence of Moses by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• How to meet your sweet

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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

• How to Overachieve

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  There is a learnable quality the underpins every transformational change and improvement that humanity has achieved. It is what separates the people who are inspired to change and actually implement grand ideas from the common folk who do n

• The Greatest Day (Yom Kippur)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Yom Kippur is a challenging day. It is associated with prayer and liturgy that we may not understand, very long services and, of course, fasting. As a result, most people are unaware of the power, meaning and opportunity of the day. In this

• Why We Study Torah Part 2

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Why We Study Torah Part 2 by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• The Art of War with the Yetzer Hara

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Yetzer Hara is the villain of our life. It’s other names are the “satan” and the “angel of death”. It seeks to undermine us and inhibit us from accomplishing our life’s mission. thankfully, the Sages of the Talmud offered us a multitude

• Insights from the Rosh Hashana Torah Reading (1st day – Genesis Chapter 21)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 banishme

• Shavuos, The Time of the Giving of the Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  In the liturgy of the festival, Shavuos is labeled as “the time of the giving of the Torah.” On Shavuos we only received 10 mitzvos out of an eventual 613. How then can it be the time of the giving of the entire Torah? In this podcast we pr

• The Rocky Path of Ascent

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We all want to ascend to great heights. We all hope that we can accomplish our potential and unlock our opportunities. We all yearn for self-actualization and development. But it seems that the path of ascent is invariably bumpy. It seems t

• Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Book of Ruth – and its eponymous heroine – are true enigmas. The Book contains no new laws and its story, while inspirational and poignant, bears no easily discernible connection to the Festival of Shavuos, when it is read. The Book’s p

• Jewish History and Perspective Part 1 – Abraham to Solomon

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Jewish History and Perspective Part 1 – Abraham to Solomon by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• The Pariah Messiah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Talmud describes Messiah as a Metzora (one stricken with tzaraas ) bandaging his bandages outside of the gates of Rome. Why is the messiah described as an outcast, as a leper, ostracized from society? Why is Messiah hanging out in Rome,

• Assault on Dina: A Deep Exploration of a Third Rail Topic

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Some subjects are way too dicey address publicly – electrified third rail subjects which zap anyone who approaches it. But Blake Cohen is not afraid of third rails. In fact, he recently launched a podcast that is dedicated exclusively to th

• Mechanisms of Free Will

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Is free will limited or unlimited? What is the scope of free will? How much of our decisions must filter through that system of choice? How much can we actually accomplish if we set our mind to it? What is the mechanisms of ascending a free

• The Profound Purim Secret with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  TORCH Fundraiser — support the This Jewish Life Podcast Our organization, TORCH, does only one fundraiser a year, and that is happening right now at giveTORCH.org . This is a matching campaign and every donation will be DOUBLED. Please supp

• Ethics of the Fathers: Introduction (1.1)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 o

• Vaad: Seder Part 2

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Vaad: Seder Part 2 by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• Straddling the Line Between Reliance on God and Personal Responsibility

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  If God decides and knows everything, what do I have to lose by walking through a highway blindfolded? God makes people sick. If so, should we try to undo that via prayer? Perhaps he should only pray and not seek medical attention? Can someo

• The Multidimensionality of Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Talmud and related rabbinic writings are replete with disagreements that impact the practical application of Torah, known as H alacha. What are the safety ordinances to prevent the perversion of Halachic practice? Is it possible that ov

• When Ignorance Is Bliss

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Our sages debate what is greater Torah study or actions of mitzvos. In this podcast we probe the the question of knowledge vs. action, insight vs. doing, what we know vs. what we do, and draw critical insights that are broadly applicable fo

• On Elevator Pitches for God with Bruce Licht and Ron Kardos

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Many (most?) people believe in God. Believers accept the reality that the world, the universe, finite existence is the handiwork of an infinite God. Why do people believe? What evidence do believers have? These are some of the questions tha

• The Infinity of Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Torah is effectively infinite. It is longer than the land and broader than the seas. God is infinite and unfathomable; He gave us His Torah in order for us to connect with Him. Torah is, in fact, accessible to us, but we never arrive at

• The Secret of the Month of Adar with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  “When the month of Adar commences, we increase joy.” This oft-recited Talmudic dictum captures the emotion of this month. Adar is a time of joy due to the Purim miracles. It is also associated with, we discover in this belated month-theme p

• Israel: Bible to Bibi

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  What makes the Holy Land holy and it’s history from 3,800 years ago to modern Israel. *TORCH Bar and Bat Mitzvah Series 2015, Meyerland Minyan 4/27/2015

• Reconciliation and Forgiveness: The Interpersonal Component of Yom Kippur

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Yom Kippur is a day of atonement and expiation. On this auspicious day, the Almighty forgives us for all our transgressions and we become purified before God. But the purification of Yom Kippur is limited to sins between man and God. For in