Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcast Collection

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TORAH 101: The Sanctuary of the Heart

TORCH — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:06:11 -0500

The more important someone is the greater the impact of their actions. The maneuver of a general changes the course of a campaign; a mistake of the general can imperil the entire army; a brilliant stroke of the general can achieve unexpected victory. A simple foot soldier has a much smaller impact. Adam was created in the image of Elokim. His capacity to impact is enormous. In the third installment of our study of the magisterial work, Nefesh HaChaim, we learn about the frightening and astounding consequences of the outsized leverage bestowed upon Adam and those who spiritually resemble Adam.

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Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:52:24 -0500

This week's double-parsha contains a smorgasbord of mitzvos. The three chapters of Parshas Acharei cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against the consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws, and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited sexual relationships. Parshas Kedoshim 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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Parsha: Tazria Metzora - Better Animals of our Nature

TORCH — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:54:57 -0500

The subject of purity and impurity is not the most exciting one. The hallmark of these subjects is their intricacies and complexities, but our parsha has nothing but the laws of purity and impurity. It talks about impurity spawned by childbirth; the impurity of tzaraas of the body, of the garments, and of the home; along with several other types of impurities. Why does humanity have a tendency to become impure, whereas animals don't have that same variability? What is the essence of impurity? How does impurity get remediated? In this very interesting Parsha podcast, we share a fascinating perspective on the makeup of man and how man's unique creation leads to man's near-infinite variability. We also learn a valuable perspective on how we can achieve fantastic things and curb our most frightening and damaging impulses.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Yehuda Goldmann, Martin Yehuda ben Yosef. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Tazria Metzora - Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaires (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:00:00 -0500

Like much of Leviticus hitherto, tzaraas - the skin malady that is a physical manifestation of a spiritual flaw - is a concept distant from our consciousness. The Torah tells us that when a person commits one of several sins, they can be stricken with a wide range of skin afflictions that qualify as tzaraas. Our Parsha is largely dedicated to its laws. What can we learn from tzaraas? How can we glean valuable and transformative lessons from this concept that does not seem to exist today? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we go deep and deeper into the subject of tzaraas, and discover all sorts of interesting and exciting ideas.

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The Pariah Messiah

TORCH — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:02:03 -0500

The Talmud describes Messiah as a Metzora (one stricken with tzaraas) bandaging his bandages outside of the gates of Rome. Why is the messiah described as an outcast, as a leper, ostracized from society? Why is Messiah hanging out in Rome, of all places? Shouldn't he be in a location more associated with our people? Shouldn't he be in some place like Jerusalem? In this fascinating podcast, we share a profound insight that will provide a clear perspective on the era of Messiah and how we get there.

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Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:24:08 -0500

A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. This week's double Parshas of Tazria and Metzora largely deal with these laws. One variant of impurity that is discussed in both parshas is that of a metzora, A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas caused by a variety of sins, most notably the sin of lashon hara, evil talk and slander. In Parshas Tazria we read about when it strikes a person’s garment or body; and the bulk of Parshas Metzora orients around tzaraas remediation and a third type of tzaraas that afflicts the sinner's house.

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Parsha: Shemini - A Time For Boldness

TORCH — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:22:10 -0500

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Aaron brought offerings; his sons brought offerings too. Both offerings evoked fire from heaven. Aaron's offering prompted a heavenly fire to consume the sacrifices upon the altar. Aaron's son's offering spawned a fire too. The fire rained down from heaven and killed Aaron's two sons. When we contrast Aaron's offerings with his sons, we find other differences. Aaron was hesitant to undertake his role. The sons of Aaron opt for boldness and audaciousness. In this fascinating and hastily recorded Parsha podcast, we learn a profound lesson that teaches us when boldness is called for, and when boldness is unacceptable and warrants an immediate divine zap.

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Parsha: Shemini - Spiritual Cholesterol (5784)

TORCH — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:28:31 -0500

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Kosher food is good for you. Non-kosher food is bad. That much we learned in our parsha. But why? Why is kosher food good? In this exquisite podcast, we Go deep and deeper in trying to understand. We discover how non kosher food serves as a form of spiritual cholesterol that creates blockages imperiling our spiritual life.

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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:56:25 -0500

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After months of preparation and building, and a week of inauguration, the nation was anticipating the climax of the Tabernacle experience: When God finally rested His Presence upon the people’s handiwork. On the eighth day the Tabernacle was erected for good, and a Heavenly fire consumed the various sacrifices offered upon the Altar and the nation experienced the euphoria and intense trepidation of having God in their midst. But a second divine fire marred the joy when Aaron’s two sons were consumed for bringing a foreign and improper offering.

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The Secret Passover Opportunity you Mustn't Pass-Over

TORCH — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:59:10 -0500

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This special pre-Pesach podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Meir Ben Shmuel Chananya. May his soul be elevated in heaven.

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The festival of Passover commemorates a very ancient event that happened more than 3,300 years ago: the release of the nation from bondage in Egypt in the Exodus. Why is the Exodus relevant to us, living thousands of years later? Why is there a daily commandment to remember the Exodus? Why are there so many important days and mitzvos whose liturgy define as a "remembrance for the Exodus?" Why does the Exodus make so many appearances in our religion? In this very interesting and profound podcast, we share the core insight that serves as the beating heart of this festival and learn valuable life lessons and frameworks that will utterly transform our perception of spiritual and personal development and ascent.

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Parsha: Tzav - Protocols of the Offerings of Zion + Parsha Podcast Appeal

TORCH — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:55:43 -0500

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This Parsha podcast is dedicated in the merit of a speedy recovery of Yosef Shraga Halevi Ben Esther. May he have a Refuah Sheleima.

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The final service performed in the Tabernacle and Temple each day was the second tamid elevation offering, that was brought in the late afternoon. Once nightfall came, no more sacrifices were offered, but the Temple still hummed. The sacrifices that had been offered earlier that day were processed on the altar overnight. Our Parsha begins with the morning. Yesterday's sacrifice has been transformed into a pile of smoldering ash. Before any sacrifices can be brought today, some of yesterday's ashes must be removed from atop the altar. What is the meaning of this mitzvah? What is the secret of the ashes? What do the ashes have to do with Abraham, the only person described as ashes? What can we learn from the removal of the ashes ceremony that kickjstarted each day in the temple and the tabernacle? In this interesting podcast, we learned two approaches to understand the secret of the ashes.

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Parsha: Tzav - Runaway Brain (5784) + Parsha Podcast Appeal 2026

TORCH — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:18:30 -0500

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The subject matter of Parshas Tzav is - like Parshas Vayikra - sacrifices. Before today you may have thought that sacrifices are a boring snooze fest. In this Parsha Podcast your perception of Parshas Tzav and sacrifices will be permanently transformed. In the podcast we share three deep and powerful insights: How to sheath the brain; the three unexpected times for transcendental growth; and how marriage qualifies as liberation from incarceration.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Shema: Achieving Supremacy Over the Angels + TORCH 2026 Campaign Appeal

TORCH — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0500

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Angels are way loftier than us, right? They're totally spiritual, they cannot possibly sin, they are messengers of God. We, on the other hand, are mortal, fallible, pitiful humans. That's not necessarily the case. Our Sages tell us that the human soul is much loftier than the Angels. Our inborn holiness dwarfs that of our winged counterparts. Our supremacy over the Angels is demonstrated with the Shema declaration. Angels must do much more to connect with God than we do. In this very interesting and provocative podcast, we highlight the Shema's role in elevating us, and share a powerful and profound perspective on the three different ways to achieve spiritual ascent. The first paragraph of the highlights one way to achieve greatness, the second highlights a second path, and the third paragraph contains is yet another way to do it. The end goal is absolute closeness with God. The end goal is merging heaven and Earth, body and soul. They end goal is to be holy to Hashem our God. But there are three ways to do it.

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TORAH 101: The Power of Pre-Sin Adam + 2026 TORCH Campaign Pitch

TORCH — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:58:30 -0500

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Adam was created in the image of God. He was given vast influence over God's creations. What is the mechanism of this power? What is the mechanism of Adam's ability to influence God's creations? How is Adam able to move worlds? The answer gets to some of the deepest secrets of them all. Not all of God's creations are created equal. Some are spiritually loftier than others. What is the relationship though of all of God's creations? How are they connected? In this podcast, we learned the secret of the concatenation of God's creations and discover the lofty nature of Adam with its enormous ramifications.

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Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast) + Parsha Podcast Fundraiser Pitch

TORCH — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:33:42 -0500

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In continuation of the themes of last week, Parshas Tzav details the procedures of processing many of the sacrifices enumerated in Parshas Vayikra, teaches us about new sacrifices, and we read about the seven days of inauguration of the Tabernacle.

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Parsha: Vayikra - Push-Ups and Drawdowns + TORCH Fundraiser 2026 Pitch

TORCH — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:01:31 -0500

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The concept of sacrifices is quite foreign to us. It's been nearly 2,000 years since our nation merited to bring a sacrifice in God's Temple. We hope and pray and yearn for the rebuilding of the temple and the resumption of sacrifices. But as of today, sacrifices are hard for us to appreciate. The Torah spends a lot of time on sacrifices. Adam brought a sacrifice. Cain and Abel brought sacrifices. Noah, after departing the ark, Noah brought a sacrifice. Abraham brought sacrifices. Jethro brought sacrifices. The pastel lamb is a sort of sacrifice. And the entirety of our Parsha relates to sacrifice us. What could be the the deeper meaning behind these rituals? In this very interesting podcast, we share a profound and insightful idea that won't forever reshape how we understand sacrifices but truthfully how we understand the mechanism of divine interaction with our world.

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TORAH 101: Created in the Image of God + 2026 TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:41:19 -0500

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"And God made man in His image. In the image of God (Elokim) He made him.” The majority of the secrets of the Kabbalistic esoterica are hidden in these cryptic words, but the magisterial work, Nefesh HaChaim, authored by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, begins by explaining a profound understanding of these words. There is indeed some overlap between man and God. God is the source of all power, the source of all vitality, and He endowed man with some of that power. We have the ability to move worlds. We have the ability to make cosmic transformation. In this very special episode, we begin our study of this fundamental work of Torah philosophy. What we learn radically reshapes our perspective of what man is and what impact man has.

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Parsha: Vayikra - Cainitis and Abelitis (5784) + TORCH Fundraiser 2026 Pitch

TORCH — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:41:39 -0500

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Sacrifices. Who is excited?? We embark on the Book of Leviticus with a bang. We learn three marvelous lessons from our Parsha: The subtle summons of God; how to remedy a bad case of Cainitis and Abelitis; and the Secret of the Shelamim.

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How to Conquer the Anger Impulse + TORCH Fundraiser 2026

TORCH — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:16:00 -0500

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None of us admire the people who lose it in a fit of rage. We like we look up to the people who are calm, cool and collected. The people who comport themselves with dignity and nobility and are always in control of themselves. Rage is not a productive attribute. People don't accomplish things when they lose themselves. From a spiritual vantage point, with the worst of the worst: it's adjacent to heresy, and many types of purgatory control those who are always angry. But what's the solution? How does someone control their anger? Is it possible to control completely? Is it possible to eliminate it entirely? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. In this podcast, you will learn the secret of fishing impulses of anger. Are you ready for the challenge?

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TORAH 101: Mishnah Commentary, Heuristics, and Appendices + 2026 TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0500

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As a very young man, Rambam wrote a commentary on the entire Mishnah. He prefaces his commentary with a sprawling and magisterial introduction which covers vast subjects related to Torah, oral and written, the history of the transmission, and the mechanism of Mishnah and Talmud. He ends his introduction with an explanation of the rationale behind his commentary and a fascinating set of appendices and heuristics.

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Laver of Love + 2026 TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:21:37 -0500

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The Laver was one of the vessels in the Tabernacle. It was a copper basin that housed water that was emitted from spouts. The priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle and before doing any service in the Tabernacle. Our sages reveal some very interesting things about the origin of this copper, the use of this vessel, and a very interesting disagreement that Moshe had with God about the Laver. What we discover can materially transform and improve our life.

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Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast) + TORCH Fundraiser 2026

TORCH — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500

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In Parshas Vayikra, the first Torah section in The Book of Leviticus, we learn about the processes and procedures of many different varieties of sacrifices: There are three different types of elevation offerings; three types of peace-offerings; six types of meal-offerings; and numerous sin and guilt offerings. Our exploration of the parsha begins with a survey of several of the classic explanations for the notion of animal sacrifices in general.

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Parsha: Vayakhel Pekudei - Golden Talents

TORCH — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0500

The latter half of the Book of Exodus is almost exclusively oriented around the Tabernacle. In this week's double Parsha, the nation executes the plans given to Moshe. It begins with a fundraising drive. The nation is offer the opportunity to contribute the 15 different materials needed for the Tabernacle. Fourteen of the fifteen materials are indeed donated by the nation. The last one is a bit of a mystery that we try to unpack in this edition of the Parsha Podcast. That is only the beginning of the mystery-deciphering. This show ends with us taking a stab at the greatest mystery of them all.

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This Parsha podcast is dedicated to the honor and success of Noam Yitzhak ben Shlomi. May he succeed and flourish in all that he does.

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Parsha: Vayakhel: The Third Path (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0500

There are three ways to achieve transcendental greatness: There is the path of intense practice and training in your desired field of excellence; there is the path of Bezalel who was endowed with supernatural abilities and preordained to greatness; and there is a third path -- the path of the ascension of heart. In our Parsha we learn about people who accomplished otherworldly things: Bezalel and his army of lieutenants built the Mishkan and its many vessels and accouterments. A deep study of the subject reveals that Bezalel and his volunteer helpers took different paths. In this Parsha Podcast we study the Third Path.

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TORAH 101: Post-Mishnaic Development of Oral Torah

TORCH — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:09:05 -0500

The Mishnah was at the end of the canonization of the Oral Torah. The Tosefta, the Sifra and Sifri soon followed. 300 years after Rabbi Judah the Prince canonized the Mishnah, the Babylonian Talmud was canonized. In this penultimate episode on Rambam's magisterial introduction to Mishnah, we learn all about the Talmud: how it was written, how it was canonized, and what it includes. We learn the four objectives of the Talmud and the secret as to why some of the teachings in the Talmud are very difficult to decipher.

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Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0600

After the Torah delineates the instructions to assemble the materials for the construction of the Tabernacle in Parshas Terumah and the creation of the vestments of the high priest in Parshas Tetzaveh, Parshas Vayakhel outlines the implementation those plans: The massive fundraising efforts, and the actual building of the Tabernacle and its vessels under the auspices of Bezalel, and Parshas Pekudei wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses.

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Magic Thermos

TORCH — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:29:21 -0600

A nuclear bomb detonates in this week's Parsha. The Nation selected by God to fulfill the most consequential role in the world, the Nation recently released from bondage with miracle signs and wonders, the Nation being fed a steady diet of manna and water from a rock, the Nation only 40 days after experiencing national revelation at Sinai, committed a grievous, inexplicable sin. The Nation made the Golden Calf. It's really hard to understand how such a glorious people committed such an inglorious deed, but as always, there are lessons for us. In this interesting and upbeat Parsha podcast, we learned a lesson from this catastrophic, cataclysmic debacle that can enhance our understanding of many portions in the Torah and give us a road map for how to achieve greatness for ourselves and for the world.

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Augmenting Shabbos (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The final instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle are conveyed at the beginning of this week's parsha. After Moshe is told to appoint Bezalel as the head overseer of this enormous project, the Torah cautions us against constructing the tabernacle on Shabbos. Although we are required to build the Tabernacle, and we are inclined to be expeditious in the performance of this great mitzvah, nevertheless, we may not do it on Shabbos. When the Torah conveys this to us, the verse seems to have a bit of a superfluous phrasing. These seemingly extra words are explained by the commentaries who open up our eyes to the fascinating and powerful world of augmenting Shabbos. We have the ability to increase the Sabbath. We can take a day that is not the Sabbath and transform it and elevate it and render it Shabbos. The consequences of this radical idea are vast and powerful.

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Three Levels of Eradicating Evil (Purim is the Highest)

TORCH — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:06:30 -0600

Everyone loves the festival of Purim. What's not to love about it? You get dressed up. You make noise when they say Haman. You give gifts to the poor and foodstuffs to your friends. It's the one time a year you can drink guiltlessly. But what is the essence of the Festival? What are we trying to achieve on Purim? Our Sages tell us something quite inexplicable: The holiness and purity of Purim exceeds that of Yom Kippur. What can they possibly mean by that? In this very sharp and interesting podcast, we share an idea that will completely reshape how you understand this festival and will train you in how to make the most out of this highly auspicious day.
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Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:55:11 -0600

This week’s parsha contains several instructions related to the Tabernacle, but the majority of the parsha is dedicated to arguably the most shocking and troubling episode in the whole Torah, the Golden Calf. Forty days after the nation reached the pinnacle of human accomplishment – a national revelation at Sinai – the same nation committed what seems on the surface to be idolatry.

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - On His Majesty's Service

TORCH — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:45:22 -0600

Performing service in the Tabernacle was the domain of the cherished few only. Only Aaron, his four sons, and their subsequent children were eligible. Why couldn't everyone serve as a priest? That's a question for modern egalitarian sensibilities, and it's truthfully one that we are averse to asking. After all, this was the question that Moshe's cousin Korach posed, and we know what happened to him. But why, truthfully, were Aaron and his family alone selected? In this fascinating parsha podcast, we explore many different elements of the Tabernacle, and especially the Golden Altar used exclusively for incense. The secret that we discover reveals the essence of priesthood. The golden crown of the priesthood is quite desirable, and there's a very specific way for each of us to have a crack at it.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Maury Magids, Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit, whose Yartzeit falls out this week. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - The Golden Bovine (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

This week's Parsha is dedicated to the priestly class: It begins with the oil that the High Priest kindles; it describes in great detail the special vestments that the priests wore; and it proceeds in outlining the process of inauguration of the priests. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we go deep and deeper behind the scenes, beneath the veneer, under the substratum of the Parsha and see what secrets we uncover. In particular, we examine a peculiar and uncharacteristic statement in Rashi's commentary; we suggest a novel understanding in the essence of priesthood; and we share powerful and penetrating perspective in the nature of the sin of the Golden Calf.

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Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

In a natural continuation to Parshas Terumah, in Parshas Tetzaveh we learn about the instructions to build the Tabernacle. Whereas last week the focus was on the edifice itself and its vessels, this week we will orient primarily on the special garments that the priests wore in the Tabernacle, and of course subsequently in the Temple.

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Parsha: Terumah - Out of the Woods

TORCH — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

During the Sinai revelation, the nation achieved the peak human experience. The entire people—men, women, and children—experienced God face-to-face (as it were) on the highest level of prophecy. But then it ended. The prophecy ended, the mountain was restored to its pre-Revelation state, and Moshe alone ascended the mountain. Sinai was not supposed to be a one-and-done; it was perpetuated with the Tabernacle. "Build me a tabernacle," God said, "and I will dwell in your midst." If we simply follow the precise instructions, the presence of God will be amongst us.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of Joelle Hannah Khorsandi, daughter of my dear friend Parham Khorsandi whose bat mitzvah is this week. We wish her a hearty Mazal Tov from the entire Parsha Podcast family.

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Parsha: Terumah - Cherub-Picking (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Tabernacle was a portable Temple in which the presence of God dwelled. Our Parsha begins with the fundraising effort to be conducted in the Wilderness where the nation was asked to donate the required materials for the construction of the Tabernacle, it's vessels, and the vestments of the high priest. In this enjoyable Parsha podcast we go deep and deeper on three different parts of the Parsha: we discuss the unusual ordering of the materials needed for the tabernacle; we probe the apparently conflicting definitions of cherubs; and we take a fascinating look at the unusual creature - the tachash - whose skin was used to create the upper curtain of the Tabernacle.

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TORAH 101: Sixth Order of Mishnah (Purity)

TORCH — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:20:35 -0600

The Order of Purity is the longest of the Six Orders of Mishnah and by far the most foreign to us. The overwhelming majority of the laws of this order of Mishnah are only applicable in Temple times. different sources of impurity although our overview will be very brief, we will learn about the various different degrees of impurity, the various different means of conveying that impurity, the various different ramifications of each level of impurity, and the various different ways to remedy the impurity. We will not be fully educated about all the different laws of purity and impurity. But we will definitely be a little bit less ignorant.

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Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 10:09:36 -0600

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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Parsha: Mishpatim - Two Halves of One Soul

TORCH — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

At the risk of being presumptuous, I can safely say that most members of the Parsha podcast community have never owned any slaves. I imagine that most of us never even had a servant. We certainly never employed a Jewish bondsman for six years. The law that opens our Parsha doesn't seem to be very relevant to us today. But the first law that follows the Sinai Revelation is extremely pertinent to us. In fact, when you are finished listening to this Parsha podcast, you may credibly argue that this law - and the secrets it contains - is the most relevant and pertinent and powerful message of them all.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Sylvan Garfunkel in loving memory of both of his grandmothers Eve Goldmann צערלא בת יעקב and Tema Schwitzer טעמא בת דוד הלוי both of whose yahrtzeits are this week, the 21st and 27th of Shevat. May their souls be elevated in Heaven.

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Mishpatim - Blind Determination (5786)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Immediately after the Sinai Revelation, the Torah begins telling us many of the laws. In this Parsha podcast we focus on two of the laws: the famous verse of "an eye for an eye", and the requirement to aid your enemy when his donkey is struggling under its load. As is our mandate in year 8 of the Parsha Podcast, we go deep and deeper beneath the surface, trying to find insights and secrets beyond the text.

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TORAH 101: Fifth Order of Mishnah (Sacrifices)

TORCH — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Unfortunately, none of us have ever witnessed or participated in a sacrifice. Ever since the Temple was destroyed more than 1,950 years ago, our nation has been bereft of a central component of our religious life. Our nation, and truly the whole world, can only be in an optimal state when the presence of God resides in our midst. We hope and pray that the Temple will be restored and rebuilt on Temple Mount in Jerusalem very soon. Then we will merit to offer sacrifices: communal and personal, obligatory and optional, daily and episodic. In this edition of this podcast, we learn about the Fifth Order of the Mishnah: The Order of Sacrifices. Given that the subject may be quite foreign to us, the podcast begins with a brief survey of the various different explanations and rationales offered by our sages regarding why the Almighty instituted animal sacrifices as such a central component of the Torah. Listen and be informed.

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Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

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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Parsha: Yisro - Beauty and the Priest

TORCH — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Yisro is a tale of two narratives. It begins with the dramatic arrival of Jethro, father-in-law of Moshe. He heard about all the miracles that the Almighty performed for the nation during the Exodus and decided to join the nation. The Parsha details his arrival together with Moshe's wife and their two sons, the great honor lavished upon him by Moshe, and his definitive pronouncement that no pagan deity matches Almighty God. The next day, Jethro offered Moshe astute advice to institute a hierarchical, tiered system of judges, which Moshe adopted before Jethro departed back to his homeland. The second part details the most consequential and pivotal event in all of human history: The Sinai revelation, it's run up and aftermath. At first glance, these narratives do not seem to be connected. But at the Parsha Podcast we never subsist with first glances. We go backstage.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of David Ben David, the father of our dear friend Elise Kardos. May his soul be elevated in Heaven

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Parsha Podcast Jingle link - https://media.blubrry.com/rabbiwolbe/ins.blubrry.com/rabbiwolbe/pp_jingle.mp3

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TORAH 101: : Fourth Order of Mishnah (Damages)

TORCH — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Human interactions can often times get messy. There are myriads of circumstances that require courts and judgements. The Fourth Order of Mishnah contains the books of law and judgement and, surprisingly, the authoritative work on ethics: Chapters of the Fathers (Pirkei Avos). This podcast will help you gain a brief overview on the Books of this Order, but never forget that this overview is barely scratching the surface. Very talented, intelligent, and diligent scholars in the yeshiva toil for years and years over a single one of these books. There is an infinite amount of wisdom in each one of these books. We are just getting the briefest of introductions.

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TORAH 101: : Fourth Order of Mishnah (Damages)

TORCH — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Yisro - Splitting the Heaven (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:00:00 -0600

The arrival of Jethro, the preparation for Sinai, and the nature of the Sinai revelation - these are some of the subjects featured in our parsha. In this very special and atypically extemporaneous Parsha podcast, we offer four interesting ideas: one on the unique route that Jethro took to the truth; one on the particular form of pleasure that Torah bestows upon those who learn it; a supremely clever idea on the boundaries placed around Mount Sinai; and a fascinating observation on the splitting of the sea and the splitting of the heavens.

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Moshe's Surprising Successor

TORCH — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:29:31 -0600

Mistakes are endemic to the human condition. All humans make mistakes. Even the titans of our history like Moshe, Aaron, and Joshua made mistakes. Only God is error-free. In this interesting - and maybe a tad controversial - podcast, we take a look at the unusual path of ascent of Moshe's successor, Joshua. Joshua was not a flawless wunderkind who could do no wrong. In fact, in each one of the narratives surrounding Joshua in the Torah, we can find some sort of misstep that Joshua did. Evidently, Joshua's path to ascent relied on those missteps, and his story shows us a different way to achieve transcendental greatness.

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Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 23:38:44 -0600

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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Parsha: Beshalach - Horse and Rider

TORCH — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:33:34 -0600

The nation emerged from Egypt triumphantly. Pharaoh was talking a big game. "Who is God that I should listen to him? I'm not going to release the Israelites!" But he was humbled before God one plague at a time. With the death of the firstborn at the stroke of midnight, Pharaoh buckled. He begged, he coaxed, he urged, he pleaded with the Israelites to leave. The coast is now clear. The enemies are behind us. Certainly, the entire nation expected smooth sailing. But Egypt reared its ugly head once again. The entire Parsha is a series of challenges that arose in the aftermath of the Exodus. Twice the nation was stranded without water, their food supply ran out as well, and they were attacked and ambushed by the nation of Amaleik. In this very special Parsha Podcast, we go backstage and learn several profound lessons about the nature and mechanism of transformative change, the process by which bitter is rendered sweet, and the unique and counterintuitive way that we can have cosmic influence.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Baruch Yochanan Ben Reb Ephraim Fischel, Dr. Bertram John Newman, dedicated by the Newman, Shapiro, Grossman, and Yudelson families. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Beshalach - Bones to Pick (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Exodus is finally here. After 210 years in Egypt - enslaved, tormented, and oppressed - the nation is leaving with great pomp and ceremony. There is an apparently curious factoid about the Exodus: in the third verse of our Parsha, the Torah tells us that Moshe secured the bones of Joseph, and transported them with the nation. What is the significance of the bones of Joseph? Why was it so important to bring these bones of Joseph with the people? In this Parsha podcast we go deep and deeper on the fascinating subplot of the bones of Joseph.

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The Three-Day-Exodus: How a Productive Long Weekend Leads to a Lifetime of Freedom

TORCH — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Exodus was for keeps. Although Pharaoh regretted his decision to allow the Israelites to leave and chased them down, setting up a stand-off at the Sea of Reeds, once the sea split for the Israelites and crashed down upon the Egyptians, the Israelites were forever freed from the clutches of Egyptian bondage. Following that day, the Israelites will never see the Egyptians again. Our people are thrice warned to never return back to Egypt. There's nothing left for us there. The split was permanent. We're gone forever.

But this wasn't always the plan. When Moshe initially pitched Pharaoh to release the Israelites, he sought a temporary reprieve. "Let us travel three days into the wilderness and have a festival of sacrifices for God. Moshe implied that the nation would return following the festival. This is repeated multiple times in the narrative, as the Plague escalated and Pharaoh was pliable to negotiate: First, he offered to host the festival in Egypt. That was untenable because the Israelites intended to sacrifice sheep, the deities of Egypt. Then, Pharaoh agreed to allow the adults to go, provided that the children of the animals stay behind as collateral. Finally, Pharaoh relented to allow the adults and the children to participate in this festival, if the nation agreed to leave the animals behind.

When the nation left and three days elapsed and the nation failed to signal a return back to Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them. What is the nature of this counterfactual three-day festival? Was it a legitimate proposal or a deceptive ruse? In this very fascinating podcast, we share three different approaches. What you will learn can provide a very useful tactic in your path of ascent.

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Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Beshalach may be the most action-packed parsha in the Torah. After the Exodus, God directed the people to not take the shortest route to the Land in order to facilitate the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and the final destruction of the Egyptians. After those unprecedented miracles, the trouble began: Twice they ran out of water, they ran out of food, and a ferocious enemy launched an unprovoked attack.

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Parsha: Bo - Embers Only

TORCH — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

With the final three plagues striking Egypt,, our Nation's centuries-long nightmare in Egypt mercifully came to an end. At the stroke of midnight, all the firstborn of Egypt—both human and animal—died. The cry that erupted from this plague was unprecedented. Never before and never since has such a cry been experienced. With the Egyptian cry, Pharaoh finally cried uncle. His total and unconditional surrender before God was complete. But let's backtrack a bit. Why was the nation condemned to be enslaved in Egypt for multiple centuries to begin with? Why was Abraham told that his descendants will be foreigners in a foreign land even before Abraham bore any descendants? In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we go backstage and discover some fascinating secrets regarding the enslavement of the Israelites and the dramatic, wondrous, miraculous redemption of the Exodus.

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Parsha: Bo - Shots on Goal (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Jewish people spent several centuries in Egypt, but now it is time to leave - and the nation is leaving with flair, with miracles, signs, and wonders. In this very special, celebratory, Parsha podcast, I share two incredible ideas that I shared over the past couple of days during the festivities surrounding the birth and the bris of our son, David Wolbe.

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Faith Fundamentals

TORCH — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 20:26:56 -0600

The Exodus was not one-and-done. It remains an ever-present, indispensable part of our religion. We are commanded to recall the Exodus every single day. There are many festivals and days of note dedicated to remembering and reliving the Exodus. There are many mitzvos that orient around the exodus. The prominent centrality of the Exodus needs an explanation. Why would the event of our nation's freedom from bondage more than 3330 years ago play such a prominent role for all time? In a seminal essay that addresses many foundational elements of our religion, Ramban (Nachmanides) addresses this question. This essay is his most famous comment in his entire magisterial commentary on the Torah. My grandfather, blessed memory, used to say that every single Jew must study this comment in Ramban until they can recite it by heart. In this very interesting podcast, we read this essay and discover and ponder its gems.

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Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

After the first seven Plagues of Egypt related in last week’s parsha, Pharaoh and his people were still unwilling to release the Children of Israel. In Parshas Bo, the miracles and wonders of the Almighty intensified, culminating in the Death of the Firstborn and the Exodus from Egypt.

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Parsha: Vaeira - Swimming in Denileism

TORCH — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:47:23 -0600

Pharaoh is one tough nut to crack. Notwithstanding all the miracles, signs, and wonders that the Almighty displays in Egypt, Pharaoh persists in his stubborn, immovable, intransigence. God promised to harden his heart and thereby prolong the period of the Plagues, but Pharaoh himself hardened his own heart. But something dramatic happened to Pharaoh. He slowly and steadily became a believer. He slowly and steadily accepted the dominion of God. He slowly and steadily began to live as a believer, began to interface with the world as someone cognizant and aware of God's dominion, omniscience, and omnipotence. The Torah centers the storyline of the Exodus on the transformation of Pharaoh. For us, the lessons are quite profound.

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This Parsha podcast is dedicated by Paul and Carol Block in loving memory and leilui nishmas their parents – Paul’s father, Harav Moshe Yosef ben Harav Avraham Chaim, whose yahrzeit is 22 Teves, and Carol’s mother, Charna Leah bas Reb Moshe, whose yahrzeit is 24 Teves. May their Souls be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Vaeira - Labor and Deliverance (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Jewish nation was enslaved in Egypt for 100s of years. What was the essence of the enslavement? What is the consistent theme that is strung throughout the centuries of servitude? More broadly, what is the salience of the Egyptian narrative? Why is it so critical for us to study the exile and Exodus so closely? In this Parsha podcast we offer our take on the essence of the Egyptian enslavement, why it is ever more pertinent today, and what to do about it. We too can - and must - be redeemed from our servitude.

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Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha begins in the middle of the dialogue between Moses and God. Moses’ initial foray into saving the nation has gone horribly awry. Instead of alleviating the pain of the Jewish nation; his intervention exacerbated it, and he returned to the Almighty asking for an explanation. In His response, God tells Moses that he will yet see the tremendous miracles and signs of the pending Exodus. In our parsha, that plan begins to unfold, and we read about the first seven of the eventual Ten Plagues.

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Parsha: Shemos - Mission Implausible

TORCH — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The mission that Moshe was entrusted with in this week's Parsha was very clear: Go to Egypt and extract the nation of Israelite slaves. The difficulty in the mission was not due to the lack of clarity. The instructions were abundantly clear. The mission, though, was highly implausible. Moshe had been out of Egypt for decades. He was a shepherd working for his father-in-law in faraway Midian. What business does Moshe have to go down to Pharaoh and demand that he release his legions of Israelite slaves? We would assign a big, fat zero to the likelihood of the mission's success. But Moshe undertook it nonetheless. When we examine the Parsha further, we discover several other missions which also seemed to be thoroughly impossible. But there is a secret way to approach an impossible mission. If you want to know the secret, this podcast is for you.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor and for the success of Noam Yitzhak ben Shlomi. May he be successful in all his endeavors.

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Parsha: Shemos - Moshe's Treatment (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

We begin the new calendar year with a new book, the book of Exodus. The Jewish nation - still a family - is in Egypt, and things go from bad to worse. Pharaoh torments the people, enslaves them, and embitters their lives with back breaking labor. He then implements a policy of infanticide. But a great light emerges: Moshe is born. The leader of the Jewish people -- who will extricate us from Egypt and lead us into the wilderness, and convey the Torah to us, and shepherd us -- is born and is raised in Pharaoh's household. In this Parsha Podcast we go behind the scenes - we go to the backstage of the parsha and explore two interesting and topical elements of Moshe's treatment: both how he was treated and how he treated others.

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A Lifetime A Day

TORCH — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:51:08 -0600

We all aspire to accomplish great things. The Almighty surely did not create us to be mediocre. We're here to make something of ourselves; to achieve grand ambitions. What is the most effective way to accomplish that? In this very unique podcast, you will learn a very interesting, provocative, delightful, and a bit startling insight that will radically reshape your life for the better. You will never look at the path to success the same.

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Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:00:00 -0600

The Book of Exodus begins with the Egyptians cunningly enslaving their Hebrew subjects: mandating that they work in backbreaking labor, killing their male sons, and trying to stamp out their spirit and curb their population. But God heard their cries and saw their suffering and dispatched the greatest of all men, Moses, a reluctant leader, to lobby Pharaoh to release the people.

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Parsha: Vayechi - Fish Amidst the Land

TORCH — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob's life has been extremely chaotic. Forced to tussle with his twin. Jacob's life got off to a rocky start. Compelled to usurp the blessings, Jacob had to flee. Laban's house was hardly a refuge - it was 20 years of non-stop contention with the wiliest trickster of them all. After battling Esau's angel, still fully navigating the reunion, reckoning with the rape of Dinah and the slaughter of Shechem, Jacob thought that his series of travails was over. But then the imbroglio of Joseph was foisted upon him. Jacob's life is emblematic of what will happen to his descendants on a macro scale. Our people will likewise be subjected to chaos and upheaval. In this week's Parsha, Jacob prepares for his passing - securing a burial spot, blessing Joseph and his sons, and all twelve of his sons. But the story is also one of descent into exile. Those menacing clouds though have a brilliant silver lining.

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Parsha: Vayechi - Jacob's Strength (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Vayechi marks the final installment of the book of Genesis. The family of Israel, the sons of Jacob, are all together in Egypt, where they settle and flourish. A lot happened to this family up to this point, and the setting for the next epoch of their story, and of Jewish history, is ready. In this parsha podcast, we address two elements from the Parsha: Jacobs decision to promote Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, and Jacob's superlative self-control.

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Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Vayechi is the final portion of the Book of Genesis. Jacob is about to die and he tends to his affairs: He assures that he will not be buried in Egypt and will instead be interred in the Cave of Machpelah, he blesses Joseph and his sons, and he blesses/rebukes his twelve sons.

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Parsha: Vayigash - Beacon in the Darkness

TORCH — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Vayigash is bittersweet. The sweetness is obvious. After 22 years of anguish and melancholy, Jacob is informed that Joseph is alive and is a king in Egypt. Our Parsha is a story of reunion and reclamation. But it's also bitter: Jacob and his family travel to Egypt, a morass that will be very difficult to extricate themselves from. The nation will be in Egypt for hundreds of years and eventually be enslaved and oppressed severely. Only the Exodus will extricate the nation from the tentacles of Egypt. In this Parsha podcast, we examine several counterintuitive elements of the descent into darkness. We discover that sometimes the most brilliant light can only emerge amidst the darkness. If not for nighttime, we wouldn't know of the existence of the stars.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Moshe Ben David Shalom, our friend Moshe Peter Loth, who passed away a few weeks ago. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Vayigash - Come-to-Joseph Moment (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Our parsha is one of unexpected reunions. After 20 plus years of separation, Joseph reunited with his brothers and his father. In this Parsha Podcast we focus on two elements of the reunification: firstly, we ponder the interesting question of whether or not Jacob actually bowed down to Joseph as foretold in the dream. Then, we explore a fascinating and frightening Midrashic comment on the lessons from the brothers' shocking revelation that the viceroy of Egypt is none other than Joseph.

