Everyday Judaism · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe

In this Everyday Judaism episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe concludes Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 42 : the laws of proper conduct during a meal (etiquette, dignity, sensitivity, and practical halachot after hamotzi/netilat yadayim). Key halachot: Leaving the table — Don’t leave during/after meal before Birkas Hamazon (even briefly); if you do, new hamotzi needed unless <72 minutes or someone remains se...

The Everyday Judaism podcast's "Ask Away" series, episode 30, hosted by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH in Houston, features live audience questions on practical Jewish life, ethics, and halacha. Rabbi Wolbe addresses concerns like dealing with someone who studies Torah mockingly (advocating kindness, caution in associations, and seeking exemplary teachers who live their teachings), dignified eating ha...

In this Everyday Judaism episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe begins Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 42: proper conduct during a meal (after hamotzi and netilat yadayim). Key halachot: Feed animals first — One who owns animals/fowl must feed them before eating (Torah obligation); humans come first for drinking. No gluttony — Don’t eat/drink while standing; eat/drink in moderation; table must be clean/covered; d...

In Ask Away #29 of the Everyday Judaism podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe answers a wide range of live and emailed questions on practical halacha, Jewish identity, and intentional living: Seven-grain bread — Still hamotzi (bread) because it is made from the five grains + water with bread-like consistency, texture, and taste—even with added grains/flavors. Pretzel bagels/pretzel buns — Treated as bread (h...

In this Everyday Judaism episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 40 (laws of netilat yadayim before bread) and transitions to Siman 41 (breaking bread & hamotzi blessing). Key Halachot covered: Invalid waters — Salty, putrid, bitter, or muddy water is disqualified if unfit even for a dog to drink. Chatzitzah (interposition) — Hands must be free of barriers (remove ring...

In this Ask Away #28 episode of Everyday Judaism, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe answers live and emailed questions on practical halacha and deeper Jewish life: Netilat yadayim technique — One continuous flow is ideal; your wrist-to-fingers method is fine if uninterrupted. Running water / faucets — Requires human force (koach gavra); turn faucet on/off repeatedly so first spurt washes each hand. Morning blessi...

In this Everyday Judaism episode (continuing Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 40), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe completes the laws of netilat yadayim (ritual hand-washing before bread/meals). Key halachot include: Invalid waters : Salty, putrid, bitter, or muddy water is disqualified if unfit even for a dog to drink. Clean hands requirement : Hands must be free of interpositions (chatzitzah)—remove rings, clean...

In this special Everyday Judaism episode timed for the start of Chanukah, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the significance and halachot of Rosh Chodesh (the new month), which coincides with Hallel recitation beginning the next morning. Rosh Chodesh is an auspicious time for atonement—Erev Rosh Chodesh is treated by some as Yom Kippur Katan (minor Day of Atonement) with fasting and special supplications...

In this Ask Away #27 episode of the Everyday Judaism podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe fields live and emailed questions on practical halacha, with emphasis on thoughtful, intentional Jewish living. Key topics include: Netilat Yadayim (hand-washing) : Proper technique (one continuous flow of water, ideally covering the entire hand to the wrist), alternatives when no vessel is available (faucet with human...

In this Everyday Judaism episode on practical Jewish law (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 40), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explains the rabbinic obligation of netilat yadayim (ritual hand-washing) before eating bread—a meal's centerpiece. Rooted in Temple-era purity laws (tumah and taharah) to prepare for terumah consumption, this decree persists today to maintain readiness for the future Temple, promote physi...

In this engaging Ask Away episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe fields practical and profound questions from participants: Swearing on a non-Jewish Bible in court: In the U.S., one can "affirm" (not swear) under penalty of perjury, avoiding oaths prohibited by Torah; bringing a Chumash is ideal but not required. Cohen status: Transmitted only patrilineally; a Cohen father's daughter does not pass Cohen statu...

In this engaging Ask Away episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe tackles listener questions on everyday halacha and deeper Jewish concepts. Key topics include: Leaving negative Google reviews: Permissible only if consistently poor (to protect others), not for one-off bad experiences, to avoid lashon hara. Converts reciting Kaddish for non-Jewish parents: Not forbidden, and may merit their souls (as Avraham el...

The Living Jewishly Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way. In this Living Jewishly Podcast BONUS episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe discusses the laws of Chanukah in all its...

