Jewish Inspiration Podcast · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe

In episode thirty-three of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ehov Et HaTzedek — “love the righteous” and love righteousness. After discussing love of God and love of humanity, this way focuses on actively loving goodness, justice, moral straightness, and the pleasure of doing what is right. Rabbi Wolbe explains that the Torah presents a clear binary choice (Deuteronomy...

In this special Lag B'Omer episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe celebrates the 33rd day of the Omer (18 Iyar) as the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), one of the greatest Tanaim and author of the Zohar. The Talmud hints to him via “Hamin ha’etz” (same letters as Haman) from the Tree of Knowledge—both represent focusing on what we lack instead of appreciating wha...

In episode thirty-two of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ahavat HaBriyot — “love of humanity” or loving all creations. This way builds directly on the previous teachings about being loved by others and loving God, showing that love must expand outward to every person. Rabbi Wolbe explains that the Torah command “Love your fellow as yourself” requires us first to love...

In episode thirty-one of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ahavat HaMakom — “love of God” and loving His presence in the world. Building on the previous way (being loved by others), this way focuses on reciprocating God’s endless love by actively seeking and appreciating His kindness, wisdom, and gifts in every aspect of creation. Rabbi Wolbe explains that the commandme...

In episode thirty of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ahuv — “to be loved by others.” The way to be loved is simple yet profound: love others first. Our sages teach k’mayim panim el panim — just as water reflects a face, so too does kindness and love reflect back. The more you give love, the more you receive it. Rabbi Wolbe explains that love is fundamentally about giv...

In episode twenty-nine of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ve’eino Machzik Tova L’Atzmo — “do not take credit for yourself” or “do not praise yourself.” Arrogance is claiming credit for gifts and achievements that truly belong to Hashem. The Mishnah warns us that taking pride in things we did not earn blocks further growth, closes us off to new ideas, and damages relat...

In this short, uplifting episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explains Pesach Sheni (14 Iyar), the "second Passover" opportunity for those who were ritually impure (e.g., contact with a corpse) or too far away to bring the Korban Pesach on 14 Nisan. He highlights the Torah's message of second chances — no one is ever "too late" to correct course, reconnect with Hashem, or fulfill a mitzvah. The story of Mis...

In episode twenty-eight of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ha’oseh Siyag L’Dvarav — “making a fence around your words” (and by extension, around your life). Just as we build protective fences around dangerous things (nuclear plants, guns, etc.), we must create intentional boundaries to safeguard our speech, eyes, time, family, and values from negative influences. Rabb...

In episode twenty-seven of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches HaSameach B’Chelko — “happy/content with one’s portion.” This is one of the most vital traits for our generation, where material abundance coexists with record levels of depression and anxiety. True happiness does not come from having more, but from appreciating and being grateful for what we already have. Rab...

In episode twenty-six of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Ha'Makir Et Mekomo — “to know your place.” This is a foundational principle for a successful, meaningful life: understanding where we stand in every situation, especially in our relationship with Hashem. When you are in charge, know you are in charge. When you are not, know you are not. Knowing your place brings...

In episode twenty-five of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Kabbalat HaYisurim — “accepting pain” or “receiving suffering.” No pain, no gain is a fundamental principle of growth. Every truly valuable thing in life — children, marriage, Torah, Eretz Yisrael, Olam HaBa — comes with a price tag of effort and discomfort. According to the pain is the reward (“lefum tzara a...

In episode twenty-four of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Emunat Chachamim — “with belief/faith in the wise” or valuing wisdom. Building on way #10 (serving the wise), this way emphasizes actively seeking, valuing, and believing in wisdom in every area of life — not only Torah, but also parenting, marriage, business, medicine, technology, and more. Rabbi Wolbe expla...

In episode twenty-three of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Tov Lev — “with a good heart.” This quality is the engine that drives all other positive traits and actions. The Shema’s command to love God “with all your heart” (b’chol levavcha) refers to the two inclinations battling within us: the yetzer tov (good inclination) and the yetzer hara (evil inclination). We mu...

In episode twenty-two of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Erech Apayim — “slow to anger” or “control your anger” (patience and acceptance of frustration). This is the final “limited” way before shifting to positive character traits. We must accept that things do not always go our way, embrace differences, and learn to appreciate opinions that differ from our own. Rabbi...

In episode twenty-one of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Tzchok — “with limited laughter.” This is the final “limited” way in the series, emphasizing balance rather than avoidance. Laughter is powerful and can be wonderful, but like business, intimacy, pleasure, sleep, and speech, it requires proper limits. Rabbi Wolbe distinguishes between positive laughter an...

In episode twenty of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Sichah — “with limited schmoozing” or limited idle talk. While the previous “limited” ways focused on balance rather than total avoidance, this one encourages meaningful, substantive conversation instead of empty chatter. Every person has unique wisdom and life experience; when we genuinely like people, we en...

In episode nineteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Sheina — “with limited sleep.” Sleep is essential, but too much of it causes us to miss life. The Rambam states that a healthy adult needs about eight hours, yet excess sleep dulls the mind and wastes precious time. Children naturally resist sleep because they are full of dreams and a desire to accomplish;...

In episode eighteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Ta’anug — “with limited pleasure.” Like the previous two ways (limited business and limited intimacy), this does not mean total avoidance or asceticism. It means achieving balance so that physical pleasures enhance life rather than dominate or diminish it. Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes that God wants us to enjoy l...

In episode seventeen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Derech Eretz (limited intimacy / controlled desires). Just like the previous way on limited business, this does not mean total avoidance or minimization for its own sake, but rather achieving balance and proper control so that physical pleasures serve their higher purpose. Rabbi Wolbe explains that the sin...

In episode sixteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Miut Sechora — “with limited business” (or limited involvement in commerce). This way has two complementary messages: (1) Do not become overly consumed by business or livelihood at the expense of life, family, Torah study, and spiritual growth; and (2) When you are engaged in business, use it as a powerful tool f...

In this episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe shares a short & sweet idea of inspiration on the power of the month of Iyar, the month of Ohr - light and spiritual blossoming.  This Jewish Inspiration Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH (Ep. #182) is dedicated my dearest friends, Peter Botvin and his incredible wife, Becky! May Hashem bless you and your beautiful family with good health, success and tru...

In episode fifteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B'Mishnah (B’Torah Sheb’al Peh) — “with the Oral Law.” The Written Torah (Tanakh) tells us what to do, while the Oral Torah tells us how to do it. The two are inseparable; one cannot be properly understood without the other. The Mishnah and Talmud form the core of the Oral Law, brilliantly written in a discussion/a...

In episode fourteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches B’Mikra — “with the written law” (the Torah, or Tanakh). The foundation of a successful and fulfilling life is following instructions, just as every product we buy comes with a manual. The Torah is God’s owner’s manual for life — the blueprint and map that shows us how to live, raise children, build relationships,...

In episode thirteen of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Be-Yishuv — “with deliberation” or “with a settled mind.” This quality calls for calmness, patience, and thoughtful reflection rather than rushing into judgments, answers, or decisions. The first Mishnah in Ethics of Our Fathers instructs us to “be patient before casting judgment,” not only in a courtroom but in t...

In this somber yet inspiring episode marking Yom HaShoah (27 Nisan), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe reflects on the Holocaust's scale: over 42,000 ghettos and camps, 30,000 slave labor camps, 1,150 Jewish ghettos, nearly 1,000 concentration camps, and estimates of 15–20 million people imprisoned or murdered across Europe, including 6 million Jews (1.5 million of them children). He stresses the sin of the innoc...