Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Shiurim

• The Mission of Transmission: Why Jews must Believe that the entire Written and Oral Torah is Divine and how that is a Reasonable and Logical

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Maimonides, in including this as the ninth of the thirteen principles of faith, makes it abundantly clear: If you do not believe that every word of the Torah is true you have no place in the Jewish people. The Talmud further clarifies (Sanh

• Why Jews Circumcise?

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Why Jews Circumcise? by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with the leadership of the people and with the invasion, conquest, and division of Canaan. Precisely 3 days after the 30-day mourning period of Moses, the invasion commenced with a rapid flurry of

• Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Sacrifices sound like a cheat code: You sin and you rebelled against God and your soul gets tarnished. By the strict letter of the law, sin ought to be an executable offense. But God has mercy: Bring a sacrifice and slaughter the animal and

• Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change (5782)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Abraham and Sarah undergo seismic changes in our Parsha. Their names get changed as does their destiny. Originally, they were barren, but in our Parsha, the founding Patriarch and Matriarch are told that they will bear a son, Isaac. The mec

• 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

• #43: Torah Fusion

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Torah study in not just another discipline; it’s a relationship. Our Sages compare the relationship of the Jew to Torah as that of a husband and wife. It’s deep, intimate, and special. Just as husband and wife can unite to create something

• Bamidbar – Legion of God

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  At first glance, the subject matter of Parshas Bamidbar is quite bland and technical. It talks of a census, and the orientation of the tribes in the camp, and the various responsibilities of the different levite families. These are not typi

• #105: Post-Mishnaic Development of Oral Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Mishnah was at the end of the canonization of the Oral Torah. The Tosefta, the Sifra and Sifri soon followed. 300 years after Rabbi Judah the Prince canonized the Mishnah, the Babylonian Talmud was canonized. In this penultimate episode

• The Root Cause of Anti-Semitism and How to Solve it: The Torah’s Surprising View

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Jew hatred is not a new phenomenon. Ever since our people were founded — and truthfully even beforehand — we have been the recipients of unprecedented, enmity and hostility. Why are God’s chosen people uniquely targeted? What is the underly

• Vayechi – Deathbed Priorities (Rebroadcast)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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

• The Spiritual Edifice

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Jewish holiday calendar is not evenly distributed. Mush of our Festivals are clumped together in one month, followed by a long winter with few special days, none of them of Biblical origin. Our Sages explain that the clustering of the H

• Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous (5783)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Nazir is someone who accepts a vow, typically for 30 days, to abstain from wine, to not cut their hair, and to not come into contact with the dead. This Nazir is holy. They are close to God. They are like a high priest. They are likely

• Nitzavim & Vayeilech – Mavericks vs. Heat

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The entire book of Devarim occurs over the span of 36 days, the final 36 days of Moshe’s life. The final four Parshas are an account of the last day of Moshe’s life. As he is about to transition to the other world, the reliable shepherd gat

• Vayechi – Jacob’s Strength

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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

• Parshas Vayeira

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 in

• Korach – Demoted For Good (5781)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Korach was a very talented man with a sterling pedigree. He was wise and clever and even had a degree of prophetic clairvoyance. Yet he blundered egregiously by launching a revolt on Moshe and Aaron. When we study what triggered this rebell

• Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We 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

• Nitzavim & Vayeilech – Eternal Exhortations

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  In the last few days of Moshe’s life, he gathers the entire nation, men women and children, and presents to them his final, departing message. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider making a donation to help fund our Je

• Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The oft-repeated refrain “history repeats itself” is especially true with respect to the stories of the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as conveyed in the Book of Genesis. Our Sages have made the bold claim that everything that happ

• We are Celebrating a Healthy Newborn Baby Boy

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  With deep appreciation to the Almighty for all that He has bestowed upon us, I am happy to share that Chaya and I we are blessed with a healthy baby boy this past week. Thank God, mom and the baby are doing phenomenal. On Friday night, the

