Category Archives: Podcasts

Ammunition Against Adversaries: Nine Tactics to Combat the Yetzer Ra

Podcast: Download (Duration: 37:07 — 19.9MB)

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We have previously established in the podcast titled Know Your Enemy that the Yetzer Ra (evil inclination) created illusionary, fake pleasures. This allows for many unexpected methods in combatting it. In this podcast, we outline nine different approaches in battling our nefarious foe culled from sources in the Talmud and associated literature.

SOURCE SHEET: sources-ammunitionagainstadversaries

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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. 13: A History of Hanukkah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 41:32 — 22.0MB)

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The holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked.
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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

Know Your Enemy: Learning the Modi Operandi of the Yetzer Ra

Podcast: Download (Duration: 32:44 — 17.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Jewish sources focus extensive energies on the battle man must undertake with their Yetzer Ra (evil inclination). In several sources we learn that this battle is the crucial determinant of success or failure in this world. In this podcast we explore the various sources depicting the nature of the Yetzer ra and the manners by which it compels man to sin.
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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

Vayeishev – Strange Paths to Redemption

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:05:51 — 35.4MB)

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Parshas Vayeishev marks the dramatic descent of Joseph, from Jacob’s favorite son to alleged attempted rapist languishing in an Egyptian prison. In retrospect, this Parsha tells the beginning of the founding of the Jewish nation and the back story to the nation’s most prestigious family.

The topics discussed in this episode:
Jacob’s Favoritism towards Joseph – [0:00];
Joseph’s Dreams of Grandeur and the Prophecy in Dreams – [6:09];
Jacob’s Response to Joseph’s dreams – [16:55];
The Brothers Betray Joseph – [18:52];
Reuben and Judah try to save Joseph – [27:20];
Joseph’s Descent into Egypt; Judah is Demoted; the Episode of Judah and Tamar – [31:00];
Joseph in Egypt; His Resistance to Sin – [49:42];
Joseph is Framed and Imprisoned – [55:33];
Joseph Relies on the Cupbearer  – [1:01:22].
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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

Two Worlds and the Tension Between them

Podcast: Download (Duration: 48:23 — 25.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

In Mesilat Yesharim Chapter 1, Ramchal outlines a general principle that humanity is created for their state in Olam Haba (the next world) and not for their state here. We analyze, clarify and try to make sense of this idea in this podcast.

Note: The class participants were particularly engaged in asking questions and in contributing to the discussion. As such, the talk is a bit less disciplined and rigid than most and I edited out some of their questions and comments in order to improve the experience of the listeners, but kept some in. Please forgive the choppy nature of some of the segues herein.
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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

#8: Why Moses Didn’t Simply Write Down the Oral Torah?

Podcast (torah101): Download (Duration: 52:12 — 26.2MB)

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For nearly a millennia and a half, the entire corpus of Oral Torah was transmitted orally from generation to generation; parents to their children and teachers to their students. Moreover, a fierce prohibition was established to prevent its writing and codification in a finalized canonized format. What are the benefits for maintaining it in that fashion? In this podcast we enumerate nine distinct reasons to keep Oral Torah oral. We also present a vivid demonstration on the interrelationship of Oral and Written 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

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Ep. 12: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Eliezer

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 45:41 — 24.1MB)

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Rabbi Eliezer Ben Hurkenus was among the greatest of the students of Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai. In the words of his teacher, Rabbi Eliezer on one side of the scale would outweigh all the other scholars and sages of Israel on the other side of the scale. He contributed more than any of his peers to the critical work of the Academy at Yavneh, where he served as “Chacham”. Yet his tenure was marred by a surprising and tragic episode that quite literally sent shock waves throughout the Torah world, and continues to instruct and inspire till today.
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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

Gateway to Eternity: Resurrection of the Dead as Reunification of Body and Soul, and as Reinvention of the Body/Soul Paradigm

Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:58 — 28.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A central tenet of Jewish philosophy is the belief in the resurrection of the dead. Death is not final; the dead will yet walk the land. The details of resurrection are a bit trickier. What is the nature of this life? Is it merely an undoing of death and a resumption of life as we know it? Or is it something else entirely? We explore some of the fascinating Talmudic sources and develop an understanding of resurrection that illuminates our religious life with new insight and meaning.
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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

Vayishlach – Twin Tussles

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:09:45 — 36.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Telling the story of this week’s parsha while gleaning insights and lessons from it. The topics discussed in this episode:

Jacob’s Preparation for the Encounter with Esau – [0:00]
Jacob’s Fears: Of Loss of Merits, Of Esau and Of Esau’s “Brotherly Love” – [9:09]
The Bribe – [13:29]
Jacob Hid Dina to Shield her from Esau – [16:06]
Jacob’s night-long Struggle with the Angel, Dislocated his Hip and the Mitzvah of the Gid Hanasheh – [21:13]
Jacob is Renamed as Israel – [29:57]
The Encounter with Esau – [39:42]
The Episode of Dina – [49:04]
The Death of Rebecca  – [59:24]
The Episode of Reuben and Bilhah – [1:02:24]
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If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my other podcasts: This Jewish Life – long form deep dives into critical Torah topics and The Jewish History Podcast – telling the remarkable story of the Jewish People.

Contact:

Website: RabbiWolbe.com

Twitter: @RabbiWolbe

Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com

#7: Introduction to Oral Torah

Podcast (torah101): Download (Duration: 48:16 — 24.9MB)

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What are the four components of Oral Torah? What are the four elements of the Oral Torah that are not sourced in the Written Torah? What are some of the classical pieces of evidence proving the existence of the Oral Torah? This is the place to begin if you want to understand Oral Torah.
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This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torchweb.org for program details and to make a donation.

If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my other podcasts: This Jewish Life – long form deep dives into critical Torah topics; The Jewish History Podcast – telling the remarkable story of the Jewish People; and The Parsha Podcast – a weekly analysis and exploration of the parsha.

Website: RabbiWolbe.com

Twitter: @RabbiWolbe

Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com

Ep. 11: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai

Podcast (history): Download (Duration: 43:01 — 22.5MB)

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Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was the leader of the Jewish people during a most critical and vulnerable time period. His visionary decisions and foresight assured that Torah and the nation will persevere and flourish in the aftermath of tragedy and despair. In this podcast we explore the remarkable scholarship, persona and visionary leadership of this great man.
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This podcast was recorded live at the TORCH Centre in Houston, TX. Please visit torchweb.org for program details and to make a donation.

If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and check out my other podcasts – This Jewish Life – long form deep dives into critical Torah topics and The Parsha Podcast – a weekly analysis and exploration of the parsha.

Website: RabbiWolbe.com

Twitter: @RabbiWolbe

Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com