Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Listen to Torah shiurim and browse series by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe.
Shiurim
- Chukas -Repentance of the Red Heifer
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Parshas Chukas tells of the red heifer as an atonement from contamination of the dead. What is the meaning behind it and how does it relate to the Golden Calf? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider making a donation to
- 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
- Vayigash – Come-to-Joseph Moment
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our parsha is one of unexpected reunions. After 20 plus years of separation, Joseph reunited with his brothers and his father. In this Parsha Podcast we focus on two elements of the reunification: firstly, we ponder the interesting question
- Nasso – Four Paces
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The longest Parsha in the Torah (Nasso) contains a seemingly unconnected string of subjects. It begins by detailing the responsibilities of adult working-age Levites from three Levite families, followed by a census of those Levites. In the
- Nitzavim – Drawbridge Of The Soul
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
With the entire nation gathered on his final day of life, Moshe warns the people against being seduced by idolatry. The nation, Moshe reveals, is particularly vulnerable to idolatry because of the people whose land through which we have tra
- 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
- Pinchas – Staying Hungry (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Although a paternal grandson of Aaron the Kohein, Pinchas was not initially – prior to his heroic act of martyrdom – a Kohein. The law stated that only Aaron and his sons were to be anointed as Kohanim. All sons born to Kohanim subsequently
- 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
- Judging Favorably (6.6.39)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Not everyone is a saint. In fact, the verse testifies that there is no righteous person in the land who does only good and never sins. So everyone is a sinner, to one degree or another. How ought we relate to sinners? What do we do when we
- Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The eponymous protagonist of our Parsha – Moshe’s father-in-law, Jethro – makes three appearances in the Torah. His story, at first glance, seems wholly unremarkable. His greatest claim to fame was the fact that Moshe married his daughter.
- #71: The Inevitability of Messiah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The sources all agree: Messiah is not a possibility that we can potentially achieve; it is an inevitability. It will definitely happen. Under no circumstances will Messiah and not come before the year 6,000 since Adam. The inevitability of
- Levity (6.6.21)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Life is serious. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of truth. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of understanding the Divine (to the best of our abilities). To access wisdom, we have to be very serious. But a little bit of levity – when done pr
- Divine Karma (2:7)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In one of those life experiences we hope to never have, Hillel once encountered a skull floating on the water. His comment to that skull is enshrined in Pirkei Avos and serves as an invaluable lesson to us. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
- Mattos Masei – Greatness and Anti-Greatness
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Accidents are unfortunate. Accidents that lead to death are a catastrophe. Among the myriad of subjects discussed in this week’s double Parsha is the law of the accidental murderer. When someone kills accidentally, they are punished by bein
- #6: Incontrovertible Evidence to the Divinity of the Torah
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
We explore the intricate interrelationship between written and oral Torah and determine that the creation of such a labyrinthine tapestry is beyond the capacity to man. ——– This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX.
- 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
- Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a
- 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
- Balak – Greatness Gone Awry
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Bilaam was a gifted prophet on par with Moshe. Sadly, he chose to direct his powers towards a life of evil. In Parshas Balak, Bilaam is hired to curse the Jewish people, but it does not go as planned. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
- 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
- Parshas Haazinu (Rebroadcast)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Still 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 an
- 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
- Mattos & Masei – Order of Sisters (5784)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Book of Bamidbar ends on a bit of a surprising note. The final chapter of our book revisits the somewhat technical narrative relating to the inheritance of the ancestral lands of a man named Tzelafchad. This man from the tribe of Menash
- Anointment Oil (#107-9)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Before the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Moshe was told to concoct a special anointment oil to be used for the anointment of Aaron and his priest sons and for all the Temple components, vessels, and accoutrements. – – – – – – – – – – – –
- Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom (5782)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
For the third time in the Torah, we read about destruction. Previously, the Flood destroyed the world save Noah and family, and the Dispersal ended the universal civilization, and in our parsha we read about the overturning of Sodom and Gom
- Lech Lecha – How Small Steps Yield Huge Results + New TORCH Initiative
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This 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
- Core Beliefs of Judaism Part 1
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
- Pushing the Envelope (6:5)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Torah scholar plays a significant role in the world. We believe that the reason why the Almighty created the world was for Torah study. We also believe that absent Torah study, the world would cease to exist. The Torah scholar is truly
- Bamidbar – Flag-Bearers
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
At first glance, Parshas Bamidbar seems like a snoozefest: it’s very technical, counting the people, assigning the tribes to their encampments, counting the Levites separately, designating the responsibilities of the Levites in the transpor
- Majority Rules (#76, 78)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
We have a Heavenly Torah, but it is up to us fallible humans to adjudicate it. What do we do when there is uncertainty? How do we resolve doubts? The Torah provides us with several tools at our disposal for us to do just that. In this podca
- Vayakhel & Pekudei – Sequestered with God
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
This 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?