• Sanctification or Vacuum (4:5)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  If our life’s mission would be distilled down to one idea it would be Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of God’s Name). The opposite of Kiddush Hashem is Chilul Hashem (Desecration of God’s Name). Due to the gravity of these concepts, they are

• Ends Justifying Means: An Exploration of the Path of Pleasantness of the Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Jewish people were trapped. Only a week after they left Egypt, Pharaoh had chased them in hot pursuit, and now they had no place to go: with their backs up against the sea, and a heavily armed Egyptian army encircling them, the nation c

• Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Jewish nation has been encamped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year; in this week’s parsha they finally depart from the Mountain of God, and sadly leave gleefully as a child escaping school. This kick starts a series of missteps that carry

• Know Your Enemy: Learning the Modi Operandi of the Yetzer Ra

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Jewish sources focus extensive energies on the battle man must undertake with their Yetzer Ra (evil inclination). In several sources we learn that this battle is the crucial determinant of success or failure in this world. In this podcast w

• Vayeishev – War On Terror

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Our Parsha contains the first act of several interconnected stories: Joseph had dreams of grandeur (literally) and he was placed on a path towards actualizing them. But his story in the Parsha is a series of setbacks that only later on resu

• Vayechi – Anti-Oxidance (5783)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Immediately prior to his passing, Jacob gathered his sons with the intention of revealing to them what will happen at the end of days. With his 12 sons coalesced around him, Jacob was forced to pivot: the Almighty withdrew His Shechinah fro

• Rosh Hashana Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 Dominio

• Vaeschanan – Linked to Sinai (5782)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Although he was the paradigmatic leader of all time, Moshe was barred from crossing the Jordan River and entering the Land. Joshua his student was to succeed him and lead the Nation into the Promised Land. Why was Moshe not allowed to enter

• Intellectual Prowess: How to mobilize your most important gift

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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

• Ep. 13: A History of Hanukkah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few o

• Acharei & Kedoshim – The Love Formula

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 mem

• Bamidbar – Legion of God (5784)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  At first glance, the subject matter of Parshas Bamidbar is quite bland and technical. It talks of a census, and the orientation of the tribes in the camp, and the various responsibilities of the different levite families. These are not typi

• #80: Resurrection: An Introduction

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We stridently disagree with the oft-repeated statement: “You only live once.” #YOLO is a sentiment that violates our beliefs. A central principle of our religion is the concept of resurrection. Death is not permanent. The dead will rise aga

• The Alchemy of Self-Reinvention: The process of transforming something common into something special.

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Ancient alchemists professed to turn lead into gold. For the past three millennium, the Jewish people have made an equally audacious claim: man is not beshackled by negative character; we can change, fix, perfect and purify our character tr

• Beshalach – Bread of Angels

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Parshas Beshalach is arguable the most action-packed Parsha in the Torah. It starts with the Jews hightailing out of Egypt – only to have Pharaoh follow in hot pursuit, and it ends with the nation’s first war. In between these two bookends,

• Creating New Worlds with Torah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  This is the last of 11 lectures on why Jews study Torah. Part 1: http://rabbiwolbe.com/the-jewish-obsession-with-torah-study/ Part 2: http://rabbiwolbe.com/torah-study-jewish-intimacy/ Part 3: http://rabbiwolbe.com/filling-gaps-in-our-spiri

• Ep. 21: The Early Geonic Era

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The story of the Geonim takes shape at about the same time as the Islamic Empire overruns much of the world, bringing the majority of Jews under their rule. Under the relatively tolerant rule of the Caliphate, the Jewish world flourished an

• Korach – On Cloudy

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Of Korach’s 253 collaborators, only three are named, and all three are Reubenites: Dathan, Abiram, and On Ben Peles. Dathan and Abiram remain true to Korach’s cause until the very end when they and their families are swallowed alive by the

• Spiritual Opportunism: A Special Shiur for Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s Yahrtzeit

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  It 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 val

• A Journey through the Jewish Calendar in Thought and Practice Part 1

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Join Rabbi Wolbe and his trustful comrades as they attempt to unlock the wonderful meaning and insight of the Jewish calendar. This presentation will succeed in shattering the childish and simplistic understandings of the Jewish holidays th