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Kingmakers: How Judah and Joseph Earned the Throne

TORCH — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 17:08:22 -0600

Our nation has two houses of monarchy: Joseph and Judah. Joseph was, of course, king of Egypt. David, king of Israel, descended from the tribe of Judah. Following David, all legitimate kings of our people descended from the Davidic line from the tribe of Judah. Our nation is yearning for Messiah. Our sages tell us the Messiah comes in two flavors: Messiah Ben-Joseph from the tribe of Joseph and Messiah Ben-David from the tribe of Judah. Where did these two tribes earn the throne? In this interesting and sharp podcast, we explore a fascinating set of verses in the Psalms that we recite during the Hallel, and learn a fantastic secret about what it takes to be a king and the power that comes with the monarchy.

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Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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 - Pit Master King

TORCH — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Pharaoh, like Joseph, had clairvoyant dreams foretelling his future. Joseph dreamed of his ascent to kingship and his brother's subjugation before him. Pharaoh dreamed of Egypt experiencing 7 years of unprecedented plenty and abundance to be followed by 7 years of grinding famine. There's a major difference though in the timeline of the of the implementation of these dreams though. Pharaoh's dreams occurred right before the 7 years of plenty began. With regards to Joseph's dreams, 13 years elapsed between the dreams and their implementation. In this very interesting Parsha podcast, we share a very profound and transformative idea regarding those 13 years that separated the prophecy from its actualization. We also learn a penetrating insight into the imperative to make the most of the various years of plenty in our lives. It's important to not forget about the impending years of famine when you are awash in an ocean of grain, of all types.

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Parsha: Mikeitz - The End of Days (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

In our Parsha, Joseph is elevated to become viceroy of Egypt. He begins the day languishing in prison, and ends it be decked in garments of royalty and paraded throughout the city. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we share three ideas - deep ideas - from our Parsha: one about the end of days, one about Pharaoh's recurring dreams, and the fascinating backstory of Joseph's wife, Osnas.

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The Secret of the Chanukah Menorah

TORCH — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 17:05:30 -0600

The Chanukah story is quite dramatic. The world-dominating Greeks were militarily defeated by a prickly pack of Maccabees. Our sages point the focus of the festival to the miracle of the oil when the priests rededicated the temple and cleansed it from all the Greek defilements. They found only a solitary flask of oil. This oil was designed to last only one day, but miraculously it lasted eight. To relive and commemorate this miracle, the Rabbinic Festival of Chanukah was instituted. On each of the eight nights of Chanukah we light a candle to remember the miracle of lights. What really lies behind this mitzvah? What is the actual secret of the Chanukah Menorah? What does our kindling of the Menorah have to do with the miracle that happened 2300 years ago? In this fascinating Chanukah podcast episode, we share a very profound insight that will totally reshape our understanding of the festival and this mitzvah.

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This special Chanukah podcast is dedicated by my dear friend Alex Tannenbaum in loving memory and leilui nishmas his mother, Yocheved Leora bas Menachem, whose birthday fell out on the last day of Chanukah. May her soul be elevated in heaven.

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Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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 - Pit of Despair

TORCH — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:24:38 -0600

Parashas Vayeishev is a downer for all people involved: Jacob has to witness his sons' disunion. Jacob was informed of the apparent mauling of Joseph, his favorite son. Jacob was plunged into melancholy for 22 years. Joseph, the crown jewel of his father, was hated by his brothers, betrayed by his brothers, and sold as a slave by his brothers. His situation got even worse. In Egypt, he was falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned. When there was a faint hope of salvation, it vanished when the butler forgot him. Judah, the leader of Jacob's sons was demoted, his wife died, his sons died, and he was duped into a dalliance with his daughter-in-law. The Parsha is a continuous story of disappointments for all people involved. But when the story is told in its entirety, a different picture emerges, a picture of the origins of monarchy, the monarchy of Joseph and the monarchy of David and the monarchy of Messiah. From the darkest of nights emerged the most brilliant of lights.

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Parsha: Vayeishev - Dream of the Crop (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha begins with Joseph's two dreams of grandeur and supremacy. He dreams that he will rule over his brothers, who will bow before him in submission. Joseph decides to tell them about it. Why does he do that? Why does he tell his father about the second dream, but not the first? Why are the brothers envious of him after the second dream, but not after the first? In this intricate podcast, we dissect the dreams of Joseph and share an idea about the nature of prophetic dreams, with a very powerful principle to take away.

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Joseph's Unconventional (and Counterintuitive) Path

TORCH — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 23:40:12 -0600

The saga of Joseph dominates the end of Genesis. Joseph is Jacob's favorite son, but is hated by his brothers. They don't view Joseph as someone worthy of keeping around, so they conspire to kill him and ultimately settle for selling him as a slave. In the end, Joseph achieves greatness that surpasses that of all of his brothers. The brothers thought he was a good-for-nothing, but ultimately he supersedes them. Why was there such a difference between what the brothers thought of Joseph and what he became? How did the brothers fail to see Joseph's titanic potential? The brothers were incapable of seeing Joseph's greatness because Joseph's path was unconventional and counterintuitive.

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Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Vayeishev contains two intersecting, seemingly scandalous, storylines, that after all the dust has settled we can see are harbingers of the Messiah and Redemption: Joseph is hated by his brothers, and is eventually sold by them as a slave after they nearly killed him. By Parsha end, Joseph is languishing in an Egyptian prison after being falsely accused of attempted rape. Judah is also humbled in this week’s Parsha, after cohabiting with his daughter in law who masqueraded as a prostitute. In the moment, these scandals brought shame; but ultimately we can see the Divine Hand manipulating events to effectuate the salvation of the Jewish family and people.

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Parsha: Vayishlach - E-sawdust

TORCH — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:55:18 -0600

Jacob just can't seem to get away from his brother. Even before they were born, they were bound together in utero. Once they are born, they are constantly wrestling with each other, duking it out for the destiny of humanity. Compelled to usurp the blessing, Jacob was forced to flee. After spending 34 years away from his brother, including 20 years by the house of Laban, Jacob reunites with Esau once again. The reunion is quite dramatic. Jacob prepares for this conflict with fastidiousness. Prior to reuniting with his brother, Jacob wrestles with the angel of Esau for the entire night. Putting together all the different narratives and anecdotes about Esau reveals to us something very profound: What is the essence of Esau? What is the essence of Esau's angel? What is the danger of Esau? What are the lessons that we are supposed to learn from Jacob's twin? In this Parsha Podcast, we share a an approach.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in Honor of a brand new couple, Avromi and Michal Feigenbaum. May they build a beautiful home together and have a beautiful life together

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Parsha: Vayishlach - When Hairy met Srully (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob and Esau last saw each other 34 years prior. 34 years ago, Jacob, upon the explicit and prophetically inspired instruction of his mother, usurped the blessings reserved for Esau. Esau was piping mad, and sought vengeance. He wanted to kill his own brother. Jacob fled. After spending 14 years in the academy and 20 years in the house of Laban, the reunion was set. Our parsha dedicates significant real estate to detailing what happened. In this special Parsha Podcast, we go a bit deeper behind the story and discover a deeper way to view the entire interaction and exchange. This podcast will enrich your life, and hopefully also entertain you.

Credits: This clever podcast title was suggested by my dear friend, Matt David

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The Rocky Path of Ascent

TORCH — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

We all want to ascend to great heights. We all hope that we can accomplish our potential and unlock our opportunities. We all yearn for self-actualization and development. But it seems that the path of ascent is invariably bumpy. It seems that an ascent to great heights must entail numerous falls along the way. The righteous must fall seven times before ceasing to fall. Why must we fall in order to ascend? Why can't things be more straightforward? This question was posed on a rabbis panel that I participated in. In this podcast, I will share a powerful and provocative idea on the necessity of stumbles along a path of ascent. Plus, this podcast will also feature an interesting perspective on the delicate balancing act of social pressure and individuality.

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Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

After successfully escaping the clutches of his deceptive father in law, Laban, Jacob heads back west to the Land of Canaan, and back to his family. The journey back home was a lot more tumultuous and chaotic than anticipated.

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Parsha: Vayeitzei - Red and White Blew it

TORCH — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob was one of the greatest people who have ever lived. He triumphed over angels. He had angels do his bidding. His visage is etched into God's throne of glory. He is considered the choicest of the forefathers, the one who merited bearing twelve sons who spawned the twelve tribes of Israel. His life was a series of challenges. His twin brother Esau was his polar opposite and, at this point, was out to kill him. His father-in-law was the wily trickster Laban who sought to deceive him at every turn. Jacob had a mesmerizing impact on his surroundings. His departure from a place was palpable. He had the ability to extract sparks of holiness from inanimate objects. But there were two people whom Jacob was unable to influence: the Red Esau, and the White Laban. In this podcast, you find out how and why they blew it.

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This Parsha podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Will Sukenik, Avraham Ben Velvel who passed away recently. Will was a titan of a man, an exceptionally generous person, and a remarkable leader in the Jewish community. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven

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Parsha: Vayeitzei - Rock and Roll (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob undergoes a meteoric transformation in our Parsha. At the onset, Jacob is a 77-year-old penniless bachelor fleeing from his brother Esau's wrath. When the Pasha concludes, Jacob is at the helm of a veritable empire. He has 12 children with his four wives, is enormously wealthy, and is heading back to encounter Esau's rage. How did Jacob manage to accomplish such a magnificent transformation? In this special retro edition of the pasha podcast, we explore the wondrous narrative and storyline of Jacob in our Parsha.

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The Three Types of Disciples

TORCH — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Nothing is as critical to one's spiritual development as to finding our a good teacher.A good teacher can educate, can inform, can direct, can inspire, can place a student on the right path for them. But how does a student integrate the teachings and the guidance of their teacher within themselves? What are the different ways in which a person in which a pupil can process and digest the teachings of their master? Abraham had three primary students: Lot, Eliezer, and Isaac. When we examine how each of these proteges exhibited the teachings of Abraham, we learn of the three different types of students.

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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 Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Parshas Vayeitzei follows Jacob as he is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and travels to Charan to the house of Laban, his wily and deceptive uncle, and marries multiple wives and fathers 12 children.

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Parsha: Toldos - Infertile Crescent

TORCH — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Why were the patriarchs and matriarchs infertile? Why did Isaac favor Esau? Why did Isaac require delicacies to bless Esau? Why does the Torah offer an extended narrative of Isaac and wells - digging wells, wrestling with wells that got plugged up, quarreling over wells, naming cities after wells? Why does anti-Semitism exist? These are some of the questions addressed in this very interesting and provocative Parsha podcast. Join us as we go backstage in Parshas Toldos.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmat Yehuda Ben Yehhaskel Tabibian who passed away recently. May his soul be elevated in heaven.

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Parsha: Toldos - Smoking Camels (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Two very different boys are born in this week's Parsha. Esau, the older one, is ruddy and hairy and looking for trouble. Jacob, the younger one, is wholesome and righteous. The beginning of our Parsha describe the unusual events surrounding the conception and birth of these two boys. When we read it on a superficial level, it does not immediately resonate. What is the deeper messages behind the birthing narrative? In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the prayer of Isaac and Rebecca that led to her conceiving, the two fabrics that Esau is compared to, and the recurring theme of camels in the narrative surrounding this family. This is a podcast that you will enjoy and remember.

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Wrestling with Innate, Unchangeable flaws: The Keturah Method

TORCH — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Our character traits fall into three categories:

The ones that are easily changeable with minimal effort.
The ones that can be changed, but it requires much more intense and concerted effort because they are much more deeply rooted.
The character flaws that are not changeable; they are hardwired and fixed in place.

What do we do about those unchangeable flaws? Is there a method to maneuver around them? Are we supposed to come to terms with them? Are we condemned to suffer as a result of them? Our pursuit is perfection. And perfection is even possible notwithstanding very unpleasant and very unchangeable flaws. One method was pioneered by a brilliant and righteous woman named Keturah.

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Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

In Parshas Toldos we meet twin boys that are polar opposites: Esau, beloved by his father Isaac, is a man of the fields; while Jacob is loved by his mother Rebecca and prefers to dwell in the tents of scholarship. These two children will spawn nations and ideals that diverged from each other even before they were born.

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Age of the Matriarchs

TORCH — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Sarah lived a relatively long life. She passed away at the age of 127 after learning about the Binding of Isaac. Our Parsha begins with her passing, eulogy, and burial in the Cave of the Patriarchs. Just as when the sun sets in one area, it automatically rises in some other place, with the passing of Sarah came the rise of a comparably bright light: Rebecca. In this edition of the Parsha podcast, we explore the legacy of Sarah, the age of Rebecca at her marriage, and examine the founding families of our people.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas David Gedaliah ben Efraim, the unforgettable David Genecov, of blessed memory, whose third yartzeit was today. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Buried Alive (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Sarah died at the age of 127. Abraham negotiated with the Hittites for the purchase of a burial plot, the Cave of Machpelah. The objective of the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah was to bury the dead. These three facts are featured at the beginning of our Parsha. On the surface these facts seem wholly unremarkable. In year 8 of the Parsha Podcast we try to go beneath the surface, behind the veneer, into the subtext of the Parsha and to discover the secrets -- the deep secrets -- contained in the substrate. Is there a deeper meaning of Sarah's age at death? Why is the role of the Hittites in facilitating Abraham's purchase revisited so man times in the Torah? Why does the Torah repeat numerous times that the objective of Abraham's purchase to bury the dead? In this Parsha Podcast we discover some wonderful and deep insights.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Living a Torah Life (Alei Shur Introduction to The First Gate)

TORCH — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Torah is not supposed to be a detached, academic study. The Almighty gave us a Torah as the authoritative guide for living the most elevated and rich life possible. The Creator of all of created existence endowed humanity with with the guidance for how to live a most meaningful and uplifting life. The First Gate of Alei Shur is dedicated to living a life of Torah and the Introduction to The First Gate will infuse us with deep desire to learn about how to live a Torah life. We also get a glimpse of some of the structure of the Work and how its four Gates act as a ladder of ascent.

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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 Chayei Sarah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vayeira - Sodium and Gomorrah

TORCH — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:00:00 -0600

Abraham was the paragon of faith. He was also the paragon of kindness and hospitality. When he was 99 years old and only three days removed from a very painful and debilitating circumcision surgery, Abraham launched into a frenzied act of superlative hospitality to three travelers (who later turned out to be angels). These twin attributes worked synergistically. Abraham used his hospitality to advance his lifelong mission of disseminating the Name of God in the world and publicizing the Name of God to all. The Parsha is studded with other iconic episodes and narratives: Abraham's intercession on behalf of the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot's kindness in Sodom and Gomorrah; the overturning of those cities and the rendering of Mrs. Lot into a pillar of salt; Lot's incestuous tryst with his daughters spawning the forbearer of Messiah; the birth and maturation of Isaac; the banishment of Ishmael; and of course, the Binding of Isaac. In this edition of the Parsha podcast, we study the Parsha and then take a tour backstage.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by Steve Horak in honor of his wife becoming a doctor – Dr Elena Silberman Scott, and in honor of his niece Emily Silberman becoming bat mitzvah, and in honor of his granddaughter Levy Schwartz Messing's first birthday.

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Parsha: Vayeira - Abraham Abraham (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah each year we read chapter 22 of Genesis, the Binding of Isaac episode. Abraham is instructed to take his beloved son Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice atop Mount Moriah. Abraham does as told, only to be stopped at the very last moment. In this very special Parsha podcast episode, we explore three dimensions of this iconic event. We try to go deep and deeper as is our mandate. We begin by addressing the three times that people are described as walking together; we proceed by suggesting a new approach to the call of the angel, "Abraham, Abraham;" and we end with the curious overlap between Abraham's Binding of Isaac and Adam's banishment from the Garden. This is an episode that you will really enjoy.

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Bonus Talmud Lecture - Parental Obligations

TORCH — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 22:00:00 -0600

I was asked to give a Talmud class in the TORCH center. The subject matter is the obligation of a father to circumcise his son. If you want to get a bit of a flavor of the methodology and cadence of Talmud, this would be a good place to start.

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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 Walled Garden of Torah (Alei Shur Introduction)

TORCH — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0600

A thick wall separates the world of Torah from the world outside of it. Those who are outside have no concept of the wondrous nature of that world. Even people who are Torah observant - who are Orthodox - can be totally ignorant of this most magnificent world. Even someone who is privileged to be enumerated amongst students of a Yeshiva, may be ignorant of the true world of Torah.

That is how the book Alei Shur, authored by my saintly grandfather Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe begins. There's a magnificent, majestic, marvelous world of Torah, but it is guarded by a thick wall.

The words "Alei Shur" (עלי שור) mean "atop the rampart." In this book, the Magnum Opus a of my grandfather's extremely voluminous literary output, offers the readers a tour on top of the ramparts of that thick wall.

With the first reading of the book, readers are only asked to tread upon the ramparts and examine every part of this wonderful world. With a second reading of the book, the reader is encouraged to head down from the ramparts and to find a portal to enter into this wonderful world themselves.

In this podcast we study the introduction of this fantastic book. Learning this introduction will certainly whet our appetites to be included in this tour on top of the ramparts. If you would be interested in a stand-alone podcast on Alei Shur, please email me and let me know.

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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 Vayeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0500

This week’s parsha features several iconic episodes: Abraham was visited by God as he was recuperating from his circumcision, and concurrently engaged in superlative kindness with three angels masquerading as pagan travelers; Abraham was informed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed and was unsuccessful in interceding on their behalf; and we also read the two Torah sections that are read on the two days of Rosh Hashana: The episode of the birth of Isaac and the subsequent banishment of Ishmael, and the story of the Binding of Isaac.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Lech Lecha - Three and a Half Men

TORCH — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Our nation has three forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and four foremothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The Book of Genesis principally orients around these people. The the narratives of a Adam and Noah are but pitstops along the way until the Torah focuses squarely on Abraham and his descendants. What is the role of a patriarch and a matriarch? What is significant about that designation? What is the relevance of the stories of these people to our lives? What is instructive about these about the episodes of the Patriots and matriarchs in the Torah (the Torah must always be instructive)? In this magical podcast, we journey backstage into the story and the concept of our illustrious forefathers and foremothers. The lessons that we learn prove to be quite instructive indeed.

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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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Parsha: Lech Lecha - The Generational Secret (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Join us for an exquisite Parsha Podcast as we go deep and deeper into Lech Lecha. The deep idea relates to Lot's fateful decision to choose to move to the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. We then go deeper and explore the allegorical dimensions of the breakup between Abraham and Lot. Finally, we go even deeper and explore the secret and the mystery of the circumcision. If you seek Parsha Podcast that will educate and entertain, this one is for you.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

In this week’s parsha, Abraham is instructed to move to Israel, is given divine promises that he will be the father of many nations; his children will be as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of the heaven, a son Ishmael is born, and he is commanded to circumcise his foreskin and those of all males in his household.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Noach - Hell on High Water

TORCH — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Noah's experience during the flood it was not exactly akin to a year-long cruise. There wasn't a lot of relaxing poolside with a pina colada. In fact, for an entire year, Noah and Co did not even have a proper sleep. They were consumed with work, tending to all the animals and there diverse feeding schedules. The ark itself was tumultuous, constantly turning over like boiling lentils. The quarters were cramped, the stench of the animals unbearable, and the noise ear splitting. Why was Noah subjected such a miserable year in the ark? What is the deeper meaning behind Noah's year in the ark? In this Parsha podcast, we share two perspectives that radically reshape our understanding of Noah and his time in the ark.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Noach - Secret Of Invincibility (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

We started this week's Parsha Podcast by talking about the Tower of Babel episode. We gleaned from that story something absolutely transformational and deep. We then proceeded to talk about the unusual contribution that Noah gave to the people of his generation. In that second segment, we also derived something very profound. Deeper. The podcast ended with a third segment related to the sin that doomed the generation and to the precise dimensions of the Ark. The deepest of them all.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Noach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:58:44 -0500

In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Bereishis - Duality of Man

TORCH — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Parshas Bereishis is the first Parsha and also the most difficult one to understand. From beginning to end, our Parsha is a riddle and a mystery. In this year's podcasts we attempt to read the story behind the story, get the inside scoop, the privileged information, the secret connections, the hidden messages, the things you missed the first ten times you read it. With the help of the Almighty we hope to gain us a greater appreciation of the profundity and perfection of Torah.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Bereishis - Microcosm of History (5784)

TORCH — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

In this podcast we attempt to read not just the text but also the subtext of the parsha - to go deep and deeper on three subjects in the first Parsha in the Torah: the Genesis narrative and it's overarching message, the unusual source for the dust of which Adam's body was created, and an interesting observation about the birth of Noah.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Bereishis (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 10 of the Parsha Podcast (5786). This year, we will re-upload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 8th cycle's episode (5784) for each respective Parsha each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly episode each Thursday. Thank you for downloading and please share with a friend.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vezos Haberacha 5785 - The Heavenly Verses

TORCH — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0500

There was no joy that matches the joy of Torah study, and that Joy is amplified yet further when we have the great privilege of finishing the entire Torah and once again beginning it anew. The final Parsha, though, has a poignant theme to it. It was the last day of Moshe's life, and he blessed the Tribes of Israel before his death. In this wonderful Parsha podcast, we explore the end of the Torah and it's recounting of Moshe's death, burial, and eulogy, and discover several profound and amazing secrets.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Chaim Ben Binyamin, Victor Amram, the father of our friend Esther Sarah Amram. Victor passed away this week. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vezos Haberacha - A Mission For Everyone (5783)

TORCH — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:23:00 -0500

At the very end of Moshe's life, he, like Jacob before him, blesses the tribes. When Jacob was about to pass, he blessed his sons, now Moshe is blessing the tribes that those sons spawned. These blessings were nor random, but very targeted blessings for each tribe so that they know what their particular tribe needs to contribute. In this podcast - the final Parsha Podcast of the seventh cycle of the Parsha Podcast, we examine the blessing given to the tribe of Levi. What we discover can materially transform our lives.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Vezos Haberacha (The Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 22:08:11 -0500

The final parsha of the Torah details the blessings that Moshe conveyed to the tribes of Israel immediately prior to his passing, and the Torah ends with the description of the death, burial, and eulogy of Moshe.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Haazinu - Injustice In Justice

TORCH — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:49:27 -0500

The high holidays are days of judgment. On Rosh Hashanah, every single person stands before God in judgment and their verdict is written, but left unsealed until the great and awesome day of Yom Kippur, when it is finalized and sealed. We take these days very seriously. There are all sorts of extra prayers and supplications designed to elicit repentance and atonement and expiation and cleansing which is so urgently needed during these days. We are trained to try to make a resolution that will put us on the path towards elevation and transformation. Our sages found an insight from this week's Parsha that serves as the best tactic to merit a good judgment. Humans are incapable of corruption-free Justice. God is completely just, in all of His ways. In this podcast, we learn the secret to best position ourselves for a good judgment.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by the Yashar family in loving memory of John Ben Farajollah, May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Haazinu - Antidote to Vacuousness (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

On the final day of Moshe's life, he conveys the Song of Haazinu to the nation. In this masterful prophetic Song, the Torah overviews Jewish history, past, present, future, and Messiah. In this penultimate parsha podcast we focus on what happens afterwards. After the Song, Moshe shares a few pithy words about the nature of Torah. As we near the end of this cycle of Torah and prepare to embark on another, it is helpful and useful to hear how Moshe defines Torah. The lessons will forever transform our understanding.

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The Singular Day of Yom Kippur

TORCH — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:00:00 -0500

The holiest day of the year is upon us. The day of Yom Kippur is unmatched and unrivaled by any other. It is a day of elevation. It is a day of purification. It is a day to be cleansed of all of our sins. It is a day to move past all of our trauma. On this day God pledges to forgive us from for all of our sins. But some of us have a hard time connecting with this awesome day. Some of us wish that we can leapfrog this day and move on to the festival of Sukkos. Why do we have such a hard time with this day, and what is there to do about it? In this really superb podcast, we learn about the secrets of this awesome day, and what is actually we need to do so that we merit to partake in its vast, awesome power.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on an Allegorical Level

TORCH — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of the protagonist, Jonah, and of the people of Nineveh. But our Sages let us in on a secret that the Book of Jonah contains a hidden, kabbalistic story embedded beneath the story – which also teaches us powerful, topical messages for the Day of Atonement.

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Parshas Haazinu (The Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Still in the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys to the nation a 43-verse Song predicting the contours of Jewish history, both past, present, and future. The patterns are familiar to the readers of Deuteronomy and even casual observers and students of Jewish history: The nation is recipients of tremendous divine goodness, yet they become corpulent and rebel against God. Consequently, God allows the nations to feast upon the people, but despite the harsh and painful torment and suffering, we continue to exist. The Song ends with a vivid description of the Messianic reclamation.

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Parsha: Vayeilech - Mission Improbable

TORCH — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Moshe's tenure as leader of the Jews was chock full of magnificent accomplishments. He spearheaded the Exodus, he brought the Torah down from Heaven, in his merit came the manna - Moshe's CV is unparalleled. But now it's time for him to hand over the reins to Joshua, his disciple and successor. In this Parsha podcast, we make a remarkable observation that connects the beginning of Moshe's tenure and its conclusion that fundamentally changes our perspective on maintaining devotion and commitment to a life mission from beginning to end.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor and for the success of Noam Yitzhak ben Shlomi. May he be blessed with a Shana Tova UMetuka, a happy and healthy and sweet New Year of only Blessing and Goodness.

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Kingdom of Heaven in Exile: A Novel Rosh Hashanah Framework

TORCH — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Rosh Hashanah marks the day of the creation of Adam on Day Six of Genesis. The creation of Adam facilitated the coronation of God as King. Because Adam was endowed with the choice to accept or reject God, his decision to submit himself to God and his Dominion resulted in the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Rosh Hashanah is thus the day of the creation and re-creation of man, and also the day of the coronation and the re-coronation of God. But what does coronating God in modern times - when the world has gone so far astray from God - look like? In this wonderful podcast, we explore a sharp and incisive essay written by my grandfather of blessed memory. We learn how the forces of evil have occupied the world, dethroning, as it were, God from His proper place. So long as this evil dominates the world, God's Throne is incomplete. But not all have succumbed to the pitiful usurpers regime. There are still some people who are loyal to God and His rule. We maintain Fidelity to God's Kingdom in Exile. We are the Resistance.

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Parshas Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Moshe is 120 years old to the day. He was born on the seventh of Adar and now it is the seven of Adar 120 years later. Today is his last day before his passing and he is taking leave from the nation and handing over the reins to Joshua.

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Parsha: Nitzavim - Repent Up Demand

TORCH — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

How difficult is it to repent? How hard is it to examine your behavior, your choices, your values, your decisions to determine which are in need of improvement? How hard is it to reconsider your choices, to regret your mistakes, and to chart a new path forward, a path of righteousness, a path of purity, a path of holiness? Repentance demands a degree of self-sacrifice. To repent means to abandon from your previous self and to forge a new person, one free of that sinful way. In effect, to repent is to to eliminate the previous self in order to make way for the new you. Surprisingly, on Moshe's last day of his life, he describes repentance as something which is very easy. It is not distance, it is not beyond you, is not in the heavens or across the seas; it is in your mouth and your heart to perform it. In this interesting, elegant, and very topical podcast, we reveal new frameworks of repentance that will help us move past any negative associations we may have with repentance, and make the upcoming season of repentance more powerful, more productive, and more efficacious.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of our parents Drs. David and Susanne Gelb from the Gelb, Goldman and Shacknofsky families. Wishing them and all of Klal Yisrael a Shana Tova Umetuka, a good and sweet New Year. May this learning also be in merit of Avner ben Avraham HaCohen, Shayndel bat David, Meshulam ben David, Avraham ben Menachem Mendel HaKohen, Ashraf Rachel bat Yosef Halevi, and Nissan ben Shimon. May their Neshamas have an Aliyah.

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Parsha: Nitzavim Vayeilech - Pro Choice (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

On the final day of Moshe's life, he gathers the entire nation for a parting message. After forging another covenant between the nation and God and explicating the consequences thereof, Moshe presents the nation with a choice: "Behold I have placed before you today: life and good vs. death and bad... Choose life." There are two options for us: life that amounts to good or death that amounts to bad. What is the nature of this binary choice? What is Moshe trying to convey to the Nation? Why are we commanded to choose life? Isn't it obvious that any sensible person will make that choice? In the final parsha Podcast before Rosh Hashana, we explore the stark choice that Moshe placed before the Nation, a choice that truthfully faces each one of us.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Alchemy of Repentance

TORCH — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 23:56:04 -0500

Repentance is one of God's great gifts to humanity. The ability to move past our mistakes, to cleanse ourselves from our previous trauma, to expunge sin and any of its after effects is indeed a great gift. But this gift may come with some scary packaging. We are all a bit intimidated with the notion of change. We recoil and get defensive when anyone points out our flaws. Repentance is a great gift, but to make the most of it, we have to become adept at utilizing it. In this podcast, we show positive and pleasant angles of repentance. When you are finished with this episode, you will be motivated to make the most of this repentance season, and to once and for all ascend above your previous misconduct and embark on the path of elevation and holiness and righteousness and purity.

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Parshas Nitzavim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 01:09:18 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Savo - A Cursory Reading

TORCH — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy is arguably the most difficult portion in the Torah to read. Known as the Admonition, the chapter details the blessings that will be bestowed upon our nation when we adhere to the Laws of God. But it also has the curses that will befall our people in the event that we disobey the word of God and flout His Torah. The curses are bone chilling and blood curling, and unfortunately, not only academic. Over the course of our long and storied history, our Nation has experienced great highs unmatched by any other Nation, and lows of such frightening nature that they are unrivaled by any misery accounted for in the annals of human history. Every curse detailed in the Admonition has happened to our people at some point. When this section is read in the synagogues, it is read in an undertone and very rapidly. What will befall our people in such excruciating detail is highly unpleasant and something that many want to get over with quickly. In this Parsha podcast, we take the brave step of trying to study it properly, and specifically finding lessons and insights and perspectives that prove to be instructive and even insightful. We find the shimmering silver linings to the menacing and foreboding clouds. Some of the ideas may sound foreign and maybe even far-fetched, but we discover how learning even this part of the Torah can be elevating and edifying.

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Parsha: Ki Savo - Dial of Joy (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Torah has a surprising view on joy and how to attain it. The prevailing attitude in our society is that a person's state of joy is contingent upon circumstance: In good days, people tend to feel a bit more joyous. On bad days, it's more difficult to feel joy. Joy, according to society, is inextricably connected to circumstance. The Torah understands otherwise. The Torah teaches us that there is a dial of joy which can be easily manipulated. If you want more joy, all you need to do is rotate the dial in one direction. To reduce joy, spin it the other way. In this Parsha Podcast, we share the secret of the dial of joy. To boost your joy, listen carefully.

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Divine Mirroring: The Secret to Earning a Merciful Judgment on Rosh Hashanah

TORCH — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The judgment on Rosh Hashanah is comprehensive: every single human has his or her moment of judgment before God. Even the dead are judged again each year. The judgment covers not only our behavior with respect to fulfilling our obligations to God, it also covers interpersonal matters. If we are meritorious, we will be forgiven for all our sins on Yom Kippur, but that atones only sins down between man and God. For interpersonal sins, we are not forgiven until we appease our friend and elicit their forgiveness. But these two domains are not entirely separate. In this short and sweet podcast sourced from the writings of my grandfather of blessed memory, we learn how important our interpersonal behavior is vis-a-vis our status before God. Now is the time to prepare.

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Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

As the Book of Deuteronomy draws to its conclusion, the narrative makes a transition: Moshe finishes conveying the mitzvos to the nation, and sets up his final parting message to the people. First, he commands the nation to perform several elaborate ceremonies on the very first day that they cross the Jordan River; then he conveys a scathing, terrifying list of curses that will befall the people in the event that we deviate from the Torah.

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - Yibbum Or Bust

TORCH — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The death of one's spouse is always a tragedy, but there's something particularly sad about someone who dies without children. Leaving no living progeny behind leaves a person without continuity, without a legacy in this world. When a man dies childless, the Torah instructs his wife to seek to marry her deceased husband's brother in fulfillment of a law called Yibbum, known as levirate marriage. When this couple bears their firstborn child -- the Baby Yi-Boomer -- he will be named after the deceased husband/brother, and thereby provide a continuity to his soul. But if the brother refuses to marry his sister-in-law, if he eschews taking responsibility for his brother's soul, then a process called Chalitzah is done: the widow removes her brother-in-law's shoe, spits on the ground next to him, and derisively proclaims, "So shall be done to the man who refuses to build his brother's house." What could possibly be the meaning of these very strange laws? In this wonderful Parsha podcast, we discover the answers that illuminate this law, but also provide us with a newfound understanding of messiah and the imperative for selfless dedication on behalf of us.

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - The Upside of Laziness (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Our parsha begins with the unusual law of the marriage of a Jewish warrior and an enemy captive woman. When a Jewish warrior spots a prisoner of war that he desires to marry, there is a process and a protocol for how he may marry her. The Talmud (also featured by Rashi) offers a very unusual classification of why the Torah permits this union. On its surface, this reason compounds the difficulties of this law. In this very special edition of the Parsha podcast, we share a novel and instructive approach to this very unusual law.

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TORAH 101: Third Order of Mishnah (Women)

TORCH — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:00:00 -0500

A great corpus of Torah law governs the relationships between men and women. The Second Order of Mishnah contains books on the initiation of marriage, on marital responsibilities, on the annulment of marriage via divorce, on the suspected adulteress, and on levirate marriages. The Order also contains two seemingly unrelated books: a book on vows and oaths and a book on the laws of a Nazir. In this podcast we explore the nature of these books, and earn some basic literacy in this massive portion of Oral Torah.

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Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

In the parsha that contains the most mitzvos of any of the 54 Torah sections (a staggering 74 mitzvos), we read about the wayward and rebellious son, the requirement to build a fence around your roof to prevent tragedy, two episodes that we are mandated to remember, and many, many more interesting and insightful mitzvos.

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Parsha: Shoftim - Crown Jewels

TORCH — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Many of us secretly harbor the belief the we would make a fine president. Leading a nation sounds like a cushy job: armies of aides at your beck and call, ready to execute your agenda and vision. Kings have truly unlimited power. They don't have term limits. There are no checks and balances to weaken their power. Jewish Kings however are subject to God. The Torah limits their powers and checks their authority. They must be subservient to their Creator and must exemplify humility. In this wonderful and provocative Parsha podcast, we explore the fascinating subject of a Jewish King and share a very controversial and surprising insight on the attribute of humility.

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Parsha: Shoftim - Crisper Genes (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 22:00:00 -0500

The nation is on the doorstep of Canaan. In our Parsha, the people are instructed in how they must treat the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. It's not pleasant. The people are told that they must engage in total war against these nations. How do we understand the requirement to be so violent and aggressive towards the Canaanite nations? What about the Canaanites who opt to join the nation? What is their status? In this podcast, we first explore the general notion of how to understand the Torah's instructions regarding the Canaanite policy, and then we explore a very interesting thread about the power of behavior and how it can get embedded in the spiritual DNA that we transmit to our descendants.

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Elul Cheat Sheet

TORCH — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 13:08:35 -0500

Preparing for the High Holidays can be daunting. How can anyone adequately prepare for standing in judgment in front of the Heavenly tribunal? But prepare we must. The month of Elul is designated for preparing for the awesome days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Our Sages took these days very seriously and were completely immersed in preparation. But we are regular people, ordinary, common folk. Is there something that we can do to prepare? Is there a cheat sheet to simplify Elul? Is there a way to distill this month to its essence? In this wonderful podcast we share the three main pillars of this month and learn the ways how even us lay people can have an immensely productive and powerful Elul.

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Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 21:20:25 -0500

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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Parsha: Reeh - Path Independence

TORCH — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:00:00 -0500

We like to maintain optionality and delay decisions if possible. The idea of being pigeonholed into one path irks us. But Moshe tells the nation that we must make a choice: "Behold I have placed before you today a blessing and curse." The path of blessing is the total acceptance and adherence to God and His word. The path of curse is the repudiation of God and His Torah. In this very special edition of the Parsha podcast, we argue that the choice of which path to take exists on two fronts. There are two choices of which path to take. There are two forks in the road. Neither choice is easy, but one is decidedly less easy than the other.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of a successful surgery for Moshe Ben Dalya. We hope to hear only good news from him.

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Parsha: Reeh - Making Dough (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Parsha ends with a delineation of the festivals. When discussing Passover, the verse notes that for 7 days we eat matzah because we left Egypt within great haste. The Exodus was so rapid and frantic, that the dough that we had been preparing was unable to rise and we did not have fluffy, puffy bread. Why is this trivial factoid so central to the Exodus and the festival that commemorates and relives it? What is so noteworthy about the dough having insufficient time to rise? Why did the accident happen during baking time? In this parsha podcast, we explore the Exodus on a deep level, and draw out a foundational lesson about living life alongside our Creator.

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Elul: Month of Personal Reinvention

TORCH — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

We are on the doorstep of the month of mercy, the month that precedes the high holidays, the month of Elul. The high holidays are very significant and auspicious days, and it is imperative that we prepare for them. How ought we prepare? What are the particular points of emphasis that we should stress during these days? In this podcast we are guided by a chapter in my grandfather Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe's classic work, Alei Shur. This chapter is titled "month of mercy" and can be found in Volume 2, section 3, chapter 12, page 413.

