Category Archives: Podcasts

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Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:14:40 — 34.2MB)

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A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. This week’s double Parshas of Tazria and Metzora largely deal with these laws. One variant of impurity that is discussed in both parshas is that of a metzora, A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas caused by a variety of sins, most notably the sin of lashon hara, evil talk and slander. In Parshas Tazria we read about when it strikes a person’s garment or body; and the bulk of Parshas Metzora orients around tzaraas remediation and a third type of tzaraas that afflicts the sinner’s house.

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Shemini – Fires, Foreign and Domestic

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:02:53 — 28.8MB)

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Nadav and Avihu were the crown princes of the Jewish nation. These two sons were slated to succeed Moshe and Aaron. Moshe declared, without hyperbole, that his two nephews, Nadav and Avihu, were greater than he and Aaron. These two sons of Aaron were without peer. Yet they acted in an inexplicable manner: On the eighth day of the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Nadav and Avihu brought an unauthorized offering and died in shocking fashion. What possessed these two exemplars to behave in the way that they did? What do we make of the multiplicity of reasons offered by our Sages for their errant behavior? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we offer a novel explanation of what motivated Nadav and Avihu that neatly explains what we know about this shocking and tragic episode.

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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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Shemini – Find Your Breach (5781)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 38:40 — 17.7MB)

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The 8th day of the Tabernacle’s Inauguration was supposed to be a day of total, exuberant jubilation. The laborious months of preparation were complete, and now God will dwell in our midst. Moshe washes, clothes, and anoints his brother, Aaron and Aaron’s four sons, and a Heavenly fire descends and consumes Aaron’s sacrifices from atop the altar, and the nation experiences simultaneous joy and awe. The promise of the Tabernacle had been actualized. But the day did not end there. In a shocking and unexpected twist in the Torah’s narrative, Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, enter the Holy of Holies and offer an unrequested offering and ropes of fire entered their nostrils and killed them.

What possessed Nadav and Avihu to offer this sacrifice? Why did they display such eagerness to offer sacrifices when Aaron was so hesitant? When indeed is a fitting time to act recklessly and without consultation? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the very interesting and troubling story of Nadav and Avihu and draw valuable, life-changing lessons 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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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 53:51 — 24.6MB)

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After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle was erected for good, and a Heavenly fire consumed the various sacrifices offered upon the Altar and the nation experienced the euphoria and intense trepidation of having God in their midst. But a second divine fire marred the joy when Aaron’s two sons were consumed for bringing a foreign and improper offering.

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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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Tzav – Pure-Bread

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:04:26 — 29.5MB)

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On the first day of a Kohein’s tenure doing service in the Temple, they bring a once-in-a-lifetime offering: a meal-offering that is almost identical to the daily meal-offering offered by the High Priest. This offering is classified by the Torah as the offering of Aaron and his sons. When we analyze this unique meal offering, we discover some very interesting and surprising things that pave the way for a very fascinating analysis and study. Some people think that the Book of Leviticus is not so practical for us; this podcast dispels that notion.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of Emma Marie Maechler who was born this Monday evening. May she grow up to be a beacon of light to her family, community, and to the entire nation.

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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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48 Ways to Wisdom: Mishnah (6:6:15)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 24:39 — 11.3MB)

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The oral Torah is vast, comprehensive, and multi-layered. One of its layers is known as Mishnah. What is Mishnah, how was it organized and codified, and why does it prepare us for wisdom? In this Ethics Podcast we learn all about Mishnah and it’s indispensability and power.

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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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Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 41:09 — 18.8MB)

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The beginning of our parsha details the intricate processing of the Olah offerings. The animal is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled on the Altar walls, it is divided into parts, the parts are elevated to the top of the altar and placed on the fire to burn the whole night. The next morning, a Kohein is selected to remove the ash remnants. He takes a shovel and scoops out some ash and places it in a designated place near the altar ramp. In this Parsha Podcast we suggest a novel approach to explain the lesson and symbolism of sacrifices, ashes, and the processing of the Olah.

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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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Oil and Frankincense in a Sinner’s Meal Offering (#125-6)

Podcast (mitzvah): Download (Duration: 21:26 — 9.8MB)

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A sinner’s meal offering is a bit different from a typical meal offering: Oil and Frankincense, integral ingredients in most meal offerings, are omitted.

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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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Pesach Roundtable at the TORCH Centre

Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:37 — 44.6MB)

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The Festival of Pesach is upon us. For seven days we will eat Matzah and avoid any traces of chometz. We will gather together with our families around the Seder table and recount the story of the Exodus, retelling and reliving the founding episode of our Nation. In an effort to get in the mode of Pesach, I got together with some of my TORCH colleagues to conduct a Pesach roundtable, discussing the themes, concepts, and power of the Festival of Redemption.

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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 Tzav (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 58:43 — 26.9MB)

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In continuation of the themes of last week, Parshas Tzav details the procedures of processing many of the sacrifices enumerated in Parshas Vayikra, teaches us about new sacrifices, and we read about the seven days of inauguration of the Tabernacle.

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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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Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 47:45 — 21.9MB)

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We begin the Book of Leviticus with a Parsha Podcast treat: I invited my friend and study partner Rabbi Dovid Biron to guest host this week’s episode. He did not disappoint. In this podcast we learn about the meal offering, how it differs from ordinary sacrifices, and the powerful and life changing lessons that it contains.

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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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