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Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (5782)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 51:23 — 23.5MB)

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Family is everything. If you are fortunate enough to have siblings, parents, and children you know that there are bonds of kinship and brotherhood (and sisterhood, of course) between family members are strong and often unbreakable. This is not something new. When Jacob was on his deathbed he shared with his sons his final thoughts and blessings. To Shimon and Levi he said that you two are motivated by brotherhood above all.

In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we dissect the blessing of Jacob to these two brothers, and what we discover is that we are dissecting a dissection. Jacob dissected Shimon and Levi, he plumbed to the depths of who they are and revealed it all for us to see and marvel at. In the short blessing to his sons, Jacob provides a Masterclass in self discovery, the inner workings of behavior, and how people actually learn and change. The lessons learned in this episode are life-changing.

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#80: Resurrection: An Introduction

Podcast (torah101): Download (Duration: 1:02:45 — 28.7MB)

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We stridently disagree with the oft-repeated statement: “You only live once.” #YOLO is a sentiment that violates our beliefs. A central principle of our religion is the concept of resurrection. Death is not permanent. The dead will rise again. Life will be extended to the bodies of the deceased. Abraham will once again grace this world. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moshe, Aaron — all of them will come back, will be resurrected. But what exactly is the nature of resurrection? That is a bit more complicated to answer. We are at the end of a very long and exhilarating journey. We are at the 13th of the 13 principles of our faith. Hitherto, we have covered vast elements of our faith. The first five of the 13 principles talked about God, the subsequent four about Torah, and the final four are all about reward and punishment. The final element that we must cover is the reunification of body and soul. What does this mean? Our exploration begins.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 52:31 — 24.0MB)

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Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons.

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Vayigash – Come-to-Joseph Moment

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:03:55 — 29.3MB)

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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 of whether or not Jacob actually bowed down to Joseph as foretold in the dream. Then, we explore a fascinating and frightening Midrashic comment on the lessons from the brothers’ shocking revelation that the viceroy of Egypt is none other than Joseph.

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The Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Yehoshua David, the son of our dear friends Matt and Chava David. Young Yehoshua received his bris – this morning. We wish a hearty Mazal Tov to the whole family and extend our blessings to Yehoshua that he grows up to be a beacon for the Jewish people, a Talmid Chacham, and one who brings joy and pride to his family, to his community, and to the Almighty.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings (5782)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:03:05 — 28.9MB)

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Amongst the sons of Jacob were two kings: Judah and Joseph. Joseph was viceroy of Egypt. He was a king in his lifetime. Judah was never crowned as King in his lifetime, but his descendants make up the monarchy of the Jewish people. David, Solomon, all the kings of Judah, and even King Messiah are direct descendants of Judah. Our Parsha begins with a confrontation of kings. In this special episode we explore the nature of kingship. What it is, what it takes, and why it’s important that we each learn skills needed to become a king.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Ep. 82: Valor and Violence: Jews and Arabs in 1920s British Mandate Palestine

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 1:07:22 — 30.8MB)

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The Balfour Declaration was a pivotal shift in the prospects of the Zionist dream. For the first time, a major world power declared their intent – in a binding governmental commitment – to work towards the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Political Zionism achieved a major strategic victory, but actualizing this plan would be far from easy. The Jews were outnumbered by Arabs in the land, and the Arabs were not too keen on having a Jewish presence, much less a Jewish state, in the Holy Land. The 1920s saw an escalation of Arab violence towards the Jews in Palestine. The Jews dedicated themselves towards building the land – building out the infrastructure, drain the swamps, establishing institutions – and the Arabs sought to undermine any Zionist progress, often resorting to horrific violence. In this Jewish history podcast, we tell the story of Jews and Arabs under the British mandate in the 1920s.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 55:25 — 25.4MB)

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Twenty two years have passed since Jacob and Joseph were separated. Ever since Joseph was torn away from him, Jacob was bereft of prophecy and inconsolable. In Parshas Vayigash this long saga comes to an end and Jacob is finally reunited with his long-lost son.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Mikeitz – The End of Days

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 52:09 — 23.9MB)

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In our Parsha, Joseph is elevated to become viceroy of Egypt. He begins the day languishing in prison, and ends it be decked in garments of royalty and paraded throughout the city. And this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we share three ideas – deep ideas – from our Parsha: one about the end of days, one about Pharaoh’s recurring dreams, and the fascinating backstory of Joseph’s wife, Osnas.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Debbie Gelb in honor of Jeff Gelb, and Suzanne and David Gelb and families. Wishing them all a Happy Chanukah. May there be peace for Israel and for all the Jewish people!

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime (5782)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 56:00 — 25.6MB)

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Joseph is one of the all-time heroes of Jewish history. His strength of character was legendary, his faith was unflappable, and his storyline remains an inspiration for generations. Yet he was harshly criticized for making a huge blunder. The Midrash at the beginning of this week’s Parsha tells us that he relied to heavily on the butler to help him out of jail, and insufficiently on God, and as a result he was incarcerated for two more years. Had Joseph relied on God exclusively, his incarceration would have been 2 years shorter and consequently his coronation would have been two years earlier. In this special edition of the podcast, we explore and examine the troubling critique of Joseph, and did you very valuable lessons about faith and reliance on God along the way.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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On the Front Lines in Gaza with Yoshi Rosenbluth

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:38:24 — 45.0MB)

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My dear friend and long time podcast listener Yoshi Rosenbluth spent a month in Gaza as a fighter in the IDF. In this very special podcast, he tells us what things are like on the ground from a soldier’s perspective. If you want an insider’s look into the battlefront in Gaza, this podcast is for you.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:05:03 — 29.8MB)

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Parshas Mikeitz continues the narrative of Joseph in Egypt. We pick up his story two years after his failed attempt at earning a reprieve via his cellmate, Pharaoh’s butler, who was about to be reinstated to his post as Pharaoh’s side. Joseph is languishing in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit; after being sold to a foreign land as a slave by his own brothers. By the end of the Parsha, Joseph is firmly ensconced as Pharaoh’s viceroy, and is amidst a long back and forth with his brothers who are in town to procure provisions during a fierce famine.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com

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