Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Torah shiurim and browse series by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe.
Shiurim
- Kosher Signs (#153, 155, 158, 470)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Some animals, birds, grasshoppers, and fish are kosher, some are not kosher. How do we know which animals are kosher and which are not? For that we have signs. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE to TORCH: Please consider sup
- Shelach – Despising Limitations (5783)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The nation was on the cusp of entering the Land. After about a year at Sinai, the nation was ready to conquer Canaan. The invasion and war of conquest was imminent. Then catastrophe struck. Moshe sent 12 spies to reconnoiter the Land and re
- A Biographical Sketch and A Character Analysis of Abraham and Sarah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Abraham and Sarah are the biological, theological and ideological forebears of our nation. The story of their lives and accomplishments is the story of the Jewish people and, more broadly, the story of human progress and morality throughout
- Vayigash – A Family Descends (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Parshas Vayigash begins with Joseph’s dramatic revelation to his brothers and ends with the descent of Jacob and his descendents to Egypt, where they will spend the next several hundred years burgeoning into a great nation. The topics discu
- Tazria – Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaires
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Like much of Leviticus hitherto, tzaraas – the skin malady that is a physical manifestation of a spiritual flaw – is a concept distant from our consciousness. The Torah tells us that when a person commits one of several sins, they can be st
- Kedoshim – The Superhuman Imperative (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our Parsha begins with an unusual ceremony: Moshe gathers the entire Jewish Nation, men, women, and children, to convey to them the mitzvos of our Parsha. Unlike the rest of the Torah where the nation is conveyed the Law in shifts, in this
- God’s Kingdom: The Core Elements of Rosh Hashana
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rosh Hashana means the beginning of the year. This day was selected because it is the anniversary of the creation of Adam. The day is also called the day of judgement because all people are judged on this day as well. What is the connection
- Envy and Faith
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Jewish law makes a strange distinction regarding the prohibition of envy: Envy of someone else’s physical, material and intellectual gifts and successes is prohibited, while envy of another’s spiritual achievements are permitted and encoura
- The Ultimate Meritocracy (2:17)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In a short, succinct Mishna, Rabbi Yose shares timeless lessons regarding the proper way to treat other people’s money, how Torah greatness is a meritocracy, and perhaps the most central insight of Jewish spirituality. – – – – – – – – – – –
- The King’s Way
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The sorcerer/prophet of the nations, Balaam, sought to curse the Israelites, but his attempts were thwarted. The Talmud reveals some very interesting elements of his botched effort. Had he succeeded in cursing the nation, there would have b
- Emor – Sense of Belonging (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our parsha contains the first recorded instance of capital punishment in Jewish history. A disgruntled man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed and was executed as a result. What is the significance of this story? W
- Ep. 6: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Akiva
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabbi Akiva was one of the most legendary and heroic figures in Jewish history. His story and accomplishments continue to inspire. In this podcast we explore the remarkable and riveting life story of this great man. ———- This podcast was re
- Shemini – Eighth Time’s The Charm
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Assembling and disassembling the Tabernacle was a difficult task that Moshe repeated for seven days. Each morning he placed the vertical beams into their silver sockets, and affixed the golden rings on the top of the beams. He placed the ho
- #4: The Cognitive Dissonance to the Veracity of the Torah and why Sinai Denial is on Shakier Intellectual Grounds than Holocaust Denial
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
We face internal resistance to the notion of a God-given Torah because that can create a divide between our beliefs and behaviors. How do we respond to the tumult caused by this revelation? ——- This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Ce
- 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 – – – – – – – – – – –
- Va’eschanan – Entry Denied (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Moshe was very desirous of entering the Land. The Midrash reveals that he prayed 515 separate prayers to petition God to revoke His ban on Moshe entering the Land. But God said no. You may not enter the Land, though He allowed Moshe to visu
- Purim – Love-Inducing Miracles
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Talmud (Shabbos 88a) teaches that in the aftermath of the Purim miracles the Jewish people re-accepted the Torah out of love. What was so special about the miracles of Purim that fostered this profound love and what lessons can we learn
- Bo – Climbing Mount Exodus
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Exodus from Egypt was the founding event of our people. Our nation had been in Egypt for more than two centuries and we had become acculturated into the Egyptian way of life. Over the year of the Exodus process, our nation was privy to
- #26: Moses: The Greatest Man
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Seventh Principle of Faith orients around the greatest man and the greatest prophet of them all, Moses. Moses towered above all members of the human species, and indeed over angels too. As a result of his supreme stature, Moses became t
- Why God Told Abraham to Slaughter Isaac
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Abraham is presented in different lights throughout Jewish literature. Traditionally, he is the founder of monotheism and the father of the religions that espouse it. The Torah presents him not as a figure of faith but as a paragon of kindn
- Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Parshas Emor contains a staggering 56 mitzvos, nearly all of them relating to either to the Kohanim, the priests, or to the Festivals, and the parsha ends with a very unusual episode that happened at Sinai. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
- Hens, Goats, and Bears, Oh My! (3:11-13)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa was a legendary Sage who lived towards the end of the Second Temple, and the Talmud relates many miraculous and inspirational stories about him. In this podcast we share some of those amazing stories, and connect them
- Rosh Hashana: A Primer
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rosh Hashana is both the day of judgement on our deeds of the previous year and the day of new hopes and new beginnings for the year to come. The responsibilities – and the opportunities – of the day are so significant that we must be ready
- 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 – – – – – – – – – – –
- Behaaloscha – Kindle Fire
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Aaron the High Priest held a critical leadership role in the nation. A partial list of his jobs: he offered sacrifices, he did the Yom Kippur services which included the annual trip to the Holy of Holies, and he blessed the people. But ther
- Shelach – The Sad Saga of the Spies
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In Parshas Shelach we read about the disastrous episode of the Spies. These 12 men were initially great leaders of the people, but their libelous report about the Land condemned the Nation to 40 years of wandering in the Wilderness. – – – –
- Pesach Special with Akiva and Yehoshua Wolbe
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This upcoming Shabbos coincides with the first day of Pesach. Consequently, there is no new Parsha this week. But there will still be a new Parsha Podcast. My dear friend Dan Kullman, host of the Shema Podcast interviewed my two oldest sons
- Tackling Temptation: How to Unleash your Willpower, Unbind your Inhibitors and Unlock your Potential
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
“I created a yetzer ra (evil inclination) and I created the Torah as an antidote” – (Talmud Kiddushin 30b) The essence of man is his capacity for free will; to make moral decisions; to favor his mind and intellect or to favor his bodily ins
- Ep. 12: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Eliezer
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Rabbi Eliezer Ben Hurkenus was among the greatest of the students of Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai. In the words of his teacher, Rabbi Eliezer on one side of the scale would outweigh all the other scholars and sages of Israel on the other side
- Vayeitzei – Ladders To/From Heaven
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
On the way to Charan Jacob stopped at Mount Moriah. He spent the night there and the Torah documents his very fateful dream: he saw a ladder suspended between heaven and Earth, upon which Angels of God were ascending and descending. The com
- Yisro – The Key to Changing the World
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
- Are You Allowed to kill someone on Shabbos to prevent him from committing an nonconsensual illicit activity?
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Are You Allowed to kill someone on Shabbos to prevent him from committing an nonconsensual illicit activity? by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Nasso – Nazirs Anonymous
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
- Parshas Devarim
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
5 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 re
- Tazria/Metzora – Blessings in Disguises (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Tzaraas , the spiritual leprosy whose laws are detailed in our Parsha, appeared in three different areas: the befell sinners’ skin, clothing, and house. How common was Tzaraas of the house? The Talmud reveals that it actually never happened
- Ki Savo – Clinging to Gold (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
On the surface, Bikkurim appears to be an ordinary, tithe-like Mitzvah. When the first fruits of a season’s crop begin to sprout, you designate them as Bikkurim, and eventually bring them to Jerusalem with much pomp and ceremony. Upon close
- Parshas Noach
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast
- Discover You (1:14)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In the third teaching of Hillel the Elder, we discover timeless advice to maximizing life: If I am not for me, who will be for me; when I am for myself, what am I; and if not now, when? This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Eth
- Parshas Nasso
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In the longest parsha in the Torah by verses, we continue to read about the Levite families and their responsibilities, we learn about the three tiers of the Nation’s encampment, the laws of a suspected adulteress, the laws of the Nazir, th
- Tazria Metzora – Heaven on the Cheap (5783)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This week’s double Parsha contains some of the most intricate and complex laws in the Torah, the laws of purity and impurity. This subject remains an enigmatic mystery for us, in fact, even in Talmudic times it was arcane. That said, there