- Vaeira – Manufactured Adversity
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Prior to Moshe and Aaron making progress in their mission to extract the Jewish people from Egypt – their first efforts yielded no success, at least not in that realm – the Torah once again introduces Moshe and Aaron and delineates their pe
- Nasso – How to Find Your Life-Mission
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
A 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
- 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
- Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – It’s a Small World
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our double Parsha contains many different mitzvos. In this podcast we study a set of mitzvos and a very interesting dispute about their nature. We discover a valuable and profound insight that can help us develop and cultivate our potential
- #20: Creation Ex Nihilo and the Age of the Universe Question
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In the Fourth of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, Rambam codifies the distinction between God and everything else and the manner through which God effectuated Creation Ex Nihilo. In doing so, Rambam departs from the positions of Plato and
- Tri-Annual Pilgrimages (#88, 488-90)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
When our nation was fortunate enough to have a Temple, the highlight of the year was the tri-annual pilgrimage to the Temple on the Three Festivals. Throngs of Jews from every corner of the globe would stream to Jerusalem to celebrate and g
- Tithes (#72, 395, 473-4, 507) + TORCH Fundraiser
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Please support The Mitzvah Podcast and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org Every donation will be TRIPLED Show your support for TORCH and The Mitzvah Podcast and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org – – – – – – – – – –
- Bamidbar – Common Census
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The United States Constitution mandates that a nationwide census is conducted every decade. Other nations also conduct censuses. Censuses are common. Our parsha begins with a nation-wide census, the third census since the Exodus. But this c
- 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
- Acharei Mos – Fleshy Onesie (5784)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The first verse of our Parsha revisits a tragic event from the past. The Torah tells us that after the death of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu, Moshe was instructed to command Aaron about the prohibition against entering the Holy of Holies un
- Ki Savo – Maniacal Determination
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our parsha contains perhaps the most difficult Torah portion to read and digest: The Tochacha (Admonition). In it we are told the consequences of our deeds. If obey the Almighty and hearken to His commandments, He will reward us with bounti
- 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
- Ki Seitzei – The Payoff Pitch
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
What is the nature of the conflict of life? How, indeed, are we suspended between good and bad, between mitzvos and sin, between the evil and good inclinations? The Almighty designed the world based upon the principle of free will, meaning
- 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
- Not to Kidnap (#36)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
In two separate instances the Torah warns us against stealing. With the understanding that the Torah contains no redundancies, the Talmud explains that one refers to stealing money or possessions, and the other refers to stealing people, i.
- Ep. 22: The Middle and Late Geonic Era
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The Geonic Era spanned for more than 400 years. During this time, the great Yeshivas in Babylon, Sura and Pumpedisa, were universally recognized as the epicenter of Jewish life. Its heads, known as Geonim, together with the political leader
- 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.
- Devarim – Man of Words (5781)
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
- Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Acting the Goat
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Yom Kippur is a different day than every other day of the year. It is the holiest day, the day of atonement, a day of fasting and prayer and repentance. When the Temple was extant, the Nations’ attention was oriented around the high priest’
- Tazria – Torah In A Box
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The bulk of our Parsha deals with the inapplicable laws of purity and impurity, but we also told about a Mitzvah that is very much applicable today: circumcision. When a baby boy is 8 days old, they are circumcised and thereby entered into
- Vayakhel Pekudei – Laver of Love (5783)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Our double Parsha delineates the implementation phases of the building of the Tabernacle. All the materials are assembled, all the artisans are ready, and the building begins. In this podcast we focus on the construction of one of the vesse
- Special Pre-Pesach-Podcast: 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
- Shelach – Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)
Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
The final five verses of our Parsha contain the third paragraph of the Shema. In it, we are instructed to place tzitzis strings wrapped with a string of blue techeiles wool on the corner of our garments. Why? “And you shall see them and rem
- 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