The entire chapter 39 of the Kitzur is about one practical question: “I’m about to sit down for a full bread meal in 15 minutes, but I’m starving right now – can I grab a snack without making a separate after-bracha later?” The answer is mostly yes. If you eat (or drink anything except wine) before washing for bread and you will eat/drink the same thing again during the meal, many authorities (inc...

In this lively Ask Away session, Rabbi Wolbe clarified that the Talmudic category of “idolater” (akum) in kosher laws refers to any non-Jew who does not share our Torah values and meticulous concern for kashrut – today that includes Muslims, Christians, atheists, etc. – not just literal idol-worshippers; the laws were never about hating non-Jews but about protecting Jewish standards and limiting e...

Jewish law prohibits bread (Pas Akum), cooked foods (Bishul Akum), and milk/cheese (Chalav/Gevinat Akum) prepared by non-Jews, not because the food itself is biblically non-kosher, but because the Sages wanted to limit close social bonding and the risk of intermarriage in ancient times, while also guarding against real kashrut problems (non-kosher animals, fats, etc.). For bread, a Jew must bake i...

In this engaging Ask Away #23 episode of the Everyday Judaism podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe fields practical kosher questions emphasizing accessibility for all levels of observance. Key topics include acquiring utensils from non-Jews: new metal items require Tevilah (immersion in a mikvah) but not Kashering if unused, while repaired vessels over 3–5 ounces need re-Tevilah only if significantly renewe...

This episode from the Everyday Judaism Podcast, hosted by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, discusses the Halachot (Jewish laws) regarding the immersion (Tevilah) of utensils in a Mikvah, based on the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Siman 37). The discussion draws from biblical origins (from the conquest of Midian) and covers practical applications, exceptions, and related concepts like Kashering (making utensils kosher)...

Episode 22 of Ask Away dives into kosher, mikvah, and customs, with 18 questions from Benjamin (NY) and in-person queries. Rabbi Wolbe addresses antisemitism’s rise as a call to prioritize Temple/exile awareness, urging discomfort for closeness to Hashem.  Key themes: Kosher Details : Spleen/liver differences, roasting liver, gid hanasheh (sciatic nerve) removal, fish blood rinsing (1:03–3:03, 39:...

In this episode of the Everyday Judaism Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues his exploration of the laws of salting (kashering) meat and poultry to remove prohibited blood, covering Halachot 15–28 from Siman 36. He details specific preparations for various animal parts, including the head (cut and salted inside/outside), bones with marrow, legs (hooves trimmed), heart and lungs (cut open), liver (...

Episode 21 of the Ask Away series addresses diverse questions on kosher laws, Jewish practices, and spiritual growth, emphasizing practical application and Torah sourcing. Recorded post-Sukkot, the session encourages questioning to deepen understanding. Key themes include: Kosher Laws : Blood is forbidden (Leviticus 17:11), requiring precise kashering (soaking, salting, rinsing). Glass vessels’ no...

This episode of the Everyday Judaism Podcast explores Siman 36 of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch , detailing the laws of kashering meat and poultry to remove blood, a biblical prohibition (Leviticus 7:26–27). Rabbi Wolbe explains the historical necessity of home kashering versus modern kosher meat production, emphasizing the process’s precision and the Torah’s concern for animal welfare. A scandal illu...

Episode 20 of the Ask Away series of the Everyday Judaism Podcast addresses critical questions about Jewish identity, kosher laws, and Zionism in the context of modern challenges like antisemitism. Recorded post-Rosh Hashanah, the session emphasizes active questioning and sourcing Torah knowledge. Key themes include: Jewish Identity and Antisemitism : Hiding Jewishness fuels antisemitism, as natio...

This episode of the Everyday Judaism Podcast begins the second book of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, focusing on Siman 35, the laws of challah, rooted in Numbers 15:17–21. Rabbi Wolbe explains the mitzvah’s biblical and rabbinic dimensions, emphasizing its spiritual significance as a repair for Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, where the Tree of Knowledge was a bread tree, not an apple tree, correctin...

In Episode 19 of the Ask Away series on the Everyday Judaism Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe fields questions at the TORCH Centre in Houston, recorded pre-Yom Kippur (September 28, 2025). The session addresses teshuva, holiday practices, human imperfection, political voting, synagogue customs, and sensitive social issues, emphasizing Torah’s primacy. Teshuva and Yom Kippur : Yom Kippur’s Yimei Ratzon m...