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Parshas Reeh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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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Parsha: Eikev - Tefillin' Good

TORCH — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

This is a very special episode of the Parsha podcast. Exactly 5 years ago, the Parsha podcast began a streak of producing a brand new episode each week. With the unending help of the Almighty, we haven't missed in five years. To celebrate this momentous accomplishment, we tackled a very ambitious project: our Parsha contains the fourth and final paragraph included in the Tefillin. Both the Head-Tefillin and the Arm-Tefillin contain this paragraph. When we explore the subject of Tefillin, we find that it is unique in several unprecedented ways. In this wonderful podcast, we enumerate some of the very interesting features of this wonderful mitzvah, and suggest an approach to understand it and to make our performance of it more meaningful and productive.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of the complete and total recovery of Toba Rivka bas Chaya Miriam, a recently born baby who is in the NICU with multiple health issues and in need of our prayers. May Toba Rivka bas Chaya Miriam merit a complete and speedy Refuah Sheleima.

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Parsha: Eikev - Longevity Pill (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

A ubiquitous feature in Jewish homes, the Mezuzah contains a scroll with two paragraphs from the Torah, one from this week's Parsha and one from last week's. This mitzvah bears a distinction that it shares with no other mitzvah. In this interesting and useful podcast, we explore the secrets represented by the Mezuzah, and learn how it can serve as a panacea - a pill of longevity.

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TORAH 101: Second Order of Mishnah (Festivals)

TORCH — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Jewish calendar is studded with days of great importance. Each week we relive Genesis by celebrating the holy Shabbos. At half-year intervals are the mega festivals of Sukkos and Pesach (Passover). There's also Shavuos, Rosh Hashanah, and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. The second Order of Mishnah orients around all these days of importance. In this podcast we learn about the content of the 12 books of this Order, and also sample a teaching from each book.

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Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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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Parsha: Vaeschanan - Two of Hearts

TORCH — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Even believers are incapable of understanding God. It's supremely logical to observe that our wonderful world - our wonderful universe - certainly had a Creator, but how can we connect with God? How can we develop a relationship with Him? In our Parsha, we are commanded to develop emotions of love and fear towards God, emotions that ought to be expressed when performing mitzvos. But how can we love God when we mortal, finite humans are inherently precluded from even understanding the Infinite? In this wonderful, if text and source heavy, podcast, we learn about the secret of love (of God), sometimes known as the secret of two hearts.

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Parsha: Vaeschanan - Jordan Rules (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

As a result of Moshe's sin of striking the rock, he was barred from crossing over the Jordan River and entering the Land of Canaan. In Moshe's speech to the nation, he recounts how he petitioned God to have this decree rescinded. When studying Moshe's prayer to enter the Land, we discover several incredible insights about the nature of prayer, the efficacy of prayer, and what it takes to accomplish world-changing things.

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Parshas Vaeschanan (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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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Biblical Longevity

TORCH — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

We all want to live long. But how long is a long life? Centenarians are still rare. Global life expectancy is around 70 years old. In healthier, richer countries, maybe 80. But when you open up Scripture, you find ages an order of magnitude larger. Adam lived to 930. Methuselah to 969. How do we understand the radical difference in the ages of the ancients? What changed from then till now? Why did God shrink the average life expectancy? This question intrigued many of our sages, and in this very fun and interesting podcast, we explore some of the ideas that they shared.

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Parsha: Devarim - Wellsprings of Beer

TORCH — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

There are many levels of Torah. There are many ways to acquire Torah, 48 by the calculation of our Sages. The human with the greatest understanding of Torah was obviously Moshe, the one who received Torah directly from God. In our Parsha we get a stunning description of the profound depth of Moshe's understanding of Torah. When we plumb the matter further, we discover all sorts of secrets. There are actually 50 dimensions of Torah. The 48 ways to acquire Torah are only for the first 48 levels. Moshe's understanding went to the 49th level. Each level is a profound wellspring, be'er (באר) in Hebrew.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of the person without whom there would never have been a Parsha Podcast. In honor of my mother, she should live and be well, on the occasion of her milestone birthday. May you have many more happy returns in good health. May Hashem send you a complete and total refuah Sheleimah, and may we gather for your next milestone birthday in happiness and harmony.

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Parsha: Devarim - Middling East (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

In his speech to the Nation, Moshe revisits the episode of the Spies that occurred 39 years prior. When the nation was on the verge of entering the Land, Moshe commissioned 12 distinguished men to reconnoiter the Land and to share their findings with the nation. It was a debacle and a fiasco. As a result of the report, the nation abandoned hopes to enter the land. They became defeatist and lapsed in their faith. As a result, the nation was condemned to remain in the wilderness for 40 years. Now, when the nation is on the verge of entering the land once again, Moshe revisits this story. In his retelling, he reveals some startling details that completely upend our understanding of this pivotal event. In this Parsha Podcast we study and probe the shocking accusation that the nation made as a consequence of the Spies' report.

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Tisha Bav: Why We Mourn

TORCH — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:06:05 -0500

The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. All manner of calamities and tragedies and disasters befell our people on this day. On this day the nation was condemned to wonder in the wilderness for 40 years. On this day both Temples were destroyed. On this day, the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion in Betar was destroyed. Over the millennia, many more calamities occurred on this most inauspicious day. It is a day of fasting and mourning. What exactly are we mourning about? What is the purpose of mourning? What ought we to do on this day? In this special podcast we learn about the essence of the sadness of this day, and what we can do about it.

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Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

5 weeks before his passing, Moses gives a three-parsha-long speech to the nation, which constitutes his last will and testament. He begins with a retrospective of the history of the nation over the past 40 years since the Exodus – subtly rebuking the nation, guiding them, admonishing them, ensuring that they don’t repeat their mistakes of yore.

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Parsha: Mattos Masei - Greatness and Anti-Greatness

TORCH — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Accidents are unfortunate. Accidents that lead to death are a catastrophe. Among the myriad of subjects discussed in this week's double Parsha is the law of the accidental murderer. When someone kills accidentally, they are punished by being confined to certain cities from which they mustn't leave. These cities of refuge serve as open-air prisons, which the accidental murderers must remain until the death of the high priest. In this very special and interesting Parsha podcast, we explore the fascinating connection between the death of the high priest and the release of accidental murderers, and ponder the over-representation of murderers on the East side of the Jordan River versus the West.

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Parsha: Mattos & Masei - 49-Step Program (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

What did the nation do over the course of the 40 years in the wilderness? What was their objective? In our parsha we read that the nation stopped in 42 locations over the course of their 40-year sojourn. The Torah delineates the names of the 42 different venues where the nation encamped. What is the salience of such a detailed recounting of the nation's sojourns? In this podcast, we explored this fascinating question. What we discover can serve as an illuminating light in our own journey in life.

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TORAH 101: First Order of Mishnah (Planting)

TORCH — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Mishnah is a massive, sprawling, and utterly comprehensive canon of Torah law. Spanning 60+ books over 6 Orders, the Mishnah includes all the laws of the Torah. To study it all would take a very long time. To know it all, takes a lifetime. In this podcast, we try to gain an appreciation for the general concepts of Mishnah, beginning in the Order of Planting (Agriculture).

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Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Parsha: Pinchas - Sunday and Moonday

TORCH — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Great leaders are often irreplaceable. The greatest leader of them all is certainly irreplaceable. But even Moshe must have a successor. In our Parsha, Moshe asks God designate a successor for him after he passes. Who can possibly fill such large shoes? Who can possibly take upon themselves the mantle of leadership of God's Nation? Who can possibly steward the People, lead them across the Jordan, and fulfill what Moshe was unable to fulfill? There was a bit of a dispute regarding who should be chosen: Moshe wanted his sons to succeed him. God said, otherwise: Joshua, your trusty student and confidante will lead the Nation after your passing. What was the dispute between Moshe and God all about? How can it be that Moshe and God had different ideas regarding who should succeed Moshe? In this fascinating Parsha podcast, we propose a novel answer, an answer replete with dramatic ramifications for our own life and decisions.

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Parsha: Pinchas - Sons of Anarchist (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Korach's rebellion claimed many victims: Some of the perpetrators were swallowed up in a miraculous sinkhole; some were consumed by a divine fire; and some were killed in a plague. In our Parsha, we discover that the sons of Korach did not die. Although they were participants in the rebellion initially, at the very last moment, they repented and were spared. In this Parsha Podcast we explore the fascinating story of the sons of Korach and discover a theme that appears in several other instances in our Parsha. At the risk of being overly presumptuous, I am confident that this podcast will prove to be both intriguing and deeply beneficial.

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Assault on Dina: A Deep Exploration of a Third Rail Topic

TORCH — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Some subjects are way too dicey address publicly - electrified third rail subjects which zap anyone who approaches it. But Blake Cohn is not afraid of third rails. In fact, he recently launched a podcast that is dedicated exclusively to the untouchable "Third Rails" of Judaism. Fittingly, his show was called "Third Rail Judaism", where he explores and ponders some of the forbidden subjects that others are too scared to tackle. I was honored when Blake asked me to be interviewed for the first episode, an exploration of the kidnapping and assault of Dina, daughter of Jacob.

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Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 22:24:35 -0500

Pinchas was a man of action, a zealot who avenged God’s vengeance and was handsomely rewarded for it. In this parsha we read about his reward, Moses’ succession plan, the methods through which the Land will be divided, and another census is done.

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Parsha: Balak - Ruthless and Ruthful Determination

TORCH — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0500

Balak, King of Moab, and Bilaam, sorcerer extraordinaire, hatched a plot to annihilate the Jewish people. Had their plan been successful, there would not have been even a single survivor. And they almost pulled it off. In fact, absent a Divine intervention, the glorious Jewish Nation would have been toast. What gave them such power? Where did Bilaam's preternatural ability come from? In this wonderful Parsha podcast we uncover the secrets of Bilaam and discover what it takes to harness this extraordinary force ourselves. Do you have what it takes?

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Addison ben Ruth, the father of our dear friend Pat Billman. Addison passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 103. He was a remarkable man who will be sorely missed. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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TORAH 101: Components of Oral Torah

TORCH — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0500

What makes up Oral Torah? What are the different types of information included in the Mishnah? In part 3 of the authoritative, magisterial, and comprehensive introduction to Mishnah offered by Rambam, we learn about the five different components of oral Torah, two that come all the way back from the times of Moshe, and three components developed by the Sages over the centuries since. Since. We also learn about the origin and the nature of disputes, and how those disputes do not indicate gaps in tradition or forgetfulness. We learn about the nature of laws deemed "laws from Moshe at Sinai", and how they differ from the accepted explanations from Moshe at Sinai. We also learn why dissenting opinions that are overruled are still included in in the Mishnah. In short, a delightful and profound exploration of the Oral Law included in the Mishnah.

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Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0500

After the Jewish nation trounced the mighty kingdoms of Sichon and Og in last week's parsha, the comparatively smaller and weaker kingdom of Moab resorted to unconventional warfare to attack the nation by hiring the prophet of the nations, a wily and devious character named Bilaam, to curse the Jews. It did not work out as planned.

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Parsha: Chukas - Bold and Boulder

TORCH — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0500

When the nation needed water, they found it in a most unexpected place: Moshe struck a rock and it began to spew forth enough water for the entire nation. Why was there water inside the rock? Why when Jacob needed water, he removed the rock blockading it? Why didn't he find water inside the rock too? Water and rocks are often connected, but sometimes the water is found beyond the rock and other times the water is embedded inside the flinty stone. This distinction reveals the two different ways to contend with adversity. When we examine the opening subject of our Parsha, the strange protocol of the red heifer, we see a pattern of the multiple methods of transformation.

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Parsha: Chukas - Methods of Transformation (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

In Parshas Chukas we read about the death of two giants: Miriam and Aaron, Moshe's older sister and brother, pass away. Our sages tell us that the death of the righteous serves as an atonement in a way similar to sacrifices. Just as sacrifices atone, so too does the death of the righteous. But why does the death of the righteous provide atonement? Why is the sacrifice used to convey this principle specifically the red heifer, the most unusual of sacrifices? In this delectable Parsha podcast, we discover critical elements, growth, change, and transformation.

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Demystifying Chareidi Opposition to IDF Enlistment

TORCH — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 18:43:38 -0500

Perhaps the most controversial and divisive subject that dominates Israeli society today is the question of the blanket army exemption given to Yeshiva students. Someone whose Torah is their profession is entitled to defer and ultimately bypass mandatory constriction to the IDF. What is the rationale for this exemption? Why are the ultra-orthodox (Chareidi) communities so adamantly opposed to serving in the army? Don't they know the imperative to help contribute towards the safety and protection of the nation? Don't they know the chastisement that Moshe levied on the tribes of Reuben and Gad when they asked to stay on the East Bank of the Jordan? What are the ways by which these seemingly intractable gaps can be bridged? In this podcast we attempt to demystify the subject of Chareidi refusal to enlist in the IDF.

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This special podcast is dedicated in loving memory of R’ Shlomo Ben Avigdor Moshe and R’ Yitzchak Yaakov ben Eliyahu. And it should be a merit for all their descendants.

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Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:41:45 -0500

In this week's parsha, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact with dead people in order to purify them from their spiritual contamination. We also learn about the passing of Miriam and Aaron, and the multiple battles that the nation participated in on the Eastern bank of the Jordan, and we puzzle over the sin that condemned Moses and Aaron to die before entering the Land.

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Parsha: Korach - On Cloudy

TORCH — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Of Korach's 253 collaborators, only three are named, and all three are Reubenites: Dathan, Abiram, and On Ben Peles. Dathan and Abiram remain true to Korach's cause until the very end when they and their families are swallowed alive by the miraculous sinkhole. On Ben Peles was spared thanks to his wife's wise intervention. In this very interesting podcast we trace the decision of the Reubenites to join the rebellion back to their progenitor Reuben, and learn the valuable tactic to avoid doom advocated by Jacob in his deathbed blessing to his eldest son. The lessons are valuable and instructive to Reubenintes and non-Reubenites alike.

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Parsha: Korach - Korach's Insatiability (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Korach was immensely talented. He was enormously rich, he was clever, and he was devilishly persuasive. His rebellion, however, was doomed from the start. What are the roots of Korach's rebellion? Why was Jacob dead-set on not having his name associated with Korach? In this Parsha Podcast we engage in a profound study of the episode of Korach and discover where he went wrong. The lessons are powerful.

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Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:57:01 -0500

In this week’s parsha, Moshe and Aaron’s first cousin, a man named Korach, launches a rebellion claiming that Moshe is guilty of nepotism in appointing his brother as High Priest. What ensued should give one serious pause before engaging in any similar sort of divisive activities.

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Parsha: Shelach - Rogue Ten

TORCH — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:59:53 -0500

The consequences of sending 12 spies to scout out the Land for 40 days were catastrophic. 10 of the 12 spies returned with a slanderous report about the Land. The Nation was on the precipice of conquering the land, and this report deflated their spirit and condemned an entire generation to perish in the Wilderness over the course of 40 years. How did these spies fail so spectacularly? How did they fail whereas Rachav - a woman of ill repute who was presented with the identical dilemma - succeeded in knowing that with the help of the Almighty the Nation will roll through Canaan as seamlessly and easily as a knife through bread?

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Parsha: Shelach - Despising Limitations (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The nation was on the cusp of entering the Land. After about a year at Sinai, the nation was ready to conquer Canaan. The invasion and war of conquest was imminent. Then catastrophe struck. Moshe sent 12 spies to reconnoiter the Land and report the back with their findings. Their report completely deflated the spirit of the nation. The ultimate result: the nation was condemned to spend 40 years in the wilderness, one year for every day that the spies spent in the Land. In this insightful podcast episode we explore the story of the spies in depth: we examine the fundamental disagreement between 10 of the spies and Joshua and Caleb, and we discover what it takes to do the impossible, to conquer the unconquerable.

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TORAH 101: Real and Fraudulent Prophecy

TORCH — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The veracity of prophecy is a critical component of our philosophy. But how do we know if a prophecy claimant is legit? How do we differentiate between real prophets and fraudulent ones? In our second installment on Rambam's introduction to his commentary on Mishnah, we explore the four different categories of prophecy, the limitations of allowable prophecy, how prophets are vetted, and why prophecy cannot resolve Torah disputes.

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Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 01:27:26 -0500

The Jewish people were on the cusp of entering the Land of Canaan, and made a prudent, but ultimately tragic, decision: To send a contingent of scouts to reconnoiter the Land, to examine its vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to best plan the conquest. Unfortunately, the report of the scouts sent the nation into a tailspin and caused them to remain in the Wilderness for 40 years.

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Chiseled Hunk

TORCH — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha begins with the commandment for Aaron to kindle the Menorah, the intricately embellished, seven-branched candelabra hewn out of a single block of gold. Towards the Parsha's middle, we read about the set of silver trumpets that Moshe made, again hewn out of a single block of silver. The only other item with this requirement is the set of golden cherubs perched atop the Ark's Cover. Why must these items be made in this unusual fashion? Why cant the Menorah's branches be made separately and welded together? Why cant the golden cherubs be created separately and subsequently attached to the Ark's Cover? In this fascinating podcast we propose a novel explanation that reveals the deep insight for the things that must be created by omission, and contrast it with the sukkah that has the opposite requirement: it cannot be made by hollowing out a mound of material to form the sukkah's walls and roof.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of our dear friend and dedicated Parsha Podcast listener Steve Horak on the occasion of his birthday this week sponsored by his children Meirav and Ahron and granddaughter Libi. Happy birthday my friend! May this year bring only blessing and goodness to you and your family!

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Bad Old Days (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

After a year at Sinai, the nation is finally on the move. Following the precise protocol of disassembly and decampment, the nation marches off from Sinai. Destination: Land of Canaan. At least that was the plan. More about that next week. In this week's podcast we explore the events surrounding the Nation's journey from Sinai. We examine Moshe's unsuccessful attempt at cajoling Jethro to remain with the nation, the strange feature of the backwards facing nuns, and the inexplicable nostalgia that the nation exhibited for Egypt. Assembled together, we learn about a fantastic superpower of the evil inclination that's stymies and stifles our ability to easily overcome difficult challenges.

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TORAH 101: Origins of Oral Torah

TORCH — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 17:39:55 -0500

The Torah was given to us by God with absolute perfection. A unique feature of that is the dual formats of Torah: written and oral. In this interesting and informative podcast, we begin the study of Maimonides' magisterial introduction to his commentary on Mishnah. He begins by tracing the history of oral Torah all the way back to Moshe, he outlines the methods by which Moshe conveyed the Torah to the nation, and addresses the inadmissibility of prophecy in adjudicating Torah dilemmas. Torah is no longer in the heavens. We have other ways of settling uncertainties.

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Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Jewish nation has been encamped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year; in this week’s parsha they finally depart from the Mountain of God, and sadly leave gleefully as a child escaping school. This kick starts a series of missteps that carry harsh consequences.

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Parsha: Nasso - The Elusive Golden Middle

TORCH — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:14:07 -0500

Our nation has been blessed with many great leaders. What is our definition of great leadership? In this interesting Parsha podcast, we go back to the story of the princes of the tribes. These 12 men were the heads of the 12 tribes. When Moshe and Aaron conducted the census in the beginning of last week's Parsha, these 12 men accompanied them. In our Parsha, these princes make two donations towards the Tabernacle: they donate 12 oxen and 6 wagons for the transportation of the Tabernacle, and they each offer an elaborate tribute for the Tabernacles inauguration over the course of 12 successive days. When we look at their surprising backstory, their counterintuitive failure of leadership in an earlier stage of the Tabernacle, and their unusual epilogue we discover a fascinating saga that informs, inspires, and serves as a cautionary tale.

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Parsha: Nasso - Nazirs Anonymous (5783)

TORCH — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The Nazir is someone who accepts a vow, typically for 30 days, to abstain from wine, to not cut their hair, and to not come into contact with the dead. This Nazir is holy. They are close to God. They are like a high priest. They are likely to reach prophecy. But there are some very unusual and surprising elements of the Nazir: the stated objective of the Nazir is to address the potential danger inherent in wine, yet when the period of the Nazir ends, the verse tells us that they resumed drinking wine. Why is the Nazir a temporary designation? In this very interesting podcast we suggest a comprehensive understanding of the subject of the Nazir and how it is designed to change the person. Listening to this podcast may inspire you to join your local chapter of Nazirs Anonymous™.

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Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:43:35 -0500

In the longest parsha in the Torah by verses, we continue to read about the Levite families and their responsibilities, we learn about the three tiers of the Nation’s encampment, the laws of a suspected adulteress, the laws of the Nazir, the Priestly blessings, and we read a very wordy account of the gifts of the tribal leaders during the weeks following the Tabernacle’s inauguration.

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Letter of the Law

TORCH — Wed, 28 May 2025 22:00:00 -0500

Long strings of numbers don't typically make for riveting radio or podcasts. Many of us feel our eyes glaze over when we read seemingly meaningless batches of numbers and a series of calculations. To the untrained eye, our Parsha - with its censuses, depiction of encampment layouts, and delineation of Levite responsibilities in the transportation of the Tabernacle and its vessels - appears bereft of deep meaning. But when we examine the Parsha more deeply, we discover that the entire Parsha is all about the positioning of the individual amidst a great nation. We all have an innate desire to accomplish something unique and special. We all want to make our mark. In our Parsha we learned about about the uniqueness of each individual and how they can find their role, their letter in Torah.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Richard Reingold, Nattan Mordechai ben Henschel Reuven, who passed away suddenly this week. Richard was a dear friend of ours, a very special soul with an ever present smile and upbeat attitude. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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A Rigorous and Comprehensive Torah Study Regimen

TORCH — Tue, 27 May 2025 22:25:41 -0500

What would a comprehensive and rigorous regimen of Torah study look like? Suppose someone wants to really become a Torah maestro. What would be a fitting schedule of course work for them to become a well-rounded Torah scholar? Torah is the antidote to the evil inclination. How much Torah and how many Torah domains and disciplines must the person be immersed in in order to have the antidote fully administered? In this very interesting and different sort of podcast, we learn the principles of the two types of Talmud study.

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Common Census (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 26 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The United States Constitution mandates that a nationwide census is conducted every decade. Other nations also conduct censuses. Censuses are common. Our parsha begins with a nation-wide census, the third census since the Exodus. But this census was highly uncommon. It was conducted completely differently than the way that any other census is done. When we probe the matter deeply we discover something absolutely profound. At the risk of over-promising, I highly recommend that you listen very intently to this parsha podcast. It will change your life.

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Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 25 May 2025 00:39:50 -0500

We kickstart the Book of Numbers with a census of the twelve tribes of Israel – not including the tribe of Levi who is counted independently – conducted by Moses, Aaron, and the most distinguished leaders of said tribes. Subsequently, we read about the banners of the tribes and their assigned encampments, the transference of the sanctity of the firstborn to the Levites, and the designated role of each of the Levite families.

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Parsha: Behar/Bechukosai - Tilling and Toiling

TORCH — Wed, 21 May 2025 22:03:36 -0500

The laws of the Torah - all 613 of them - were conveyed by God to Moshe at Mount Sinai. This is explicitly conveyed regarding the first Mitzvah featured in the first of our double Parsha, the Mitzvah of shemitah, to allow the land to lie fallow each 7th year. When we examine the subject further, we find all sorts of connections between shemitah and Sinai. In this sprawling podcast, we discover the secret of shemitah and the imperative to aspire to angelic greatness.

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Parsha: Behar Bechukosai - Hostage Letter (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 19 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha contains some of the most difficult portions in the Torah, the Admonition. Our nation is told of the consequences of failing to adhere to the rules of God. The consequences are fierce and harsh. When this section is read in the synagogue, it is done quickly and in an undertone to prevent the congregation from lapsing into depression. But the Admonition ends on a comforting note: God promises to remember the covenant that He forged with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Notwithstanding our intransigent behavior and our betrayal of God, He pledges to ensure that we endure come what may. This podcast orients around a fascinating peculiarity in this comforting note. We discover the unique role that Jacob plays in our history, the difference between his Jacob and Israel personas, and his connection with Elijah, the heralder of redemption.

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Modern Day Heresy

TORCH — Sun, 18 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Heresies and idolatries come and go. The idolatry that titillated the ancients no longer excites modern men. The heresies that revolutionized the world a century ago no longer resonate. Any heresy is a repudiation of God, and thus is bound to vaporize like a puff of smoke. Falsehood cannot endure for long, and eventually all heresies dissipate. But a fixture of our world is the balance required to facilitate free will. When one heresy dies, another must take its place. Our sages tell us that the last heresy preceding the Messianic redemption is the repudiation of Free Will. In the third and final installment of my grandfather's chapter on Free Will, we study the nature of this heresy and the mechanism by which the good and evil inclinations are balanced.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

This week's double-Parsha closes out the Book of Leviticus. Parshas Behar begins at Mount Sinai, where 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. 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 Parshas Bechukosai 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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Parsha: Emor - Lopside Down

TORCH — Wed, 14 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Passover marks the Exodus from Egypt. But leaving Egypt was only the beginning of the radical transformation that the Almighty brought about. 50 days after the Exodus, the nation coalesced around Mount Sinai and experienced theophany - national prophecy, national Revelation - at the mountain. The whole nation heard the word of God and lived. This cemented the transformation of the Exodus. This permanently ensured that the nation will be servants of God, not servants of pharaoh. Passover and Shavuot are effectively two bookends of one mega festival of freedom from bondage. The days that link the two are known as the Omer days. What we do during these days will determine how much we benefit from the power of this festival.

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TORAH 101: Venues of Reward and Punishment

TORCH — Tue, 13 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Spiritual pleasure is vastly, infinitely greater than physical pleasures, and are completely imperceivable by bodies. Only if you work assiduously to develop a sensory connection with your soul, can you begin to taste it. The ultimate venue of spiritual pleasure is known as Olam Haba, the world to come. What about other venues of reward? What about Paradise, Resurrection, and the days of Messiah? How do those rewards featured in the Literature fit into the system of reward and pleasure of Jewish eschatology? In the third and final installment of Rambam's magisterial essay, we explore the other venues of reward and punishment.

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Parsha: Emor - Snowball's Chance in Heaven (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 12 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The story of the first person to ever be executed in a Jewish court of law is featured at the end of this week's Parsha. An unnamed man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man, blasphemed and was executed. When we ponder the story we discover all sorts of interesting tidbits. The blasphemer has a fascinating back story and his motivation to blaspheme is quite surprising. In this podcast we study the episode of the blasphemer and emerge with a powerful lesson that can make a big impact on our lives.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Mechanisms of Free Will

TORCH — Sun, 11 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Is free will limited or unlimited? What is the scope of free will? How much of our decisions must filter through that system of choice? How much can we actually accomplish if we set our mind to it? What is the mechanisms of ascending a free will ladder? In part 2 of our study of free will, we continue our exploration of fundamental concepts in free will, and learn about the transformative insight of the point of free will conflict.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Emor (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:18:48 -0500

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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Parsha: Acharei Mos/Kedoshim - Sparring Mates

TORCH — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:00:00 -0500

If you chanced upon sparring mates going at it, you may come to the mistaken impression that these two are enemies who want each other's throats. But the truth is, a sparring mate is helpful tool to improve your craft. The Almighty endowed us with a very helpful sparring mate to help bring the best out of us. At first, blush, this force seems to promote the worst in us. Upon close examination, we learn how this ostensible enemy is actually exceedingly good.

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TORAH 101: The (Near Total) Inaccessibility of Spiritual Pleasure

TORCH — Tue, 06 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

There is great confusion about what the ultimate reward for righteousness and the ultimate punishment for wickedness are. Rambam's magisterial essay is designed to provide clarity in these lofty matters of eschatology. In part 2, we learn all about the concept of spiritual pleasure. Our bodies are very finely attuned to experiences of pain and pleasure. We discover that our souls are equally sensitive to pain and pleasure, though our default distance from the soul makes us fail to perceive it in a sensory way. Spiritual pleasure is inaccessible by default, but there is a way to experience it. It will require very hard work, but just one tiny taste of it changes your life forever.

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Parsha: Acharei Mos/Kedoshim - It's a Small World (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 05 May 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Our double Parsha contains many different mitzvos. In this podcast we study a set of mitzvos and a very interesting dispute about their nature. We discover a valuable and profound insight that can help us develop and cultivate our potential.

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Free Will: An Exploration of Fundamental Concepts (Part 1)

TORCH — Mon, 05 May 2025 09:41:29 -0500

Free Will is a fundamental concept in our philosophy. People are endowed by God with the ability to determine the direction that they take in life. People are allowed to choose a path of righteousness or wickedness. There is a certain modicum of self-determination that the Almighty provides us with. In this mini series, we study a fantastic chapter in my grandfather's Alei Shur volume 2 which explores fundamental concepts in free will that will help clarify and demystify this important subject.

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Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 03 May 2025 23:05:44 -0500

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Parsha: Tazria Metzorah - Scalps and Scalpels

TORCH — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:00:00 -0500

The process of diagnosing and purifying a person afflicted with tzaraas is long and arduous. But there was no avoiding it. It is prohibited to excise a tzaraas affliction. You must go to the priest and have him evaluate it. You must be quarantined if you are declared impure. You must undergo the long and complicated process of purification once the affliction heals. But there is one exception. In one instance, it is permitted to surgically remove the skin discoloration of tzaraas. In this Parsha podcast we learn all about the process of tzaraas and the deep and powerful lessons that we learn when from the fact that it cannot be excised, and from the unusual instance where that is permitted.

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Parsha: Tazria Metzora - Heaven on the Cheap (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

This week's double Parsha contains some of the most intricate and complex laws in the Torah, the laws of purity and impurity. This subject remains an enigmatic mystery for us, in fact, even in Talmudic times it was arcane. That said, there is always something that we can glean from every part of Torah. In this podcast we propose a theory relating to the particular subject matter of our Parsha and it's unique and far reaching consequences.

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From Beast to Man

TORCH — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 17:59:50 -0500

Starting from the second day of Passover, we count the Omer. For 7 weeks of 7 days a piece -- 49 days -- we count. Once the count is completed, the festival of Shavuos is upon us. What exactly is the meaning of this interesting Mitzvah? The subject gets trickier when you examine how the Torah frames this Mitzvah. The counting does not begin on the first day of Passover, rather on the second day of Passover when a special barley meal offering is brought in the Temple, and it concludes with the bringing of a wheat flour offering. What is the significance of these two offerings? In this very special podcast we uncover one of the core themes of this time of the year, an idea that will enhance our Omer and truthfully our spiritual lives.

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Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shemini - Eighth Time's The Charm

TORCH — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 22:00:00 -0500

Assembling and disassembling the Tabernacle was a difficult task that Moshe repeated for seven days. Each morning he placed the vertical beams into their silver sockets, and affixed the golden rings on the top of the beams. He placed the horizontal bars that went on each side of the vertical beams, including the snaking bar that went through turned corners. He covered the Tabernacle with the four different covers, and arranged the whole courtyard. It was lots of work and Moshe did it himself seven days in a row, assembling the Tabernacle each morning, and then disassembling it once the day's work was finished. Wouldn't it be easier to simply assemble it once for good? In this very special Parsha podcast, we explore the curious week of inauguration of the Tabernacle.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby: Yosef Simcha Borowsky, the new son of our dear friends David and Chana Borowsky. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family and the extended TORCH family we wish them a hearty Mazal Tov on Yosef Simcha. May Yosef Simcha indeed add joy to his family and to the entire Jewish nation and become a beacon of light who brings honor and glory to his family and to his people, and of course to his Creator.

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Parsha: Shemini - Fires, Foreign and Domestic (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Nadav and Avihu were the crown princes of the Jewish nation. These two sons were slated to succeed Moshe and Aaron. Moshe declared, without hyperbole, that his two nephews, Nadav and Avihu, were greater than he and Aaron. These two sons of Aaron were without peer. Yet they acted in an inexplicable manner: On the eighth day of the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Nadav and Avihu brought an unauthorized offering and died in shocking fashion. What possessed these two exemplars to behave in the way that they did? What do we make of the multiplicity of reasons offered by our Sages for their errant behavior? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we offer a novel explanation of what motivated Nadav and Avihu that neatly explains what we know about this shocking and tragic episode.

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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:05:23 -0500

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Guard The Matzos: A Yahrzeit Tribute to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe

TORCH — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Matzah is a tricky food. It is made with the same ingredients as bread ; the only difference is the speed of how they are processed. The Torah tells us that we must guard the matzos to prevent them from turning into chametz. Our sages tell us that this applies not only to matzos, but also to The thing that is spelled the same way in Hebrew, Mitzvos. Mitzvah opportunities come as dough that needs to be baked. If you stick around and wait for too long, the dough will leaven and the opportunity will sour. When a Mitzvah opportunity strikes, you mustn't tarry even for a moment. In this special Yartzeit podcast, I share a remarkable story about my grandfather Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe's fulfillment of this idea.

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Parsha: Tzav - Conceal the Deal

TORCH — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

A top of the altar were fires that were never extinguished for hundreds of years. What was the nature of these fires? What were they made up of? How are they different than other fires? When we examine the sources, we discovered that there were multiple types of fires, including a special, Divine fire that descended from heaven. When we probe the subject we discover some fascinating, powerful insights.

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Parsha: Tzav - Pure-Bread (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:00:00 -0500

On the first day of a Kohein's tenure doing service in the Temple, they bring a once-in-a-lifetime offering: a meal-offering that is almost identical to the daily meal-offering offered by the High Priest. This offering is classified by the Torah as the offering of Aaron and his sons. When we analyze this unique meal offering, we discover some very interesting and surprising things that pave the way for a very fascinating analysis and study. Some people think that the Book of Leviticus is not so practical for us; this podcast dispels that notion.

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Five Questions for Pesach

TORCH — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 17:50:08 -0500

Pesach (Passover) marks the founding event of our nation. We had been enslaved in Egypt for centuries, and in one night the Almighty extracted a nation from amidst a nation with miracles, signs, and wonders. Each Passover we remember and relive that momentous night. We gather together with our family at the Seder, ask the four questions, drink the four cups, and follow the Hagaddah's guidelines for making the most of this festival. In this fun and breezy episode, we asked five questions about the festival and how it is celebrated. The answers will help deepen our connection to Pesach and position us to make the most of these fantastic days.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Tzav (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vayikra - Mind of a Thousand Men

TORCH — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 22:00:00 -0500

The Book of Leviticus begins with sacrifices. We read about the multiple types of elevation sacrifices, meal offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, etc. None of us would imagine that this Torah section would completely reshape our understanding of Adam and Eve's Sin in the Garden. But it does. In this Parsha podcast, we discover a dramatic and completely unexpected new way to understand Adam's sin. What we learn is not only theoretical. This insight provides a newfound understanding for the amazing power and potential that we have, notwithstanding – or pehaps precisely because of – our inglorious origins.

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Parsha: Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0500

We begin the Book of Leviticus with a Parsha Podcast treat: I invited my friend and study partner Rabbi Dovid Biron to guest host this week's episode. He did not disappoint. In this podcast we learn about the meal offering, how it differs from ordinary sacrifices, and the powerful and life changing lessons that it contains.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Vayikra (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Pekudei - Zero to Won

TORCH — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0500

After four Parshas, the Tabernacle is finally finished this week. Before the Tabernacle is erected though, Moshe provides an audit for all the gold, silver, and copper that was raised for the Tabernacle and identifies where they were used in the temple, its vessels, and it's vestements. In this final year 9 Parsha podcast on the book of Exodus, we explore the nature and the consequences of Moshe's audit, why the audit for gold was different than that of silver and copper, the unique method of turning gold into a thread and the lessons thereof, and learn about the highly unusual way that the Tabernacle was assembled for the first time.

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Parsha: Pekudei - Autopilot Disengaged (5784)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The narrative of the Tabernacle spans many chapters at the end of the book of Exodus. The nation is told to build a sanctuary for God in which He will dwell. The Torah uncharacteristically repeats many aspects of this narrative. In this very special Parsha podcast, we go deep and deeper to understand the general theory of the Tabernacle, how all the parts dovetail together, and how this is all related to us. Along the way, we explore many fundamental concepts in Jewish life and philosophy.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of a complete and speedy recovery for Raizel Dina bat Mindel Yehudit. May she merit a Refuah Sheleimah!

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Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0500

The final parsha in the Book of Exodus wraps up the account of the construction of the Tabernacle, and its vessels and vestments. Again and again we read the refrain that everything was done precisely how God commanded Moses.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Yoli Bachar in honor of her husband Guy Bachar's birthday. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family we wish him a hearty Happy Birthday. May he have many more years of happiness and health!

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Parsha: Vayakhel - Ambition Impossible

TORCH — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:00:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Malka Esther bat Dvora, the mother of our friend and longtime Parsha Podcast participant Nissan Hadjibay. Malka Esther passed away a week ago, may her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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It's time to actually build the Tabernacle. We've been talking about this portable Temple for some time now, but in this week's Parsha the actualization of those plans are implemented. Bezalel, Moshe's great great nephew, is commissioned to lead the efforts, The nation responds generously to the fundraising call, and the building begins in ernest. In this very special Parsha podcast we share two powerful ideas and one very interesting dilemma that will provide us with new insights and frameworks for how to achieve great themes in life. We must dream big. We must have outrageous aspirations. If there's something that is impossible, we pursue it nonetheless.

