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Mishpatim – Jewish Jurisprudence

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:14:24 — 40.1MB)

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The Torah is generally perceived as addressing matter of religion and the spiritual. In Parshas Mishpatim we see how it is an exhaustive guide to life in every arena, including governance of civil and criminal law. What are some of the broader themes of Jewish jurisprudence and how can they inform and inspire in modern times?

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Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

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This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Ep. 20: The Rise of the Muslims

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 44:31 — 22.9MB)

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After the Talmud was codified and sealed, the Jewish communities worldwide came under protracted assault. There were several interconnected contributing factors to the conflict and turmoil that consumed the world: The Roman Empire was in long-term decline and splintering; the Sasanian Empire had shifting attitudes towards the Jews; there were frequent wars; and there was a rise in the ruthlessness of the ascendant Christians. Amid these tectonic, tumultuous tensions, an unexpected storm emerged from the Arabian desert that swept through centuries-old Empires.

Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Faith of the Farmer

Podcast: Download (Duration: 25:19 — 13.4MB)

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Regarding three people we are told in the Talmud that they are people of limited faith: Noah, who entered the Ark as a result of the water; a person who prays loudly; and a person who has food for today and not for tomorrow and says ‘what will I eat tomorrow?’. Further, the Talmud declares that the farmer who plants is a paragon of faith. What about the farmer exudes faith and how can does this create an understanding of the Talmud’s standards of faith?

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Yisro – A Kingdom of Priests and A Holy Nation

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 58:31 — 31.2MB)

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Parshas Yisro is a tale of two stories: The first is the episode of Yisro the father in law of Moshe. He abandons his post as the priest of Midian to join the people and provide valuable insight to the judicial process. The latter half of the parsha is dedicated to the Mount Sinai experience and the Ten Commandments. The Torah prefaces the Ten Commandments with the Yisro narrative because it contains important preconditions for Torah.

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Ep. 19: The Late Amoraic Era: The Giants of Babylon and the Writing, Codification and Sealing of the Talmud

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 45:08 — 23.8MB)

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The Babylonian Talmud was the culmination of several hundred years of Amoraic scholarship. In shorthand it is known as “the discussions of Abaye and Rava” because these two titans contributed more to its arranging than any others. In this podcast we learn about these great Sages and the process of codification of the Talmud.

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

The Two Variants of Emunah

Podcast: Download (Duration: 27:45 — 15.1MB)

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Emunah, faith, is a critical mitzvah that headlines the Ten Commandments. But truthfully, Emunah is more than an isolated mitzvah; it is the objective of all the mitzvos.

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Beshalach – Exhilarating Exodus

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:13:18 — 38.3MB)

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Parshas Beshalach begins with the Exodus from Egypt. This begins a spiritual transition for the Jewish people. For the duration of the 40 years in the wilderness, the Jews are going to be eating heavenly manna and drinking water from a rock. This is reflective of their newfound closeness with the Almighty. However, this greatness comes with consequences: Free will must be maintained. If their revelations are heightened, so are their challenges.
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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Ep. 18: The Middle Amoraic Era: Setting the Stage for the Babylonian Talmud

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 42:54 — 22.8MB)

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The writing of the Babylonian Talmud was the most significant human project of all time. But it was not the first time that the writing of the Talmud was attempted. In northern Israel, during the third and fourth centuries, the Jerusalem Talmud was written. But catastrophic events transpired to the Torah communities in Israel that halted the development of that project.

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Bo – Climactic Exodus

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:14:51 — 38.1MB)

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Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:14:51 — 38.1MB)

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The Ten Plagues reach their crescendo in Parshas Bo. After Pharaoh’s repeated intransigence, he undergoes a series of humbling miraculous plagues that prompt him to evict the Jews from his land.

Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Vanquishing the Villain Part 3: The Shema and The Powers of Contemplation of Death

Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:36 — 15.9MB)

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We are told by our Sages that reciting the Shema and contemplating our own demise are powerful tools to defeat the powers of the Yetzer ra. How does this all work?

Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Ep. 17: The Early Amoraic Era

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 56:50 — 30.1MB)

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The Amoraim were the Rabbis and Torah leaders of the 3rd to 5th Century. This era began after the compilation and sealing of the Mishnah, the canon of Jewish laws. Their collective task was to explicate, clarify and ultimately codify the Talmud, the book of everything relating to the laws of the Mishnah; including sources, examples, exceptions, etc. In this episode we explore the conditions surrounding the transformation of eras and five of the Great Jewish Personalities – Rav, Shmuel, Rav Yochanan, Reish Lakish, and Rav Kahana – who headline this time period.

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Vaeira – Educational Plagues

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:00:35 — 32.2MB)

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In Parshas Vaeira we see the humbling of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We learn about the first seven of the Ten Plagues and their purpose and significance. More broadly, we delve into the objective of the Exodus at large.

The topics discussed in this episode:
Introduction to the Plagues and Exodus: The various Names of God, Lineage of Moshe and Aaron – [0:00];
Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart and begining of Plagues – [13:27];
An Egyptian Response to Miracles; More Plagues – [26:27];
Frogs and Lice; The Egyptian Obsession with Sorcery; Microtargeting of Plagues; rest of Plagues – [35:38];

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Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com;
Twitter: @RabbiWolbe;
Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe;
Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Podcasts Links iOS:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah

Podcast Links Android:

This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics;
The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish People;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parsha;
TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah