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Good Heart (6.6.23)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 30:12 — 13.8MB)

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Although the study of Torah is ostensibly a cognitive pursuit, there are many qualities that are not cognitive nature that facilitate and enable the study of Torah. In this way to acquire wisdom, way #23, we learn about what it means to have a good heart , and how that serves as a means to acquire wisdom.

This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Ethics Podcast on Jul 23, 2023

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Vayeishev – Dream of the Crop (5784)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 31:16 — 14.3MB)

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Our Parsha begins with Joseph’s two dreams of grandeur and supremacy. He dreams that he will rule over his brothers, who will bow before him in submission. Joseph decides to tell them about it. Why does he do that? Why does he tell his father about the second dream, but not the first? Why are the brothers envious of him after the second dream, but not after the first? In this intricate podcast, we dissect the dreams of Joseph and share an idea about the nature of prophetic dreams, with a very powerful principle to take away.

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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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Joseph’s Unconventional (and Counterintuitive) Path

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The saga of Joseph dominates the end of Genesis. Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son, but is hated by his brothers. They don’t view Joseph as someone worthy of keeping around, so they conspire to kill him and ultimately settle for selling him as a slave. In the end, Joseph achieves greatness that surpasses that of all of his brothers. The brothers thought he was a good-for-nothing, but ultimately he supersedes them. Why was there such a difference between what the brothers thought of Joseph and what he became? How did the brothers fail to see Joseph’s titanic potential? The brothers were incapable of seeing Joseph’s greatness because Joseph’s path was unconventional and counterintuitive.

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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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Anger Suppression (6.6.22)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 20:44 — 9.5MB)

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Anger is part of the human experience. When things agitate us, we get frustrated and have a tendency to lash out, to berate, to say things that we may regret. In this ethics podcast, we learn about the virtue of being slow to anger and how it can help supercharge our pursuit of wisdom.

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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 Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:05:32 — 30.0MB)

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Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a slave after they nearly killed him. By Parsha end, Joseph is languishing in an Egyptian prison after being falsely accused of attempted rape. Judah is also humbled in this week’s Parsha, after cohabiting with his daughter in law who masqueraded as a prostitute. In the moment, these scandals brought shame; but ultimately we can see the Divine Hand manipulating events to effectuate the salvation of the Jewish family and people.

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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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Levity (6.6.21)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 29:32 — 13.5MB)

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Life is serious. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of truth. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of understanding the Divine (to the best of our abilities). To access wisdom, we have to be very serious. But a little bit of levity – when done properly and in the right context – can be helpful. In this Ethics Podcast we explore the Torah’s perspective on levity and seriousness.

This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Ethics Podcast on Jun 20, 2023

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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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Vayishlach – E-sawdust

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 54:06 — 24.8MB)

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Jacob just can’t seem to get away from his brother. Even before they were born, they were bound together in utero. Once they are born, they are constantly wrestling with each other, duking it out for the destiny of humanity. Compelled to usurp the blessing, Jacob was forced to flee. After spending 34 years away from his brother, including 20 years by the house of Laban, Jacob reunites with Esau once again. The reunion is quite dramatic. Jacob prepares for this conflict with fastidiousness. Prior to reuniting with his brother, Jacob wrestles with the angel of Esau for the entire night. Putting together all the different narratives and anecdotes about Esau reveals to us something very profound: What is the essence of Esau? What is the essence of Esau’s angel? What is the danger of Esau? What are the lessons that we are supposed to learn from Jacob’s twin? In this Parsha Podcast, we share a an approach.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in Honor of a brand new couple, Avromi and Michal Feigenbaum. May they build a beautiful home together and have a beautiful life together

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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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Conversation (6:6:20)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 39:41 — 18.2MB)

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We are speaking beings. In fact, the central differentiation between humanity and animals is the capacity of verbal communication. The judgment that we face in Heaven is largely about how we deployed our superpower, our speech. The greatest mitzvos are performed with speech and some of the most grievous transgressions are also a product of the spoken word. What about idle chit chat? What about ordinary conversation? Small talk? There is a lot of gray area of speech that doesn’t immediately appear to be neither a mitzvah nor a sin. How are we to relate to this form of speech? In this Ethics Podcast we study the subject of speech and the Torah’s guidance for how to properly balance it.

This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Ethics Podcast on Jun 7, 2023

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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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Vayishlach – When Hairy met Srully (5784)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 51:29 — 23.6MB)

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Jacob and Esau last saw each other 34 years prior. 34 years ago, Jacob, upon the explicit and prophetically inspired instruction of his mother, usurped the blessings reserved for Esau. Esau was piping mad, and sought vengeance. He wanted to kill his own brother. Jacob fled. After spending 14 years in the academy and 20 years in the house of Laban, the reunion was set. Our parsha dedicates significant real estate to detailing what happened. In this special Parsha Podcast, we go a bit deeper behind the story and discover a deeper way to view the entire interaction and exchange. This podcast will enrich your life, and hopefully also entertain you.

Credits: This clever podcast title was suggested by my dear friend, Matt David

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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 Rocky Path of Ascent

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We all want to ascend to great heights. We all hope that we can accomplish our potential and unlock our opportunities. We all yearn for self-actualization and development. But it seems that the path of ascent is invariably bumpy. It seems that an ascent to great heights must entail numerous falls along the way. The righteous must fall seven times before ceasing to fall. Why must we fall in order to ascend? Why can’t things be more straightforward? This question was posed on a rabbis panel that I participated in. In this podcast, I will share a powerful and provocative idea on the necessity of stumbles along a path of ascent. Plus, this podcast will also feature an interesting perspective on the delicate balancing act of social pressure and individuality.

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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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Sleep (6.6.19)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 50:42 — 23.2MB)

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We all need to sleep. All humans, irrespective of their intelligence, their physical prowess, their wealth, must lay down in a comatose state for several hours a day and sleep. Sleep is also enjoyable. There’s something seductively delicious about sleep. What is the Torah’s attitude on sleep? Why did the Almighty design us that we need to sleep? What are the spiritual dangers in excessive sleep? In this ethics podcast we explore this fascinating subject. I would not recommend starting this podcast if you want to go to sleep. It’s so interesting, it will keep you awake. Caveat dormitator!

This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Ethics Podcast on May 30, 2023

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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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