Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:42:08 — 46.8MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Jacob is termed in Jewish literature as the “choicest of the forefathers”. What were his defining character traits? What were the dominant episodes and themes of his life? What does his journey teach us about Jewish history? We answer these questions and ponder the qualities of his illustrious wives and their collective eternal legacies in this final podcast on the three families of forebears of the Jewish people.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:59 — 25.2MB)
Subscribe: RSS
In this first of a series on Oral Torah we begin with asking the very basic questions: What is the Oral Torah comprised of? How does the Oral Torah relate to the Written Torah? How can we be certain of its veracity?
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 19
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:25:50 — 39.3MB)
Subscribe: RSS
The Torah is scant on details regarding the lives of Isaac and Rebecca. Their story does not include a great many anecdotes of their challenges nor does it highlight their accomplishments and greatness. To the contrary, the Torah seems to harshly criticise Isaac as in when it is said that he preferred Esau because he made him food. What is the meaning of the Torah’s portrayal of Isaac and Rebecca and what indeed are their lasting legacies?
Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:30 — 23.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
In this 7th and final episode of our examination of the evidence to try and determine if the Torah is indeed the unadulterated word of God, we explore the interrelationship of the Written and Oral Torah and ask if such cohesion and precision can be the product of a human.
PART 2: http://rabbiwolbe.com/a-traditional-jewish-response-to-higher-bible-criticism-part-2/
PART 4: http://rabbiwolbe.com/why-shavuos-is-the-holiday-of-the-giving-of-the-torah/
PART 5: http://rabbiwolbe.com/overwhelming-evidence-to-the-divinity-of-the-torah-and-its-ramifications/
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 18
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:52 — 32.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Every person who has ever changed the world, from the great Sage Rabbi Akiva to Travis Kalanick the founder of UBER, has been guided by two core life skills. These two learnable qualities are the underpinnings of every transformational change and improvement that humanity achieved. They are what separates the people who are inspired to change and actually implement grand ideas from the common folk who do not influence the world for the better. What are these qualities and how do we harness their power? In this podcast, Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe outlines the process and methodologies needed for any change and issues a clarion call for pursuit of greatness.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:31:02 — 41.7MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Abraham and Sarah are the biological, theological and ideological forebears of our nation. The story of their lives and accomplishments is the story of the Jewish people and, more broadly, the story of human progress and morality throughout history. What propelled them to greatness? What methods did they employ to disseminate their message? What is their eternal legacies? Join Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe as we ponder the story of these intellectual, spiritual and behavioral giants, and draw from it lessons for living.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 54:53 — 25.1MB)
Subscribe: RSS
This part 6 of the Proofs of Torah series, and Part 17 of the Torah Series overall. In this podcast we analyze and investigate select Torah verses and ponder the feasibility of human authorship.
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 17
Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:10 — 25.7MB)
Subscribe: RSS
The reality of the Torah being divine and immutable can be agitating and frankly a bit terrifying. As the word of God, every word of the Torah is true and obligatory, and that may trigger cognitive dissonance if we do not behave in a way that reflects that reality. It is vital to recognize that only two possibilities exist: the Torah as a divine document or the product of humans. While the Torah being true can be frightening, the alternative is implausible, even more terrifying and, in a sense, exceedingly cruel. In this podcast we continue our exploration of the subject by looking at the Torah’s Revelation narrative and several select predictions.
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 16
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:14:47 — 34.2MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Shavous is the date when the Jews stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and heard the Ten Commandments. Ten mitzvahs out of the 613 that they would ultimately receive is only 3% of the total. Why would this day be enshrined as the day of receiving the Torah when they actually received only a small fraction of the Torah? In this lecture we initially clarify what we mean by Torah, and examine four possible answers to this question.
Core Beliefs of Judaism with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe – Torah Part 15
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:27 — 29.5MB)
Subscribe: RSS
The Talmud records three episodes where individuals acquired Olam Haba in one instant. In these stories we learn a formula for accomplishing the work of a lifetime in one day. Let us be prepared to seize the once in a lifetime opportunities to dramatically transform our world with one act of selfless dedication and commitment!
This photograph is my grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, teaching Chumash to girls in the school that he founded for refugees in Lidingö, Sweden.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:46:50 — 48.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Torah, in its Oral and Written formats, has and always will be the national pastime of the Jewish nation. Traditionally, it has been the yearnings of young Jews and chief determinant of greatness of Jewish Leaders. Over the course of Jewish history there have been several movements that challenged that belief and attempted to alter the traditional view of Torah; or to supplant its primacy in favor of other ideals; or to emphasize certain elements of Jewish living. Some were wild successes that continue to define Jewish life until today and others were disasters that caused needless sectarianism and strife. In this lecture we examine some of the schisms/innovations throughout Jewish history including the Sadducees, Essenes, Karaites, the Shabtai Tzvi debacle, Chassidim and it’s great dynasties, Reform, Chabadism and its Messianic ambitions, disappointments and disillusionments.