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TORAH 101: Ultimate Reward and Punishment: Rambam's Magisterial Essay Part 1

TORCH — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

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In his commentary to Mishnah, Rambam (Maimonides) offers a fascinating overview of the subjects of the Afterlife, Resurrection, Messiah, Paradise, and Olam Haba (the world to come). This is arguably the single greatest essay on these exotic, esoteric, and arcane subjects. In this podcast, we address the first section of this magisterial essay. We read about the many different and varied opinions as to what the ultimate reward for righteousness is. We read about the whole notion of seeking ulterior motives for mitzvos and whether that is good or not. The third part of this section of the essay addresses the three different ways to interpret the words of our sages. To gain a deeper understanding of this fundamental part of our philosophy, there is no better place to look than this magnificent essay.

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Parsha: Vayakhel Pekudei - Laver of Love (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:00:00 -0500

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Our double Parsha delineates the implementation phases of the building of the Tabernacle. All the materials are assembled, all the artisans are ready, and the building begins. In this podcast we focus on the construction of one of the vessels of the Tabernacle, the Laver, a copper basin that housed water. Our sages reveal some very interesting things about the origin of this copper, the use of this vessel, and a very interesting disagreement that Moshe had with God about the Laver. What we discover can materially transform and improve our life.

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Ladders to Heaven

TORCH — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:07:21 -0500

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Is the objective of Torah to constrict us or to allow us to flower? Are we ultimately supposed to curb our uniqueness, our individuality, or are we supposed to find ways to have our uniqueness sprout forth and blossom? One may argue that the Torah is very regimented in its commandments. We are told how to dress and how to eat and much of our daily schedule is compelled upon us by the myriad commandments and plethora of Divine guidances. It seems that we are being told to restrain our uniqueness and instead adopt the way of God. In this fascinating podcast, we discover that, although that is true, that is only the beginning. In the beginning of a spiritual journey, we must firm our standing as a soldier of God. However, once we are secure as a soldier, we must find a ladder to heaven. What that ladder looks like and how to find it, and how to scale its many rungs - those are the questions that we ponder in podcast.

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Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:09:20 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Sedimentary, My Dear Watson

TORCH — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:00:00 -0500

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The most shocking, surprising, baffling, and unexpected event in the Torah - and perhaps in all of human history - happens in this week's Parsha. A nation fresh off the greatest experience ever experienced by any Nation, a nation fed by manna and drinking water out of a rock, a nation purported to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, a nation that was extracted one nation from another Nation, committed the most grievous, inexplicable, indefensible sin of all: the Jews make the Golden Calf. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the rationale of this decision. Why did they make the golden calf? Why do they choose that their idol be a bovine? What was their calculus, and why was it flawed? The answer, we propose, relates to the very interesting difference between the sediment-free oil used to kindle the Menorah and the sediment-laden spices and herbs used to make the incense. There's a way up the mountain blazed by Moshe, but if you try to take a shortcut you may fall on your face.

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Mitzvah: Impurity and Unfathomable Mitzvos (#159)

TORCH — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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Not all mitzvos made sense to us. When it comes to the sprawling laws of purity and impurity, we are basically clueless.

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Aaron's Calculus (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0500

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The most calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous event in Jewish history - and arguably the most devastating event in all of human history - happens in our Parsha. A mere 40 days after the exultant, euphoric, transcendental Revelation at Sinai, the nation stoops to a very low nadir: they make a golden calf and begin to worship it. Most surprisingly, a central participant in this debacle was none other than Aaron the high priest. Why would Aaron, one of our nation's greatest men, agree to participate in the deification of a golden calf? By pondering this mystery we will discover both an answer to this puzzling question and a wonderful insight into the nature of reality, and how our perception of reality and the truth may be very different.

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TORAH 101: World of Souls

TORCH — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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Why do bad things happen to good people? What role does Oral Torah play in Jewish life? Why did the Almighty create two worlds, the world of the bodies and the world of the souls? What is the difference between today and the days of Messiah? These are just some of the questions that are raised in the third and final installment on the introduction of the Sefer HaChinuch in this edition of the TORAH 101 Podcast.

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Unmasking the Purim Story

TORCH — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 14:00:25 -0500

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This special Purim Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend Adam Chuckrow in loving memory and leilui nishmas his grandmother Hadassah bat Yosef who passed away last Purim, so her firs Yartzeit is this Purim. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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The Purim story is revisited and relived each year, when we read the Book of Esther, offer gifts to the poor, deliver food to our neighbors, enjoy a festive banquet, and drink a bit more than we typically do. The story goes back 2,500 years to a time when our nation was an exile in Persia and a genocidal maniac named Haman tried to exterminate Jewish people. In this special Purim podcast, we try to go a bit behind the scenes, and to see a bit of the story behind the story the of what happened in Persia and what the primary takeaway of the festival is supposed to be.

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History: Chofetz Chaim: A Portrait

TORCH — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500

This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Maury Magids, Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit, whose Yartzeit falls out on the 6th of Adar. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven

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The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Hakohen Kagan, was one of the most renowned and influential Jews of modern times. He did not serve in any official capacity, and his influence reverberated the world over. His personal piety was legendary. He was a saint, a veritable angel walking amongst men. His literary contributions altered the landscape of Jewish life. The modern sensitivity to all to all forms of Lashon Hara can be attributed to him. His monumental Mishnah Berurah systematized and clarified and organized practical Jewish law. His many other writings were vitally important to help the Jews of his time, and their impact and influence continues until this day. This is the story of the life, piety, and works of the Chofetz Chaim.

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Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - Careful What You Wish For

TORCH — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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The high priest was bedecked in eight special garments. Two of the garments were adorned with precious stones: the breastplate contained 12 Stones, one for each tribe, and the Ephod had two shoulderpad stones, each one of them with the names of six sons of Jacob. In this special TORCH fundraiser edition of the Parsha podcast, we share two ideas related to the stones on the garments of the high priest, and a powerful and frightening insight related to the conspicuous omission of Moshe's name throughout our Parsha.

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Mitzvah: Kosher Animals and Their Derivatives (154, 156-7, 471)

TORCH — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:50:13 -0600

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Eating certain animals are harmful for your body and for your soul. It is wise to obey the Torah's guidance. You are what you eat - make sure you eat good to be good.

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TORAH 101: The Purpose of Torah

TORCH — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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Why did God give us such a precious and holy and profound Torah? Wouldn't it be enough to give us some simple rules to live by? Why is our nation chosen above all other nations? Shouldn't all humans be the same? These are some very advanced question and one that our sages reveal deep insights about. In this Torah 101 podcast, we continue our exploration of the classic sources to talk about Torah philosophy and ideology and we continue with the magisterial introduction to Sefer HaChinuch.

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The Fiercest Obstacle to Greatness

TORCH — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:24:23 -0600

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Ambitious people want to accomplish ambitious goals. They want to undertake bold challenges, they want to make an indelible impact upon the world. Every such noble goal will face a fierce obstacle. If you are someone who dreams big, who harbors hope to make a mark, you must be very aware of the most formidable obstacle you must navigate around. In this podcast, we share the pithy statement of the sages regarding the most difficult obstacle of any journey and offer two different approaches as to why that obstacle is so fierce. If you want to accomplish your dreams, if you want to have sweet dreams that see the light of day, you must know what you face and how to go about addressing and tackling this obstacle.

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - The Choshen People (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:00:00 -0600

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The High Priest was bedecked with garments of royalty. Our Parsha details the 8 special garments (vestments) of Splendor and Glory that the Kohen Gadol wore, and the Talmud delineates the various forms of atonement that each garment bestowed upon the nation. In this podcast we focus on the Breastplate, the Choshen, and assembling the various features and aspects of the Choshen, we offer a comprehensive theory of the Choshen and provide essential advice for The Choshen People.

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Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:31:33 -0600

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Parsha: Terumah - Ark of History

TORCH — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The Tabernacle and all its vessels were steeped in miracles. They Ark did not take up any space. The Showbreads upon the Table did not get moldy. The construction of the Menorah was miraculous: Moshe was first shown a fiery image of the Menorah projected upon the mountain and subsequently he was told to throw the hunk of gold into the fire and the Menorah, with all its intricate embellishments, emerged. The Tabernacle was ultimately made permanent in the Temple on Temple Mount, at the touch point of heaven and Earth, where the rules of the Earth don't necessarily apply. In this sweeping Parsha podcast, we plumb the depths of the meaning and the symbolism of the Tabernacle and its vessels. Along the way we learn crucial and useful insights for how to develop a legacy and a destiny of our own.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmat Javaher bat Rafael, who recently passed away at nearly 100. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Terumah - Etched in Stone (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Of the various materials needed for the construction of the Tabernacle were Shoham and Miluim stones. These stones were inlaid into the brackets in the Kohein Gadol's Choshen (decorative breastplate containing twelve precious stones) and Ephod (apron-like garment with extending shoulder straps) respectively. What is the symbolism behind these stones and what lessons can we learn from them? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the fascinating subject of the gemstones of the High Priest.

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TORAH 101: Testimony at Sinai

TORCH — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The Sinai Revelation was a mass testimony of faith. The only event of its kind saw God revealing Himself to a nation comprised of millions, who heard and experienced prophecy and lived to tell their children about it. The founding event of our religion is historically unchallengeable and completely unprecedented: There is no other religion that even claims to have a National Revelation at its founding. In this TORAH 101 podcast, we study the introduction of Sefer HaChinuch to learn about the mechanism of believing history, the primacy of tradition over scientific and empirical analysis, and how we can have confidence that our religion - unlike other religions - is based on an airtight historical - verified and incontrovertible - Nation Revelation.

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Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Mishpatim - Angels and Freemans

TORCH — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The first law (of dozens) featured in our Parsha tells of a Jewish bondsman who chooses to voluntarily extend his servitude past the required 6 years. This bondsman is brought to a door or a doorpost and has his ear pierced. Why is his ear pierced? Because he failed to listen carefully at Sinai. This first law of our Parsha reveals a new dimension of the Sinai Revelation and the acceptance of Torah. In this podcast, we contrast the beginning of our Parsha and the classification of Sinai that it offers, with the the end of the Parsha and the very different view of Sinai that it offers. We emerge with a novel understanding of the Sinai Revelation and the acceptance of Torah, and a deeper and richer perspective of the goal of Torah.

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Mishpatim - System of Sinai (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The Parsha that follows the Revelation at Sinai contains an apparently motley potpourri of subjects: it begins with a wide variety of mitzvos of all types, presented in rapid fire succession. The Parsha concludes with two apparently unrelated subjects: it foretells of the conquest of Canaan and the conditions by which we will acquire it, and it revisits the Sinai Revelation and the events that led up to it. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the surprising layout of the subjects of our Parsha and discover a fundamental and perhaps overlooked benefit of the framework of Torah.

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TORAH 101: Where Atheists Go Wrong

TORCH — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Some atheists are quite intelligent. Some atheists score highly on IQ tests. How can they be so wrong on matters of faith? Where exactly do the atheists go wrong? In this interesting TORAH 101 podcast, we pinpoint the precise area that causes atheists to err. It turns out, a perfectly functioning and competent and capable brain is not enough to arrive at faith. The true cause of faith lies in the heart. If the heart is corrupted, all bets are off.

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Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:41:40 -0600

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Parsha: Yisro - Resetting Expectations

TORCH — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Moshe's father-in-law Jethro is a fascinating and mysterious figure. He was Egyptian and served as an advisor to Pharaoh, but was ousted and exiled when he conscientiously objected to Pharaoh's genocidal plans. Jethro relocated to Midian, where he served as a pagan priest. Jethro was a searcher in relentless pursuit of truth, and came to the recognition of true faith and repudiated idolatry in all its forms. Our Parsha begins with his reappearance, together with Moshe's wife and sons, to join the nation at Sinai. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we share several powerful lessons and observations that will enhance our ability to deploy the Torah and our innate superpower abilities to the maximum.

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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. Dr. Newman was a real special man – also a cardiologist and also a Torah scholar – ran a busy NY medical practice and gave a daily Torah class in his shul for over 2 decades. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Yisro - Sinai Sales Pitch (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha contains the most significant event in all of human history: the Revelation at Sinai. An entire nation comprised of millions of people heard the Almighty directly. The nation heard the Ten Commandments and lived to tell the tale. This momentous event kick started our nation: thenceforth, we are bound by the laws of the Torah. The Almighty will do His part too: He will treasure us and cherish us. Prior to the Revelation, the Nation is pitched on the terms of this Covenant. By analyzing the sales pitch we discover the power and potency of Torah.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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More Secrets of the Month of Shevat with Rabbi Shmuel Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 23:06:56 -0600

The month of Shevat is associated with a tribe of Asher and corresponds to the letter Tzadik (צ) and its zodiac sign is a bucket. So much is told to us by the Kabbalists. But what is the secret of this month? What is the energy that permeates this month? What are the particular ways to tap into the vast power of this month? Why is that associated with fruits? We welcome back the great Rabbi Shmuel Botnick to the podcast to share a new, profound perspective on the secrets of this month.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Yisro (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Beshalach - A Sliver of Gold

TORCH — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The Exodus was for good. When the Jewish people left Egypt, they did not return. Pharaoh pursued them (to his detriment) but the nation never turned back. When Moshe initially requested from Pharaoh permission for the nation to leave, it was not supposed to be permanent. It was only supposed to be a 3-day excursion into the wilderness to have a festival of sacrifices to God. What changed? In this Parsha podcast we explore the counterfactual 3-day Exodus. We also discover a brand new insight that each one of us shares some quality with Moshe. We each have a sliver of gold.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of a refuah sheleimah, a speedy and complete recover of Benyamin Yaakov Ben Devorah Yosefa, the father of our dear friend Ethan Weiss. Please include him in your prayers.
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Parsha: Beshalach - First Mover Advantage (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

After the Exodus, the Jewish people left Egypt, with no plans to return. But the Egyptians followed them in hot pursuit, and seven days later the nation was surrounded, encircled by their enemies, with their backs against the sea. God gave the command: Go. The Talmud tells us that there was one man who leapt in before anyone else. When the waters reached his nostrils, the sea split. For this act of bravery, he was awarded with the eternal rights of the monarchy. Who was this man? What is so significant about his leap? Why does leaping into the water qualify a person to be a king? In this very interesting episode of the Parsha Podcast recorded in the TORCH Centre, we learn all about Nachshon Ben Aminadav and the power of his bravery.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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History: Ark of the Covenant: History and Current Whereabouts

TORCH — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 22:11:59 -0600

The Ark of the Covenant was the holiest and most iconic vessels of the Tabernacle, and subsequently the Temple. It was placed in the Holy of Holies and visited only once a year by the holiest person, the High Priest, on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Inside the Ark were the Tablets of Testimony upon which God inscribed the Ten Commandments. The Ark had a long and storied history. At some point, the Ark was hidden away. For the last 2,500 years, its whereabouts have been mostly unknown. In this Jewish History podcast, can we tell the rich story of the Ark and share what we know about its current whereabouts.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Beshalach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Bo - Timelines of Exile

TORCH — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:00:00 -0600

Our ancestors spent many years in Egypt prior to The Exodus. How many years exactly? That's a bit complicated. In our Parsha the verse says that after 430 years, the nation finally left Egypt. But when God told Abraham about the Egyptian enslavement at the Covenant between the Parts, He only spoke of 400 years. Where do those extra 30 years come from? On a more basic level, if you calculate the actual years that the nation spent in Egypt, it is way less than even 400. In this very interesting and unique podcast, we share that there are actually 11 different timelines of exile in Egypt. Each one of them is substantiated by textual references in Scripture and corresponds to a different element and dimension of exile.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Moshe Botnick, son of Rabbi Shmuel and Malka Botnick. כשם שנכנס לברית כן יכנס לתורה לחופה ולמע"ט

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Bo - The Bloods and The Crisp (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The dramatic events of the Exodus reach a crescendo with the nation's Exodus from Egypt. After 210 years of servitude and subjugation, the Almighty people leave Egypt with great miracles and fanfare. A very specific set of things had to happen to enable this redemption. Immediately prior to the Exodus, the nation circumcised en masse and brought the Pascal sacrifice, and our sages tell us that these two mitzvos, the blood of the circumcision and the blood of the Pascal sacrifice, were preconditions to the Exodus. Absent these two mitzvos, the nation would not be able to leave. What is so special about these two bloods? What do they reveal about the nation that was formed with the Exodus? In this delightful podcast we discover some answers.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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How to Raise Good Children Part 2

TORCH — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 23:05:52 -0600

We all want to raise good children. We want our children to be healthy and balanced and good and righteous. The Torah is full of powerful lessons on how to raise good children. In part two of our series on parenting, we explore the unique relationship of Isaac and Esau, how Jacob admonished his children, and the fascinating perspective shift that God revealed to Moshe.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Bo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 19:57:19 -0600

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Parsha: Vaeira - Hail to the Chief

TORCH — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha details Moshe's repeated efforts to get Pharaoh to send the Jews free. Pharaoh proved to be a tougher nut to crack, as predicted by God. His intransigence was deeply embedded. It would take 10 plagues to get him to capitulate. In this Parsha podcast we take a deep study of the 7th plague: the plague of hail.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my Alen Lvovich in loving memory and leilui nishmas his wife's maternal grandfather, Sander ben Lazar. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vaeira - Manufactured Adversity (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Prior to Moshe and Aaron making progress in their mission to extract the Jewish people from Egypt - their first efforts yielded no success, at least not in that realm - the Torah once again introduces Moshe and Aaron and delineates their pedigree. It begins with delineating the families of Ruben and Shimon, and then it proceeds to the tribe of Levi and it's family heads. One of the Levites that are mentioned, aside from Moshe and Aaron, Elazar, Aaron's son and successor, and his son Phineas. The Torah reveals to us that Elazar married from the daughters of Putiel, a reference to Jethro and Joseph according to Rashi. The attribution of Phineas provides a launchpad for a fascinating exploration of an important subject: how much should parents and educators strive to ease the environment in which their charges operate, and how much adversity should be created for them. Along the way, we discuss the fascinating and frankly puzzling arrangement that Moshe had with his father-in-law, Jethro.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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How to Raise Good Children

TORCH — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

It is incumbent upon parents to raise their children well, but how exactly do you do that? Babies are not born clutching parenting manuals. This is especially problematic for us Jews. We must raise our children to be upstanding, productive, stable, and healthy adults like all other parents. However, we have an additional responsibility: we must raise our children to be good Jews too. We must raise our children with a deep connection with the Almighty and His Torah. We must raise them with an awareness of their Jewish identity and a sense of mission and responsibility. How do we do that? That is a question that many young parents - and even veteran parents - struggle with. In this podcast, the first of a series of two, we will offer some answers. These are not specific answers to specific parenting dilemmas, rather they are heuristics that apply across the board in parenting. This podcast not be misconstrued as a claim of expertise or any special parenting ability. I am simply sharing ideas that are very well accepted and recognized as true.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 20:49:36 -0600

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Parsha: Shemos - The Name Game

TORCH — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The Parsha and the Book are called "Shemos", meaning names. A review of the Parsha reveals all sorts of names-related subplots: The Parsha begins with enumerating the names of the sons of Jacob; Shifra and Puah's real names are obscured as are Moshe's parents who remain nameless; Moshe himself is named by his adoptive, Egyptian mother; Moshe kills the Egyptian with the Name of God; Moshe asks God which Name of God should he say send him; Moshe's father-in-law has seven names. In this Parsha podcast we explain the nature of names in the Torah, share a fascinating insight into the different permutations of names, and propose a new way to discover the mission for which you were sent here.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Henoch Dov ben Tzvi Hirsch, Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman Z”L, who passed away a few weeks ago. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Shemos - Moshe's Moxie (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

The story of the Jewish people in the book of Exodus gets off to a difficult start. The nation is firmly ensconced in Egypt, but their experience there is decidedly unpleasant. They are enslaved, tormented, and systematically oppressed. Things go from bad to worse when Pharaoh decrees that all Jewish baby boys be killed. When Moshe first petitions Pharaoh to have them released, he intensifies their servitude. The Parsha ends with the nation reeling from the exacerbation of their servitude. When we read the Parsha in the Torah, we can appreciate a different angle of what happened. From the very first chapter, the seeds of redemption are planted. The Parsha mostly follows Moshe as he begins his journey to save the nation. In this podcast we study and explore the concurrent story lines of our Parsha, and discover two interrelated themes that define Moshe as a person and as a leader.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Mitzvah: Kosher Signs (#153, 155, 158, 470)

TORCH — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:00:00 -0600

Some animals, birds, grasshoppers, and fish are kosher, some are not kosher. How do we know which animals are kosher and which are not? For that we have signs.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Shemos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 22:25:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayechi - Unexpected Greatness

TORCH — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Prior to his passing, Jacob gave a series of blessings to his descendants. He blessed Joseph and Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Menashe. He gathered his sons and blessed all twelve of them. In this podcast we study a fascinating element of Jacob's blessings to his grandsons. There is something that he spotlights in Ephraim and Menashe that is highly relevant to us 3500 years later.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of a Refuah Sheleimah, a complete and speedy recovery for Gila Miriam bat Chaya. She is the daughter of a dear friend of ours who was recently diagnosed with a very serious and late stage cancer.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vayechi - Anti-Oxidance (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Immediately prior to his passing, Jacob gathered his sons with the intention of revealing to them what will happen at the end of days. With his 12 sons coalesced around him, Jacob was forced to pivot: the Almighty withdrew His Shechinah from him, and he was no longer able to be able to convey to them what would happen at the end of days. Instead, he began saying other things. Going through his sons one at a time, he highlighted their qualities, flaws, and destinies. When Jacob concluded these deathbed blessings, he passed. In this podcast we explore the nature of these blessings and the profound and indispensable lessons that they provide for us.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Mitzvah: Priestly Decorum (#149-152)

TORCH — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

priests are held to a higher standard. Clergymen are not like everyone else. Especially while working in the Temple/ Tabernacle. They must be on a much more elevated and dignified plane.

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Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayigash - Joseph's Magnanimity

TORCH — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha sees the conclusion of the Saga of Joseph. The favorite son of Jacob is finally reunited with his father and his family as the fledgling nation of Israel descends to Egypt. When we study Joseph's interactions with his brothers and his father, we discover something incredible. Joseph was magnanimous with them in a completely surprising and uncommon way. Joseph exhibited a novel assessment of the events that can radically transform the way we see the world and the things that happen in it.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend Shuan Hiller in honor of the Upsherin of Aryeh Borowsky, the son of our dear friends David and Chana Borowsky. May young Aryeh grow and flourish and become a wonderful person and a wonderful Jew; someone who brings Nachas and joy to his special parents and grandparents, and becomes a beacon for the whole Jewish nation.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vayigash - Definition of Life (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob relocates in our Parsha. Leaving Canaan once again, Jacob gathers his family and the possessions that he had acquired in Canaan and descends to Egypt to reunite with Joseph. In this Parsha Podcast we discover an unusual curiosity about Jacob's dealings with his brother Esau. Over the course of their lifetimes, they made two transactions. The nature of these transactions and their timing presents a fascinating study.

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Chanukah Capstone with Rabbi Shmuel Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

There is no superficiality in Judaism. Everything is multi-layered, multifaceted, multidimensional. That seems to be particularly true with respect to the festival of Chanukah. Chanukah is a rabbinic holiday, and it is the very last mitzvah that we received. There are many oddities that separate this mitzvah from all others. The roots of this festival are very deep and span many areas of Torah and of life. In this very special podcast we welcome back the great Rabbi Shmuel Botnick. He shares a masterpiece that weaves together a wide array of sources and themes that will enhance and enrich our Chanukah, and give us an appreciation for the subtleties and nuances that we would have otherwise completely overlooked.

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This special Chanukah Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmat Victoria bat Khanbaba ve Bahereh, Victoria Toubia, who passed away recently. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.
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Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Mikeitz - Two and Twenty

TORCH — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob was one of the greatest people of all time. He excelled in all areas of greatness. In this Parsha podcast we examine his superlative reliance upon God. Jacob was a standout in his exceptional reliance on God as evidenced by his very interesting behavior when it came to his dwindling stockpile of grain. We then broaden the discussion to address Jacob's relationship with this attribute in other parts of his storyline.

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Parsha: Mikeitz - Paining Grows (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Joseph took a very unusual path to primacy: his brothers thought he was a good for nothing, and sold him as a slave. He was sold to Egypt, accused of a crime he did not commit, and thrown into prison for years. In a flash, he was elevated from prison and appointed as viceroy of Egypt. When his brothers came for food, they did not recognize that the viceroy was in fact Joseph. How do we understand the dissonance between what Joseph became and how the brothers viewed him? What is the secret of Joseph's unusual ascent to greatness? In this very special Parsha Podcast, we present an answer that resolves the mystery of Joseph, and a host of other questions on his story.

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The Light of Chanukah

TORCH — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:16:49 -0600

Everyone loves the festival of Chanukah. There's something so wonderful and enchanting about this festival and its iconic mitzvah, the lighting of the Menorah. But what is the menorah truly about? We all, of course, know the story of the miraculous oil that lasted for 8 days. But what is at the heart of the matter? What are we supposed to take away from this miracle, from this mitzvah, from this festival? In this wonderful podcast, we plumb the depths of the Hasmonean miracle, the Greek forces that they overcame, and the timeless lessons for us to learn.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:30:32 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeishev - War On Terror

TORCH — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha contains the first act of several interconnected stories: Joseph had dreams of grandeur (literally) and he was placed on a path towards actualizing them. But his story in the Parsha is a series of setbacks that only later on result in him assuming the throne. Judah also has the beginning of a momentous accomplishment: he becomes the father of the forbearer of Messiah this week. But that is not quite known until much later. As leader of the fledgling family of tribes, Jacob is set on a path towards his descendants burgeoning into a great nation. None of these protagonists can achieve their spiritual destiny and apotheosis unless they first hit a spiritual nadir. The lessons for us are powerful and germane.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a young birthday boy: Eitan Pinchas Sendowski the son of our dear friends Alon and Natalie turned 2 this week. Happy birthday young man! May young Eitan live till 120 and grow and mature into a special person and a special Jew who brings joy to his parents, his community, and his Creator!

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vayeishev - Reuben's Special Message (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

One of the most shocking events in the whole Torah occurs in our Parsha: Joseph's brothers sell him as a slave to a caravan of traveling Ishmaelites. Two of his brothers helped ensure that he wasn't killed. Reuben argued that he should be cast into a pit and not to slaughtered outright, and Judah urged them to sell him as a slave and not allow him to languish in the waterless pit. Why did Reuben and Judah, out of all the brothers, stand up to save Joseph? When we examine the sources, we make some interesting discoveries.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Dina Dilemma

TORCH — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:00:21 -0600

Not all twins are identical in every way. Jacob and Esau were as different from each other as two humans can possibly get. When Rebecca got wind of Esau's plans to murder Jacob, she sent them away. After being apart from his twin for more than 30 years, Jacob and Esau had a fateful reunion. Jacob had a dilemma: what to do with his very desirable daughter Dina? He was worried that Esau would lay his eyes on her and take her for a wife. Jacob was not interested in being Esau's father-in-law and having his daughter be taken by this monster, so he made a decision. This in this podcast we explore Jacob's dilemma and his decision and the many cascading consequences thereof.

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Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayishlach - Esau Academy

TORCH — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob lived a rough life. He perennially had to contend with hostile forces. He was paired with an evil twin Esau who wanted to kill him. He was compelled to flee his vengeful brother and was forced to contend with the wiliest fraudster of them all, his father-in-law two times over Laban. In our Parsha Jacob is heading back to encounter Esau who is still bursting with murderous rage. Along the way, the Torah recounts for us many narratives and storylines of these terrible people. In this very special podcast, we learn how studying these problematic personalities can be quite valuable and instructive for us. After a long and torturous semester in Laban Academy it is time for a semester in Esau Academy. Sharpen your pencils.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Aharon Ben Yosef who was the father of our dear friend Josh Hedaya. Aharon Ben Yosef’s yahrzeit is the 11th of Kislev, the day that this episode will be released. May his soul be elevated in heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Vayishlach - Forefathers and Fouruncles (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The story of the Forefathers is well known. The Fouruncles, less so. Intertwined in the story of our nation's progenitors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis, is the story of our nation's uncles, namely Lot, Ishmael, Laban, and Esau. These Fouruncles capture a large share of the narrative of Genesis. Why does the Torah expend so much attention to the Fouruncles? What is the avuncular message that we can draw from the repeated run-ins that the Forefathers have with the Fouruncles? In this interesting episode, we both invent a new word (Fouruncles) and discover a pattern that accompanied our Forefathers' ascent to greatness, one that can be hugely beneficial for us too in our pursuit of greatness.

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Simple Reasons to Believe

TORCH — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 22:00:00 -0600

What is your elevator pitch for the existence of God? That is a question that was posed to dozens of successful and accomplished people. They were asked to write a short, concise, elevator-trip-length essays on why they believed. These essays were compiled into a wonderful book titled "Elevator pitches for God." The creators of this project, Ron Kardos and Bruce Licht, are dear friends of mine and they asked me to write my elevator pitch too. Authors were asked to limit their essays to a single page of text or fewer than 500 words to be able to be conveyed in an elevator ride, but I was asked to write the elevator pitch for a malfunctioning elevator. If you are in the elevator that breaks down and you're going to be there for a while and you want to strike up a conversation with your fellow travelers about God, you may have some more time than a typical elevator ride. In this podcast, I share my essay on this very crucial topic.

I would highly recommend that you got a copy of this book for yourself . Until the end of the year 2024, this book is 45% off on Amazon at this LINK with the promo code "torchdeal". This is the deal of a lifetime that will provide you with a torch illuminating your path to Faith and to God.

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Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeitzei - Ladders To/From Heaven

TORCH — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

On the way to Charan Jacob stopped at Mount Moriah. He spent the night there and the Torah documents his very fateful dream: he saw a ladder suspended between heaven and Earth, upon which Angels of God were ascending and descending. The commentaries offer multitudes of interpretations as to the symbolism and meaning behind this ladder. In this very special and unique Parsha podcast we briefly survey some of the interpretations, and then delve deeply into two most interesting and arcane interpretations of this ladder. We discover how on one dimension, this ladder descends from Heaven to Earth, and on another dimension it is our means of ascent from Earth to Heaven on high. This is not a podcast you will easily forget!

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Marvin Bentley, the brother of our friend Barb Pudlo, who passed away today. May his soul be elevated in heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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; Vayeitzei - Holy Sheeple (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0600

A large section of our Parsha contains intricate descriptions of Jacob as a shepherd. Initially, he worked for Laban as a shepherd for 7 years for the rights to marry Laban's younger daughter Rachel. When the 7 years concluded, Laban swindled him, giving Leah instead, only ceding Rachel after Jacob agreed to work as a shepherd for an additional 7 years. After 14 years, Jacob's tenure as a shepherd continued: for six more years, Jacob served as Laban shepherd in exchange for pay, with all spotted and speckled sheep born to the flock being acquired by Jacob, and all monochromatic sheep remaining Laban's.

What is the salience of the Torah's protracted descriptions of Jacob as a shepherd? Why did Jacob seek the speckled and spotted sheep specifically and not the monochromatic sheep? Why does the Torah spend so much time discussing Jacob the shepherd? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we dive deep into the meaning and mystery of the sheep of Laban.

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Midrash: An Introduction

TORCH — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 19:15:41 -0600

Students of the Almighty's holy Torah are familiar with the term midrash. It refers to a series of books that serve as commentaries on the Torah and on other holy writings. But where does the Midrash come from? What authority does it have? What about the comments in the Midrash that seem outlandish and totally unreasonable. Are we supposed to understand them as being true? Are we supposed to understand them as being literal? What about conflicting citations in the Midrash? In this sweeping podcast, we explore the origin and the the standing of Midrashic literature.

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Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 08:44:18 -0600

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Parsha: Toldos - Jacob's Heist

TORCH — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

We are told to respect the will of our parents. Certainly, if your parent is righteous, it is severely inappropriate to violate their will. All the more so if your parent is one of the greatest men who have ever lived. But Jacob violates the will of Isaac. Isaac wants to give a prophetic blessing to Esau, and Jacob and Rebecca conspire to usurp the blessing. Jacob impersonates his older brother and under false pretenses presents himself as Esau and steals the blessings. What is the justification of this usurpation? Why are Rebecca and Jacob interfering with the will of Isaac? Why does Isaac favor Esau, the wicked of the twins, to begin with? Why do these indispensable blessings arrive to Jacob – and by extension to us - in this most convoluted, surprising, and circuitous of ways? In this wonderful Parsha podcast, we dive deep into Jacob and his grand heist of the blessing intended for Esau.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend Gilaad Levy in the merit of a complete Refuah Sheleimah for Yonatan ben Marla. May he merit a complete and total recovery from his medical situation with no lingering effects.

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Parsha: Toldos - Twin Powers (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha features two very different twins. After decades of infertility, Isaac and Rebecca are blessed with twins, identical twins the Sages emphasize, who could not be more different: Jacob dwelled in the tents of Torah, eventually becoming the third and final Patriarch of our nation, and Esav was a man of the field, a trapper, a hunter, a blood shedder who stands in the way of Jacob, impeding him at every turn. Why did Esav go awry? Why did the son of Isaac and Rebecca end up as he did? In this episode of the Parsha Podcast we explore some threads and angles to this question and emerge with a foundational principle that can help us design a life to perfection.

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Thanksgiving in Jewish Philosophy and Ethics

TORCH — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:27:38 -0600

Gratitude is one of the most, if not the most, important values in our religion. In fact, our sources tell us that the reason why God created His creation was to enable us to express our gratitude. But what if what we receive is a mixed bag of good and bad? Must we also express gratitude in that case? In this special Thanksgiving edition of the podcast, we explore the important subject of gratitude.

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Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:41:40 -0600

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Reverse Repentance

TORCH — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Sarah was Abraham's life partner. She was his superior as a prophetess. She accompanied him in all his journeys. In the aftermath of the Binding of Isaac, she died. How did the Binding contribute to her demise? What exactly was Saran's role in orchestrating her sudden death? In this Parsha Podcast we explore the very interesting phenomenon of "acts of Satan" that threaten to destabilize people after great achievements. We also study Eliezer's flawed prayer and his urgency in fulfilling his mission.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas our dear friend David Gedaliah ben Efraim, the unforgettable Dr. David Genecov obm, whose yahrzeit is this week. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Ask the Rabbi: Modest Prayer; Teenage Girl Advice; Youthful Skills; and Religious Difficulties

TORCH — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:35:57 -0600

Today's podcast is a wild card. This past Shabbos I was invited to join a panel of rabbis to answer a series of interesting questions submitted by high school students from the all-girls high school in Houston. In this special episode I share some of the fascinating questions and some of what I said - and some of what I I was unable to say - at that panel.

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Parshas Chayei Sarah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:36:04 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeira - Five Languages of Laughter

TORCH — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Isaac is the most mysterious of the forefathers. His storyline does not have the same rich and dramatic narrative as Abraham and Jacob. What lessons we are supposed to learn from Isaac is an equally confounding mystery. In this very special podcast, we explore a fascinating motif that recurs throughout the Parsha: laughter, and suggest that there are actually five different types of laughter. We highlight the one that Isaac symbolizes and a cascading series of lessons ensue.

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Parsha: Vayeira - The Struggle Is Real (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

How do we respond when we are faced with challenges? What are we supposed to think when the path before us seems unsteady and laden with dangers? Our Parsha contains some of the most memorable and iconic stories of the whole Torah. It begins with the single greatest documented episode of hospitality, and it ends with the greatest test ever foisted upon man, the Binding of Isaac. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we draw an insight from each of these stories and develop them into a unified theory of life and the pursuit of greatness.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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How To Actualize Potential (Abraham Shows the Way)

TORCH — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:43:38 -0600

Abraham's storyline in the Torah is curiously: There are some parts of his life that are told in detail, while other seemingly important events are omitted entirely. What we discover is that the storyline of Abraham serves as a prototype for how to actualize our potential. In this very special podcast, we dissect Abraham's story and discover a comprehensive system for how to unlock our vast potential.

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Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 23:44:23 -0600

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Parsha: Lech Lecha - Abraham's Fellow Travelers

TORCH — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Abraham seems to always be journeying. In last week's Parsha he traveled from his birthplace of Ur to Charan. This week the Parsha begins with Abraham's journey to Canaan. He traveled there with his family, he traversed the land in every direction; and when famine strikes, he went down to Egypt and returns. Abraham's journey is more than being about sightseeing. This is the saga of the transformation of Abraham and the building of the Jewish Nation. What can we learn from Abraham's journey? What Abrahamic qualities shine forth in his narrative? In this very special edition of the Parsha podcast, recorded live on Zoom during the 2024 US elections, we explore Abraham dramatic transformation and when he departed from his sidekicks and fellow travelers. We also take a very careful look at a remarkable interaction between Abraham's concubine Hagar and the angel.

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Parsha: Lech Lecha - A Lot of Testing (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Abraham was the most consequential human in all of history. He began the process of fixing the world and humanity. Amid a cesspool of idolatry, Abraham emerged as a beacon of faith. When the entire world had forgotten about its Creator, Abraham restored faith in God to the world. Our Parsha follows Abraham in his journey. How did the son of an idol wholesaler from the city of Ur become the father of many nations? What was the process by which Abraham became the greatest giant among people? Why didn't any of Abraham's relatives join him for this journey? In this very special podcast we accompany Abraham along his fateful Odyssey, noting the various stages of his journey, learning what it entailed and why others weren't quite up to the task.

