Monthly Archives: January 2022

TORAH 101: Divine Reward and Punishment: A General Introduction

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The 11th of the 13 principles of Faith states that God dispenses reward to those who obey His will and punishes those who violate it. What is the nature of this reward and punishment is a vast and complex subject that we will yet navigate, with the help of the Almighty. In this podcast we start by examining the basics: we begin by establishing the general principle of reward and punishment as an accepted fact, unanimously agreed upon by all the sources; we talk about whether or not pursuit of reward and aversion of punishment should be a motivation behind doing mitzvos, and we begin to probe the subject of the precise venue in which God rewards the worthy and punishes those who deserve punishment.

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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!

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

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Connecting with our Creator with Rabbi Jacknin, Part II

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The Almighty took our Neshama from the Heavenly realm, where it had no needs, and placed it into a body that has needs. If the purpose of creation was because G-d wanted to bestow goodness, then wouldn’t it have made more sense for Him to just create the Heavenly realm and stop there. Why did the Almighty think it is necessary to confine our lofty Neshama in a lowly body and world? Part of the answer is that it is not possible for one to appreciate what one has always possessed. Being able to contrast lacking something and then receiving it, allows one to gain the appreciation of what they received and for the One who bestowed it. The real benefit of prayer for us is way beyond the material needs that the Almighty provides to us when we request them. The real benefit to prayer is for us to gain the recognition and appreciation of our benevolent Creator in each of our lives. In this episode I have the brilliant and entertaining, Rabbi Gavriel Jacknin join us to discuss how to connect with our Creator through prayer.

Parsha: Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

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One of the fundamental principles of Jewish philosophy is the idea of “Kedushah”, holiness. Holiness, according to the Jewish definition, is when the physical and spiritual worlds meet. In no location in the world is holiness more present than the Temple, and its predecessor, the “Mishkan”, the Tabernacle. In this week’s parsha we read about the instructions to raise the materials and to construct the Tabernacle and most of its vessels.

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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: Mishpatim – Hearing Sinai

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The Sinai Revelation was the most significant event in all of human history, certainly in all of Jewish history. Our nation experienced what no other people has experienced: we heard God speaking the Ten Commandments from amidst the fire and thick cloud on the mountain, and survived to tell the tale. This event – as told in last week’s Parsha – is the foundation of our religion. This week we begin with a very obscure and strange law: we read about a Jewish bondsman who voluntarily choses to extend his 6-year term and must have his ear pierced. Why is this the first thing that we must be told after Sinai? Upon deep analysis we discover that this unique law contains the secret to actualizing the lessons of Sinai.

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This very special edition of the Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of Samir Josef Ben Yitzchak and Gorgia. May he merit great health and prosperity

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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!

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

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DONATE Crypto to TORCH

Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site

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TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

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or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

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Connecting with our Creator with Rabbi Jacknin, Part I

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Ethics: Pain and Gain (5:27)

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We believe in reward and punishment. We believe that the Almighty will dispense reward for those who do good and punishment for those whose actions thus warrant. How does the dispensement of reward and punishment work? That, of course, is something that only God knows precisely, and only God can make those evaluations. That said, in this short Mishnah, we are given an insight into the methodology of reward. What we learn will forever change our perspectives.

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This Ethics Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Gershon ben Shmuel. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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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!

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

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DONATE Crypto to TORCH

Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site

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TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform

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Parsha: Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

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Parshas Mishpatim marks a stark change in the rhythm and pace of the Torah narrative. The preceding 17 Parshas contained a total of 41 mitzvos; this week we begin learning the Torah laws en masse. In this single parsha alone we have 53 mitzvos (only three parshas have more mitzvos). Beyond the varied laws, this parsha contains a prophetic promise and guidance regarding the conquest of Canaan, and the completion of the Sinai narrative that began in last week’s parsha.

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

TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

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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

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

Parsha: Yisro – Deathrow and Jethro

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The eponymous protagonist of our Parsha – Moshe’s father-in-law, Jethro – makes three appearances in the Torah. His story, at first glance, seems wholly unremarkable. His greatest claim to fame was the fact that Moshe married his daughter. But the Torah revisits this interesting and compelling character again and again, and his narrative is positioned as an introduction to the Revelation at Sinai and the giving of the Torah. What is the secret of Jethro? This is the third year in a row that the Parsha Podcast on Parshas Yisro has tried to unlock the mystery of Jethro. I think we’ve finally deciphered the riddle.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by the Newman, Shapiro, Grossman, and Yudelson families in loving memory and leilui nishmas Baruch Yochanan Ben Reb Ephraim Fischel, Dr. Bertram John Newman, whose yartzeit falls out this week. May his soul be elevated in Heaven!

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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!

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

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

DONATE Crypto to TORCH

Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site

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

TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform

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Mitzvah: First Fruits (#91, 606)

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When the Temple was extant, there were many more mitzvos that were applicable above what we can do today. One of these mitzvos is the requirement to bring the first fruits to Jerusalem and to give it to the Kohen. The procedure of this mitzvah is fascinating and intriguing.

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This Mitzvah Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Nachshon Dov ben Shmuel whose yartzeit falls out on Tu BeShevat. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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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!

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

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

DONATE Crypto to TORCH

Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site

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

TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform

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SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter

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The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast

Parsha: Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)

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The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe’s father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process.

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This Parsha podcast is sponsored by Oliver and Debby Shapiro in loving memory and leiluei nishmas Debby’s father, Dr. Bertram John Newman, Boruch Yochanan ben Ephraim Fishel, whose 12th yartzeit is this week. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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

TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover

Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover.

or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform

SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter

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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

The Parsha Podcast

The Jewish History Podcast