Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Torah shiurim and browse series by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe.
Shiurim
- Life, Afterlife, and Judgment (4:29)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
What happens after we die? That is a question that fascinates and terrifies us. The future is unknown. It is a mystery, shrouded in uncertainty and dread. Naturally, the human tendency is to try to avoid thinking about those questions too m
- Lech Lecha – The Essence of Bris Milah (Circumcision)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The mitzvah of Bris Milah (circumcision) is unique of several fronts. It is the first mitzvah given to Abraham and the first done to a Jewish child; it is the mark of the Jewish fraternity; and the Talmud declares that is emblematic of all
- Bo – The Bloods and The Crisp (5783)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The dramatic events of the Exodus reach a crescendo with the nation’s Exodus from Egypt. After 210 years of servitude and subjugation, the Almighty people leave Egypt with great miracles and fanfare. A very specific set of things had to hap
- Stairway to Heaven (3:15)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabbi Elazar from Modi’in shares a list of five very different things that disqualify its doer from Olam Haba. What is the connection between these five things and why would one who does them be locked out of eternity? This Ethics Podcast w
- Filling Gaps in our Spiritual Avatar: How Torah Study Angelifies Humans
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 3
- Vayeishev – Dream of the Crop (5784)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
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 fath
- Lech Lecha – The Generational Secret
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Join us for an exquisite Parsha Podcast as we go deep and deeper into Lech Lecha. The deep idea relates to Lot’s fateful decision to choose to move to the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. We then go deeper and explore the allegorical di
- TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Please support The TORCH Podcasts and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and the TORCH Podcasts and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – – –
- God, Faith and Emunah Part 3
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
- Reflections on Loss, Tragedy, and Bereavement: An Interview with Esther Kaplan
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Esther Kaplan (née Wolbe), along with her husband AJ, experienced the worst nightmare parents can undergo when their adorable and perfect son Shlomo passed away only 16 weeks into his life. In this intimate and stirring conversation Esther
- Bamidbar – Autopsy of Giants
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our Parsha recounts – for the third time hitherto in the Torah – the episode of the untimely death of Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. These two young priests were destined for greatness. Moshe believed that they were in fact great
- Mattos & Masei – Talent Incubator (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our parsha contains the laws regarding a person who murders someone accidentally. We are told that the accidental murderer must flee to the city of refuge and remain there until the passing of the High Priest. Although we have neither a Hig
- Conjecture in Court (#82)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
A court is tasked with verifying the validity of the claims of the witnesses and rendering a ruling. What kinds of testimony are admissible in court? What are the extrajudicial carveouts for the defendants who are clearly guilty but get off
- #95: Venues of Reward and Punishment
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Spiritual pleasure is vastly, infinitely greater than physical pleasures, and are completely imperceivable by bodies. Only if you work assiduously to develop a sensory connection with your soul, can you begin to taste it. The ultimate venue
- Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
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
- Mikeitz – The End of Days (5784)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
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. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we share thr
- Concentric Realms of Holiness (5:7)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
For 800+ years our nation had a Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple was a special place. It contained the vessels described in Scripture, it was the site of annual, national pilgrimages, it is where the high priest did the Yom Kippur service ea
- Shemini – Aaron’s Stoicism
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
On the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkan, amid the joy and jubilation and ecstasy of having God dwell among the nation, tragedy and disaster strikes when the two sons of Aaron die suddenly. As a reward for not questioning God, A
- Ashes of the Altar (#131)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The first activity performed in the Temple each day was the removal of the ashes from the previous day’s sacrifices. Before today’s sacrificial schedule can commence, the Altar must be cleared from the ashes of yesterday’s sacrifices. – – –
- The Superiority of Torah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
We are incredibly fortunate to be included amongst the Jewish people. We are incredibly fortunate to be raised with a strong sense of Torah and Torah values, and a deep appreciation for the critical and indispensable mission that our nation
- Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast) + TORCH Annual Fundraising Drive
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
TORCH Fundraiser 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 support the Parsha Podcast right now at giv
- Breakdown of Aggada and Halacha in Talmud and an insight into Talmudic disagreements
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
There is an important difference between the Aggadic portions of the Talmud – the ethical and philosophical sections, and the Halacha/law portions. Also, learn why the study of the Babylonian Talmud supersedes the study of the Jerusalem Tal
- 5 Paths to Perfection (Pirkei Avos 2:9)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai tasked his five students with an interesting mission. He instructed them to go and find which path should a person cling to. They went and researched and returned, each with a different formula. What exactly is th
- Honor Thy Spiritual Father and Mother (6:3)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Torah study is the greatest of pursuits. Consequently, you are eternally indebted to anyone who bestows upon you Torah. In this fascinating Mishnah, we learned about the supreme holiness of Torah and how is forever alters the one who studie
- The Simple and Clear Reasons why Jews Reject Jesus and Christianity
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Jesus is not, and never was, the Messiah because he fulfilled none of the personal qualifications of Messiah, accomplished none of the necessary requirements of the Messiah and the Messianic Era is clearly not underway. Jesus is not, and ne
- Theodicy Today (4:19)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The blissful existence of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous raise difficult questions for the believer: If God is in total control of all that transpires, why would He cause pain to those who obey His words and reward those who
- Momentum Matters
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The hardest part of reaching space is the first moment of liftoff, getting the first inch off the ground. The second inch is still hard, but a little bit easier. The first bit of liftoff serves as momentum for the second inch. In our pursui
- Tzav – Ready, Steady, Fire! (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
A lot of things are needed for the Temple and the Tabernacle to function properly. There are all kinds of prerequisites, protocols, procedures, and rituals that must be followed. One of the most surprising ones is the requirement to always
- Haazinu – Antidote to Vacuousness
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
On the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys the Song of Haazinu to the nation. In this masterful prophetic Song, the Torah overviews Jewish history, past, present, future, and Messiah. In this penultimate parsha podcast we focus on what ha
- Mezuzah: A Deep Dive
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The mezuzah that graces the doorposts of every Jewish home is perhaps our most recognizable mitzvah . But what exactly is a mezuzah? What is its power? How does it change the Jewish home and the Jewish experience? In This very special podca
- Parshas Re’eh
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This 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 menti
- Kosher 101: BJC Edition
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The what, why and how of kosher in the modern era.
- Are We Truly Better Off?
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Are We Truly Better Off? by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In the 16th century, the city of Safed in Northern Israel became host to one of the greatest collections of Torah Sages ever assembled, none more transformative or influential as Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, known as the Arizal. Though he lived a
- Vayeitzei – Fortune Favors the Bold
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
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 ini
- Parshas Shemini
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle wa
- Pekudei – Bold Initiatives Checklist
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The most ambitious initiative ever undertook in the history of mankind was the construction of the Tabernacle. Think about it: humans are getting together with the intent of constructing a residence for God on this Earth. And they pull it o
- Shelach – Prophylactic Phylacteries
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Prior to initiating the war of conquest of the land of Canaan, the nation did the prudent thing: they undertook a reconnaissance mission to scout out the enemy defenses. Moshe selected 12 righteous men, one from each tribe, to traverse the
- Torah Study: Jewish Intimacy
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 2
- The State of the Jewish Nation
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In response to an incredible story that happened over the weekend, we explore the state of the Jewish nation in 2018 and chart our progress towards acheiving our destiny and Tikkun Olam. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please co
- Thanks a Million!
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Of all the episodes that I have recorded over the years, this will be perhaps the most unique one. For one, it will be released simultaneously on all 6 channels that I am fortunate enough to host: The Parsha Podcast, The Jewish History Podc
- The Shema Part 2
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to The Shema Part 2 by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Ki Savo – Gaze from Heaven
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Blessings and curses. That is the dominant theme of our Parsha. We read the admonition of Deuteronomy – 98 bone-chilling curses that will befall our people in the event that we repudiate our covenant with God. Blessings and curses appear a
- Testimony at Sinai
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Revelation at Sinai is the most significant event in all of human history. In an event never repeated, God spoke to a nation who heard with their ears and saw with their eyes, and survived. In this podcast, we examine the experience at
- Shoftim – Hill To Die On
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our Parsha contains the instructions for how to conduct war. We are told that we must extend peace overtures before launching an attack, we are told about the special nature of the Canaanite wars, and we are prohibited from felling fruit-be
- Parshas Chayei Sarah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Some of the highlights of this week’s parsha: Immediately after the Binding of Isaac, Sarah passed away at the age of 127, and soon afterwards Abraham had to procure a burial spot for her. In addition, Abraham sent his trusted confidante, E
- Sorcery (#62, 511)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Torah commands us to not keep sorcerers alive. Sorcery is prohibited on pain of death. What exactly is sorcery and why is it banned? Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover
- Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)
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
- Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In 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
- Behaaloscha – Follow the Cloud (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Traveling in the wilderness was not simple. The nation was guided by the clouds of Glory. When the clouds of Glory would depart from a top of the Tabernacle, that signaled it was time to go and the nation decamped and began to move. Where t
- A Lifetime A Day
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
We all aspire to accomplish great things. The Almighty surely did not create us to be mediocre. We’re here to make something of ourselves; to achieve grand ambitions. What is the most effective way to accomplish that? In this very unique po
- Ki Seitzei – Roadmap to Victory
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The 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
- Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle wa
- Vayeira – Abraham’s Three Protégés (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Abraham was the most influential person in human history. He changed the tides of history, he popularized Monotheism in the world, he is the father of many nations, and fittingly his story is told at considerable length in the Torah. In thi
- Lion’s Tail (4:20)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The author of this Mishnah served as the rabbi of Rome. While all his colleagues were coalesced together in the great Torah centers of Israel, Rabbi Masya Ben Charash led the small community and academy in the epicenter of impurity. How he
- Ep. 65: The Era of the Judges (Part Three: Samson the Mighty) + ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Support TORCH and The Jewish History Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser. https://www.charidy.com/torch/History EVERY DONATION IS QUADRUPLED Today, TORCH needs your help!! Today YOU can support the thousands of Jewish Houstonian
- Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabbi Eliyahu the son of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Kramer (1720-1797), known to all as the Gaon (genius) of Vilna, or simply the “Gaon”, was a legendary and towering figures of Jewish history. While he nev er headed a yeshiva, held rabbinic offic
- Judicial Restraint (4:9-10)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Justice is one of the three things that perpetuate the world. But should one strive to be a judge? In this very interesting Mishnah, the brainchild of a fascinating Sage, we discover that a person ought to be highly reticent in avoiding ser
- Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In Parshas Chukas, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact wi
- Alei Shur Vaad: Emunah Part 3
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Alei Shur Vaad: Emunah Part 3 by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.