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Your Vote Matters

TORCH — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 13:18:04 -0600

It's election season in America. Your vote matters. Even if you don't live in the swing state, it is recommended that you vote and exercise your civic right and duty. There is another area where you need to vote. The other area is much more consequential. The effects of how you vote in that area will reverberate the world over.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 19:51:03 -0500

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Parsha: Noach - Cured Ham

TORCH — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:04:42 -0500

After spending a year in the ark, Noah and his family exited it to find an empty and desolate world. The sinners who dominated the world before the flood were gone as were basically everything else. The animals, not including token representatives of each species, were gone. The trees, the grass, the plants - everything was gone. Noah and his family began to rebuild the world a new world. In this Parsha podcast we study several events that happened in the aftermath of the flood: We learn about the symbolism and essence of the covenant of the rainbow; we study in detail the lessons of the tragic event that happened when Noah got drunk and was violated by his son, Ham, and we probe the legacy of Ham and his descendants.

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Parsha: Noach - The Flood and The Fish (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Flood was a disaster for all the Earth's inhabitants, humans and animals alike. With the exception of Noah and his family and the animals safely housed in the Ark, all the land-based animals died in the Flood. But not the fish. The fish were completely unaffected by the Flood. The sources maintain that the animals had become corrupted in the run-up to the flood and thus deserved to be destroyed, but the fish did not corrupt their ways and thus were not destroyed. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast we probe the interesting state of sea life during the antediluvian period, the Flood, and it's aftermath, and draw an exquisite idea that helps explain Noah, his greatness, his shortfalls, and what we are supposed to derive from this Parsha.

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Glimpsing Into Adam's Book

TORCH — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 13:08:36 -0500

Serious people face a serious problem: once you understand that the Almighty created you for a purpose, and that purpose is completely unique to you - there is no one else who can fulfill whatever it is that you must fulfill- you recognize the imperative to discover your personal mission. But how do you find your own path in life? How do you discover your purpose, the task, the mission, the job that you were created to fulfill? In this very special podcast we consult the book that has all the answers: The Chronicles of Adam. This most powerful and mysterious book foretells all future generations of Adam and their particular mission. Herein we learn how to catch a glimpse, how to sneak a peek into our own entry in this vaunted and hallowed book.

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Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 23:33:06 -0500

In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners.

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Parsha: Bereishis - Genealogies of Genesis

TORCH — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 23:18:11 -0500

With gratitude to the Almighty for all the goodness that He has bestowed upon us, we hereby begin again with the book of Genesis with year nine of the Parsha podcast. Who would have believed that we would have been able to study the weekly Parsha together for so long?! In this episode, we study the fascinating story lines and insights of the generations from Adam to Noah. The end of our Parsha delineates the many families and generations spanning from Adam to Noah. There are all sorts of fascinating factoids, nuggets and vignettes included in this narrative: we study the story of Cain from after his fratricide of his brother until his tragic and surprising death at the hand of his own great, great, great grandson. We learn all about the House of Lamech and its potpourri of colorful characters. We discover a very powerful and persuasive answer to the the knotty philosophical paradox of reconciling total Divine knowledge with our free will. The podcast ends with a fascinating and thought-provoking, philosophical and moral dilemma.

The schedule for this year's Parsha podcast follows previous years: each Sunday will see the release of the rebroadcast episode that covers the entire Parsha. On Tuesday we will re-release the episode from 2 years ago (5783), and please God we will release a new episode with the theme of "Torah is our ID", each Thursday. May we merit to continue to study the Almighty's holy Torah together in good health and in great spirits.

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Parsha: Bereishis - Cain's Discovery (5783)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Year Nine (!) of The Parsha Podcast. Each week will feature, with the help of the Almighty, three episodes, two ones from previous years and a new one: On Sunday, the Parsha Rebroadcast that covers the whole Parsha in about an hour will be released. On Tuesday, we will release the episode from 2 years ago, from the Seventh fifth cycle of the Parsha podcast, in the Jewish year 5783. On Thursday, we will release a brand new episode that will demonstrate that Torah is our ID.

In this episode we study the sad, tragic, and shocking episode of fratricide, and specifically hone in on God's comfort of Cain. What we learn can completely transform our lives.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Bereishis (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 23:26:00 -0500

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 9 of the Parsha Podcast (5785). This year, we will re-upload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 7th cycle's episode (5783) for each respective Parsha each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly episode each Thursday. Thank you for downloading and please share with a friend.

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Parsha: Vezos Haberacha - Family Above (Almost) Everything

TORCH — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:17:12 -0500

The final Parsha of the Torah tells of Moshe's deathbed blessing to the tribes. For the duration of the Torah, Moshe has been constantly criticizing and reprimanding the nation. Praising the people is something that he does only on his last day. After Moshe blesses the nation, he ascends the mountain and passes away. The Parsha ends with Torah's the stirring and poignant eulogy of Moshe. In this very special edition of the Parsha podcast, recorded during the intermediate days of the festival of Sukkot, we cap off a wonderful year of Parsha podcasts with a deep and deeper analysis of this wonderful Parsha. We carefully examine Moshe's blessing to the Levites and deduce from it a novel and fresh understanding of the Jewish religion. We take lessons from Moshe's passing and the condition in which his body was preserved. And finally, we end off with a deep and powerful exploration of the final description of Moshe, and arguably his greatest accomplishment: the shattering of the tablets. Year Eight of the Parsha Podcast ends in style.

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Parsha: Vezos Haberacha - An Offer You Can Refuse (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:50:00 -0500

The final Parsha of the Torah contains the blessing of Moshe to the nation, his death, burial, and eulogy. Rashi tells us that his blessing began with a recounting of the offer of the Torah to the Nations and to Israel. Before the Sinai Revelation, God offered the Torah to every other Nation, and they all refused. Only our people accepted. What is the salience of this anecdote? Why must we be told about God's offer of the Torah to the other nations? Why, in fact, was the offer rejected? In this final episode of year six of the Parsha Podcast, we learn about this offer and what it teaches us about the essential difference between our nation and the other nations, and what Torah is designed to do to us.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Tablets and Tabernacle: The Revelation of Sukkos

TORCH — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 21:23:03 -0500

The Jewish holidays are not evenly spaced out. They appear in bunches. A mere five days after Yom Kippur comes the seven-day (truthfully nine when you tally everything) Festival of Sukkos (appendaged by Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah). The next Festival (excluding the Rabbinic holidays of Chanukah and Purim) does not occur for six months. What is the connection between Sukkos and the days that precede it? What is the profound message at the heart of this Festival? Why is it the only Festival that is commemorated at a different calendar date than the events it is recalling? In this special Sukkos podcast we explore a powerful and deep element of these days.

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This special Sukkos Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Gershon Ben Charles, whose Yahrzeit is today. Gershon Ben Charles, the father of our dear friend Adam Chuckrow, was a special man with a strong Jewish identity who lived by the dictum of Hillel, “do not unto others what you despise,” and we dedicate our Torah study today in his loving memory. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Vezos Haberacha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 23:11:20 -0500

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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:14:35 -0500

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Ethics: Ethics Podcast Conclusion Message

TORCH — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Speech at celebratory lunch at Genesis Steakhouse in Houston, TX to mark the completion of the Book Ethics and the Ethics Podcast.

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Ethics: Purpose of Creation (6:11)

TORCH — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0500

With endless praise to the Almighty for all goodness that he has done for us, we hereby present the final episode of the Ethics podcast. We began this project 7 years ago and now, thanks to the boundless help from the Almighty, we have finally finished this grand initiative May the Almighty continue to give us strength and resolve to study His holy Torah and may we be worthy of absorbing its timeless lessons.

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This Ethics podcast, the final Ethics podcast of our Ethics podcast series, is dedicated by an anonymous dear friend and supporter of the Ethics podcast and of TORCH, in recognition of my hard work and in the merit of the hostages still held captive in Gaza. May our Torah study serve as a merit for them. May they be protected and saved and rejoin their families really soon.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Six Impetuses for Repentance

TORCH — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 13:36:44 -0500

Repentance draws a person out of darkness into eternal light. It transforms the penitent into a completely new person. But how exactly does repentance work? How do you repent? What are the various elements and facets of repentance? The authoritative book on these questions, Shaarei Teshuva, the Gates of Repentance, was written in the 13th century by Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona. In this special 10 days of repentance edition of the podcast, we explore the very profound and powerful section of this book that deals with the impetuses of repentance. Join us as we prepare for Yom Kippur and strive to improve ourselves with the power and the magic of repentance.

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Parsha: Haazinu - Trees with 70 Branches

TORCH — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:43:18 -0500

Parshas Hazinu is one of the most fascinating, poetic, and richly profound Parshas in the Torah. It is also arguably the most mysterious one. The majority of the Parsha is the Song of Haazinu, an intricate tapestry of prophecies that encapsulate the grand scope of Jewish history. The commentators on this Parsha strive to even understand the basic meaning of its words. In this penultimate episode of the 8th cycle of the Parsha podcast, focus on the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim. While we don't go through the entirety of his magisterial commentary, we select five magnificent comments from this work. What we discover is an absolutely profound study of scope and depth and insight. I could think of know no finer way to end the Parsha podcast year of 5784 than to plumb into the depth of this song as explained by the legendary Ohr Hachaim.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of our parents Drs. David and Susanne Gelb from the Gelb, Goldman and Shacknofsky families. Wishing them and all of Klal Yisrael a Shana Tova Umetuka, a good and sweet New Year. May this learning also be in merit of Meshulam ben David, Shayndel bat David, Avner ben Avraham HaCohen and Avraham ben Menachem Mendel HaKohen may their Neshamas have an Aliyah.

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500

On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the Binding of Isaac. Abraham – the same Abraham who railed against the ways of child sacrifice of the pagans – is instructed by God to take Isaac – the same Isaac who was declared as the one who will be Abraham’s true progeny – and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 23:10:37 -0500

The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we read Genesis chapter 21, which tells of the conception and birth of Isaac, and the banishment of Ishmael, his brush with death, and his salvation. In this podcast we attempt to understand the many connections that this reading has with the themes and ideas of Rosh Hashana.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: God's Cherished Possessions (6:10)

TORCH — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

God owns everything. He created everything and owns it all. But there are some things that God cherishes above others. Our Mishnah describes five cherished possessions of God. These five are uniquely beloved by Him. They are what He "acquired."

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Parsha: Haazinu - Torrential Torah (5782)

TORCH — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Song of Haazinu, the third of three Songs on the Torah, tells the story of the Jewish people, past, present, and future. It speaks of high points and nadirs, this world and the next, devastation and reclamation. In this podcast we examined the Song's beginning. Moshe compares his words and his speech to rain, dew, stormy, windy, showers, and soft droplets. Our Sages explained that Torah is comparable to the many varieties of rain and precipitation. What is Torah all about? How do we benefit from it? Why can't we always see it's impact? What is at stake as we approach Torah study? This sweeping episode we survey the many ways in which Torah is related to the many varieties of precipitation.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Gates of Repentance

TORCH — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 11:59:41 -0500

The Ten Days of Repentance are upon us. In just a few days is the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah. These powerful high holidays culminate with the climax of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What exactly is repentance though? How are we supposed to think about repentance? In this very special podcast, we study a few sections of the most foundational book on repentance, the Gates of Repentance, authored in the 13th century by Rabbi Yonah of Girona. Although we only cover a tiny fraction of this magisterial book, we gain a flavor of this seminal work that will recast our understanding of repentance and will elevate the High Holidays. Though this book is not for the faint of heart, it is very powerful and transformational.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Haazinu (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Nitzavim Vayeilech - Like Clockwork

TORCH — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

We are not machines. We are humans. And that's messy. We have all sorts of struggles doing the right thing. We are influenced by a myriad of impulses, inclinations, and predispositions. We don't operate like clockwork. There are other things that always follow a prescribed pattern: The sun always rises in the East and sets in the West. The sun's reliability is unfailing. The Earth is also completely predictable: It sprouts what you plant. None of us would ever compare fickle humans to the Sun or the heavens or the Earth. But Moshe does. In this profound Parsha podcast, we explore a fascinating and apparently inexplicable demand that Moshe places before us prior to his passing.

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Vayeilech - Career Capstone (5782)

TORCH — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

On the last day of Moshe's life, he accomplished a lot. He wrote 13 copies of the Torah, one per tribe and one to be permanently stationed in or near the Ark, he spoke words of comfort to the people, and he formally passed the baton of leadership of the nation to his disciple and successor, Joshua. When we study the Torah's description of Moshe's final die, we discover an interesting pattern that appears one other place in the Torah, a discovery that reveals a new insight into the lives and purpose of the great exemplars of our past.

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Parsha: Nitzavim - The Penitent Manifesto (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Repentance is one of God's greatest gifts to mankind. When we blunder; when we err; when we create distance and barriers between us and God, we are afforded the ability to rectify and restore our previous pristine state. But repentance, at first glance, seems nightmarishly hard. To change demands an admission that we are flawed; to change demands action which we are always biased against; to change demands that we overcome our instincts and ingrained habits. In this very special pre-Rosh Hashanah podcast, we explore the 40 verses of our Parsha and present them as a manifesto for the penitent. In the podcast we learn of a new way to view the entire subject of repentance, and by extension, a new approach to change.

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Ethics: Place of Torah (6.9)

TORCH — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

There are only three rules of real estate: location, location, location. When it comes to choosing a place to live, the same principle applies. But what determines a good location? In this very interesting Mishnah we learn about the absolute imperative of living in a place of Torah.

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Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:35:21 -0500

On the final day of Moshe’s life, he gathered the entire nation – men, women, children, and according to the Talmud, all souls of future Jews – to pass them through a final covenant with God. The parsha also contains the prophetic predictions of the Messianic times, and it ends with a simple, binary choice: Moshe tells the nation, “Behold I have placed before you today, the life and the good, and death and evil… Choose Life!” Moshe is 120 years old to the day. He was born on the seventh of Adar and now it is the seven of Adar 120 years later. Today is his last day before his passing and he is taking leave from the nation and handing over the reins to Joshua.

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Parsha: Ki Savo - Gaze from Heaven

TORCH — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:57:15 -0500

Blessings and curses. That is the dominant theme of our Parsha. We read the admonition of Deuteronomy - 98 bone-chilling curses that will befall our people in the event that we repudiate our covenant with God. Blessings and curses appear a second time: the nation is instructed to assemble at Mount Gerizim and mount Ebal on the day of the crossing of the Jordan. There, they must make a public pronouncement of blessings and curses. What is the lesson of blessing and curses? Why do we get blessings and curses? In this special and sprawling Parsha podcast, we thread a theme throughout the Parsha that wraps together of the first fruits, the confession of the tithes, the blessings and the curses, and Moshe's joyous exclamation to the people when he declares that they have finally, forty years after the Exodus, been forged into a nation. Put away your pagers, beepers, and walkie-talkies. Now it's time for the Parsha podcast.

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Parsha: Ki Savo - Clinging to Gold (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

On the surface, Bikkurim appears to be an ordinary, tithe-like Mitzvah. When the first fruits of a season's crop begin to sprout, you designate them as Bikkurim, and eventually bring them to Jerusalem with much pomp and ceremony. Upon closer examination, this mitzvah is associated with all kinds of surprising people: When we bring the Bikkurim we invoke Pharaoh and the Egyptian experience and Jacob's father-in-law Laban, of all people. In addition, the Midrash makes a stunning statement that Bikkurim is emblematic of the reason why God created the world. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we propose a novel explanation of the Mitzvah of Bikkurim that reveals it's association with Pharaoh and Laban, and offer a new rationale for why it represents the goal of creation.

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Ethics: Double-Edged Swords (6.8)

TORCH — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Not everything that we covet in life necessarily redounds to our benefit. There are great many things that are double-edge swords: they can be used for good; they can accelerate our ascent to righteousness, and they can be absolutely destructive and lead us towards a death spiral of decadence. Proceed with caution.

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Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - Conscience Cleanser

TORCH — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Of the motley potpourri of subjects featured in Parshas Ki Seitzei are several fascinating mitzvos that we address in this week's Parsha podcast. We begin with a fascinating analysis of the law of the beautiful captive woman. We proceed with a heartening insight based upon the wayward and rebellious son. Finally, we offer a sharp and penetrating insight into the prohibition against bringing a harlot's fee to the temple and into the prohibition against excising a skin ailment of tzaraas. Listen to this wonderful and profound edition of the Parsha podcast. You will not regret it. On the contrary, it will delight you give you great joy.

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - The Payoff Pitch (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

What is the nature of the conflict of life? How, indeed, are we suspended between good and bad, between mitzvos and sin, between the evil and good inclinations? The Almighty designed the world based upon the principle of free will, meaning that we all have the choice of how to live our lives and what to prioritize. In this special Bar Mitzvah edition of the Parsha Podcast, we learn about the varying strengths and weaknesses of the forces urging us to embrace or repel the will of God, and we discover the mechanics of the life-defining war against the Yetzer Hara.

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The Root Cause of Anti-Semitism and How to Solve it: The Torah's Surprising View

TORCH — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:27:18 -0500

Jew hatred is not a new phenomenon. Ever since our people were founded -- and truthfully even beforehand -- we have been the recipients of unprecedented, enmity and hostility. Why are God's chosen people uniquely targeted? What is the underlying reason for anti-Semitism? Why are we not more accepted into and tolerated by the general society? This is a question often pondered by scholars and pundits. With the global increase of anti-Semitism following the October 7th massacres and the war that ensued, this question is top of mind for many. In this podcast we share the Torah's surprising and counterintuitive perspective.

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Ethics: The Life-Giving Property of Torah (6:7)

TORCH — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The thing that we crave more than anything else is life. We all want life. We all flee from curtailing of - or danger to - our life. How do we indeed get life? In this wonderful Mishnah we learn how Torah bestows life - both here and in the afterlife - upon those who do it. What does the Mishnah mean when it says life? How exactly does Torah serve as a life-giving tool here and there? In this fascinating Ethics podcast, we learn the answers.

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Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shoftim - Government-in-Exile

TORCH — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:20:54 -0500

We begin the month of Elul on the Parsha Podcast with style, flair, and panache. It starts with some sweet, sweet vindication as we share a citation that legitimizes the philosophy of a brief, truncated, intensive effort to ascend the spiritual ladder, in lieu of a slow and steady and incremental ascent. We then proceed to share two fascinating and deep insights from our Parsha. The first relates to the method by which capital punishment must be meted out. The second is a novel and fascinating spiritual and cosmic perspective on the monarchy as a method of government, both in the era when monarchies were widespread and of the era of its effective dissolution.

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Parsha: Shoftim - Hill To Die On (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha contains the instructions for how to conduct war. We are told that we must extend peace overtures before launching an attack, we are told about the special nature of the Canaanite wars, and we are prohibited from felling fruit-bearing trees in order to make siege works. This podcast discusses the very unusual way that soldier conscription is done. Seemingly, there are cavernous loopholes to allow soldiers to desert in mass numbers. We suggest a new homiletic approach to understand the lesson behind the very strange soldier selection process.

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Ethics: Proper Attribution (6.6.48)

TORCH — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 23:00:00 -0500

When we hear something beautiful, something genius, something powerful, we may be tempted to pass it off as our own. In the final installment of the 48 ways to wisdom we learn about the imperative of proper attribution: saying something in the name of its originator.

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Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Reeh - Idle Tree, Idle Warship, and Falls Profits

TORCH — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Torah spends a lot of time cautioning us against idolatry. As the nation is about to cross over the Jordan and enter Canaan, they are repeatedly warned to not fall prey to the idolatrous practices of the indigenous population. Instead, they must shatter the idolatrous altars, destroy idolatrous infrastructure, obliterate idolatrous paraphernalia , uproot idolatrous trees, and thoroughly dismantled all idolatrous venues. The warnings against idolatry are one of the primary themes of the book of Devarim and of Moshe's last messages to the nation. What does this mean for us today? We are are quite unfamiliar with the idolatry of yore. It does not resonate with us. We don't understand why the ancients were so enamored by idolatry. When we read all about idolatry in the Torah we ask the important question: what does this have to do with us? In this very interesting and stimulating podcast, we talk about modern idolatry and how it compares and contrasts with the idolatry of yore. We also share several fascinating observations from our glorious antecedents regarding hints and references to the Christian hero in the Torah and in the Talmud.

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Parsha: Reeh - Steak Your Claim (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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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Ethics: Systematic Studying (6.6.47)

TORCH — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The penultimate way to wisdom offered by our sages instructs us to be systematic in our studies. What exactly does this mean? In this very special Ethics Podcast, we offer three different interpretations. Listen carefully if you want to give a boost to your studies and your connection with your Creator.

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Parshas Reeh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Eikev - Shock and Awe

TORCH — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Flashy achievements make the news. Great triumphs, awesome deeds, transcendent moments grab our attention and seize our imagination. Humdrum acts fail to stir excitement. But when we are devising a strategy for how to prepare our ladder of ascension, it may be ill-advised to pursue quantum leaps of greatness. In fact the most effective process to transformative greatness is slow and gradual and dotted with seeming unremarkable, bite-sized micro movements up a very tall ladder. This idea is hinted to in Rashi's first comment to our Parsha. When we analyze other parts of the Parsha, we see a variety of angles as to why the slow and unremarkable path is optimal. In this wonderful Parsha podcast, we also take deep and penetrating dive into the mysterious and esoteric world of the nature first set of tablets that Moshe and brought down from heaven, their shattering, and their pending reclamation.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Mason Robert Seidman, the first grandchild of my dear friend Bruce Licht. May young Mason bring pride and joy to his family, community, and Creator.

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Parsha: Eikev - Well-Heeled (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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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Ethics: Sharpening Teachers (6.6.46)

TORCH — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Teachers are usually pretty talented. They're usually gifted, knowledgeable, intelligent, and well-studied. In way to wisdom # 46 we learn how a student should strive to make their teacher even sharper and wiser. By upgrading our teachers, we ourselves become wiser along the way.

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Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vaeschanan - Get a Life

TORCH — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Moshe was Joshua's teacher. By any measure, Moshe was a greater leader of the nation than Joshua was. Moshe was the sun to Joshua's moon. But Moshe was unable to lead the nation across the Jordan; a feat that Joshua pulled off. How did Joshua the acolyte manage to outshine and upstage the master? That question is the first of two subjects addressed in this week's Parsha podcast. To find out the other one you will have to listen for yourself.

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Parsha: Vaeschanan - Linked to Sinai (5782)

TORCH — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 23:57:00 -0500

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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Ethics: Studying with Intentionality (6.6.44-45)

TORCH — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

What are our intentions when we study? What are we trying to achieve? If we are studying the Almighty's Torah simply as an exercise in theoretical, abstract learning, we are missing the essence of Torah. In these two ways to wisdom, we learned about the imperative to study with intentionality and the different types of motivation for Torah study. We can upgrade our wisdom simply by tweaking the goal of our studies.

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Parshas Vaeschanan (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Devarim - Citizen of Heaven

TORCH — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 21:46:36 -0500

A year after the Exodus Moshe dispatched a contingency of dignified men to scout the land of Canaan prior to the Nation's invasion. It was a catastrophic debacle. The scouts returned with a devastating, slanderous report about the Land, prompting the nation to bewail needlessly all night, and condemning the nation to 40 years of wondering in the Wilderness. The day of the return of the scouts was designated for misfortune. On this day, the ninth day of the month of Av, both temples were destroyed. The Midrash tells us that there is a causal link: because the nation cried needlessly on this night, they were condemned to cry for a very good reason on this night. What is the connection between the sin of the spies and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple? In this this Parsha podcast., we explore the verses in our Parsha that hearken back to that calamitous, catastrophic reconnoitering of the land.

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The Name of Messiah

TORCH — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Seven things were created before the world was created. That much we are told in the Talmud. What is the significance of this collection of things that preceded the world? When we analyze the list, moreover, we read how the name of Messiah is included amongst it. What exactly is the name of Messiah? Is that simply the identifier of the redeemer? When we analyze and probe this intriguing teaching, we discover a host of fascinating insights into the framework of the world, the characteristics of Messiah and the Messianic era, and how each one of us can become a micro-Messiah.

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Parsha: Devarim - Withholding Judgment (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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 they 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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Ethics: Active Listening (6.6.43)

TORCH — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Listening is a lost art. To truly listen and consider the other person's position is becoming increasingly rarer. We get consumed with our own ideas and perspectives; someone else's opposing position will not be granted true consideration. But listening - and listening actively and attentively - is critical if we are desirous of learning and absorbing the Almighty's Torah.

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Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Mattos & Masei - Order of Sisters

TORCH — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Book of Bamidbar ends on a bit of a surprising note. The final chapter of our book revisits the somewhat technical narrative relating to the inheritance of the ancestral lands of a man named Tzelafchad. This man from the tribe of Menashe died without sons, and in chapter 27 of the book of numbers we learned that his lands will be apportioned to his daughters in lieu of male heirs. One may have thought that the saga of Tzelafchad was all settled. But no. The final chapter of the book revisits this story and offers an epilogue to it. Why is this the most fitting culmination of the book? In this very special Parsha podcast, we offer a novel solution. We learn how these five sisters were each remarkable in her own way, a lesson that serves as a fitting and powerful crescendo to the Book of Bamidbar.

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Parsha: Mattos & Masei - Contrarian Guide (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week we conclude the Book of Numbers with a double-Parsha, the sole double-Parsha of this calendar year. Of the myriad of interesting subjects found in our Parsha is the long and detailed negotiations between Moshe and the tribes of Reuben and Gad. These tribes sought to permanently settle on the East Bank of the Jordan and not on its Western side, in Canaan proper. For 42 verses, the Torah records their dialogue and negotiation. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we propose an explanation of this protracted negotiation. What emerges is an authoritative guide for contrarians.

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Ethics: Asking and Answering (6.6.42)

TORCH — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Questions are arguably the most potent tool by which to open up a complex subject. Asking questions on a given matter; asking many, diverse questions, analyzing and probing the issue from all angles, helps open portals of understanding that can deepen your appreciation and your perception of the matter. Our Sages were masters of the art of the question. If we want to deepen our connection with the Almighty's Torah, it is imperative that we learn to ask sharp questions and to keep them on point.

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Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This year, the Book of Numbers ends with a double parsha – Mattos and Masei. We learn about the laws of vows and oaths; the miraculous war with Midian; the unusual request of the tribes of Gad and Reuben; the Torah delineates the 42 different places that the Nation encamped for their 40 year sojourn; and we gain closure to the saga of the daughters of Tzelaphchad.

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Parsha: Pinchas - Eggs Not Cheese

TORCH — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Pinchas, Aaron's grandson, did a valorous and zealous act of bravery when he skewered the prince of the tribe of Shimon and stopped the plague from wiping out the entire nation. What motivated Pinchas' behavior? What attributes were at play during his act of zealotry? This question is answered in a comment in Rashi in our Parsha. We learn how qualities and attributes that are present in antecedents are manifested in their descendants. Character is heritable. That same theme is featured elsewhere in our Parsha, when the daughter is of Tzalafchad seek a portion in the land of Israel, in a manner similar to that of their antecedent Joseph. When we zoom out, we discover that the heritability of character, both good and bad, is featured in many many places in the literature. The lessons and the takeaways are profound.

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Parsha: Pinchas - Staying Hungry (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Although a paternal grandson of Aaron the Kohein, Pinchas was not initially - prior to his heroic act of martyrdom - a Kohein. The law stated that only Aaron and his sons were to be anointed as Kohanim. All sons born to Kohanim subsequently were to be Kohanim, but Pinchas who was alive at the time of anointing of Aaron and his sons was excluded from this exalted fraternity. When he zealously ended the plague, a divine dispensation ruled that he was to be elevated to being a Kohein - a High Priest no less. In this podcast we study Pinchas' unusual career trajectory and posit a pedagogical device designed to get the most out of ourselves and our charges.

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Ethics: Well-Grounded (6.6.41)

TORCH — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

What is our relationship with our studies? For some (many?) studying Torah is very important. It is a great priority. But is it the permanent fixture of a person's life? That designation is applied to the few. In this way to wisdom, we learn about the transformative nature of rendering Torah study the primary focus of a person's life, and also learn about the proper approach for plumbing the depths of Torah study.

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Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Balak - Donkey Gait Keeper

TORCH — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

In every generation there are malevolent forces seeking to destroy the Jewish people. They have never been successful, nor will they ever be. The Almighty always protects our people and ensures our continuity. Most of the time we are completely unaware of the mortal dangers that the Almighty thwarted on our behalf. The canonical example of this phenomenon is the story of our Parsha , when the greatest sorcerer of all time was hired to curse the Jewish Nation. In this special edition of the Parsha podcast, we share three deep ideas on the very unusual story of Bilaam's unsuccessful attempts to curse the Jewish Nation.

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Parsha: Balak - A Single Point (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Our nation has no shortage of enemies. This is not new. Even in antiquity, our nation was always a target. Laban, Jacob's father-in-law, try to smothered the Jewish Nation in its infancy. I'm this week's Parsha, to fearsome, shadowy figures try to do the same. Balak, king of Moab, commissions Bilaam, master sorcerer and prophet, to curse and decimate the nation. Although their diabolical scheme fails, the lessons that we learn from this parsha are transformative.

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Ethics: Truth and Peace (6.6.40)

TORCH — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Truth and peace are often incompatible. A peaceful solution to a problem is often not truthful; unvarnished truth is rarely diplomatic. In way number 40 to acquire wisdom we learn how we must deploy truth and peace in the right manner, in the right fashion, to the right person, at the right time - and how this leads to deepening the integration and assimilation of Torah within ourselves.

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Parshas Balak (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Chukas - Mourning Clouds

TORCH — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:07:40 -0500

Two giants passed away in this week's Parsha: Moshe two elder siblings, his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron - two of the great leaders and benefactors of the nation - both die in Parshas Chukas. In this special Parsha podcast we share two profound insights relating to the death, mourning, and aftermath of these two deaths. We discuss the extraction of water from a rock and how it differs from the another instance where water was desired and a rock played a very different role. We conclude with a sharp analysis of the difference between the nation's mourning of Aaron and how the people mourned Moshe. All in all, I highly recommend that you listen to this podcast. It will bring you joy and maybe even some insight.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Mrs. Ruth Salomon, Yenta Bas Moshe, who passed away yesterday. May her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Chukas - Between a Rock and a Wet Place (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Ethics: Judging Favorably (6.6.39)

TORCH — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Not everyone is a saint. In fact, the verse testifies that there is no righteous person in the land who does only good and never sins. So everyone is a sinner, to one degree or another. How ought we relate to sinners? What do we do when we see people behaving in an inappropriate fashion? In way number 39 we learn about the imperative for judging others favorably and how this can yield wonderful benefits in our pursuit of the Almighty's holy Torah.

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Parshas Chukas (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Korach - The Jewish Kryptonite

TORCH — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

We all have weaknesses. Nations, as well, have witnesses. When the Almighty sought to give the Torah to the Jewish people at Sinai, He first offered it to all the nations. When they asked what was included in it, God revealed to them how the Torah disallowed that particular weakness that that particular Nation had. What is the Jewish weakness? What is our kryptonite? When we study the story of Korach we find the answer. Korach launched a rebellion against Moshe and Aaron by specifically trying to exploit the innate Jewish weakness.

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Parsha: Korach - Debating Back to Sinai (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Debate and disagreement are part of the human condition. We are all unique and we all see the world differently. It should come as no shock, therefore, that disagreements exist between different people. Our nation has made debate into a favorite pastime - just visit any Yeshiva and you will see what I mean. But why must we debate? And what are the pillars of a productive debate? In this week's podcast, we learn the art of argumentation.

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Ethics: Bearing the Burden (6.6.38)

TORCH — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Everyone is going through something. Everyone has difficulties in life. That is the human condition. It is also all by design. But we are instructed to empathize with others in whatever challenge they may be undergoing. We are supposed to help them bear their burden. We are supposed to identify with their pain, validate it, and try to do whatever we can to suffer alongside them. This quality is the mark of the giants of our history, and it is also the Attribute of God that we are shown repeatedly. In this Ethics Podcast we learn how it is also a means through which we can acquire that that we cherish more than anything else: a connection with the Almighty and His holy Torah.

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Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shelach - Prophylactic Phylacteries

TORCH — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Prior to initiating the war of conquest of the land of Canaan, the nation did the prudent thing: they undertook a reconnaissance mission to scout out the enemy defenses. Moshe selected 12 righteous men, one from each tribe, to traverse the land and inspect it from the inside. The result was a catastrophic disaster: the scouts brought a devastating report about the land, prompting the people to lose faith in God and in the prospect of entering Canaan. In this Parsha podcast, we explore three elements of the Parsha: the first segment orients around one of the descriptions of the land offered by the scouts. The second and third segments relate to the end of the Parsha: The execution of a person who was gathering twigs on Shabbos, and the commandment to tie fringes to corners of our garments.

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Parsha: Shelach - Enter Via the Window (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

One of the most unfortunate events in our history is chronicled in this week's Parsha. The nation was on the doorstep of entering the Land of Canaan and actualizing the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In an effort to not to rely on Divine miracles, Moshe commissioned 12 righteous men to reconnoiter the Land. The report that they returned with was devastating, eventually leading to the nation being condemned to spend 40 years in the wilderness. That storyline is told in our Parsha's beginning. It then transitions to talk about something very different: libations in sacrifices, the challah gift given to the Kohein, sacrifices for egregious sins, an episode of a person who gathered twigs on Shabbos resulting in his execution, and finally we read the third paragraph of the Shema, which talks about the Mitzvah of Tzitzis. Is there a central theme in our Parsha? On the surface it seems that the answer is no. In this podcast, we swim deep beneath the surface and discover some gems.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui Nishmas Yosef Binyamin ben Avraham Chaim, George Topas, whose fourth Yartzeit falls out on 19th of Sivan, the day that this podcast is being released.

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TORAH 101: Unresolved Mysteries of Resurrection

TORCH — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

We have made enormous strides in our pursuit of a deep, and comprehensive study of Rambam's 13 principles of faith. We have plumbed the depths of these 13 tenets of our religion to the best of our ability. This podcast marks the final installment of this series. In it we explore some of the various quandaries and uncertainties regarding Resurrection. While our exploration of the 13 principles has been completed, we hope to, with the help of the almighty, continue studying and parsing out various subjects related to our philosophy and religion on this podcast channel. We hope you enjoyed the ride and continue with us as we proceed onward.

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Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 22:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Honeymoon Phases

TORCH — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 21:49:49 -0500

After nearly a year at Sinai, the nation is on the move: in perfect formation, each tribe perfectly positioned and oriented, the nation finally departed the site of the Sinai Revelation. Following the cloud, the nation traveled. In this very special Parsha podcast, we go deep and deeper in trying to plumb the depths of the Torah to the best of our abilities. The first segment revolves around the nature of the nation's frequent travels throughout the wilderness, in contrast with the year that they spent in one location at Sinai. The second segment focuses on two mysterious figures, Eldad and Meidad, who were catapulted prophecy. The final segment shares a fascinating and perhaps a bit terrifying insight into the nature of the arrival of Messiah and what to do about it.

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Follow the Cloud (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Traveling in the wilderness was not simple. The nation was guided by the clouds of Glory. When the clouds of Glory would depart from a top of the Tabernacle, that signaled it was time to go and the nation decamped and began to move. Where to? No one knew ahead of time. Wherever the cloud settled, that is where the next encampment was. When we examine this system of traveling, we find incredible lessons. On a basic level, it shows us the degree of commitment that the nation had to God. On a deeper level, it shows us the essence of the 40 years in the wilderness, and the nature of our navigation throughout the challenges and conflicts of our lives.

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Mysteries of the Torah Scroll

TORCH — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:52:05 -0500

The festival of Shavuos marks the anniversary of the most momentous and consequential event in all of human history: the Sinai Revelation. A mere 50 days after the Exodus, the nation coalesced around the mountain and witnessed when no other people has had witnessed prior or since: They heard the Ten Commandments directly from the Creator Himself. In this very special and very unique podcast, we explore a fascinating question regarding one of the commandments. That question is used as a springboard analyze a very interesting and compelling citation featured in the literature. This is one of the most unique and fascinating podcasts you will ever hear. It is more enjoyable with the visuals on the slideshow. If you would like to receive them, please send me an email (rabbiwolbe@gmail.com) and I will send it to you.

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Ethics: Unenthusiastic Judgment (6.6.37)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

There was a need to render halachic rulings. Sometimes there was uncertainty and there's a need to have a halachic decisor render a ruling. But what is the attitude necessary for a halachic arbiter? In way to wisdom #37 we learned that he is not supposed to be enthusiastic and eager to render rulings.

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Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Nasso - Gordian Knot

TORCH — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 01:01:54 -0500

Parshas Nasso is the longest Parsha in the Torah by verses. In this very special Parsha podcast we explore three different elements of the Parsha: We offer a deep examination of the banishment of the various impure people from the camp; a profound approach to the system of change featured in the Nazir; and a sharp analysis of Moshe's role in constructing the Tabernacle.

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Parsha: Nasso - The Fourth Crown (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha contains the interesting law of the Nazir. A Nazir is someone who has accepted upon themselves a vow to abstain from wine, haircuts, and contact with the dead for a given period, typically 30 days. The details of this law are featured in our partial and elaborated upon in appropriately named book of Talmud, the book of "Nazir." What is the meaning behind this law and what can we learn from it? When we study the Nazir we discover the mechanism for rapid, accelerated, and dramatic transformation.

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Ethics: Swelled Heart (6.6.36)

TORCH — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

It is a mark of Torah ignorance to be content with the degree of Torah study that you have. It is broader than the land and deeper than the sea. Torah is effectively infinite. To have a swelled heart - to feel supremely confident in your knowledge - is both foolish and counterproductive.

