The Parsha Podcast - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

One of the many themes of Parshas Eikev is the mitzvah of blessings. In fact, the Talmud derives from our parsha a requirement to offer 100 blessings to God every day. In this podcast we offer several perspectives on the transformative power of blessings. – – – – – – – – – – – […]

Parshas Eikev continues the themes of Devarim: Moshe is priming the nation for entering the Land of Israel and flourishing in it, and reveals the secret formula for our nations success. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider […]

Parshas Vaeschanan continues where Parshas Devarim left off. Moshe has about a month left to speak to the nation and prepare them for the challenges awaiting them in Canaan. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider making a […]

Tisha B’av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. Over the millennia, scores of unfortunate events happened to our nation on this inauspicious day. Why is this day so totally designated for bad things, what is the significance of the Temples for us today living in 2018, and what are we supposed to feel […]

Parshas Devarim, and indeed the Book of Devarim, begins with a lengthy speech from Moshe to the nation about a month before his death. In it he subtly criticizes them regarding all the nation’s misdeeds over the duration of the 40 years in the Wilderness. – – – – – – – – – – […]

The final two parshiyos of the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar) tell the laws and happenings leading up to the conquest of Canaan (Israel). We are taught the laws of vows, then a war is fought and its booty is divided, and the tribes of Gad and Reuven agree to a pact. – – – – […]

Pinchas was a great hero who acted out of vengeance for God. In this Parsha, we read about the plaudits for his heroism, the Jews are counted again, a knotty inheritance question is settled, Moshe asked for a successor, and we learn about many sacrifices. – – – – – – – – – – […]

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

The eponymous mitzvah of this week’s parsha, the Red Heifer, is the archetype of a mitzvah that is beyond human comprehension. What can we learn from a mitzvah that we can neither fulfill nor understand?  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please […]

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 sponsoring […]

Korach and his comrades launched an insurrection against Moshe that ended catastrophically for them. Our Sages maintain that his mistake was in the underlying cause of his dissent and how he conducted it, not in the fact that he had an argument to begin with. By analyzing this sad episode we can learn the proper […]

Korach was Moshe’s envious first cousin who mounted an insurrection against Moshe and Aaron, even questioning their legitimacy. In this story we learn vital lessons about staying true to the role that the Almighty prepares for us and the importance of maintaining peace. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

Mussar is frequently translated as “ethics” or “character refinement”. In the debacle of the Spies found in this week’s parsha we see a definition of Mussar that can change our lives. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider […]

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

In a series of events at the end of this week’s parsha we gain a glimpse of how God dispensed reward and punishment. Moshe’s older sister Miriam is stricken with tzaras and thanks to an act that she did as a child, she merited that the entire nation inconvenienced themselves for her. – – – – – […]

After nearly a year encamped at Sinai, the Jews begin their journey to Canaan in Parshas Behaaloscha. With the Tabernacle completed, the Levites consecrated and readied, the road was paved for their swift entry into the Promised Land. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. – – – – – – – – – – […]

When detailing the gifts of the tribe leaders to celebrate the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the Torah contains what seems like a twelvefold repetition. Instead of listing the gifts once, the Torah laboriously repeats the exact same tribute 12 times, once per tribe head. In this podcast we offer an answer that gets to the heart […]

Parshas Nasso is the longest parsha in the Torah, 176 verses. It details the final preparations for when the Tabernacle is erected, the laws of Sotah and Nazir, and the detailing of the offerings of the tribal leaders. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

Shavuos marks the time of the giving of the Torah and the climax of the nation building that began with the Exodus. In this podcast we offer a broad overview of the meaning of this Festival and its various themes. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

The book of Numbers begins with a national census conducted by Moshe and Aaron and the heads of the tribes, followed by informing of the encampment structure of the tribes and their flags, and tribe of Levi is counted and their tasks assigned. – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

In the last two parshas of Leviticus we read what a nation subject to God’s dominion looks like. Our life is regulated by God –  lending without interest, annulling loans, freeing slaves, returning rightfully purchased property, and ceasing to work every seventh year. We also learn what happens when Jews opt for rejecting the Almighty’s Torah. […]

In Parshas Emor we learn more laws relating to the sanctity of Kohanim; we get a detailed account of the Jewish festivals; and read about the blasphemer and what happened to him. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please […]

In the second of this week’s double parshas we encounter the Torah’s most famous mitzvah, and perhaps the most difficult one to fulfill. We read in Vayikra (19:18): “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your fellow as yourself – I am […]

This week’s double parshas include perhaps the most famous verse in the Torah, “Thou shall love your fellow as yourself”, along with a bevy of mitzvos geared towards making a person holier and more similar to his Creator. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

These Torah portions in the middle of Leviticus seem foreign to modern ears and sentiments. In this podcast we offer a common theme for the laws of kosher, purity and impurity, and tzaraas (leprosy) that makes them more relatable and relevant. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]