Category Archives: Holidays

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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

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On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of the protagonist, Jonah, and of the people of Nineveh. But our Sages let us in on a secret that the Book of Jonah contains a hidden, kabbalistic story embedded beneath the story – which also teaches us powerful, topical messages for the Day of Atonement.

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The Six Impetuses for Repentance

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Repentance draws a person out of darkness into eternal light. It transforms the penitent into a completely new person. But how exactly does repentance work? How do you repent? What are the various elements and facets of repentance? The authoritative book on these questions, Shaarei Teshuva, the Gates of Repentance, was written in the 13th century by Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona. In this special 10 days of repentance edition of the podcast, we explore the very profound and powerful section of this book that deals with the impetuses of repentance. Join us as we prepare for Yom Kippur and strive to improve ourselves with the power and the magic of repentance.

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DONATE to TORCH: 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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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)

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On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac who was declared as the one who will be Abraham’s true progeny – and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE to TORCH: 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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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)

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The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE to TORCH: 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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The Gates of Repentance

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The Ten Days of Repentance are upon us. In just a few days is the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah. These powerful high holidays culminate with the climax of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What exactly is repentance though? How are we supposed to think about repentance? In this very special podcast, we study a few sections of the most foundational book on repentance, the Gates of Repentance, authored in the 13th century by Rabbi Yonah of Girona. Although we only cover a tiny fraction of this magisterial book, we gain a flavor of this seminal work that will recast our understanding of repentance and will elevate the High Holidays. Though this book is not for the faint of heart, it is very powerful and transformational.

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DONATE to TORCH: 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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The Purim Story (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 1:38:37 — 45.1MB)

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Purim is a holiday celebrated by Jews worldwide on the 14th day of the month of Adar, and in Jerusalem and walled cities on the fifteenth day of Adar. It commemorates the story of the salvation of the Jewish nation from the genocidal plans of Haman and Achashveirosh in Persia. How did the Jews end up living under the Persians in the middle of the Middle East? How did the nation that entered and conquered Israel/Judea under Joshua end up in Persia? In this podcast we will tell the backstory of the Purim story and the actual Purim miracle as told in the Book of Esther and the related sources in classical Jewish Literature, embellished by discoveries in archaeology. It begins with King Achashverosh, the Persian king who ruled from Hodu until Cush (India until Ethiopia), making a massive feast for all the ministers and noblemen of Persia and Media that lasted for 180 days. Soon afterwards Achashverosh partners with the wicked Haman to annihilate the entire Jewish nation. Spoiler alert: Things don’t go as Haman planned.

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DONATE to TORCH: 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. 81: Hostage Rescues and Ransoms in Jewish History and Law

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The Jewish people are at war. Our brethren in Israel are in midst of a fierce war in Gaza against the terrorist organization Hamas. The objectives of the campaign are the complete elimination of Hamas leadership and infrastructure, and the safe return of the more than 200 hostages captured by the terrorists on the brutal attacks of October 7th, 2023. Ever since the war began, one soldier was rescued, four hostages were returned, and two hostages were found dead in Gaza. As of the time of this recording, Israel and Hamas were on the cusp of finalizing a hostage exchange deal. In this sprawling episode of the Jewish History Podcast, we explore the history and the laws governing hostage rescues and ransoms. What is the Jewish way? How have our antecedents addressed this tragic and unfortunate circumstance? What value do we place on the rescue and ransom of hostages? What are some of the political, military, and security considerations of prisoner swaps? As we pray for the success of our troops and the hostage efforts in Gaza, we look back at the fascinating and often tragic story of hostages in our history.

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This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated by Eddie & Lottie Setton in honor of their children Ralph & Michael who are studying in Israel and their love of Jewish History.

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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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The Profound Mystery of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

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Rabbi Shmuly Botnick returns to the podcast with his most mind-bending and dynamic contribution hitherto. In this exhilarating roller-coaster of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick weaves the generation of Enosh, the Flood, the placement of Moshe into the water, his retrieval by Pharaoh’s daughter, his complaint to God about the initial efforts to save the nation, the splitting of the Sea, the Golden Calf and its perpetrators, Moshe’s sin of striking the rock, Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter and his building of the Temple, and Jerobam’s rebellion into one symphonic tapestry. This podcast will enrich and educate and entertain — Rabbi Botnick is back with great flair and panache!

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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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The Joy of Sukkos

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The festival of Sukkos is called “the time of our joy.” The entire festival is associated with joy. Sitting in the Sukkah is joyous, shaking the Lulav is joyous, the traditional celebratory festivities are known as the “Joy of the Drawing.” Why are these days so intimately associated with joy? In this special podcast, we offer seven explanations that will enhance our Sukkos and suffuse it with joy.

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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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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:05:32 — 57.5MB)

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Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 2:05:32 — 57.5MB)

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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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Repentance Conundrums

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The days spanning from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. Over the course of these days, we have extra prayers and supplications, and make an extra effort to improve and correct our ways, culminating of course, with the greatest day of them all, Yom Kippur. But repentance is a tricky subject. In this special podcast, we explore some of the confounding conundrums of repentance. Listening to this episode will surely enhance your experience of repentance.

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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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