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Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:01:00 -0500

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Legion of God

TORCH — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

At first glance, the subject matter of Parshas Bamidbar is quite bland and technical. It talks of a census, and the orientation of the tribes in the camp, and the various responsibilities of the different levite families. These are not typically subjects that grab our attention. But we are trained to go deeper and deeper beneath the surface and to try to discover insights and lessons that are powerful and impactful. In this very special Parsha Podcast, we explore three different angles of this fascinating Parsha. We emerge enlightened and inspired.

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Autopsy of Giants (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha recounts - for the third time hitherto in the Torah - the episode of the untimely death of Aaron's two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. These two young priests were destined for greatness. Moshe believed that they were in fact greater than him and Aaron. Yet they brought an unauthorized sacrifice and died in a Divine conflagration on the same day that the Tabernacle was inaugurated. What exactly they did wrong and why they deserved such a fiery and premature death is a subject that fascinated our Sages throughout the centuries. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer a suggestion to explain what their calculation was and why it was wrong, learning along the way a pivotal lesson needed for anyone striving to actualize their potential.

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Five Fascinating Questions

TORCH — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Questions can be unsettling. Questions can cause dissonance. Questions can be painful. But questions can also be illuminating. They can open up new portals of insight and perspective. Questions are a central part of Torah study. Much of the Talmud is written in a question and answer format. The Passover seder is marked by the questions. Questions, in Torah study, are encouraged. In this very interesting and unique podcast, we share five fascinating questions, one on each of the five books of the Torah. These questions will hopefully expand and augment our perspective of Torah and Jewish life.

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Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 11:50:23 -0500

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Parsha: Bechukosai - Impractical Torah?

TORCH — Wed, 29 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Torah is absolutely vast. It is a veritable ocean. And we are privileged to be able to study it and immerse ourselves in it. Those of us who have had the great privilege of studying in Yeshiva know that there's nothing as delightful and as wonderful as the intensive study of Torah. But how practical is the material? How much of what we study can we implement on a daily basis? Very little. I spent a year and a half of my life studying the Talmudic book of Yevamos which deals with Levirate Marriage, a completely non-practical subject. Why is so much time and effort dedicated towards the study of matter is that or not practical and relevant? In this enjoyable Parsha podcast we examine this question amongst several others.

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Mitzvah: Consuming Blood (#148)

TORCH — Tue, 28 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Most of us are not tempted to taste blood. We find it repugnant and revolting. Nevertheless, in seven different verses, the Torah bans the consumption of blood. We must look elsewhere for our protein and iron.

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Parsha: Bechukosai - Self-Assembly Kit (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 27 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Why was our soul sent to this world? What was lacking for it in Heaven? That is not an easy question to answer. There are other hard questions to ponder: why are we so obsessed with Torah? How is Torah beneficial for mankind? In this superb episode of the Parsha Podcast, we discover a higher level of living and a higher level of Torah study. There is a form of Torah engagement that is fundamentally transformational. It completely changes the essence of a person and it is the goal of creation. If you want to know what the Almighty wants of you, this podcast is for you. If it sounds like I am overselling it, I challenge you to listen and share your feedback with me.

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Ethics: Aversion to Honor (6.6.35)

TORCH — Sun, 26 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Honor is a funny thing. It yields no tangible, discernible, sensory benefit to the recipient, yet it is so highly coveted and desired. We all want respect. We all want others to look up to us and to admire us. Our standing in the eyes of others matters greatly to us. In way to wisdom number 35, we discover how potentially dangerous it is to care about what others think. We are advised to distance ourselves from honor.

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Parshas Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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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Parsha: Behar - Intractable Land

TORCH — Wed, 22 May 2024 21:51:03 -0500

The Land of Israel is special: It is the land of God. All other lands were given by God to humanity. The land of Israel He reserved for himself. The Torah gives us comprehensive laws regarding every element of our life. Many of the laws are only applicable in the land of Israel. The commentaries tell us that truthfully all of the laws can only be fully fulfilled in the land of Israel. Why is this land so special? In this very special Parsha Podcast we focus on one of the mitzvos most intimately associated with the Land - the mitzvah of Shemitah -- that the land must lay fallow every seventh year - and analyze it from several dimensions and facets. What we discover reveals a great deal about the Land and what the overarching objective of mitzvos are.

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Parsha: Behar - The Jubilant 50's (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 20 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Being a farmer in antiquity was a hard job. Without any mechanized tools and plows, farming demanded a great deal of sweat and toil. But what choice did you have? If you want to feed your family, you need to work the land. Then comes the Shemitah. Every 7th year, the farmers in the Land are barred from working the field. For one year, the Land must lay fallow. Adhering to this mitzvah demands a great deal of faith and spiritual fortitude. But there is more: every 50th year is the Yovel where for the second year in a row, working the Land was prohibited. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we take a deep dive into the fascinating and the mysterious subject of Yovel. Buckle up, because this podcast will plow (sic) your mind!

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TORAH 101: The Timeline of Resurrection

TORCH — Sun, 19 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

It is hard enough for us to keep track of what happens to us in our lifetime; what happens after we die is truly a mystery. But there are timelines that are even murkier: what happens after Messiah? How does the Resurrection unfold? Is Resurrection a one-time thing or are there many different resurrections? What happens to this world when the clock hits the year 6000? Our Sages just tell us that this world can only endure for 6,000 years. That is the endpoint. What happens next? In this very interesting podcast we explore the timeline of Resurrection: we learn about how the era of Messiah leads to the era of Resurrection, we discover the idea of the Great and Awesome day of judgment, and we venture a little bit into the mysterious notion of the seventh millennium, and the 8th, and the 9th, and the 10th.

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Parshas Behar (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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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Parsha: Emor - Simulated Martyrdom

TORCH — Wed, 15 May 2024 21:37:00 -0500

Humans have a very important role to play in God's world. The Almighty created a world in which He is obfuscated. It is possible to live a whole life without acknowledging the one, singular reality of existence: God. The world was designed with the capacity for that reality being ignored. But we are here to change that. Our national mission is to sanctify the name of God - to publicize His existence and Dominion. That is the mission that Abraham embarked upon and that is what we have been dedicated towards ever since. This requirement - to sanctify the Name of God and not to, Heaven forbid, desecrate it - is featured in our Parsha and is a central element of our religion. But how exactly do we sanctify God's name? What can we do practically to publicize the name of God, to change the trajectory of the world? In this parsha, and in this this very fascinating (if lengthy) Parsha podcast, we discover some very interesting and powerful answers.

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This podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Shmuel Rephael Ben Refael, Sam Mizraji, of blessed memory.

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Parsha: Emor - Spiritual Fingerprint (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 13 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Kohanic family is the most prestigious and sanctified family in our nation. Direct descendants of the legendary Aaron, this family was consecrated as the priests of our nation. They oversee the temple and its operations, they do the service of the Temple, they process the sacrifices - they are the spiritual leaders of our people. Given their stature, they are bound by laws that apply to no other people. Our Parsha begins with two of those laws, namely the laws governing who they can and cannot marry, and the laws governing to which deceased people they can and cannot become impure. There is one very rare and unique scenario that seems totally inexplicable: the requirement for the Kohein, and even the Kohein Gadol, to render themselves impure by burying an unattended corpse. When we scrutinize this law we find something really interesting.

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The Infinity of Torah

TORCH — Sun, 12 May 2024 23:25:39 -0500

The Torah is effectively infinite. It is longer than the land and broader than the seas. God is infinite and unfathomable; He gave us His Torah in order for us to connect with Him. Torah is, in fact, accessible to us, but we never arrive at the end point of Torah. It's infinite. Moreover, the deeper someone immerses themselves into the vast seas of Torah, the deeper they discover it to be. In this very special podcast, we explore some striking examples of the infinity of the Torah.

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Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Kedoshim - Loving the Unlovable

TORCH — Wed, 08 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Some people are easy to love. They are good people. They have a good character. They are righteous and noble and pleasant. People like that are very lovable. But there are other people. The second group of people are very hard to love. They may have a very execrable character. They may have very unlikable traits. These people can only be loved with great effort. Our Parsha contains a mitzvah to love even the unlovables. How can we do that? This very interesting Parsha Podcast - recorded from a strange location at a very unorthodox hour - offers a wide range of perspectives for how we can love the unlovable and why we must.

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Ethics: Loving Rebuke (6.6.34)

TORCH — Tue, 07 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

No one likes criticism. To receive criticism is painful. To be told what we did wrong stings. We bristle at the notion that we are flawed and imperfect. The mere knowledge of the existence of our shortcomings causes us discomfort. But receiving criticism is actually highly productive. It's a good thing. It is very beneficial for someone who wants to use their life and the opportunities afforded to them to improve and to elevate and to transform. It is also a way unlock Divine wisdom.
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Parsha: Kedoshim - The Superhuman Imperative (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 06 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Our Parsha begins with an unusual ceremony: Moshe gathers the entire Jewish Nation, men, women, and children, to convey to them the mitzvos of our Parsha. Unlike the rest of the Torah where the nation is conveyed the Law in shifts, in this week's Parsha everyone has to be together. When we examine the reasons why, things get interesting. In this edition of the podcast, we suggest an approach that in our Parsha a new class of Mitzvos are unveiled.

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Parshas Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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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Parsha: Acharei Mos - Fleshy Onesie

TORCH — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Acharei Mos - A Consequential Life (5782)

TORCH — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The verse in our Parsha makes a big promise: if you adhere to the Mitzvos and statutes and laws of the Torah you will be granted life. Life is what we all so deeply covet. Torah and Mitzvos are the ways to get it. But it doesn't seem to bear out in the real world. There seems to be no life expectancy differentiation between those who adhere to the Torah's laws and those who neglect them. How do we reconcile this replication crisis? In this edition of the Parsha Podcast we share three answers to this question, including one that will reverberate within you and change your life.

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Parshas Acharei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:24:23 -0500

The three chapters of our parsha cover three general categories. First we read about the Yom Kippur sacrifices and procedures; then we learn about the prohibitions against consumption of blood among other ritualistic and sacrificial laws; and the final chapter is oriented around the many prohibited sexual relationships.

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Parsha: Metzora - Barbarians at the Gate

TORCH — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The Metzora (one stricken with tzaraas) is unwelcome in polite society. Even impolite society doesn't want anything to do with him. They must leave the camp. They must be alone, in seclusion, in isolation outside of the camp. They may not have close interaction with others. Others don't even want to have any interaction with them. They are afflicted with an illness no one wants to contract. A Metzora is an outcast, a pariah, ostracized from society. In this very special and topical Parsha podcast, we explore a very interesting and counterintuitive Idea. When we delineate the various people who are known to have been stricken with this disease, we observe among them one very unusual and unexpected person. Our sages tell us that Messiah is a Metzora. What does that mean? What is the significance of that? Herein we suggest some mind-bending ideas.

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Parsha: Metzora - 21st Century Prophecy (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

How involved is God in the day-to-day lives of humanity? What is the nature of divine communication to humanity? The central subject of our Parsha offers a fascinating window into this question. In antiquity - when our people were very close to the Almighty and very elevated spiritually - every sin would register as a splotch transgressor's skin, garments, or house. That served as a form of divine communication. God was signaling to the transgressor that their sin has caused a rift between them and God. Do we still have that form of communication today? In this sprawling episode we dig into this question and discover something topical and fascinating.

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Ethics: Loving Straightness (6.6.33)

TORCH — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

Straightness is a virtue. Straightness means to be proper and upstanding in all of your conduct. It means doing what's proper and just and good. It also references thinking. Straight, sensible, logical, clear, cogent thinking is better than crooked thinking. Way number 33 to wisdom is about this virtue.

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Parshas Metzora (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

A metzora is someone who is stricken with the tangible illness of tzaraas caused by a variety of sins, most notably the sin of lashon hara, evil talk and slander. Last week we read about two varieties of this illness: when it strikes a person’s garment or body; the bulk of our parsha orients around tzaraas remediation and a third type of tzaraas that afflicts the sinners house.

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Parsha: Tazria - Temporarily Embarrassed Millionaires

TORCH — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Tazria - Torah In A Box (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

The bulk of our Parsha deals with the inapplicable laws of purity and impurity, but we also told about a Mitzvah that is very much applicable today: circumcision. When a baby boy is 8 days old, they are circumcised and thereby entered into the Covenant of Abraham. What is the meaning behind this Mitzvah? Why, in fact, are we altering the product given to us by God? In this Very special edition of the Parsha Podcast, I share what I said (two years ago) at the Bris (circumcision ceremony) of my son, Yisrael Meir Wolbe. For the exquisite insight segment, I am joined by my daughter, Miriam, who shared the saga of her lost camera and the lessons that she learned. This is a very Wolbe-family-centric episode, but I'm convinced that you will enjoy it.

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Parshas Tazria (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 23:17:21 -0500

A very large percentage of Torah is dedicated to the laws of purity and impurity. Parshas Tazria deals exclusively with these laws, first with respect to the impurity of a new mother, and second with the impurity of tzaraas a skin disease that comes as a result of sin. What is purity and impurity and how can we make these difficult concepts more relevant to modern life.

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Parsha: Shemini - Spiritual Cholesterol

TORCH — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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On Elevator Pitches for God with Bruce Licht and Ron Kardos

TORCH — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:20:21 -0500

Many (most?) people believe in God. Believers accept the reality that the world, the universe, finite existence is the handiwork of an infinite God. Why do people believe? What evidence do believers have? These are some of the questions that my dear friends, Ron Kardos and Bruce Licht, sought to have answered. They conceived of an incredibly powerful and novel concept: what if people were given the opportunity to hear an elevator pitch for God? What if we asked a large collection of talented, accomplished, and famous people to share their elevator pitch for God? What resulted was a masterpiece of a book: Elevator Pitches for God. In this podcast, Ron and Bruce share their story.

Buy the Book

Amazon Link

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Visit their website ep4g.com to see what else Ron and Bruce are doing

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Parsha: Shemini - Aaron's Credentials (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 23:00:00 -0500

In our Parsha Aaron is promoted to become the high priest. Previously, Moshe served as high priest in an interim role, henceforth Aaron and his descendants will serve as the nation's emissaries before God. Why was Aaron chosen? What were his qualifications? What were the events in his life that rendered him worthy of such a lofty role? In this very special episode, we examine our Sages' very interesting teachings on Aaron's qualifications. We learn how Aaron was initially diffident - he was bashful and hesitant to assume the role. But Moshe nudged him forward and showed him how he was particularly suited to be the high priest. What we discover is a counterintuitive lesson about who is best qualified to lead the masses.

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Ethics: Loving Charities (6.6.32)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:06:37 -0500

Charity is a big element of religious life. Our Sages tell us that the mitzvah of charity equals all the mitzvos of the Torah combined. But monetary charity is only one type of charity. There are many different types of charity, in the love of charities is a means to acquire higher levels of wisdom. How? In this Ethics podcast you will learn.

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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Tzav - Runaway Brain

TORCH — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:12:21 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a newly engaged couple: My sister in law Tova Florans and Manny Thaler. May you build a beautiful Jewish home together.

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Parsha: Tzav - Ready, Steady, Fire! (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0500

A lot of things are needed for the Temple and the Tabernacle to function properly. There are all kinds of prerequisites, protocols, procedures, and rituals that must be followed. One of the most surprising ones is the requirement to always have a fire atop the altar. Although the fire is needed for the processing of sacrifices, there is a requirement to continuously have a fire ready even when there are no sacrifices to process. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore the question of why? Why is it necessary to always have a fire atop the altar, even when there are no sacrifices to elevate.

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Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 11:13:55 -0500

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Mitzvah: Forbidden Fats (#147) + Annual Fundraising Drive

TORCH — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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Forbidden fats - even Kosher animals can have parts that are not kosher. The forbidden fats - cheilev - may not be eaten. And the consequences are stiff.

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The Purim Story (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:16:50 -0500

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Purim is a holiday celebrated by Jews worldwide on the 14th day of the month of Adar, and in Jerusalem and walled cities on the fifteenth day of Adar. It commemorates the story of the salvation of the Jewish nation from the genocidal plans of Haman and Achashveirosh in Persia. How did the Jews end up living under the Persians in the middle of the Middle East? How did the nation that entered and conquered Israel/Judea under Joshua end up in Persia? In this podcast we will tell the backstory of the Purim story and the actual Purim miracle as told in the Book of Esther and the related sources in classical Jewish Literature, embellished by discoveries in archaeology. It begins with King Achashverosh, the Persian king who ruled from Hodu until Cush (India until Ethiopia), making a massive feast for all the ministers and noblemen of Persia and Media that lasted for 180 days. Soon afterwards Achashverosh partners with the wicked Haman to annihilate the entire Jewish nation. Spoiler alert: Things don't go as Haman planned.

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The Profound Purim Secret with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:40:57 -0500

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The Kabbalists revealed to us that each Hebrew months is associated with one of the 12 tribes. The month of Adar, the month in which Purim occurs, corresponds to the tribe of Naftali. We know very little about Naftali. In the Torah, his role is quite limited. In this absolute masterpiece of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick triumphantly weaves an intricate web of sources and insights that demonstrate how Nafatali symbolizes the heart of the month. We learn about the Kabbalistic representation of Rachel and her sister Leah, about the wedge that Esau and his heir Amaleik try to drive between these two sisters, and about how Naftali symbolizes the ultimate redemption and reunification.

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Parsha: Vayikra - Cainitis and Abelitis

TORCH — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 23:02:15 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Amy Bas Shlomo Zalman. May her soul be elevated in Heaven

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TORAH 101: The Nature of the Ultimate Resurrection + TORCH Campaign

TORCH — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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In the previous episode, we established that resurrection for the purposes of eternal life in Olam Haba is a process of restoring humanity to the sort of life that matches that of Adam and Eve before their sin. In this podcast episode, we further explore the nature of this resurrection: We identify the primary distinction between Adam and Eve before and after their sin, and lay out what it takes to be included in the rarified fraternity of those who are re-animated back to life - in the format of Adam and Eve before their sin - for eternal living and basking in the pleasure of the divine.

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Ethics: Loving Humanity (6.6.31) + TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0500

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Why dont humans naturally love each other? Why is there often discord and disunity? Humans are a strange bunch indeed. In this very interesting and stimulating podcast we offer three distinct ideas as to what exactly is meant by love of humanity and why that would serve as a means to acquire Torah.

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Parsha: Vayikra - From Each According to His Ability (5782) + TORCH Campaign

TORCH — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 23:04:55 -0500

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Our Parsha deals exclusively with sacrifices. Since the destruction of the Temple nearly 2,000 years ago, our nation has not offered a single sacrifice. In this podcast we show how, notwithstanding the inapplicability of sacrifices today, there are wonderful lessons to learn from every part of the Torah. The one we learn today is both terrifying and reassuring.

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Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast) + TORCH Annual Fundraising Drive

TORCH — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:53:18 -0500

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DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Pekudei - Autopilot Disengaged

TORCH — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:08:30 -0500

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The narrative of the Tabernacle spans many chapters at the end of the book of Exodus. The nation is told to build a sanctuary for God in which He will dwell. The Torah uncharacteristically repeats many aspects of this narrative. In this very special Parsha podcast, we go deep and deeper to understand the general theory of the Tabernacle, how all the parts dovetail together, and how this is all related to us. Along the way. We explore many fundamental concepts in Jewish life and philosophy.

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History: Two-State Solution Part 2: A Century of Doomed Proposals + TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:18:35 -0500

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Straddling the Mediterranean Sea is a very special sliver of land: The land of Israel. The land of Canaan; Palestine; The Holy Land - there are a lot of names that this land is called by. This is the land to which Abraham was instructed to go to. This is the land that the Jewish slaves of Egypt coveted. This is the land flowing with milk and honey. This is the land that Joshua conquered and settled. From here the Jewish people were expelled, and to here the Jewish people returned. But there are other peoples who claim this land as their own. The Arabs claim it as Islamic land. With the actualization of a Zionist vision, the Jewish people returned to their historic homeland and found lots of Arabs there. This created lots of tension, which escalated into horrific violence. The Israeli/Arab conflict -- the Israeli/Palestinian conflict -- has raged for more than a century. Is this a solvable problem? Would the solution be granting a state to both the Jews and the Arabs? Is the two state solution a viable resolution to this ancient and seemingly intractable problem? It's been tried many times before, but it is doomed to fail unless something completely unexpected happens. In part 2 of our series on the Two-State-Solution, we explore the many varied attempts to finally resolve the Israel/Palestine conflict . It does not seem to be a viable solution, but that doesn't mean that people won't try.

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Ethics: Loving God (6.6.30) + TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0500

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The requirement to love God is featured prominently in our religion. The Shema - the pledge of allegiance of our faith - contains the mitzvah to love God right after the first sentence of accepting his dominion. This is one of the six constant mitzvos. What is love and for God? How do we love God? And how does this facilitate the acquisition of Torah? In this very enjoyable ethics podcast, we answer these important questions.

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Mitzvah: Impure Sacrifices (#145-6, 167) + TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0500

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Sacrifices, like many other things, can contract ritual impurity. When a sacrifice becomes ritually impure, it may not be consumed. Moreover, an impure person cannot consume any sacrifices. This is the first of many mitzvos related to purity and impurity.

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The Peerless Brilliance of Biblical Hebrew + TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:08:46 -0500

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The Bible is written in Hebrew. The language that God communicates with prophets is Hebrew. Hebrew was present the very beginning of the world - Genesis happened with Hebrew. Our Sages tell us that the letters of Hebrew are pregnant with meaning and insight and depth and profound secrets. The words in Hebrew are comprised of those special letters, and the meanings of the words are intricately connected with the secrets of the letters that comprise them. Biblical Hebrew is unique. It is utterly different than any other language. In this fun and interesting podcast, we explore the wonderful world of biblical Hebrew. Fasten up and listen carefully, which was this podcast will inspire you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of biblical Hebrew.

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TORAH 101: #85: The Point of Resurrection + TORCH Fundraising Campaign

TORCH — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0500

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What is the point of resurrection? This question has dual meanings: what is the goal of resurrection and what is the point from which resurrection begins? In this very important podcast we answer both questions. What we learn greatly enhances our understanding of resurrection and gives us the faint outlines of the road map that we must follow if we want to be meritorious to be included in the good type of resurrection.

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Parsha: Pekudei - Bold Initiatives Checklist (5782) + TORCH Fundraiser Appeal

TORCH — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:26:28 -0500

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The most ambitious initiative ever undertook in the history of mankind was the construction of the Tabernacle. Think about it: humans are getting together with the intent of constructing a residence for God on this Earth. And they pull it off! Our Parsha ends with the Presence of God dwelling in the Tabernacle. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we present three different prerequisites for undertaking and executing such a bold initiative. If you want to change the world - or even change yourself - you need to listen carefully and take careful, copious notes.

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History: Two-State Solution Part 1: The Peril and Naivete of Promoting a Palestinian State + annual TORCH Fundraiser

TORCH — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 21:57:55 -0500

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Is a two-state solution a viable way to finally resolve the Israel Palestine conflict? Many in the international community believe that it is the only solution. After the horrific massacres of October 7th, 2023, the international community is once again amplifying the call for a two-state solution. Instead of punishing the Arabs for their violent acts of terrorism and unspeakable brutality, the international community took this opportunity to pressure Israel to make concessions and to take steps towards granting the Palestinians their own, independent state. Is this something which can ever happen? What do the Arabs really want? Do they want to live in harmony and peace with their Jewish neighbors? Is there any evidence that they willing to accept the existence and legitimacy of the state of Israel? From everything we know and from everything that history tells us, the answer is a resounding no. Allowing the Palestinians to have a state on Israel's borders would be a bloody catastrophe waiting to happen.

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Parshas Pekudei (Rebroadcast) and annual Fundraiser at giveTORCH.org

TORCH — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 09:59:54 -0500

Our organization, TORCH, does only one fundraiser a year, and that is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. This is a matching campaign and every donation will be DOUBLED.

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Parsha: Vayakhel - The Third Path

TORCH — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:28:54 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Gamliel Ben Boruch, Glenn Cantor, who passed away recently. Glenn was the brother of our dear friend Mark Cantor. Glenn was a very special man, beloved father and grandfather – brilliant scientist and someone who came from a very prestigious rabbinic family. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Ethics: Beloved (6.6.30 Intro)

TORCH — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Torah was not given to angels. Torah was given to humans. One way to expand our ability to acquire Torah is by enhancing our humanity. The more human we are, the more we are a worthy receptacle of Torah. But what does it mean to be a human?

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Parsha: Vayakhel - Heart Donor (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The Torah's narrative surrounding the Tabernacle is not one-and-done an cut-and-dried. The Torah does not simply tell us that a Tabernacle was built with the requisite materials. Instead of a succinct detailing of the Tabernacle, the Torah tells the Tabernacle narrative in a sprawling and often repetitive fashion over the course of five Parsha sections. Why is the Torah obsessed with the Tabernacle? Why is the narrative surrounding God's Sanctuary the focus of so much of the Torah? What are the lessons of the Tabernacle for people like us, who have never seen a Tabernacle, and do not live in a world that (yet) contains one? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore three fascinating frameworks for understanding the critical and indispensable lessons of the Tabernacle.

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Parshas Vayakhel (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Augmenting Shabbos

TORCH — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Sara bas Menachem, Mrs. Shirley Nagel, mother of our beloved Rabbi Yaakov Nagel who passed away this week. May her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Mitzvah: Piggul (#144)

TORCH — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our thoughts matter. This is especially true when it comes to sacrifices. The thoughts of those who are processing the sacrifices must be aligned with the protocols of the sacrifices. Or else, they are rejected - they are Piggul.

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This Mitzvah Podcast is dedicated towards the complete and speedy recovery of Tzvi Simcha ben Fruma. May he merit a complete Refuah Sheleimah.

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Counting and Duking the Nation (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The golden calf is one of the most inexplicable events in the Torah. What went wrong? Who is to blame? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we propose a novel idea that threads throughout the entire Parsha. We emerge from this episode with a greater appreciation of the indivisibility of our nation.

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Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - The Golden Bovine

TORCH — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 22:41:21 -0600

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Mitzvah: Sacrifice Leftovers (#142-3, 382, 486)

TORCH — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

There is not an indefinite amount of time to consume a sacrifice. Each sacrifice has its specific protocol and time frame in which it must be eaten. What happens with the leftovers?

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - What's In A Name (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our Sages tell us that each one of us is unique and has a unique mission to fulfill. Humans are not fungible, moist, robots that can be swapped for each other. Each one of us is our own world. We must each say: "the world was created for me." But how do we discover our life mission? How do we know what the Almighty expects of us specifically? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we suggest a new approach to determining what it is that you were placed on this Earth to accomplish.

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On Visiting Wartime Israel with Dr. Alan Kritz

TORCH — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our nation is at war. Our brothers and sisters are in combat in Gaza, displaced from their homes in the north and the south of Israel, traumatized from the atrocities of October 7th, and of course there are 100 plus hostages still in Gaza. Our nation is experiencing pain and challenge the likes of which we have not seen for a very long time. Although we may be far away in the Diaspora, it is imperative that we not forget the plight of our brethren in Israel. We must each do what we can to help their righteous cause. And this very special podcast. I speak with my dear friend Dr. Alan Kritz. Dr. Kritz and I have had the great pleasure of studying together in an ongoing fashion for the past couple of years, and he undertook the sacred initiative to go to Israel and to lend a helping hand -- to hear the stories, to see the sights, and to provide a modicum of empathy and comfort for a grieving nation. In this podcast, Dr. Kritz shares with us what he learned, what he observed, and where to go from here.

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Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Terumah - Cherub-Picking

TORCH — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit whose yahrzeit is this week, the 6th of Adar (1). May his soul be elevated in Heaven
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TORAH 101: Rambam’s Epistle of Resurrection

TORCH — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The great medieval sage my Maimonides - Rambam - has been guiding us throughout our studies of the 13th principles of faith. This transcendental scholar, who's magisterial writings are authoritatively accepted amongst the entirety of the Jewish people, was one of our people's greatest personalities. His writings are enormously influential and authoritative in matters of philosophy and the foundations of our faith. In this episode we go through Rambam's epistle on Resurrection. In his lifetime, there were many questions and doubts and uncertainties about Rambam's position on several matters of resurrection. To dispel misconceptions misunderstandings, and misrepresentations, Rambam penned a lengthy epistle on the matter. This letter is sprawling and uncharacteristically wordy, but it is a very helpful source for us to gain a deeper and broader understanding of the subject of a resurrection.

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Parsha: Terumah - The Mystery of the Menorah (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

This week's Parsha marks the beginning of the Torah's detailing of the Tabernacle and its vessels and operations. This subject makes up the bulk of the remaining narrative of Exodus, and Leviticus contains much of the laws related to the Tabernacle. We have never witnessed the Tabernacle, nor it's successor, the Temple in Jerusalem. The whole notion of a dwelling house for God is somewhat strange to us. What can we take out of these sections? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we discover that the answer is quite a lot. This episode orients around the Menorah, the candelabra that was lit in the Tabernacle each night. We discover what it represents, we ponder it's various symbolisms, and we sketch out a new approach for implementing the lessons of the Menorah in our lives today.

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Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:19:18 -0600

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Parsha: Mishpatim - Blind Determination

TORCH — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Mitzvah: Processing Sacrifices Protocols (#138-141)

TORCH — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

There are many different types of sacrifices brought in the temple. Each sacrifice follows the prescribed protocol. There is zero tolerance for deviation from the protocol. In this podcast, we learn about the requirement for the priests to follow the protocol to a t, and we end with an important perspective that makes this entire subject more salient and meaningful to us.

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Parsha: Mishpatim - Hearing Sinai (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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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Ethics: Sense of Mission (6.6.29)

TORCH — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

We love Torah. Torah study is our national pastime and obsession. It is enjoyable; it is fun; it is interesting -- but to acquire it – we have to now that it is imperative: It is as indispensable as water, oxygen and bread.

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Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Yisro - Splitting the Heaven

TORCH — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:17:10 -0600

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Parsha: Yisro - Deathrow and Jethro (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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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TORAH 101: The Nature of the Preliminary Resurrection

TORCH — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

In our pursuit of understanding of the subject of resurrection, many questions remain. In the previous episode we talked about the two types of resurrection, there is still a lack of clarity in the similarities and the differences between the two types of resurrection. Furthermore, the Talmud says that the righteous are alive even when they are dead. If they are alive when they are dead, how can they be resurrected? In addition, Rambam - our guide to studying the 13 principles - says some statements that seem to contradict each other and the Talmud. In this very interesting podcast episode, we suggest a new framing for how to understand the initial resurrection in the times of Messiah. The listener is forewarned that what you are about to hear is a bit more speculative than most episodes, and also one that requires active listening. The podcast is called Torah 101 in part because the Talmud teaches us that we must study our Torah 101 times. I don't know if this episode requires 101 listens, but certainly more than one would be necessary to fully understand every part of the framework.

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Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Beshalach - Bones to Pick

TORCH — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Beshalach - Songworthy Sequels (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The Exodus marked the severing of the Jewish people from their former masters, the Egyptians. With plagues and miracles, the Almighty extracted the Israelites from bondage. That all happened in last week's Parsha. You would expect that our nation would move on to other pursuits and challenges, but our Parsha begins with the Egyptians again. In fact, the Exodus is repeated in this week's Parsha. Once again, there are 10 plagues foisted upon the Egyptians. Once again, there are 10 miracles given to the Jewish people. Why is there a need for a sequel? Why does the Exodus happen twice? In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast we probe the subject of Exodus 2.0 and draw from it a valuable lesson for how to achieve permanent change.

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TORAH 101: Messianic Resurrection

TORCH — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

One of me hallmarks of the Messianic times is the resurrection of the righteous. With Messiah comes the reemergence of the righteous. Those buried in the land will precede those buried outside of it, but all the righteous will come back. This is well established in the Literature. In this podcast we discussed the two types of resurrection and the nature of each.

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Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Bo - Shots on Goal

TORCH — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Bo - Climbing Mount Exodus (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The Exodus from Egypt was the founding event of our people. Our nation had been in Egypt for more than two centuries and we had become acculturated into the Egyptian way of life. Over the year of the Exodus process, our nation was privy to miracles never before seen in history: we saw our masters humbled, we saw our nation elevated, we witnessed Moshe doing incredible miracles, and a spark was awakened within us. With the culmination of the Ten Plagues - the Death of the Firstborn - our nation was ushered out of the land. Our Sages tell us something fascinating: the remarkable transformation of the Exodus is revisited every time our nation experiences redemption. As such, studying the Exodus is more than the study of an ancient event, it is about discovering the formula of all kinds of redemptions. In this podcast we examine the principles of how to unlock an Exodus.

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Celebrating A New Wolbe Baby Boy

TORCH — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 12:37:20 -0600

Our family was blessed with a new baby boy this past Sunday evening. With the help of the almighty, he will be joining the covenant of Abraham and receive his Bris tomorrow morning, Monday the 15th of January, in the Young Israel of Houston. In this special, celebratory podcast, I share what I said on Friday night during the Shalom Zachor that we held in our home. As is customary, we got together on the Friday night after the baby was born for an evening of festivities, food, and of course words of Torah. I spoke about the concept of the Shalom Zachor, about the nature of this custom, and share several fascinating and profound takeaways.

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Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vaeira - Labor and Deliverance

TORCH — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:19:52 -0600

The Jewish nation was enslaved in Egypt for 100s of years. What was the essence of the enslavement? What is the consistent theme that is strung throughout the centuries of servitude? More broadly, what is the salience of the Egyptian narrative? Why is it so critical for us to study the exile and Exodus so closely? In this celebratory Parsha podcast we offer our take on the essence of the Egyptian enslavement, why it is ever more pertinent today, and what to do about it. We too can - and must - be redeemed from our servitude.

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Parsha: Vaeira - The Endurance Expedition (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:03:00 -0600

As the tag team representing God in the Exodus, Moshe and Aaron pull off some incredible miracles and feats in this week's Parsha. When they are formally introduced and their pedigree is laid out, a very interesting praise is bestowed upon them. Upon analysis, we find the identical praise conferred upon many of the great giants of our history. In this Parsha Podcast, we discover a new definition of greatness, one that has profound consequences on how we ought to love our lives.

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TORAH 101: Supernatural Resurrection

TORCH — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

The subject of resurrection was hotly debated in times of yore. The Talmud records a series of debates between great rabbis and their Roman contemporaries about the this subject. When we probe the matter more deeply, we discover that the Roman disbelievers of resurrection have a very good argument. Reasonable people can come to the conclusion that resurrection indeed violates the laws of physics; it violates the rules of nature. The sages accepted that. Their position is that resurrection is supernatural. It comes from the Torah - from a higher realm of existence than nature. In this special edition of the podcast, we explore the transcendental and supernatural nature of the resurrection of the dead.

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Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 23:03:00 -0600

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Parsha: Shemos - Moshe's Treatment

TORCH — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 23:17:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Shalom Ben Chaim. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Shemos - Make Your Move (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0600

Our Parsha is a difficult one to read. Our nation was enslaved, tormented, oppressed, and murdered by the Egyptians. Although we don't see the salvation in our Parsha, the chess pieces of the redemption are set into place. In this edition of the Parsha Podcast, we study several themes of the Parsha that can improve our lives. We learn about how it's often darkest before dawn, and about how that darkness contributes to the blazing light of day. We also learn about what it takes to unlock a bounty of divine blessing.

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Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayechi - Jacob's Strength

TORCH — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of two Parsha Podcast engagements. Longtime listener and dear friend and host of the L’chaim L’chaim podcast, Noah Katz, got engaged to Hannah Baumgarten. Julian Kritz, dear friend and son of dear friends, Dr. Alan and Phyllis Kritz got engaged to Sara Frank. Hearty Parsha Podcast Mazal Tov wishes to the young couples. May they each build beautiful Jewish homes and families together, homes replete with happiness, and joy, and harmony.

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On the Spiritual Awakening in Israel with Rabbi Eliezer and Malky Wolbe

TORCH — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 23:18:00 -0600

When our nation experiences tragedy, we gravitate back to God. That is how we process pain and suffering. The Jewish people - especially our brothers and sisters in Israel - are exhibiting this response with resplendent nobility and strength of character. During the ongoing war, the Jewish spirit is being awakened. Jewish faith is being ignited and amplified. Are these rumblings of a Messianic time? That is a question that I am ill equipped to answer, but something is definitely happening. In this episode I have the great privilege of speaking with my eldest brother Rabbi Eliezer Wolbe and his amazing wife Malky about the spiritual transformations that are afoot in Israel.. They are tremendous people, and served as very valuable mentors for me in my formative years and the stories and insights that they share are inspirational and instructive.

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Parsha: Vayechi - Brotherly Love: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

Family is everything. If you are fortunate enough to have siblings, parents, and children you know that there are bonds of kinship and brotherhood (and sisterhood, of course) between family members are strong and often unbreakable. This is not something new. When Jacob was on his deathbed he shared with his sons his final thoughts and blessings. To Shimon and Levi he said that you two are motivated by brotherhood above all.

In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we dissect the blessing of Jacob to these two brothers, and what we discover is that we are dissecting a dissection. Jacob dissected Shimon and Levi, he plumbed to the depths of who they are and revealed it all for us to see and marvel at. In the short blessing to his sons, Jacob provides a Masterclass in self discovery, the inner workings of behavior, and how people actually learn and change. The lessons learned in this episode are life-changing.

