Jewish Podcast

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Parsha: Vayeitzei – Laban’s Potion

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As the father of all four of Jacob’s wives, Laban is in effect the father in law of the Jewish people. If we examine Laban’s story, he seems to have both qualities and shortcomings. He is constantly invoking God, he seems to be gracious and hospitable. But he also had a dark side. He is greedy and rapacious and deceptive, he is not exactly trustworthy. If we had to make an evaluation of Laban, he would get a mixed results. But the Torah’s verdict is much more stark: Laban is labeled as a super villain, worse than Pharaoh. In this podcast we speculate as to why Laban is so deadly.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by my dear friend and loyal podcast listener, Michael Rosen in honor of his marriage this week to Daniella. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, I would like to extend my warmest blessings to the young couple. May they share a life of happiness and joy and harmony and peace, and may they build an amazing Jewish home together!

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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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TORAH 101: What is Aggadah?

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The Talmud is comprised of two general formats: The Halachic portions (known in Talmudic parlance as, “shemaytza“), and the non-Halachic portions which are called “Aggadah”, or “Aggadata” or “Hagada”. These two parts of the Talmud cannot be more different: whereas in the Halachic portions the objective of the authors was to reveal their true meaning, in the Aggadic portions the objective was to conceal the true meaning. What is included in the Aggadah? Why was it written in this cryptic way? What are some examples of Aggadic teachings? How, indeed, must it be studied? In this comprehensive introduction to Aggadah we learn the answers to these and other questions.

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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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Parsha: Toldos – Esau’s Fatal Flaw

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Jacob’s twin brother Esav is one of the worst villains in Jewish history. He seems to be an unending litany of bad character. Our parsha ends with Esav dead set on committing fratricide by actually murdering his own brother. Esav is just one bad apple. But is it possible that things could have ended up differently for him? Is it possible that Esav could have become a great hero of Jewish history? In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast we suggest a counterfactual way that Esav could have become someone very great, and we isolate the reason why he failed.

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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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Running and Returning with Rabbi Wohlgelernter – Part II

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I approached this interview, with Rabbi Wohlgelernter, with the following question; how does one fulfill the mitzvah of remaining joyful while learning how to be Torah observant? As for me, it has been a continual experience of thinking I have learned everything needed, only to then learn that I barely know anything. In this episode, Rabbi Wohlgelernter explains that this process of growth should not be approached with the attitude of getting past these challenges, as the challenges are there intentionally by G-d’s design, but it is through the challenges that we become closer to Him. So, if the challenges are inevitable for all of us then the real question is, how to embrace the challenges. This extremely insightful and life changing conversation will be a three-part series, as the messaging is too important and too powerful to squeeze into one.

Running and Returning with Rabbi Wohlgelernter – Part I

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I approached this interview, with Rabbi Wohlgelernter, with the following question; how does one fulfill the mitzvah of remaining joyful, while learning how to be Torah observant? As for me, it has been a continual experience of thinking I have learned everything needed, only to then learn that I barely know anything. In this episode, Rabbi Wohlgelernter explains that this process of growth should not be approached with the attitude of getting past these challenges, as the challenges are there intentionally by G-d’s design, but it is through the challenges that we become closer to Him. So, if the challenges are inevitable for all of us then the real question is, how to embrace the challenges. This extremely insightful and life changing conversation will be a three-part series, as the messaging is too important and too powerful to squeeze into one.

Parsha: Chayei Sarah – Portal to Paradise

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The Torah dedicates an unusually large amount of verses in the beginning of this week’s parsha to describe a real estate transaction between Abraham and a gentleman named Ephron. Sarah has passed and Abraham seeks to buy Ephron’s cave to inter her in. Initially, Ephron acts with supposed generosity and offers it to Abraham for free. But Abraham insists on paying for it, and ultimately pays an exorbitant fee for the cave. Why does the Torah spend so much time on this transaction? In this special episode we probe the meaning and mystery of the Cave of the Patriarchs.

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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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Torah is Technology with Rabbi Cohen

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The United States is more divided than ever, with each side believing they are on the side of what is right and good. This is not a new dilemma for the world, as this problem originated in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, confusing the distinction between the two. The Almighty’s remedy to our affliction was the Torah, which is the technology to rectify the world and separate the evil from the good. In this episode Rabbi Cohen enlightens us to how we use the technology of the Torah and the study and application of halacha (Jewish Law) to fix the world and bring about Tikkun Olam. This is the purpose and mission of the Jewish People. This is why He made us.

TORAH 101: What is Talmud?

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The Talmud, or how it is often called, “Gemara”, is an ancient set of books written as commentary and elaboration of Mishnah. Despite being 1500 years old, the Talmud is still studied today by millions of people worldwide. In this podcast we get educated in what exactly the Talmud is? Why are there two versions of Talmud, the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud? What are the differences between the two? What role does it play in the development and canonization of Oral Torah? How exactly does the Talmud elaborate upon the Mishnah?

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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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Parsha: Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)

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Some of the highlights of this week’s parsha: Immediately after the Binding of Isaac, Sarah passed away at the age of 127, and soon afterward Abraham had to procure a burial spot for her. In addition, Abraham sent his trusted confidante, Eliezer, to his hometown to find a spouse for Isaac.

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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!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts