Category Archives: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Mitzvah: Mocking Idolatry (#86)

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There are many mitzvos in the Torah around idolatry, 51 according to Rambam’s delineation. This mitzvah tells that we may not utter the names of idols, not in an oath and not reverentially, nor may we cause others to do so. Instead, we are encouraged to mock them.

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Parsha: Vayigash – A Clash Of Kings

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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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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby, Liliana Jade Genecov. Mazal Tov to the parents Kenzie and Michael and of course, the doting grandparents. May Liliana bring joy to her family, community, and the entire nation, and of course to her Creator!

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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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Ethics: Abraham’s Academy (5:22)

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The founder of our nation was Abraham our patriarch. He was a paragon of faith and kindness, and also exhibited every positive character trait. By contrast, Bilaam the sorcerer was the anti-Abraham. He harbored every negative trait. In this mission we are told that both of these people are teachers. We must choose if we want to be students of Abraham or students of Bilaam.

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Parsha: Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

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Twenty two years have passed since Jacob and Joseph were separated. Ever since Joseph was torn away from him, Jacob was bereft of prophecy and inconsolable. In Parshas Vayigash this long saga comes to an end and Jacob is finally reunited with his long-lost son.

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Parsha: Mikeitz – Joseph’s Crime

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Joseph is one of the all-time heroes of Jewish history. His strength of character was legendary, his faith was unflappable, and his storyline remains an inspiration for generations. Yet he was harshly criticized for making a huge blunder. The Midrash at the beginning of this week’s Parsha tells us that he relied to heavily on the butler to help him out of jail, and insufficiently on God, and as a result he was incarcerated for two more years. Had Joseph relied on God exclusively, his incarceration would have been 2 years shorter and consequently his coronation would have been two years earlier. In this special edition of the podcast, we explore and examine the troubling critique of Joseph, and did you very valuable lessons about faith and reliance on God along the way.

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Wooden Coasters and trinkets mentioned in the podcast – RusticJuniper.com

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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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Chanukah and Joseph (Rebroadcast)

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Every year, Chanukah falls out during the weeks in which we read about Joseph and his exploits in Egypt. Our Sages tell us that there is a deep connection between Joseph’s and the Maccabean heroism. Many connections have been proposed, and in this podcast I suggest a new approach to understanding how Joseph precisely embodies the story, the lesson, and the transformation of Chanukah.

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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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Chanukah: History, Laws, and Customs (Rebroadcast)

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About 2,200 years ago, the Jewish Nation faced an existential threat: The Assyrian Greek Empire led by Antiochus and his Hellenist henchmen undertook a concerted campaign to systematically eradicate the Jewish religion. They sought to make the Jews forget the Torah and depart from the mitzvos; they defiled the Temple; they harassed the Jewish daughters; and they banned the observance of many mitzvos on pain of death. But the Almighty did not forsake His people. He stood up for them in their time of sorrow; He waged their wars; He judged the judgment; He avenged their vengeance, and aided the Jews to total victory over their Greek overlords. To remember that miracle, and the miracle of the oil that lasted 8x its intended length, the Sages established the 8-day holiday of Chanukah. In this podcast we survey the history, laws, and customs of Chanukah.

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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 Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

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Parshas Mikeitz continues the narrative of Joseph in Egypt. We pick up his story two years after his failed attempt at earning a reprieve via his cellmate, Pharaoh’s butler, who was about to be reinstated to his post as Pharaoh’s side. Joseph is languishing in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit; after being sold to a foreign land as a slave by his own brothers. By the end of the Parsha, Joseph is firmly ensconced as Pharaoh’s viceroy, and is amidst a long back and forth with his brothers who are in town to procure provisions during a fierce famine.

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Parsha: Vayeishev – Pebbles and Diamonds

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A pebble and a diamond are similar in one way: they are both rocks. That’s where the similarities end. A diamond is precious and valuable. Diamonds are things that we recite the poems over, and name, and write Wikipedia pages about, and adorn the crowns of Kings and Queens. Pebbles get stuck in your tires when you drive over asphalt roads. These two rocks are very different. Our Parsha is a study of diamonds. What we discover can change our lives forever.

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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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On Death and Dying: Part 2 – How to Prepare

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How do you prepare for your day of death? Is that an important question? One can argue that living is much more important than dying. Death, this line of reasoning argues, is something that happens on its own and not something that we need to concern ourselves with. In this podcast, we present a completely different perspective. Calling from many sources in Jewish literature, we present the day of death as the actualization of an entire lifetime. Not only is the day of death an important day, it is the most important day of a person’s life. It is a day and a moment that determines everything! We also present a series of life-changing insights for how to prepare for our audience with the Almighty.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended for children or young adults. The target audience is anyone older than 35.

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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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