- Purim: A Primer
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The festival of Purim commemorates the story of salvation that our nation experienced in Persia more than two thousand years ago. Haman the heir of Amaleik schemed a plot to eradicate the entire Jewish people in one randomly selected day, t
- A Biographical Sketch and A Character Analysis of Isaac and Rebecca
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Torah is scant on details regarding the lives of Isaac and Rebecca. Their story does not include a great many anecdotes of their challenges nor does it highlight their accomplishments and greatness. To the contrary, the Torah seems to h
- #100: Second Order of Mishnah (Festivals)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Jewish calendar is studded with days of great importance. Each week we relive Genesis by celebrating the holy Shabbos. At half-year intervals are the mega festivals of Sukkos and Pesach (Passover). There’s also Shavuos, Rosh Hashanah, a
- Benediction Malediction (4:24)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Shmuel HaKattan was one of the legends of Jewish history. The Talmud testifies on him that had his generation been worthy, he would have been a full-fledged prophet. Notwithstanding his generation, Shmuel Hakattan did merit lower grade prop
- Tetzaveh – The Golden Bovine
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This week’s Parsha is dedicated to the priestly class: It begins with the oil that the High Priest kindles; it describes in great detail the special vestments that the priests wore; and it proceeds in outlining the process of inauguration o
- 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
- Q&A: Who Gets Into Heaven?
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Q&A: Who Gets Into Heaven? by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Q&A: Why do other Religions preach to abide by the Ten Commandments when it’s origins lie in Judaism?
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Q&A: Why do other Religions preach to abide by the Ten Commandments when it’s origins lie in Judaism? by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Joyous With Your Lot (6.6.27)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
There is an unequal distribution of talents, gifts, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Everyone is different. Everyone is their own world. This applies both in the spiritual domain and in the material/physical domain. A believer who unde
- Shemos – Make Your Move
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our Parsha is a difficult one to read. Our nation was enslaved, tormented, oppressed, and murdered by the Egyptians. Although we don’t see the salvation in our Parsha, the chess pieces of the redemption are set into place. In this edition o
- Sensitivity to Converts (#63-4, 431)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Is Judaism a religion or a nation? That is a tricky question to answer because the correct answer is a bit of both. We are a nation and therefore if your pedigree is Jewish you are Jewish whether you like it or not. You can be baptized 100
- The Core of Greatness
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In this podcast we reveal the secret key to unlocking the transformational power of Torah. What is the one critical quality needed to ensure that we achieve greatness? This Torah talk is dedicated in the merit of the pure Neshama of שלמה ע”
- Eikev – Well-Heeled (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
If the Almighty promises to give you a blessing, your ears should perk up. If God promises to give you abundance, health, prosperity, fertility, security, and all manner of blessing, your question should be – what must I do to be deserving
- Nitzavim – Repent Up Demand
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
How difficult is it to repent? How hard is it to examine your behavior, your choices, your values, your decisions to determine which are in need of improvement? How hard is it to reconsider your choices, to regret your mistakes, and to char
- 31 Sins of the Tongue: The Critical Importance of Guarding one’s Mouth from Evil Talk
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to 31 Sins of the Tongue: The Critical Importance of Guarding one’s Mouth from Evil Talk by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, from This Jewish Life.
- Charity or Piracy (3:8)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Why do we give charity? Is there a cap of 20% to how much we can give? In this mishna we learn about a striking rationale for charity, answer these questions, and contrast the two types of givers. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
- The 13 Core Beliefs of Judaism
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Jewish Philosophy enumerates 13 principle beliefs that all Jews must believe in order to be a Jew. BBM – 2015
- Uncertain Guilt Offerings (#128)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This sacrifice is offered when someone is uncertain if they violated a sin or not. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educati
- #66: The Mechanisms of Messiah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The sources depicting Messiah and the Messianic Era paint a very different picture of the world than the one we are accustomed to. Knowledge of God will be universal, on that day God will be One and His Name will be One. The pursuit of know
- Devarim – Man of Words
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
At the end of Moshe’s life, he gathers the entire nation for his parting message to the nation. The Midrash makes a remarkable contrast between Moshe’s beginning and end of his tenure: When God initially commanded Moshe to save his brethren