Category Archives: Podcasts

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Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:00:20 — 27.6MB)

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This week we learn the laws governing all kinds of leaders: The parsha begins by detailing the laws of judges, the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court, and what happens to rebellious judges; we read about the unique laws related to kings; there are more laws pertaining to the Kohanim; and we find the means of vetting professed prophets and what happens to the six kinds of false prophets.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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Reeh – Steak Your Claim to Eternity

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 55:43 — 25.5MB)

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The criminal treated most severely under Torah law is the Meisis, a personal tries to entice others to do idolatry. Attempting to persuade people to repudiate God is more severe than any other crime in Torah law. This discovery is the basis of a stunning observation followed by a critical call to action. And this episode we make an argument that the most important element of our agenda ought to be a concerted effort to try to draw our brethren towards God. This week’s exquisite insight deals with steak and why we eat it.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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 Reeh (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:00:30 — 27.7MB)

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This week’s parsha marks a transition in the Book of Deuteronomy: it is no longer primarily about admonishment and rebuke and warnings, instead we read a bevy of mitzvos – some repetitions and some new ones that have hitherto not been mentioned.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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Eikev – Well-Heeled

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

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If the Almighty promises to give you a blessing, your ears should perk up. If God promises to give you abundance, health, prosperity, fertility, security, and all manner of blessing, your question should be – what must I do to be deserving of this? Our Parsha begins with such a promise. In the event that we steadfastly and here to a certain category of mitzvos, the Almighty promises to give us all these blessings. The precise identity of the mitzvos that engender those blessings is somewhat obscure. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore what our Sages mean when they talk about “mitzvos that people tend to trample upon with their heels.” If we follow their guidance, we will emerge well-heeled in more ways than one.

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This Parsha Podcast in loving memory and leilui nishmas Ronit bat Elimelech – whose yahrzeit is today. May her neshama experience an aliyah to the highest heights through these words of Torah.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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 Eikev (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 59:14 — 27.1MB)

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We pick up where we left off last week amid Moshe’s speech to the nation before his passing, and as in the previous few weeks, Parshas Eikev is jam packed with insights and timeless lessons. Moshe pivots between looking back on the conduct of the nation in the preceding 40 years and admonishing them for their misdeeds, and gazing forward to the conquest of Canaan and the secrets to making their settlement peaceful, prosperous, and secure.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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Vaeschanan – Linked to Sinai

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 55:24 — 25.4MB)

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Although he was the paradigmatic leader of all time, Moshe was barred from crossing the Jordan River and entering the Land. Joshua his student was to succeed him and lead the Nation into the Promised Land. Why was Moshe not allowed to enter? For the sin of striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Our Parsha begins with Moshe retelling how he pleaded with God, without success, to have this decree revoked. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the intricacies of the question of Moshe entering the Land, learn the essence of our personal relationship with Torah, and discover the critical – life and death – importance of the relationship between Torah teacher and student.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Yehudit bat Yehoshua Mordecai and Leah, Judith Cantor – the mother of our dear friend Mark Cantor – who passed away last week at the age of 93. She was a remarkable woman, a scion of an illustrious rabbinic family — May her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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 Righteous Soul, its Travails and Destiny

Podcast: Download (Duration: 40:52 — 18.7MB)

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Where does the soul come from and to where is it going? This is a question that we don’t think about often, but it is of vital importance if we want to spiritually succeed in life. In this sprawling episode – originally recorded in 2016 and only released now – we examine the soul, what it must accomplish in this world, and the consequences thereof. The subject matter of this podcast makes up a large portion of my book, Upon a Ten-Stringed Harp. This podcast brings together a lot of the ideas featured in the book, and can serve as a helpful recap for readers of the book, and whet the appetite of those who have yet to do so.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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 Va’eschanan (Rebroadcast)

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 1:04:11 — 29.4MB)

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This week’s parsha continues Moshe’s monologue to the nation in the weeks preceding his passing. He begins by recounting his repeated efforts in trying to convince God to rescind His decree that Moshe not enter the Land; Moshe then begins the retelling of the Torah; and we read many warnings and predictions about proper behavior and the consequences of abandoning Torah and mitzvos. This is a parsha replete with iconic verses and big themes!

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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Devarim – Human Fallibility and What to Do About it

Podcast (parsha): Download (Duration: 50:39 — 23.2MB)

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Parshas Devarim begins the Book of Deuteronomy, the final installment of the Pentateuch. Moshe is destined to pass and he gathers the nation to prepare them for the day after. How will the nation endure after they lose the greatest leader the world has ever known? How will their survive and flourish after Moshe is no longer in their midst? In this podcast we dissect Moshe’s opening message to the nation and we discover the secret to flourishing notwithstanding weaker and diminished leadership.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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 – #8: Joy (6:6:8)

Podcast (pirkeiavos): Download (Duration: 19:09 — 8.8MB)

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Joy is an underappreciated aspect of the life of a Jew. One can imagine that you can fulfill all of your religious and spiritual obligations without living joyously. Upon examination of the sources we discover that Jewish life is inextricably linked with joy. It is critical and indispensable. In our Mishnah we also learned that it is a means via which we can access Torah wisdom.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

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Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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Half-Shekel (#105)

Podcast (mitzvah): Download (Duration: 23:25 — 10.7MB)

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In Temple times, every military-age male Jew was required to contribute a half shekel coin to the Temple coffers each year. These donations would fund the yearly supply of communal sacrifices and other related expenses in the Temple. The annual head tax would also serve the vital function of determining the population size. Counting Jews per capita is prohibited and these coins served as a proxy.

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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast 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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