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TORAH 101: Resurrection: An Introduction

TORCH — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

We stridently disagree with the oft-repeated statement: "You only live once." #YOLO is a sentiment that violates our beliefs. A central principle of our religion is the concept of resurrection. Death is not permanent. The dead will rise again. Life will be extended to the bodies of the deceased. Abraham will once again grace this world. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moshe, Aaron -- all of them will come back, will be resurrected. But what exactly is the nature of resurrection? That is a bit more complicated to answer. We are at the end of a very long and exhilarating journey. We are at the 13th of the 13 principles of our faith. Hitherto, we have covered vast elements of our faith. The first five of the 13 principles talked about God, the subsequent four about Torah, and the final four are all about reward and punishment. The final element that we must cover is the reunification of body and soul. What does this mean? Our exploration begins.

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Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayigash - Come-to-Joseph Moment

TORCH — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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The Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Yehoshua David, the son of our dear friends Matt and Chava David. Young Yehoshua received his bris – this morning. We wish a hearty Mazal Tov to the whole family and extend our blessings to Yehoshua that he grows up to be a beacon for the Jewish people, a Talmid Chacham, and one who brings joy and pride to his family, to his community, and to the Almighty.

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Parsha: Vayigash - A Clash Of Kings (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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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History: Valor and Violence: Jews and Arabs in 1920s British Mandate Palestine

TORCH — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

The Balfour Declaration was a pivotal shift in the prospects of the Zionist dream. For the first time, a major world power declared their intent - in a binding governmental commitment - to work towards the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Political Zionism achieved a major strategic victory, but actualizing this plan would be far from easy. The Jews were outnumbered by Arabs in the land, and the Arabs were not too keen on having a Jewish presence, much less a Jewish state, in the Holy Land. The 1920s saw an escalation of Arab violence towards the Jews in Palestine. The Jews dedicated themselves towards building the land - building out the infrastructure, drain the swamps, establishing institutions - and the Arabs sought to undermine any Zionist progress, often resorting to horrific violence. In this Jewish history podcast, we tell the story of Jews and Arabs under the British mandate in the 1920s.

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Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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Parsha: Mikeitz - The End of Days

TORCH — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

In our Parsha, Joseph is elevated to become viceroy of Egypt. He begins the day languishing in prison, and ends it be decked in garments of royalty and paraded throughout the city. And this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we share three ideas - deep ideas - from our Parsha: one about the end of days, one about Pharaoh's recurring dreams, and the fascinating backstory of Joseph's wife, Osnas.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Debbie Gelb in honor of Jeff Gelb, and Suzanne and David Gelb and families. Wishing them all a Happy Chanukah. May there be peace for Israel and for all the Jewish people!

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Parsha: Mikeitz - Joseph's Crime (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:03:00 -0600

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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Yoshi and I at my nephew's wedding

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On the Front Lines in Gaza with Yoshi Rosenbluth

TORCH — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:22:15 -0600

My dear friend and long time podcast listener Yoshi Rosenbluth spent a month in Gaza as a fighter in the IDF. In this very special podcast, he tells us what things are like on the ground from a soldier's perspective. If you want an insider's look into the battlefront in Gaza, this podcast is for you.

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Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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History: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0600

The holiday of Chanukah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked.

NOTE: This Podcast was originally recorded in 2017.

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Parsha: Vayeishev - Dream of the Crop

TORCH — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of a new baby – Ezra Amiel, the new son of our friends Naomi and Matthew Sulzberger, and grandson of our dear friends and longtime supporters of TORCH, Dov and Rikki Eisner. On behalf of the entire TORCH and Parsha Podcast family, we wish them a hearty Mazal Tov. May young Ezra Amiel grow up to be someone who makes his parents and grandparents and the entire Jewish people – and of course the Almighty – proud. May he become a Talmid Chacham and a Yarei Shomayim, and may he witness the arrival of Messiah, may it come speedily in our days!

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Parsha: Vayeishev - Pebbles and Diamonds (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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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On the Pulse of Wartime Israel with Blake Cohen

TORCH — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:16:00 -0600

In the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the terror organization that has governed Gaza since 2007, there is a very big divide between Jews living in the land of Israel and those of us in the Diaspora. While Jews worldwide may empathize with their Israeli brethren and rally and pray for their cause, the ones in Israel are on the front lines. What is happening in the Land? What is the pulse of the people? In this very special podcast, I speak with Blake Cohen, dear friend of mine, who traveled to Israel to pitch in and to volunteer and to help. He shares with us the incredible people he met, the amazing stories he heard, and important lessons he learned during his week in Israel. If you want to sense of what is actually happening on the ground, this podcast is for you.

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Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayishlach - When Hairy met Srully

TORCH — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 23:16:00 -0600

Credits: This clever podcast title was suggested by my dear friend, Matt David

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Gershon Ben Charles, the father of our dear friend Adam Chuckrow, may his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Vayishlach - Not Reddy to Change (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:17:00 -0600

Parshas Vayishlach is an action-packed parsha. After a tension-filled 20 years with Laban, Jacob has to dodge bullets for another parsha. Esau wants to kill him. The angel tries to strike at him the entire night. His daughter Dina is kidnapped and raped, and his sons slaughter the perpetrating city in rage. The bulk of the parsha indeed recounts the travails of Jacob and his family, but the final section deals with his twin, Esau. The last 43 verses of our Parsha detail and enumerate the vast families, tribes, and dynasties of Esau. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we focus on an interesting pattern found in the chronicles of Esau that reveal his central flaw that led him down a dark path. What we discover is an insight that will help us transform our lives.

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On Altruistic Kidney Donations with Rabbi Moshe Gewirtz

TORCH — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 23:18:00 -0600

Kidneys serve many vital functions. Their primary function is to filter the blood from any toxins or contaminants. Thankfully, the Almighty sends (most of) us to this world with two working kidneys. We have a bit of nephrological redundancy. People who suffer from kidney failure, God forbid, are greatly imperiled. In this podcast, I welcome Rabbi Moshe Gewirtz, the Director of Renewal (renewal.org), an organization that matches altruistic kidney donors with patience who need a kidney transplant, and facilitates every aspect of the transplants. We learn about this fascinating organization and of the endless kindness and generosity that our nation exemplifies.

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Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeitzei - Rock and Roll

TORCH — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:11:00 -0600

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History: Hostage Rescues and Ransoms in Jewish History and Law

TORCH — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 21:46:33 -0600

The Jewish people are at war. Our brethren in Israel are in midst of a fierce war in Gaza against the terrorist organization Hamas. The objectives of the campaign are the complete elimination of Hamas leadership and infrastructure, and the safe return of the more than 200 hostages captured by the terrorists on the brutal attacks of October 7th, 2023. Ever since the war began, one soldier was rescued, four hostages were returned, and two hostages were found dead in Gaza. As of the time of this recording, Israel and Hamas were on the cusp of finalizing a hostage exchange deal. In this sprawling episode of the Jewish History Podcast, we explore the history and the laws governing hostage rescues and ransoms. What is the Jewish way? How have our antecedents addressed this tragic and unfortunate circumstance? What value do we place on the rescue and ransom of hostages? What are some of the political, military, and security considerations of prisoner swaps? As we pray for the success of our troops and the hostage efforts in Gaza, we look back at the fascinating and often tragic story of hostages in our history.

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This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated by Eddie & Lottie Setton in honor of their children Ralph & Michael who are studying in Israel and their love of Jewish History.

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Parsha: Vayeitzei - Fortune Favors the Bold (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600

Jacob's accomplishments in our Parsha are remarkable. At the onset of our parsha, Jacob is a 77 year old bachelor without a penny to his name. Having been robbed clean of all his possessions, Jacob undertook the grandest, most ambitious initiative in human history: the founding of the Jewish nation. In our parsha, he pulls it off. By the time the parsha concludes, Jacob has spent more than two decades in the home of Laban, his father-in-law, and has begat 12 children with 4 wives, amassed a great fortune, and began to travel back to Canaan. How did he pull this off? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we study the critical moment that changed everything.

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On Parenting in Difficult Times with the PodParents

TORCH — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:18:00 -0600

Few sequels live up to the high standards set by the original. Podfather Part 2 is an exception to the rule. In this special episode covering a variety of parenting subjects, we hear from both PodParents. My father and my mother - Avi and Faige Wolbe - both joined me in the TORCH Centre to discuss how to address the ongoing Gaza war with our children, how to inform but not frighten children when talking about tragedies and atrocities such as the Holocaust, how to think about the proper balance of insularity and exposure to a variety of potentially harmful things, and how to guide and direct our children to achieve their best.

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Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Toldos - Smoking Camels

TORCH — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 23:13:00 -0600

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The Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of my dear brother in law, Moshe Florans, on the occasion of his engagement to Chaya Esther Levi. We are so excited for y’all and wish you to have an amazing life together, full of happiness, health, joy, prosperity, and harmony.

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Ethics: Making Fences (6.6.28)

TORCH — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 23:18:00 -0600

Humans are fallible. We are imperfect, yet we are tasked with being the stewards and the guardians of the perfect. We hold the Almighty's Torah in our hands. We are tasked with perpetuating it from generation to generation and with rendering rulings in line with the will of God. The only way that we can stand up to the sacred task is if we make fences.

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Parsha: Toldos - Abraham's Torah (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:17:00 -0600

Was Abraham the first Jew? Did Abraham observe the laws of the Torah? The Torah dedicates a huge amount of attention to Abraham and his family. The laws of Torah were conveyed at Sinai to Moshe, Abraham's great-great-great-grandson. How much of that, if any, did Abraham have? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we survey the evidence that Abraham and his family indeed had, observed, and studied all of Torah, and share three explanations for how Abraham gained access to it.

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History: The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Historical Background

TORCH — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 23:18:00 -0600

The Arab-Israeli conflict is front and center on the world stage today. The barbaric October 7th terrorist attacks - where more than a thousand innocent Jewish civilians were slaughtered, thousands more wounded, and hundreds were taken hostage by the vile Hamas terrorist organization - prompted an Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip with the express intent of completely eliminating Hamas once and for all and retrieving the hostages. What is the background of this conflict? Is Israel in apartheid state? Is Israel a colonial state? Does Israel have a right to exist? What is the ultimate solution for this conflict? These questions brought me out of my retirement from the Jewish history podcast. In this first episode of the series on the Arab-Israeli conflict, we explore the roots of both the Jewish and Islamic claims to the land and provide an overview of the events that let up to the Balfour Declaration of 1917.

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Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Buried Alive

TORCH — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of the more than 200 hostages currently being held by the murderous terrorists in Gaza. We pray for their safety and their health and for their swift return to their families and their homes.

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah - The Transformation of Eliezer (5782)

TORCH — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:08:59 -0600

Eliezer was Abraham's right hand man. He was in charge of all of Abraham's affairs. According to the Talmud, Eliezer was the consummate student of Abraham, drawing from Abraham's wellsprings of Torah and sharing it with others. In our Parsha, Eliezer was the central protagonist. Eliezer was conscripted by Abraham to travel east to Aram Naharayim to secure a spouse for Isaac. The journey, we discover, is unprecedentedly successful. Upon close examination, Eliezer is utterly transformed forever as a result.

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Mitzvah: Meal Offerings Of/For the Kohein (#134-7)

TORCH — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 23:17:00 -0600

Meal offerings are a central part of the daily Temple offerings. These Mitzvos cover the Kohanim's relationship with meal offerings.

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Discussing Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe on the Chinuch Today Podcast

TORCH — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600

The Hebrew word for education is "Chinuch". Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield is the Head of School of Yeshiva Torat Emet, the school in Houston, Texas that we send our children to, and is the host of the Chinuch Today podcast. In his podcasts, he interviews teachers and educators about Jewish education. He asked my brother and I if we would be willing to be interviewed to talk about our illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe and share some stories about his life, his educational philosophy, and what it was like to grow up with a famous last name. Rabbi Garfield was kind enough to allow me to post his podcast on mine. I hope you enjoy it.

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Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 08:50:23 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeira - Abraham Abraham

TORCH — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 23:16:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas David Gedaliah ben Efraim, the unforgettable David Genecov, of blessed memory, whose first yartzeit falls out this Thursday, the day that this podcast is being released. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Video of mother of Ori Megidish praying -- https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/s3csk1

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Ethics: Joyous With Your Lot (6.6.27)

TORCH — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0500

There is an unequal distribution of talents, gifts, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Everyone is different. Everyone is their own world. This applies both in the spiritual domain and in the material/physical domain. A believer who understands that the Almighty gives everyone exactly what they need must be joyous with their lot. Your lot is exactly what the Almighty apportioned to you to fulfill your mission in life. It is also way number 27 to wisdom.

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Parsha: Vayeira - Exodus From Sodom (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 23:18:00 -0500

For the third time in the Torah, we read about destruction. Previously, the Flood destroyed the world save Noah and family, and the Dispersal ended the universal civilization, and in our parsha we read about the overturning of Sodom and Gomorrah. The timing of Sodom's destruction is really interesting. Our Sages said that it happened on Passover on the same day that Lot was appointed judge over the city. Why did the city's destruction coincide with the day that its most famous and righteous citizen became its judge? In this sweeping episode we study the destruction of Sodom, Abraham's unsuccessful intercession on their behalf, and the events that led up to its demise, and draw powerful lessons from what we discover.

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The Profound Mystery of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:02:00 -0500

Rabbi Shmuly Botnick returns to the podcast with his most mind-bending and dynamic contribution hitherto. In this exhilarating roller-coaster of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick weaves the generation of Enosh, the Flood, the placement of Moshe into the water, his retrieval by Pharaoh's daughter, his complaint to God about the initial efforts to save the nation, the splitting of the Sea, the Golden Calf and its perpetrators, Moshe's sin of striking the rock, Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter and his building of the Temple, and Jerobam's rebellion into one symphonic tapestry. This podcast will enrich and educate and entertain -- Rabbi Botnick is back with great flair and panache!

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Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0500

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Parsha: Lech Lecha - The Generational Secret

TORCH — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:17:38 -0500

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Ethics: Know Your Place (6.6.26)

TORCH — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 23:17:00 -0500

The greatest pedagogues of history - the Sages of the Mishnah - codified "knowing your place" as a means to acquire Torah, to acquire wisdom. What exactly is intended with knowing your place? In this Ethics Podcast we share three life-changing approaches.

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This Ethics Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmat Miriam bat Ashraf. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Lech Lecha - Applying for a Name Change (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 23:18:00 -0500

Abraham and Sarah undergo seismic changes in our Parsha. Their names get changed as does their destiny. Originally, they were barren, but in our Parsha, the founding Patriarch and Matriarch are told that they will bear a son, Isaac. The mechanics of how this transformation occurred, however, is a bit of a head scratcher. Our Sages tell us that it was because of their original names and identities, Abram and Sarai, that precluded them from childbearing. The name change itself altered their identities to facilitate their fertility. In this episode, we study the nature of what happened here and reveal the path via which we too can swap identities and reap the rewards of our new selves.

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The Transcendent Power of a Unified Front

TORCH — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 23:17:00 -0500

It is not exactly clear what the participants in the Tower of Babel wanted. We know they wanted to ascend to heaven and to make a name for themselves, but what precisely they wanted is more of a mystery. The Midrash talks about it, the Talmud does as well - and in this podcast we will offer some insight into this matter. The idea that we will be sharing will create several tectonic paradigm shifts in our understanding.

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Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Noach - Secret Of Invincibility

TORCH — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 22:09:32 -0500

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Parsha: Noach - Company Loves Misery (5782)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Our Parsha marks a nadir in the story of mankind. Humanity sunk to such spiritual lows that the Almighty decided to destroy the world and start over with just Noah and his family as humanity's progenitors going forward. What were the conditions of the Flood's survivors after spending a year in the Ark? In this very special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we examine three fascinating elements about the emergence form the Ark that can totally reshape our worlds. This episode is, arguably and ironically, the high water mark of The Parsha Podcast. Give it a listen and tell me if you agree.

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On Parenting with the Podfather, Avi Wolbe

TORCH — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 23:13:00 -0500

Parents are sent home with newborn babies without an instruction manual. They are expected to raise their child(ren) to become productive, responsible, and successful adults. As Jews, we have an added responsibility to raise our children as good Jews. Parents face a monumental task. This was always nightmarishly difficult, but with the rapidly-changing world that we live in, this is becoming increasingly difficult. To help parents and educators navigate the minefield of parenting and pedagogy, I asked my dear father, Mr. Avi Wolbe (the "Podfather"), to join the podcast and share his insights and tips drawn from his vast experience raising nine children with great skill and success. It is my hope that this will become a recurring podcast. If you have a specific parenting and education question for the Podfather, please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.

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Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 23:17:00 -0500

In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners.

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Matan Beseter Bambi - Food and Provisions for Displaced families

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Parsha: Bereishis - Microcosm of History

TORCH — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:44:29 -0500

Today is a bittersweet day. Although we are very excited to embark on year 8 of the Parsha Podcast, we are only a few days after the terrible attacks in Israel, where hundreds of our brethren were massacred. In light of the terrible atrocities perpetrated against our people and the war that is sparked, we begin this season of the Parsha Podcast with addressing the situation from a Torah perspective. We proceed to discuss the first parsha of the Torah: Bereishis. In keeping with this years theme of DAD - deep and deeper - of trying to see a bit deeper - to read not just the text but also the subtext of the parsha - we talk about three subjects in the parsha: the Genesis narrative and it's overarching message, the unusual source for the dust of which Adam's body was created, and an interesting observation about the birth of Noah.

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Parsha: Bereishis - Making Partner (5782)

TORCH — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 23:40:00 -0500

As we begin year 8 of the Parsha Podcast, we are excited and overjoyed to share the plan for this year, with the help of the Almighty: each Sunday, we will release the rebroadcast episode that covers the entire Parsha in about an hour. On Tuesday, we will re-release the corresponding episode from the 6th cycle of the Parsha Podcast, from two years ago, 5782, that included the famed Exquisite Insight segment. On Thursday, with the help of the Almighty, we will release a brand new episode with the theme of DAD -- deep and deeper. We hope you enjoyed this year's offerings and thank you for your listenership and friendship.

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What connection do we have with Genesis? In our parsha, God creates the world in six days and ceases to create of day seven, on Shabbos. What exactly does this have to do with us is a great mystery. In this inaugural edition of the sixth cycle of the Parsha Podcast , we share two fascinating, interconnected ideas that will radically reshape our understanding of Torah and Mitzvos and put into perspective what the purpose of creation and Genesis is all about. I assure you that I am not overselling it. Listen and you will agree.

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Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:44:54 -0500

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 8 of the Parsha Podcast (5784). This year, we will re-upload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 6th cycle's episode (5782) for each respective Parsha each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly episode each Thursday. Thank you for downloading and please share with a friend.

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TORAH 101: Messiah Panoply: Messiah Ben Joseph, Gog and Magog, Elijah, Resurrection, etc.

TORCH — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:11:00 -0500

We have studied the subject of Messiah in its length and breadth. In the 16th and final installment of our study of the 12th of Rambam's Thirteen Principles of Faith, we briefly survey a potpourri of subjects that are tangential to the main subject of Messiah. We explore six different topics: Messiah Ben Joseph; the apocalyptic war of Gog and Magog; the role of Elijah the Prophet in Messiah; the Resurrection of the dead that occurs in Messiah; the restoration of the institutions of Semicha and the Sanhedrin; and the question of the how we view the State of Israel in the context of Messiah.

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Parsha: Vezos Haberacha - A Mission For Everyone

TORCH — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vezos Habracha - Antidotes to Mediocrity (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 23:37:16 -0500

In the Torah's final Parsha, and indeed, in its final words, we say goodbye to the greatest human to have ever lived. With the passing of Moshe, the Torah ends, and on Simchas Torah- the day that we finish the yearly Torah cycle - we roll the scroll back to the very beginning and begin Genesis anew. In this very special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we explore the end of the Torah and its beginning; we examine the path to greatness of Moshe and the six other giants who comprise the "Seven Shepherds" who faithfully led our people; we connect the message of Moshe with the Festival of Sukkos that we are currently amid, and we share the overarching message of The Parsha Podcast. We set out to accomplish something very ambitious, and I think we pulled it off.

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Parshas Vezos Haberacha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:07:51 -0500

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The Joy of Sukkos

TORCH — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:54:24 -0500

The festival of Sukkos is called "the time of our joy." The entire festival is associated with joy. Sitting in the Sukkah is joyous, shaking the Lulav is joyous, the traditional celebratory festivities are known as the "Joy of the Drawing." Why are these days so intimately associated with joy? In this special podcast, we offer seven explanations that will enhance our Sukkos and suffuse it with joy.

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Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:08:00 -0500

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Parsha: Haazinu - Antidote to Vacuousness

TORCH — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Boris and Diana Poperny on the occasion of their 12th wedding anniversary – Happy anniversary from the entire Parsha Podcast family. And in the merit of a speedy recovery of Alla Bat Raya from her health problems. May she merit a complete and speedy recovery.

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Repentance Conundrums

TORCH — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:56:48 -0500

The days spanning from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. Over the course of these days, we have extra prayers and supplications, and make an extra effort to improve and correct our ways, culminating of course, with the greatest day of them all, Yom Kippur. But repentance is a tricky subject. In this special podcast, we explore some of the confounding conundrums of repentance. Listening to this episode will surely enhance your experience of repentance.

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Parsha: Haazinu - Small Step for Eaglet (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 23:18:00 -0500

The Song of Haazinu is a richly textured tapestry with layered meaning and subtleties. Our Sages tell us that it incorporates all of Jewish History. In its 613 words, it incorporates all of Torah as well. And it is arguably the most difficult Torah portion to decipher and unpack. In this special penultimate podcast of the fifth cycle of the Parsha Podcast, we examine a striking verse that compares the relationship between God and us to that of an eagle and its young. Upon initial assessment this seems like a strange comparison. W hen we explore the commentaries, however, we discover a life-changing perspective. This episode pairs perfectly with the upcoming holy day of Yom Kippur so give it a swig. Take it for a flight. It will be a joyous and thrilling ride.

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Parshas Haazinu (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 23:10:06 -0500

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Rosh Hashana Opportunities

TORCH — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 23:41:00 -0500

Rosh Hashana is a day of repentance. But unlike Yom Kippur, there is nary a mention of sin in all the ceremonies, prayers, and liturgies of Rosh Hashanah. What is the nature of repentance decoupled from acknowledgment of sin? When we study the sources related to Rosh Hashanah, we discover several fascinating opportunities that differentiate Rosh Hashanah from all other days. On Rosh Hashanah, we can accomplish things that are completely infeasible any other day. In this special Rosh Hashanah podcast, we probe and ponder the unique nature of the day that starts it all off.

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This special Rosh Hashana Podcast is sponsored by the Gelb, Goldman and Shacknofsky families in honor of our parents David and Susan Gelb. Wishing them and all of Klal Yisrael a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. Shana Tova Umetuka.

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Rosh Hashana Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

TORCH — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 23:16:00 -0500

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning. It is the beginning of the High Holidays. It is the beginning of the 10 days of repentance. It marks the beginning of humanity. On this day, Adam was created. Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of God's Dominion and Kingship over the world, because a king absent a nation is no king. We mark these beginning with the festival of Rosh Hashanah. On this day, every human is judged. Every human passes before God like individual sheep. This is a day that we must prepare for if we want to make something of it. To help prepare for Rosh Hashanah, I gathered my colleagues at the TORCH Centre in Houston to share ideas and insights that will help elevate and transform our Rosh Hashanah.

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Nitzavim Vayeilech - Pro Choice

TORCH — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:59:53 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend, Dr. Paul Block, in loving memory and leilui nishmas his mother, Mrs. Mildred Block OB"M, מינדל בת רב צבי הירש, whose first yartzeit is כב אלול. This Friday Sept 8th. May her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Nitzavim - Drawbridge Of The Soul (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:18:00 -0500

With the entire nation gathered on his final day of life, Moshe warns the people against being seduced by idolatry. The nation, Moshe reveals, is particularly vulnerable to idolatry because of the people whose land through which we have traversed. We saw the Egyptian fascination with idolatry. We saw the various other nations obsession with paganism. Consequently, we are susceptible to mimicking their ways. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast - the antepenultimate episode of the fifth cycle of The Parsha Podcast - we explore a mysterious and quite inexplicable element of Moshe's warning. What we discover is quite surprising.

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TORAH 101: Preparing for Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 23:16:00 -0500

Messiah is something that we anticipate and yearn for and await, but it is also something that we must prepare for. The consequences of being unprepared for Messiah are grave. How can we prepare for Messiah? What, specifically, do the sources focus on when it comes to getting in shape for Messiah? In this podcast we learn about how to prepare for Messiah.

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Parshas Nitzavim & Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Savo - Dial of Joy

TORCH — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Savo - Maniacal Determination (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 23:21:00 -0500

Our parsha contains perhaps the most difficult Torah portion to read and digest: The Tochacha (Admonition). In it we are told the consequences of our deeds. If obey the Almighty and hearken to His commandments, He will reward us with bountiful blessings. Should we deviate from Him and repudiate His Torah, however, He promises to unleash all manner of suffering upon us. And it is brutal. Our Sages calculated that the Tochacha contains 98 distinct curses and maledictions. What is the message of these ferocious curses? In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we suggest a novel approach to understanding what the Torah wants of us.

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Elul for the Unprepared and the Undeserving

TORCH — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 23:17:00 -0500

The month of Elul is upon us. Over the course of the next few weeks, Jewish communities worldwide will prepare for the high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with special prayers and with a daily blast of the shofar. We are preparing. We are getting ready for the awesome days upcoming. But what about those who are not preparing? What about those who are undeserving? Is there a shortcut to Elul? Is there a cheat sheet for someone who wants to tap into the awesome powers of this auspicious time? In this podcast, we learn how to connect with these propitious days - even if we're not prepared, even if we're not deserving.

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Parshas Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 23:07:00 -0500

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - The Upside of Laziness

TORCH — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 23:17:00 -0500

Our parsha begins with the unusual law of the marriage of a Jewish warrior and an enemy captive woman. When a Jewish warrior spots a prisoner of war that he desires to marry, there is a process and a protocol for how he may marry her. The Talmud (also featured by Rashi) offers a very unusual classification of why the Torah permits this union. On its surface, this reason compounds the difficulties of this law. In this very special edition of the parsha podcast, we share a novel and instructive approach to this very unusual law.

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Parsha: Ki Seitzei - A Lifetime A Day (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 23:55:00 -0500

The Midrash in our parsha calculates that the Torah contains 613 mitzvos, 248 positive mitzvos, where the Torah commands us to do something proactive, and 365 negative mitzvos, where we are instructed to refrain from transgressing the Almighty's will. These figures are not coincidental. They are precisely targeted to enable us to accomplish our life's mission. In this ground-breaking and earth-shattering edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore a transformational element of mitzvos that will radically reshape our lives - for the good.

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Ethics: Accepting Affliction (6.6.25)

TORCH — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 14:43:15 -0500

Life is full of nuisances. For many - maybe all - life inevitably contains some pain, suffering, and affliction. How we approach these situations is a central element of our religion and theology. Our Sages revealed to us that accepting affliction is a means to achieve wisdom. It is one of the 48 ways to acquire Torah. In this Ethics Podcast we explore this weighty subject and propose an approach to rationalize how this can contribute towards the acquisition of Torah.

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Parshas Ki Seitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shoftim - Crisper Genes

TORCH — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:42:07 -0500

The nation is on the doorstep of Canaan. In our Parsha, the people are instructed in how they must treat the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. It's not pleasant. The people are told that they must engage in total war against these nations. How do we understand the requirement to be so violent and aggressive towards the Canaanite nations? What about the Canaanites who opt to join the nation? What is their status? In this podcast? We first explore the general notion of how to understand the Torah's instructions regarding the Canaanite policy, and then we explore a very interesting thread about the power of behavior and how it can get embedded in the spiritual DNA that we transmit to our descendants.

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Parsha: Shoftim - Gateways to Great Pursuits (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 23:18:00 -0500

Justice is a virtue that we must vigorously pursue. Our Parsha begins by instructing us to establish a court system with judges and bailiffs throughout our gates and tribes. The judge is tasked with determining the merits of every case and the bailiff is in charge of implementation. This two-tiered model is not limited to the court system. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we propose that every pursuit of greatness hinges upon a "judge" and "bailiff" for the project to succeed. This episode is designed to be life-changing. It is, I promise, well worth your time

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TORAH 101: False and Unrealized Messiahs

TORCH — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 23:10:00 -0500

Our Nation has been yearning for Messiah for a very long time. And for good cause: Messiah is associated with wonderful things. Messiah is the state of the world when the mission that Abraham began gets actualized. Messiah is when the knowledge that our nation personified for millennia finally becomes ubiquitous. Messiah is a time of peace and prosperity. But in our eagerness from Messiah, our nation has been susceptible to frauds. Over the course of our history, there have been a litany of a false and unrealized Messiahs. In our study of this critical element of Jewish philosophy, we must be very aware of the danger and devastation of false Messiahs.

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Parshas Shoftim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 23:56:00 -0500

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Parsha: Reeh - Making Dough

TORCH — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 23:11:36 -0500

The Parsha ends with a delineation of the festivals. When discussing Passover, the verse notes that for 7 days we eat matzah because we left Egypt within great haste. The Exodus was so rapid and frantic, that the dough that we had been preparing was unable to rise and we did not have fluffy, puffy bread. Why is this trivial factoid so central to the Exodus and the festival that commemorates and relives it? What is so noteworthy about the dough having insufficient time to rise? Why did the accident happen during baking time? And this parsha podcast, we explore the Exodus on a deep level, and draw out a foundational lesson about living life alongside our Creator.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Yaakov Ben Yitzchak, whose yahrzeit falls out on the 23rd of Av, the day that this podcast is released. May his soul be elevated in Heaven

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Parsha: Re'eh - Look at Me (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 23:10:00 -0500

Moshe begins our parsha by presenting the Nation with a choice: See, I have placed before you today blessing and curse. And he continues to state that the blessing is the steadfast observance of the commandments of the Almighty, while the curse is the repudiation of said commandments. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore an incredible comment of the Ohr Hachaim on Moshe's statement that illuminates the essence of Moshe's message and why he was uniquely suited to convey it.

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Ethics: Trust Sages (6.6.24)

TORCH — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 23:24:00 -0500

Our primary responsibility as humans and as Jews is to develop and deepen our faith in the Creator. Can we have faith in man? Can we have faith in a mortal? In the 24th way to achieve and acquire wisdom, we learn about the concept of having faith in our Sages. What does it mean to have faith in Sages? How does this contribute towards our acquisition of Torah? In this interesting Ethics Podcast, we discover the answers.

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What God Wants

TORCH — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 13:00:02 -0500

The Torah is an instruction manual from God. The word Torah, in fact, means instruction. The Torah contains many details; in fact, there is no conceivable situation that the Torah does not provide guidance for. But what is the ultimate goal of Torah? What does the finished product supposed to look like? In a surprising set of verses, Moshe offers an answer. His formulation, though, raises questions of its own.

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Parshas Reeh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Parsha: Eikev - Longevity Pill

TORCH — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 23:09:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of my dear friends and longtime supporters of TORCH Dov and Rikki Eisner on the occasion of the birth of a grandson, Mordechai Noam, they are calling him Noah. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, we wish them a hearty Mazal Tov as well as to the parents Avi and Alana Glazer. May Noah grow up to be someone who makes his parents and grandparents and the entire Jewish people – and of course the Almighty – proud!

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Parsha: Eikev - Cheat Code for Life (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:12:00 -0500

The Torah contains a lot of details regarding what the Almighty expects of us. A verse in our parsha purports to get to the bottom line of what - in one sentence - does God actually want of us. But after reading the verse we emerge with more questions than answers. While ostensibly touting simplicity and ease, the requirements seem anything but that. In this important Parsha Podcast we plumb the depths of this fascinating verse. The lessons and implications of what we discover are profound and very valuable.

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Mitzvah: Fire On the Altar (#132-3)

TORCH — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:21:00 -0500

Steady fires were always present atop the Altar. At all times, even when sacrifices were not being processed in the Tabernacle and the Temple, a steady fire was maintained on the Altar.

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Parshas Eikev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 23:12:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vaeschanan - Jordan Rules

TORCH — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:02:48 -0500

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The Kabbalistic Backstory of Tisha B'av with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 23:55:16 -0500

The Ninth Day of the month of Av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. On this day, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. On this same day the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans. The Bar Kochba rebellion was stamped out with violent finality on this day. This is a day that is designated for tragedy and misfortune. What are the roots of this day? What can we do to help rectify and remedy it? In this exquisite podcast, the great Rabbi Shmuly Botnick weaves a complex, Kabbalistic tapestry on the roots of this sad day.

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Parsha: Va'eschanan - Entry Denied (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 23:16:00 -0500

Moshe was very desirous of entering the Land. The Midrash reveals that he prayed 515 separate prayers to petition God to revoke His ban on Moshe entering the Land. But God said no. You may not enter the Land, though He allowed Moshe to visualize the Land from atop a mountain. The dialogue between Moshe and God is featured at the beginning of our Parsha. When did this happen? Why was Moshe so insistent on entering the Land? Why did God deny his request? Taking an important place on the Jewish bookshelf is a magisterial 17th Century Kabbalistic work called Megaleh Amukos. This monumental book - which is considered one of the great Kabbalistic work - contains 252 different answers to these questions. In this podcast we share one of this magnificent approaches.

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Ethics: Good Heart (6.6.23)

TORCH — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 23:20:00 -0500

Although the study of Torah is ostensibly a cognitive pursuit, there are many qualities that are not cognitive nature that facilitate and enable the study of Torah. In this way to acquire wisdom, way #23, we learn about what it means to have a good heart , and how that serves as a means to acquire wisdom.

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Parshas Va'eschanan (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 23:11:00 -0500

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Parsha: Devarim - Middling East

TORCH — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 23:16:00 -0500

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Parsha: Devarim - Man of Words (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 23:24:00 -0500

At the end of Moshe's life, he gathers the entire nation for his parting message to the nation. The Midrash makes a remarkable contrast between Moshe's beginning and end of his tenure: When God initially commanded Moshe to save his brethren from enslavement in Egypt, Moshe protested by saying that he is not a man of words. That was 40 years before our Parsha. Our Parsha begins, "these are the words that Moshe said...." The man who was not a man of words has become one. What does it mean to be a man of words? What is the nature of Moshe's transformation and what can it teach us about leadership and influence?

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Mitzvah: Ashes of the Altar (#131)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 23:20:00 -0500

The first activity performed in the Temple each day was the removal of the ashes from the previous day's sacrifices. Before today's sacrificial schedule can commence, the Altar must be cleared from the ashes of yesterday's sacrifices.

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Parshas Devarim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 23:20:00 -0500

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Parsha: Mattos & Masei - 49-Step Program

TORCH — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:05:09 -0500

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Ethics: Anger Suppression (6.6.22)

TORCH — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 23:17:00 -0500

Anger is part of the human experience. When things agitate us, we get frustrated and have a tendency to lash out, to berate, to say things that we may regret. In this ethics podcast, we learn about the virtue of being slow to anger and how it can help supercharge our pursuit of wisdom.

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Parsha: Mattos & Masei - Talent Incubator (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:21:00 -0500

Our parsha contains the laws regarding a person who murders someone accidentally. We are told that the accidental murderer must flee to the city of refuge and remain there until the passing of the High Priest. Although we have neither a High Priest nor a Jewish court of laws that adjudicates as per the laws of the Torah, in this special Canada-recorded edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer a novel and homiletic explanation of the entire subject of the city of refuge. It turns out that we all can benefit from this kind of experience.

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TORAH 101: Characteristics of King Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:28:00 -0500

King Messiah will spearhead the spiritual movement that will reverberate the world over. This King will bear a grand and lofty stature exceeding that of the greatest exemplars of our history. In this podcast we explore King Messiah further: what are the indicators of the real messiah? What are the means by which we can identify King Messiah? What are some other characteristics that we are told about Messiah that may give more shape and color to our understanding of this lofty individual? The answers will be illuminating and (perhaps) a bit surprising.

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This TORAH 101 Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Mansour Faridnia ben Aghajan. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parshas Mattos & Masei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 23:13:00 -0500

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Parsha: Pinchas - Sons of Anarchist

TORCH — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Exploring the Ohr Hachaim Torah Commentary with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:01:00 -0500

The 18th century commentary on the Torah, Ohr HaChaim, is one of the most unique, ingenious, and sprawling works in the Jewish library. In this special podcast, released on the 280th yartzeit of the author of Ohr HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, Rabbi Shmuly Botnick shares with us a sampling of ideas curated from the Ohr HaChaim commentary on the Torah to help us get a sense of the beauty and brilliance of this classic Torah commentary.

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Parsha: Pinchas - Eternal Promotion (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Over the course of the 40 years since the Exodus, the Nation was lead by Moshe and Aaron, the King and High Priest respectively. In our Parsha, successors are designated for both posts. Due to his valiant heroism of the end of last week's portion, Pinchas is promoted to being a kohein. He would go on to become the High Priest and the patriarch of a slew of High Priests. A successor is designated for Moshe as well when God chooses Joshua, Moshe's trusted aide, to replace him. Upon careful analysis we see how the paths that these two took to their respective nominations could not be more different. Joshua and Pinchas had radically different, even opposing, paths to securing their promotions. It turns out that we too must seek an eternal promotion in our lives and we can select the Joshua method or the Pinchas method. Or both.

