Monthly Archives: May 2019

Parsha: Parshas Bechukosai

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In two chapters in the Torah (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28) we read about the positive consequences of obeying the Torah and heeding its laws; and the terrible, painful consequences of disobeying the Law. Though reading this week’s Torah portion is scary and a tad depressing, the truth is that this framework is the secret to our nation enduring such long and painful exiles.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of the new TORCH rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Bucsko. We wish his tremendous success in helping TORCH achieve our mission of Connecting Jews and Judaism

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!

Contact:
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Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

Ethics: World Building (3:18)

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In an astonishingly profound teaching, Rabbi Akiva informs us of the special role that humans have in completing the objective of the Almighty’s creation; and the amplified role that our nation has in effectuating that; and the tools that we were given to achieve that goal.

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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!

Jewish Life: Lag BaOmer: A Primer

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Lag BaOmer refers to the 33rd day of the Omer, the period connecting the Festivals of Pesach and Shavuot in which we are commanded to count 7 days for 7 weeks in ascending order until the anniversary day of the Sinai experience. What is the significance of the Omer period and why is the 33rd day so special?

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Parsha: Parshas Behar

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At Mount Sinai, the Almighty instructed Moshe to convey a series of laws to the Jewish people. The first is the mitzvah of Shemittah, the prohibition of engaging in any agricultural work every seven years. What is the lesson inherent in this mitzvah and what are the consequences of transgressing it?

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Grace Hidary, Geraz Bat Rachel Z”L. May her soul merit an ascendancy in Heaven

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!

TORAH 101: How can Humans have Free Will if God is in Total Control?

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In the previous podcast we discussed the Second Principle of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, that God is the sole Singular Power. How can that precept be reconciled with another pillar of Jewish faith – that man is in control of his own destiny and choices via his free will. Is man in charge or is God in charge? Do we determine our destiny or is it predetermined by God? How can our ability to make free independent choices be reconciled with the Principle that God is the sole Power?

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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!

Ethics: Bulletproof Fences (3:17)

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Rabbi Akiva is one of the titanic figures of the Mishnaic Era. He served as the vital link transmitting the Torah that he studied from his predecessors to his students amid ceaseless oppression under the Romans. In the first of three consecutive Mishnas authored by Rabbi Akiva, we learn the keys to avoiding catastrophic promiscuity, getting and staying rich, achieving wisdom, preserving Torah, and more.

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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!

History: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)

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On October 6th, 1973 – on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – a coordinated, surprise attack was launched on the State of Israel by its two great adversaries: Egypt in the South and Syria in the North. The Yom Kippur War would go on to be the bloodiest, and most consequential war in Israeli history since its founding. In Part One of our series on the Yom Kippur War we study the period between the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973: We outline the 3-year War of Attrition that was conducted immediately following the Six Day War; examine the factors contributing to the outbreak of hostilities; assess the military and strategic strength of the adversaries; and discuss the severe Intelligence failures that led Israel to be so unprepared for war.

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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!

Parsha: Parshas Emor

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Parshas Emor contains a staggering 56 mitzvos, nearly all of them relating to either to the Kohanim, the priests, or to the Festivals, and the parsha ends with a very unusual episode that happened at Sinai.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Abe Hidary, Avraham Ben Miriam Z”L. May his soul merit an ascendancy in Heaven

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!

Mitzvah: Not to Kidnap (#36)

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In two separate instances the Torah warns us against stealing. With the understanding that the Torah contains no redundancies, the Talmud explains that one refers to stealing money or possessions, and the other refers to stealing people, i.e. kidnapping. When we read in the Ten Commandments, “Thou shall not steal” it refers to kidnapping.

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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!

Parsha: Parshas Kedoshim

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This week’s parsha has the highest mitzvah density of any parsha: In its 64 verses we learn 51 separate mitzvos covering many different areas of Jewish practice, including arguably the most famous mitzvah in the whole Torah.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Rivka Bas Reb Avrohomi. May her holy soul merit an ascendancy in Heaven

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!

Jewish Podcast

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Monthly Archives: May 2019

Parsha: Parshas Bechukosai

Ethics: World Building (3:18)

Jewish Life: Lag BaOmer: A Primer

Parsha: Parshas Behar

TORAH 101: How can Humans have Free Will if God is in Total Control?

Ethics: Bulletproof Fences (3:17)

History: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)

Parsha: Parshas Emor

Mitzvah: Not to Kidnap (#36)

Parsha: Parshas Kedoshim