• Precise Teaching (4:16)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Accidents happen. Generally speaking, the Torah overlooks things that happen unintentionally. If someone accidentally sins, the Almighty forgives him. Yet the Mishnah teaches that an accident in Torah study is tantamount to a willful, negli

• The Jewish Mission to Fix the World

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Abraham’s greatest contribution was his realization of the existence of the Almighty via the faculties of his own intellect and his commitment to disseminating this God Principle to the masses. Abraham chose God and God in turn chose Abraha

• Oral & Written Torah, The Talmud and Their Interrelationship

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Oral & Written Torah, The Talmud and Their Interrelationship by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• Rosh Hashana Reading (2nd day – Genesis Chapter 22: The Binding of Isaac)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  On 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 Ten Commandments of Parenting

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  A parent who brings a child to this world has accepted upon himself/herself the responsibilities of raising that child to be a happy, healthy and stable adult. This axiomatic idiom has been an unfortunate causality of today’s society. In Am

• Haazinu – Small Step for Eaglet

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Song of Ha’azinu is a richly textured tapestry with layered meaning and subtleties. Our Sages tell us that t incorporates all of Jewish History. In its 613 words, it incorporates all of Torah as well. And it is arguably the most difficu

• #78: Preparing for Messiah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Messiah is something that we anticipate and yearn for and await, but it is also something that we must prepare for. The consequences of being unprepared for Messiah are grave. How can we prepare for Messiah? What, specifically, do the sourc

• Shoftim – Government-in-Exile

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  We begin the month of Elul on the Parsha Podcast with style, flair, and panache. It starts with some sweet, sweet vindication as we share a citation that legitimizes the philosophy of a brief, truncated, intensive effort to ascend the spiri

• Designing The Ideal Life (5:25)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  What does it take to live a great life? How would such a life be structured? This Mishnah is a masterclass in unpacking the subject. What you are about to enjoy is an exquisite array of insights and ideas on human development, pedagogy and

• #68: The Persona of King Messiah

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Messiah will not be an ordinary person. He will be a towering figure who’s impact reverberates the world over. In this podcast we study what our Sages tell us about who Messiah is and what his stature will be, and talk about the wide-rangin

• Rabbi Akiva Ben Yosef: A Biographical Sketch

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Listen to Rabbi Akiva Ben Yosef: A Biographical Sketch by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.

• Innovating the Torah Nation: Why Some Changes to Jewish Life and Practice Succeed while Others Fail

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Torah, in its Oral and Written formats, has and always will be the national pastime of the Jewish nation. Traditionally, it has been the yearnings of young Jews and chief determinant of greatness of Jewish Leaders. Over the course of Jewish

• Tisha B’Av – The Silver Lining of Tragedy

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  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 Te

• Pesach Offering (#5-8, 13-17, 89-90, 486-487)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The Pesach offering is one of the most important mitzvos in the Torah, and there are many details of the procedure that are enumerated as standalone mitzvos. This podcast will cover 13 different mitzvos that relate to this sacrifice. – – –

• Shemos – Grooming Greatness

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Moses is the greatest leader of our history and the archetype of a great, transformative leader. Why was he chosen for the role? What was his training to become the leader he became? What are the Torah’s guidelines for leaders and people of

• Limits to Shabbos Strolls (#24)

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  This mitzvah is arguably the least known one that we have hitherto encountered. In the Book of Exodus we read how we mustn’t depart too far from our home base on Shabbos. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consi

• Ki Sisa – Aaron’s Calculus

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  The most calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous event in Jewish history – and arguably the most devastating event in all of human history – happens in our Parsha. A mere 40 days after the exultant, euphoric, transcendental Revelation at Sinai

• Balak – Some Men Are From Mars

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  Our parsha contains an attempted genocide. Bilaam, the prophet of the idolaters, a man of prodigious ability an skill, dedicates himself with tenacity and persistence to curse and destroy the people. Although his three attempts at cursing t

• Chayei Sara – The Four Ways to Die

  Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

  This 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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –