Category Archives: Podcasts

#81: Supernatural Resurrection

The subject of resurrection was hotly debated in times of yore. The Talmud records a series of debates between great rabbis and their Roman contemporaries about the this subject. When we probe the matter more deeply, we discover that the Roman disbelievers of resurrection have a very good argument. Reasonable people can come to the conclusion that resurrection indeed violates the laws of physics; it violates the rules of nature. The sages accepted that. Their position is that resurrection is supernatural. It comes from the Torah – from a higher realm of existence than nature. In this special edition of the podcast, we explore the transcendental and supernatural nature of the resurrection of the dead.

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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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Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

Our Parsha begins in the middle of the dialogue between Moses and God. Moses’ initial foray into saving the nation has gone horribly awry. Instead of alleviating the pain of the Jewish nation; his intervention exacerbated it, and he returned to the Almighty asking for an explanation. In His response, God tells Moses that he will yet see the tremendous miracles and signs of the pending Exodus. In our parsha, that plan begins to unfold, and we read about the first seven of the eventual Ten Plagues.

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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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Shemos – Moshe’s Treatment

We begin the new calendar year with a new book, the book of Exodus. The Jewish nation – still a family – is in Egypt, and things go from bad to worse. Pharaoh torments the people, enslaves them, and embitters their lives with back breaking labor. He then implements a policy of infanticide. But a great light emerges: Moshe is born. The leader of the Jewish people — who will extricate us from Egypt and lead us into the wilderness, and convey the Torah to us, and shepherd us —  is born and is raised in Pharaoh’s household. In this Parsha Podcast we go behind the scenes – we go to the backstage of the parsha and explore two interesting and topical elements of Moshe’s treatment: both how he was treated and how he treated others.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Shalom Ben Chaim. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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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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Shemos – Make Your Move (5782)

Our Parsha is a difficult one to read. Our nation was enslaved, tormented, oppressed, and murdered by the Egyptians. Although we don’t see the salvation in our Parsha, the chess pieces of the redemption are set into place. In this edition of the Parsha Podcast, we study several themes of the Parsha that can improve our lives. We learn about how it’s often darkest before dawn, and about how that darkness contributes to the blazing light of day. We also learn about what it takes to unlock a bounty of divine blessing.

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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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Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)

The Book of Exodus begins with the Egyptians cunningly enslaving their Hebrew subjects: mandating that they work in backbreaking labor, killing their male sons, and trying to stamp out their spirit and curb their population. But God heard their cries and saw their suffering and dispatched the greatest of all men, Moses, a reluctant leader, to lobby Pharaoh to release the 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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Vayechi – Jacob’s Strength

Parshas Vayechi marks the final installment of the book of Genesis. The family of Israel, the sons of Jacob, are all together in Egypt, where they settle and flourish. A lot happened to this family up to this point, and the setting for the next epoch of their story, and of Jewish history, is ready. In this parsha podcast, we address two elements from the Parsha: Jacobs decision to promote Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, and Jacob’s superlative self-control.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of two Parsha Podcast engagements. Longtime listener and dear friend and host of the L’chaim L’chaim podcast, Noah Katz, got engaged to Hannah Baumgarten. Julian Kritz, dear friend and son of dear friends, Dr. Alan and Phyllis Kritz got engaged to Sara Frank. Hearty Parsha Podcast Mazal Tov wishes to the young couples. May they each build beautiful Jewish homes and families together, homes replete with happiness, and joy, and harmony.

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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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On the Spiritual Awakening in Israel with Rabbi Eliezer and Malky Wolbe

When our nation experiences tragedy, we gravitate back to God. That is how we process pain and suffering. The Jewish people – especially our brothers and sisters in Israel – are exhibiting this response with resplendent nobility and strength of character. During the ongoing war, the Jewish spirit is being awakened. Jewish faith is being ignited and amplified. Are these rumblings of a Messianic time? That is a question that I am ill equipped to answer, but something is definitely happening. In this episode I have the great privilege of speaking with my eldest brother Rabbi Eliezer Wolbe and his amazing wife Malky about the spiritual transformations that are afoot in Israel.. They are tremendous people, and served as very valuable mentors for me in my formative years and the stories and insights that they share are inspirational and instructive.

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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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Vayechi – Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (5782)

Family is everything. If you are fortunate enough to have siblings, parents, and children you know that there are bonds of kinship and brotherhood (and sisterhood, of course) between family members are strong and often unbreakable. This is not something new. When Jacob was on his deathbed he shared with his sons his final thoughts and blessings. To Shimon and Levi he said that you two are motivated by brotherhood above all.

In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we dissect the blessing of Jacob to these two brothers, and what we discover is that we are dissecting a dissection. Jacob dissected Shimon and Levi, he plumbed to the depths of who they are and revealed it all for us to see and marvel at. In the short blessing to his sons, Jacob provides a Masterclass in self discovery, the inner workings of behavior, and how people actually learn and change. The lessons learned in this episode are life-changing.

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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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#80: Resurrection: An Introduction

We stridently disagree with the oft-repeated statement: “You only live once.” #YOLO is a sentiment that violates our beliefs. A central principle of our religion is the concept of resurrection. Death is not permanent. The dead will rise again. Life will be extended to the bodies of the deceased. Abraham will once again grace this world. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moshe, Aaron — all of them will come back, will be resurrected. But what exactly is the nature of resurrection? That is a bit more complicated to answer. We are at the end of a very long and exhilarating journey. We are at the 13th of the 13 principles of our faith. Hitherto, we have covered vast elements of our faith. The first five of the 13 principles talked about God, the subsequent four about Torah, and the final four are all about reward and punishment. The final element that we must cover is the reunification of body and soul. What does this mean? Our exploration begins.

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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 Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons.

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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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Vayigash – Come-to-Joseph Moment

Our parsha is one of unexpected reunions. After 20 plus years of separation, Joseph reunited with his brothers and his father. In this Parsha Podcast we focus on two elements of the reunification: firstly, we ponder the interesting question of whether or not Jacob actually bowed down to Joseph as foretold in the dream. Then, we explore a fascinating and frightening Midrashic comment on the lessons from the brothers’ shocking revelation that the viceroy of Egypt is none other than Joseph.

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The Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Yehoshua David, the son of our dear friends Matt and Chava David. Young Yehoshua received his bris – this morning. We wish a hearty Mazal Tov to the whole family and extend our blessings to Yehoshua that he grows up to be a beacon for the Jewish people, a Talmid Chacham, and one who brings joy and pride to his family, to his community, and to the Almighty.

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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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Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings (5782)

Amongst the sons of Jacob were two kings: Judah and Joseph. Joseph was viceroy of Egypt. He was a king in his lifetime. Judah was never crowned as King in his lifetime, but his descendants make up the monarchy of the Jewish people. David, Solomon, all the kings of Judah, and even King Messiah are direct descendants of Judah. Our Parsha begins with a confrontation of kings. In this special episode we explore the nature of kingship. What it is, what it takes, and why it’s important that we each learn skills needed to become a king.

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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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