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Mitzvah: Definite Guilt Offering (#129)

TORCH — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 23:17:00 -0500

Unlike the previous mitzvah that required a sacrifice for an uncertain violation, in this mitzvah, we learn about a guilt offering for someone who definitely violated a transgression.

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Parshas Pinchas (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Chukas & Balak - Methods of Transformation

TORCH — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:55:00 -0500

In the first of this week's double parsha, we read about the death of two giants: Miriam and Aaron, Moshe's older sister and brother, pass away. Our sages tell us that the death of the righteous serves as an atonement in a way similar to sacrifices. Just as sacrifices atone, so too does the death of the righteous. But why does the death of the righteous provide atonement? Why is the sacrifice used to convey this principle specifically the red heifer, the most unusual of sacrifices? In this delectable Parsha podcast, we discover critical elements, growth, change, and transformation.

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Parsha: Balak - Some Men Are From Mars (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Our parsha contains an attempted genocide. Bilaam, the prophet of the idolaters, a man of prodigious ability an skill, dedicates himself with tenacity and persistence to curse and destroy the people. Although his three attempts at cursing the nation backfire when he is compelled by God to bless the nation instead, the parsha ends with the implementation of his advice to get the nation to sin and indeed a large contingency of the people fall prey to his plan. In this podcast, we propose a novel understanding of Bilaam's character and demonstrate a way that things could have gone very differently.

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Parsha: Chukas - Inglorious Origins (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:11:00 -0500

The red cow is the Torah's most mysterious mitzvah. We are told to take a completely red cow and slaughter it, and burn it's body together with a concoction of other ingredients, the ashes of which become the potion to purify people who have come into contact with dead people. If that doesn't make sense to you, I can hereby comfort you that you are not alone. Aside from Moshe, no human in history has ever fully grasped this mitzvah. Although we are precluded from fully understanding this mitzvah, the Midrash reveals to us the mechanism at play in this process. What is reveals it quite stunning and very broadly applicable to us.

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TORAH 101: Indications of the Messianic Era

TORCH — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:16:00 -0500

The world will undergo immense changes in the times of Messiah. Those changes will be so transformative and so comprehensive that our current world and our current values are scarcely similar to those of the world of Messiah. When Messiah will come is a question that we cannot answer. Trying to do so is prohibited, dangerous, and futile. There is great peril laden in the quest Messianic prognostication. Nevertheless, our Sages did offer some indicators of the Messianic time. There are some characteristics that indicate that Messiah is imminent. What are those indicators? What are we told about the era of Messiah and the generation that precedes it? In this podcast we explore what our sages conveyed to us regarding the time, the era, the generation of Messiah.

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This TORAH 101 Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Shlomo Khanbaba ben David. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parshas Chukas & Balak (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 23:19:00 -0500

In Parshas Chukas, we read about a highly unusual mitzvah: The Red Heifer, when an entirely red cow is burned together with a motley concoction of ingredients, and the resultant ashes are used to sprinkle on people that came into contact with dead people in order to purify them from their spiritual contamination. We also learn about the passing of Miriam and Aaron, and the multiple battles that the nation participated in on the Eastern bank of the Jordan, and we puzzle over the sin that condemned Moses and Aaron to die before entering the Land. Parshas Balak begins after the Jewish nation trounced the mighty kingdoms of Sichon and Og, the comparatively smaller and weaker kingdom of Moab resorted to unconventional warfare to attack the nation by hiring the prophet of the nations, a wily and devious character named Bilaam, to curse the Jews. It did not work out as planned.

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Parsha: Korach - Korach's Insatiability

TORCH — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Tova Florans in honor of Coby and Chynna Bracha Fliegelman on the occasion of the birth of their young son Azriel Asher.

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Ethics: Levity (6.6.21)

TORCH — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Life is serious. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of truth. Pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of understanding the Divine (to the best of our abilities). To access wisdom, we have to be very serious. But a little bit of levity - when done properly and in the right context - can be helpful. In this Ethics Podcast we explore the Torah's perspective on levity and seriousness.

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This Ethics Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Miriam bat Rahim. May her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Korach - Demoted For Good (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 23:24:00 -0500

Korach was a very talented man with a sterling pedigree. He was wise and clever and even had a degree of prophetic clairvoyance. Yet he blundered egregiously by launching a revolt on Moshe and Aaron. When we study what triggered this rebellion we find that Korach has a seemingly legitimate grievance. He believed - and honest assessors of the situation would agree - that he was mistreated by not being promoted to a post that he deserved. Why indeed was Korach passed over for this promotion? How should Korach have processed this insult? What is the proper way to respond to such slights? In this exceptional podcast episode, we share a potentially life-changing approach to this subject.

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Mitzvah: Uncertain Guilt Offerings (#128)

TORCH — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:18:00 -0500

This sacrifice is offered when someone is uncertain if they violated a sin or not.

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Parshas Korach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 23:24:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shelach - Despising Limitations

TORCH — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:26:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Asher ben Youseff. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Shelach - Daydreams, Nightmares, and Reveries (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 23:19:00 -0500

The final five verses of our Parsha contain the third paragraph of the Shema. In it, we are instructed to place tzitzis strings wrapped with a string of blue techeiles wool on the corner of our garments. Why? "And you shall see them and remember all the mitzvos of Hashem and you shall do them, and you will not deviate after your hearts and eyes." By gazing at the tzitzis we will do al the mitzvos and avoid sinning. That is a very bold claim. How does looking at the tzitzis remind us of all the mitzvos of God and inspire us to do them? How does it save us from sinning? Why is this particular mitzvah featured as a the culmination of the parsha that deals primarily with the ill-fated reconnaissance mission of the 12 spies sent by Moshe to reconnoiter the Land? In this sweeping and creative podcast we share some secrets that will radically rearrange your worldview. This is not the easiest podcast to follow, absorb, and digest, but it may be the most beneficial one that you've listened to yet.

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TORAH 101: Messianic Prognostication

TORCH — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:19:00 -0500

When will Messiah come? We are all curious to know the answer. What if we can find evidence or proof in Scripture to know when the redemption will happen? Isn't that a tantalizing notion? In this podcast we survey the prohibition, futility, and peril of Messianic prognostication.

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Parshas Shelach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 23:14:00 -0500

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Bad Old Days

TORCH — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by my dear friend and longtime friend of the podcasts David Borowsky in honor of Shaun Hiller – also a dear friend – on the occasion of his recent engagement to Shira Berman. May they build a beautiful life together and establish a Jewish home that brings joy and delight to their family, community, and to the entire nation.

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Ethics: Conversation (6:6:20)

TORCH — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 22:17:00 -0500

We are speaking beings. In fact, the central differentiation between humanity and animals is the capacity of verbal communication. The judgment that we face in Heaven is largely about how we deployed our superpower, our speech. The greatest mitzvos are performed with speech and some of the most grievous transgressions are also a product of the spoken word. What about idle chit chat? What about ordinary conversation? Small talk? There is a lot of gray area of speech that doesn't immediately appear to be neither a mitzvah nor a sin. How are we to relate to this form of speech? In this Ethics Podcast we study the subject of speech and the Torah's guidance for how to properly balance it.

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This Ethics Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui Nishmas Yosef Binyamin ben Avraham Chaim, George Topas, whose third Yartzeit falls out on 19th of Sivan, the day that this podcast is being released.

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Parsha: Behaaloscha - Kindle Fire (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 23:11:00 -0500

Aaron the High Priest held a critical leadership role in the nation. A partial list of his jobs: he offered sacrifices, he did the Yom Kippur services which included the annual trip to the Holy of Holies, and he blessed the people. But there was one job that he was excluded for: When the princes of the tribes brought their respective tributes to mark the Tabernacle's inauguration, Aaron and his tribe were not included. Understandably, Aaron was disappointed, but God comforted him: Yours responsibility is greater than theirs, because you kindle the Menorah each evening. Why was the Menorah service the best one to mollify Aaron? In this seminal podcast episode, we suggest a new approach that shines the light on Aaron's greatness and his sacrifice.

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Parshas Behaaloscha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 09:38:37 -0500

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Parsha: Nasso - Nazirs Anonymous

TORCH — Wed, 31 May 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Ethics: Sleep (6.6.19)

TORCH — Tue, 30 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

We all need to sleep. All humans, irrespective of their intelligence, their physical prowess, their wealth, must lay down in a comatose state for several hours a day and sleep. Sleep is also enjoyable. There's something seductively delicious about sleep. What is the Torah's attitude on sleep? Why did the Almighty design us that we need to sleep? What are the spiritual dangers in excessive sleep? In this ethics podcast we explore this fascinating subject. I would not recommend starting this podcast if you want to go to sleep. It's so interesting, it will keep you awake. Caveat dormitator!

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TORAH 101: The Sequencing of Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 28 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

What will happen in the times of Messiah? For us, that is an unanswerable question. Our Sages tell us that unless you are a prophet, it is not possible for you to know ahead of time how the Messianic transformation will unfold. That said, our Sages do provide us with descriptions and accounts and hints and allusions that can give us some insight into what we have to look forward to. In this podcast we focus on the concept that Messiah may be part of a sequence of events that string together to create the Messianic era.

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Accepting the Torah: Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos

TORCH — Wed, 24 May 2023 16:58:37 -0500

The Sinai Revelation is the most significant event in all of human history: God revealed Himself to the entire Jewish people, He spoke to them, He gave them the Torah, and they lived. This day is revisited every single year on the festival of Shavuos. Our objective on this day is to renew our vows with God and to re-accept His holy Torah. But how do you accept the Torah? What are the prerequisites and necessary criteria for accepting the Torah? To answer those questions we have to study the Sinai Revelation and the events that preceded and succeeded it. In this very special podcast we explore many different dimensions and elements of the festival and the days that it commemorates and discover the essential quality that was needed to accept the Torah initially and the primary way for us to tap into the vast, awesome, spiritual power of Shavuos.

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Parsha: Nasso - Princely Pendulum (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 22 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

The Princes of the Tribes make several notable contributions at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: They contribute 12 oxen and 6 covered wagons to aid the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and each Prince donates a tribute of 21 animals, a silver basin and bowl brimming with flour and oil, and a gold ladle full of incense. Why were these 12 men chosen to serve as princes of the tribes? What happened to these people after the events of our Parsha? In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we trace the story of the Princes from their heroic beginning to their absolutely shocking end, following the surprising twists and turns along the way.

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Shavuos Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

TORCH — Sun, 21 May 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Shavuos is the Festival that marks the day of the giving of the Torah. More than 3300 years ago, our nation coalesced around Mount Sinai and we experienced some thing that no other nation has ever experienced: the Almighty spoke to us as a nation and we lived to tell the tale. We heard the 10 Commandments from God and from Moshe and our nation was forever transformed. Every year we relive the Sinai revelation during the Festival of Shavuos. To help prepare for this momentous day, I gathered together with my TORCH colleagues in the glorious TORCH Centre to chat about the upcoming festival and how to make the most of it.

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Parshas Nasso (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 20 May 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Common Census

TORCH — Wed, 17 May 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Parsha: Bamidbar - Flag-Bearers (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 15 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

At first glance, Parshas Bamidbar seems like a snoozefest: it's very technical, counting the people, assigning the tribes to their encampments, counting the Levites separately, designating the responsibilities of the Levites in the transportation of the Tabernacle and its vessels. But upon further examination, our Parsha guides us with the instructions of how to become great, how to achieve distinction, prominence, and stature, and how to be uplifted.

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Mitzvah: Misappropriation of the Sacred (#127, 447)

TORCH — Sun, 14 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

Misappropriating Temple property is a very bad idea. The sacrifices, the animals, the vessels, the property, the money used for update and maintenance - all items that are included in the temple coffers cannot be misused.

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Parshas Bamidbar (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 13 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Behar Bechukosai - Hostage Letter

TORCH — Wed, 10 May 2023 21:44:30 -0500

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Ethics: Pleasure (6.6.18)

TORCH — Tue, 09 May 2023 23:17:00 -0500

Pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain are hardwired impulses . We all want to feel good and to avoid feeling bad. Perhaps surprisingly, the Torah fully embraces this principle. The reason why we were created, we are told, is so that we can become receptacles of pleasure. Our only disagreement with other philosophies is regarding the nature of said pleasure. In this Ethics Podcast episode we explore the subject of pursuit of pleasure, both spiritual and physical.

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Parsha: Behar & Bechukosai - Divine Nudge (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 08 May 2023 11:19:00 -0500

Two years ago, our nation underwent an unprecedented calamity. At our people's largest annual festival, the celebration of Lag ba'Omer in Meron, a crowd crush resulted in the death of 45 of our brethren. How do we respond to such a tragedy? What is the way to process such a disaster. In this Parsha Podcast we look to this week's double parsha of Behar and Bechukosai for guidance.

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TORAH 101: The Variability of Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 07 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

We have been awaiting and anticipating Messiah for millennia. Messianic yearning has been a hallmark of Jewish life ever since we were exiled from our land with the destruction of the Second Temple. Messiah, we have learned, will definitely happen. It is inevitable. But the type of Messiah depends upon the path that we choose to get there. Messiah is variable in many different ways. In this podcast episode we explore the various areas in which the variability of Messiah is manifested.

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Parshas Behar & Bechukosai (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 06 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Emor - Snowball's Chance in Heaven

TORCH — Wed, 03 May 2023 23:10:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Danny Caplan and family in honor of Aron Caplan, whose bar mitzvah parsha is this week – happy birthday! And also in loving memory and leilui nishmas, Yona bat Esther, may her soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Emor - Sense of Belonging (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 01 May 2023 23:18:00 -0500

Our parsha contains the first recorded instance of capital punishment in Jewish history. A disgruntled man, the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man blasphemed and was executed as a result. What is the significance of this story? Why do we have the narrative about the blasphemer in middle of the Book of Leviticus, a Book dedicated almost exclusively to sacrificial and ritualistic law with nary a narrative? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer a novel understanding of this episode and draw powerful insights and lessons from it.

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Ethics: Moderation (6:6:17)

TORCH — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 23:16:00 -0500

Our resources are finite. We must engage in trade-offs, deciding what pursuits to prioritize over others. This, of course, is all well known. But it's more complicated: by design, we feel drawn to seek out and pursue goals that are potentially harmful and that can overtake your life. Balance is key.

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Parshas Emor (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 23:19:00 -0500

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Parsha: Acharei Mos/Kedoshim - It's a Small World

TORCH — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Acharei Mos/Kedoshim - Challenge Accepted (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Our Nation has always had bad neighbors. The Midrash in our Parsha states that the Egyptians and the Canaanites, both nations that our people lived in close proximity to, are the most morally deficient of all the world's nations. Moreover, the specific areas in those lands where the Jews resided contained that worst offenders of those nations. Evidently, the Almighty wants us to have really awful neighbors whose repugnant behavior we must shun. Why? Why did the Almighty arrange it that way? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we discover a new approach to this interesting phenomenon.

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Conversion in Jewish Philosophy and Law

TORCH — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 23:17:00 -0500

Our forefather Abraham forged a covenant with God: God shows him to be the forefather of the Jewish people, which includes all sorts of Rights and responsibilities. For one, Abraham's descendants were condemned to be enslaved for 400 years. On the brighter side, the nation became recipients of the Almighty's Torah and Mitzvos. The nation also received the Holy Land and a special degree of Divine Providence and oversight. The relationship between God and the Jewish people is eternal and immutable. But even people who are not biological descendants of Abraham via Isaac via Jacob can join the covenant with God. Through the process of conversion, and erstwhile Gentile can become a Jew. What is that process like? How does a non-Jew transform into a Jew with all that that entails? In this podcast we to offer a primer on conversion to Judaism from a philosophical and a law perspective.

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Parshas Acharei & Kedoshim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Tazria Metzora - Heaven on the Cheap

TORCH — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 21:39:31 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast by my friend Aaron Findley in honor of his daughter Anne Meredith / Chana Miriam on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah and in loving memory of his mom Miriam Findley.

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TORAH 101: The Inevitability of Messiah

TORCH — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:33:00 -0500

The sources all agree: Messiah is not a possibility that we can potentially achieve; it is an inevitability. It will definitely happen. Under no circumstances will Messiah and not come before the year 6,000 since Adam. The inevitability of Messiah raises a fundamental question, though: if something is inevitable, it cannot be linked to frail, fallible, and fickle human free will. Yet the sources also maintain that the arrival of Messiah is in fact contingent on our choices and behavior. This paradox opens up for us new vistas of understanding of Messiah, it's inevitability, and it's variability. In this podcast we forge ahead in our studies seeking to understand Messiah and the Messianic era.

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This TORAH 101 Podcast is dedicated in the merit of the complete and speedy recovery of Ariel ben Yosef HaKohen.
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Parsha: Tazria/Metzora - Blessings in Disguises (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 23:19:00 -0500

Tzaraas, the spiritual leprosy whose laws are detailed in our Parsha, appeared in three different areas: the befell sinners' skin, clothing, and house. How common was Tzaraas of the house? The Talmud reveals that it actually never happened even once and it will never happen in the future. If it never happened, why does the Torah delineate all its laws? When we peel away the layers of this question we discover an amazing insight.

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Ethics: Worldliness (6.6.16)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 23:19:00 -0500

The central conflict of our lives orients around our relationship with the physical world in which we currently inhabit: the Torah teaches us that the objective of life is to optimize for the benefit and betterment of the soul, and to prepare for Olam Haba. The Yetzer Hara is engineered to make us believe that improving our standing in this world is what we should strive for. What is the correct balance? How much should we be invested in our standing in this world, and how much should we focus on our pursuit of eternity? In way to wisdom #15, we discover the answer.

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Parshas Tazria & Metzora (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Shemini - Fires, Foreign and Domestic

TORCH — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 22:25:16 -0500

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Parsha: Shemini - Find Your Breach (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 23:26:00 -0500

The 8th day of the Tabernacle's Inauguration was supposed to be a day of total, exuberant jubilation. The laborious months of preparation were complete, and now God will dwell in our midst. Moshe washes, clothes, and anoints his brother, Aaron and Aaron's four sons, and a Heavenly fire descends and consumes Aaron's sacrifices from atop the altar, and the nation experiences simultaneous joy and awe. The promise of the Tabernacle had been actualized. But the day did not end there. In a shocking and unexpected twist in the Torah's narrative, Aaron's two sons, Nadav and Avihu, enter the Holy of Holies and offer an unrequested offering and ropes of fire entered their nostrils and killed them.

What possessed Nadav and Avihu to offer this sacrifice? Why did they display such eagerness to offer sacrifices when Aaron was so hesitant? When indeed is a fitting time to act recklessly and without consultation? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we explore the very interesting and troubling story of Nadav and Avihu and draw valuable, life-changing lessons along the way.

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The Secret of the Haggadah with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:17:00 -0500

The Pesach Haggadah guides us through the Seder night and the story of the Exodus. But as is always true in our religion, there are secrets and mysteries lurking beneath the surface. To plumb the esoteric depths of the Haggadah we invited back to the podcast the legend himself, Rabbi Shmuly Botnick. In this podcast you will be treated to an ingenious take on the Haggadah that will elevate, enlighten, and enrich your Pesach. This is not one to be missed!

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Parshas Shemini (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Tzav - Pure-Bread

TORCH — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of Emma Marie Maechler who was born this Monday evening. May she grow up to be a beacon of light to her family, community, and to the entire nation.

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Ethics: Mishnah (6:6:15)

TORCH — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 23:18:00 -0500

The oral Torah is vast, comprehensive, and multi-layered. One of its layers is known as Mishnah. What is Mishnah, how was it organized and codified, and why does it prepare us for wisdom? In this Ethics Podcast we learn all about Mishnah and it's indispensability and power.

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Parsha: Tzav – Ashes, Ashes, We all Rise Up (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 23:17:00 -0500

The beginning of our parsha details the intricate processing of the Olah offerings. The animal is slaughtered, its blood is sprinkled on the Altar walls, it is divided into parts, the parts are elevated to the top of the altar and placed on the fire to burn the whole night. The next morning, a Kohein is selected to remove the ash remnants. He takes a shovel and scoops out some ash and places it in a designated place near the altar ramp. In this Parsha Podcast we suggest a novel approach to explain the lesson and symbolism of sacrifices, ashes, and the processing of the Olah.

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Mitzvah: Oil and Frankincense in a Sinner's Meal Offering (#125-6)

TORCH — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 23:16:00 -0500

A sinner's meal offering is a bit different from a typical meal offering: Oil and Frankincense, integral ingredients in most meal offerings, are omitted.

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Pesach Roundtable at the TORCH Centre

TORCH — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 19:25:06 -0500

The Festival of Pesach is upon us. For seven days we will eat Matzah and avoid any traces of chometz. We will gather together with our families around the Seder table and recount the story of the Exodus, retelling and reliving the founding episode of our Nation. In an effort to get in the mode of Pesach, I got together with some of my TORCH colleagues to conduct a Pesach roundtable, discussing the themes, concepts, and power of the Festival of Redemption.

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Parshas Tzav (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vayikra: Five-Course Meal Offering with Rabbi Dovid Biron

TORCH — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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TORAH 101: The Messianic Renaissance

TORCH — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 23:16:00 -0500

The Messianic era will unleash seismic changes to our nation and to all of humanity. In this podcast we talk about the ultimate catalyst of Messiah: Repentance. The sources agree that it is only via repentance that Messiah can arrive. When our nation returns to the Almighty, the world is ready to transition to the next epoch of history.

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Ethics: Scripture (6:6:14)

TORCH — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:06:44 -0500

Our works of Scripture are all prophetic, each written with varying degrees of prophecy. When we study Scripture we are encountering the word of God. But what is the objective of the study of Scripture? Why does Scripture pave the way to wisdom? In this Ethics Podcast we discover what Scripture is, how it ought to be studied, and why it primes us for wisdom.

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Parsha: Vayikra – Vicarious Sacrifice (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 23:13:00 -0500

Sacrifices sound like a cheat code: You sin and you rebelled against God and your soul gets tarnished. By the strict letter of the law, sin ought to be an executable offense. But God has mercy: Bring a sacrifice and slaughter the animal and you will be expiated. Instead of you dying, the animal will in your stead. Sin is easily remedied with a sacrifice. But how is that fair? If I sinned, I need to atone for it myself. How does sacrificing the animal solve the problem? In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast we discover an answer that can change your life.

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Mitzvah: Bird Sin Sacrifice (#124)

TORCH — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 23:54:00 -0500

The bird sin sacrifice, brought by a person who cannot afford to bring a more expensive sacrifice, is processed and slaughtered in an unusual fashion.

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Parshas Vayikra (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 23:18:00 -0500

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Parsha: Vayakhel Pekudei - Laver of Love

TORCH — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 23:17:00 -0500

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Ethics: Equilibrium (6:6:13)

TORCH — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 23:16:00 -0500

Humans are not monolithic. Each one of us is unique and have a unique take on every life situation. The truth is even more granular: even within a single person, there is not uniformity. We are all internally conflicted, sometimes thinking like this and sometimes like that, sometimes feeling like this and sometimes feeling like that, etc. It doesn't have to be like that. There is a way to reach equilibrium.

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Parsha: Vayakhel Pekudei - On Giants' Shoulders feat. Akiva Wolbe (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 23:33:00 -0500

Bezalel was the architect of the most consequential building project of all time. He was tasked with the responsibility of building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the dwelling place for God on this earth. What special skills did Bezalel have that primed him to undertake this ambitious project? Why was Bezalel chosen for this task? When we examine his story and pedigree we find some interesting patterns.

This episode is guest hosted by my eldest son, Akiva, whose Bar Mitzvah is this week. The Parsha Podcast is a family, and I want to make sure that all the family that will not be able to be physically present in Houston for the Bar Mitzvah will still be able to partake in the festivities.

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Mitzvah: Variable Sin Sacrifice (#123)

TORCH — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 23:18:00 -0500

Most sacrifices follow a designated protocol which remains unchanged irrespective of the financial wherewithal of the person bringing the sacrifice. This mitzvah is the exception. There are some sins regarding whom the sacrifice brought atone for the sin is means-tested.

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Parshas Vayakhel & Pekudei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Aaron's Calculus

TORCH — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:55:00 -0600

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Parsha: Ki Sisa - Hold Your Fire (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 23:17:00 -0600

Our nation commits the most grievous sin of our history in this week's parsha. A mere 40 days after we experienced the national revelation at Sinai, the nation made the Golden Calf and began to worship it. How did such a catastrophe happen? When we examine the sin very carefully we find a pattern that repeats itself all over Jewish history and literature and that contains a timeless lesson that will change your life!

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The Secret of the Month of Adar with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 22:25:10 -0600

"When the month of Adar commences, we increase joy." This oft-recited Talmudic dictum captures the emotion of this month. Adar is a time of joy due to the Purim miracles. It is also associated with, we discover in this belated month-theme podcast with the great Rabbi Shmuly Botnick, fish, the tribe of Naftali, techeiles, the Ark, the letter Nun in its various orientations and connotations, and the Sea of the Galilee. Recorded in the stretch run of the Fast of Esther, this podcast will entertain, educate, and intrigue you, and you will emerge with a greater appreciation for the month of Adar and for the genius of Rabbi Botnick.

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Parshas Ki Sisa (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 23:16:00 -0600

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - The Choshen People

TORCH — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 23:56:00 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit whose fourth Yahrtzeit was this week. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Purim Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

TORCH — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:08:17 -0600

In preparation for the upcoming festival of Purim, my colleagues and I gathered together for a roundtable discussion about the power and meaning of the day. It is a joyous day of celebration and revelry, but when we examine it deeply, we discover it is a day of great, transformative, spiritual power. Elevate your Purim with your friends at TORCH by listening to this Roundtable discussion.

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Parsha: Tetzaveh - The Great Collaboration (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 23:57:00 -0600

Besides being brothers, Moshe and Aaron were both leaders of the Jewish people: Moshe was the king and Aaron was the high priest. These brothers had different, but complimentary, skills and characteristics, that were each independently necessary for the nation. In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we do a very deep dive into the nation of Moshe's leadership vs. Aaron's, how they complimented and completed each other.

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Parshas Tetzaveh (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:16:00 -0600

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Parsha: Terumah - Etched in Stone

TORCH — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 23:46:00 -0600

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Mitzvah: Sin Sacrifices (#120-1)

TORCH — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 13:00:00 -0600

There are many different types of sacrifices featured in Temple-era Jewish life. A communal or an individual sin sacrifice is the subject of this Mitzvah.

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Ethics: Engaging Students (6:6:12)

TORCH — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 23:18:00 -0600

One of the most rewarding things a person can do is to teach others. But beyond the feeling of gratification that comes with teaching, When you are able to educate and enlighten other people with your knowledge, you learn a lot from the process. Teaching others is a fantastic way to study yourself.

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Parsha: Terumah - 3 Points Behind the Ark

TORCH — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 23:17:00 -0600

In the epicenter of the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. This golden vessel was the receptacle of the Tablets, both the First Tablets which Moshe shattered at the foot of Mount Sinai in the aftermath of the sin of the Golden Calf, and the Second Tablets which endured. In this special edition of The Parsha Podcast, we share three powerful observations and lessons about the Ark.
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TORAH 101: The Miracles of Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 23:19:00 -0600

Messiah is not an isolated, discrete, transformation that occurs in a vacuum. Messiah is the ultimate redemption. Our nation has experienced redemption before. The pattern of exile and redemption has been constant feature of our nation's history. It began in Egypt. Our nation enslaved, tormented, and oppressed in Egypt for centuries until the Almighty redeemed us with the Exodus. After 850 years of hegemony, exile came again, this time in the form of the Babylonian exile: the Babylonians destroyed the Temple and sent the nation in chains to Babylon. The Persian exile and redemption is featured in the Purim story and the Greek in the Chanukah story. Currently, our nation is in the 4th and final exile, known as the exile of Edom. Messiah marks the redemption from this 4th and final exile. In this podcast we talked about Messiah in the context of the other exiles, and outline the miracles that we expect in the Messianic age.

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Parshas Terumah (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 23:17:00 -0600

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Parsha: Mishpatim - System of Sinai

TORCH — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 23:40:14 -0600

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Mitzvah: Salt in Sacrifices (#118-9)

TORCH — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 22:19:00 -0600

One of the many processes and rituals done with sacrifices in the Temple is the mandatory salting of all sacrifices. Both animal sacrifices and meal offerings must be salted before brought upon the altar.

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The Secret of Parshas Shekalim With Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 13:02:39 -0600

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This week marks the first of the four special Parshiyos, the 4 weeks where we read a special citation from the Torah in addition to the weekly Parsha. After the conclusion of the Torah reading for Parshas Mishpatim, we read six verses from Exodus chapter 30 that discussed the annual fundraising effort for the Temple coffers. In honor of the annual TORCH fundraiser going on right now at giveTORCH.org, we invited the legendary Rabbi Shmuly Botnick to discuss the secrets and mysteries of this Torah reading. He did not disappoint.

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Parsha: Mishpatim – Crowning Achievement (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:01:00 -0600

The end of our Parsha revisits the Sinai Revelation of Parsha Yisro and recounts some of the preparations for the Ten Commandments. In the negotiations and deliberations in the runup to Sinai, the Nation declares that they will do and they will listen to all the commandments. This statement, we will do and we will listen, became the rallying cry of our people. Our Nation committed itself to God before we knew what that entailed. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we explore this very powerful and consequential declaration.

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Ethics: Friendly Critique (6:6:11)

TORCH — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:37:58 -0600

Humans are not perfect. Only God is. We are fallible. We are mistake-prone. Yet our mission and mandate is to discover truth. That is achieved, chiefly, via the study of Torah. The Almighty embedded truth and understanding of God in the Torah that He gave to us. But even our pursuit of Torah must be done properly. There are ways to corrupt the study of Torah as well. In this 11th way to wisdom we discover the imperative of gaining the perspectives of others. We cannot do it alone.

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TORAH 101: The Persona of King Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 23:54:00 -0600

Messiah will not be an ordinary person. He will be a towering figure who's impact reverberates the world over. In this podcast we study what our Sages tell us about who Messiah is and what his stature will be, and talk about the wide-ranging and far reaching implications that he will have.

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Ends Justifying Means: An Exploration of the Path of Pleasantness of the Torah

TORCH — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 15:26:00 -0600

The Jewish people were trapped. Only a week after they left Egypt, Pharaoh had chased them in hot pursuit, and now they had no place to go: with their backs up against the sea, and a heavily armed Egyptian army encircling them, the nation complained to Moshe, "are there insufficient graves in Egypt?". For his part, Moshe was praying. God showed the way forward: into the water. There was one thing that no one proposed: waging war. The nation was armed, but did not turn their weapons against their Egyptian foes. This idea serves as a springboard for a wonderful concept of an elevated life that we find in several places in the Torah. This podcast will help you appreciate the beauty and the greatness of Torah and the type of righteous people that the Torah is trying to mold us into becoming.

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Parshas Mishpatim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 10:02:36 -0600

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Parsha: Yisro – Sinai Sales Pitch

TORCH — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 23:03:32 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of John Magness. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Yisro – Jethro’s Epiphany (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:29:50 -0600

The protagonist of our parsha, Jethro, underwent a long and fruitful spiritual journey. When the journey began, Jethro was a idolater who worshipped every pagan deity in the world. At its conclusion, Jethro was give great distinction as a believer in God and a purveyor of His Torah. What went into that transformation? What is the anatomy of Jethro’s change? In this special; episode of The Parsha Podcast we demonstrate the three vital components to Jethro’s transformation.

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TORAH 101: The Messianic Revolution

TORCH — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:01:22 -0600

Messiah will be an era of seismic changes for the Jewish people and for the world. Knowledge of God will be ubiquitous. The primacy of the Jewish people as God’s chosen Nation will be universally accepted. The pursuit of wisdom will supersede all other pursuits. The world will begin it’s a rapid progress towards perfection. How does this all happen? How do these changes unfold? In this podcast we explore one angle to this question, namely the eradication of the evil inclination in the Messianic era.

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Tu B’Shevat: The Secret of the Rosh Hashana for Trees (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:46:35 -0600

The fifteenth day of the Jewish month of Shevat – known as Tu B’Shevat – is the New Year for trees and fruits. All the fruits that sprout before this cutoff are associated with the previous year’s yield and the ones that come afterwards are attributed to the new year’s. If that was all that we knew about this day it would be a pretty anemic day. But the Kabbalists revealed that is a very powerful and propitious day with deep, mystical meanings. In this special episode we plumb the depths of this day and discover its power and the potential. I must admit that coming into this project I knew very little about Tu B’Shevat. This was a truly eye-opening subject that I am sure will rivet the audience as it did me.

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Parshas Yisro (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 23:24:27 -0600

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Parsha: Beshalach – First Mover Advantage

TORCH — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 23:38:25 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by the Davoudnia, Wise, Shamooilian and Shoraka families in loving memory and leilui nishmat Shlomo ben Avraham z”L, who passed away this week. He was a remarkably sweet and good man, and he will be missed by his family and all those who knew him. May his soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Beshalach – Bread of Angels (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:11:38 -0600

Parshas Beshalach is arguable the most action-packed Parsha in the Torah. It starts with the Jews hightailing out of Egypt – only to have Pharaoh follow in hot pursuit, and it ends with the nation’s first war. In between these two bookends, there are all kinds of interesting things that happen. In this special podcast episode, we explore the common denominator of the events in our parsha and demonstrate how they serve as a bridge connecting the Exodus of last week’s Parsha to the Revelation upcoming next week.

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The Secret of the Month of Shevat with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 22:15:43 -0600

The Jewish months are replete with secrets and mysteries. Studying the months and their hidden messages reveal to us the power contained with the days and the spiritual energy of the times. The month of Shevat is known for the minor festival at its midpoint, Tu B’Shvat, which is the Rosh Hashana for fruit trees. In this spectacular podcast, Rabbi Botnick reveals another angle to the month: We learn about the tribe of Asher and its unique characteristic. Along the way, we visit the mitzvah of tithing of animals, Adam and Eve and their multidimensional garments, and Esau’s guzzling of the red lentil soup – which all get tied together in a wonderful, Botnickian, tapestry. If you want to plumb the depths of Shevat, this podcast is for you.

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Parshas Beshalach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 21:10:58 -0600

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Parsha: Bo – The Bloods and The Crisp

TORCH — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:31:48 -0600

The dramatic events of the Exodus reach a crescendo with the nation’s Exodus from Egypt. After 210 years of servitude and subjugation, the Almighty people leave Egypt with great miracles and fanfare. A very specific set of things had to happen to enable this redemption. Immediately prior to the Exodus, the nation circumcised en masse and brought the Pascal sacrifice, and our sages tell us that these two mitzvos, the blood of the circumcision and the blood of the Pascal sacrifice, were preconditions to the Exodus. Absent these two mitzvos, the nation would not be able to leave. What is so special about these two bloods? What do they reveal about the nation that was formed with the Exodus? In this delightful podcast we discover some answers.

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Parsha: Bo – The Ember of Abraham (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 23:54:48 -0600

The Jewish nation was in the dumps. They had spent hundreds of years in Egypt, and the possibility of ever leaving and reconstituting as an independent nation, the dream of Abraham, was long abandoned. But something dramatic happened. The Almighty unleashes Ten Plagues on Egypt and with the Death of the Firstborn, the Egyptians usher the nation out. Freedom was achieved at last. How did the Jews get it? In what merit did the nation deserve to be redeemed? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we unveil a new approach to understanding the enslavement, the Exodus, and what it means to be a descendent of Abraham.

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TORAH 101: The Mechanisms of Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 23:05:34 -0600

The sources depicting Messiah and the Messianic Era paint a very different picture of the world than the one we are accustomed to. Knowledge of God will be universal, on that day God will be One and His Name will be One. The pursuit of knowledge will dominate. The Jewish Nation will be heralded. King Messiah will be universally renowned. A spiritual Renaissance will sweep over the entire world. That is what will happen. But how will it all happen? What are the mechanisms by which these transformations occur? What are the means through which the entire world changes? In this very special podcast we outline the four major mechanisms of Messiah.

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Parshas Bo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 23:51:23 -0600

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Parsha: Vaeira – Manufactured Adversity

TORCH — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 21:47:29 -0600

Prior to Moshe and Aaron making progress in their mission to extract the Jewish people from Egypt – their first efforts yielded no success, at least not in that realm – the Torah once again introduces Moshe and Aaron and delineates their pedigree. It begins with delineating the families of Ruben and Shimon, and then it proceeds to the tribe of Levi and it’s family heads. One of the Levites that are mentioned, aside from Moshe and Aaron, Elazar, Aaron’s son and successor, and his son Phineas. The Torah reveals to us that Elazar married from the daughters of Putiel, a reference to Jethro and Joseph according to Rashi. The attribution of Phineas provides a launchpad for a fascinating exploration of an important subject: how much should parents and educators strive to ease the environment in which their charges operate, and how much adversity should be created for them. Along the way, we discuss the fascinating and frankly puzzling arrangement that Moshe had with his father-in-law, Jethro.

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Parsha: Vaeira – Pharaoh’s Education (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 23:38:14 -0600

The Jewish people undergo a stunning transformation in our Parsha: It begins with the nation walling in misery; when Moshe offers a plan for salvation, they cannot even hear his comforting message. Yet very quickly they merit a miraculous Exodus, and only fifty days later they experience national prophecy at Sinai. How did this happen? How did the nation learn the lessons and absorb the teachings needed to become the nation of God? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we lay out a framework for understanding the importance and significance of the Ten Plagues.

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This Parsha Podcast is sponsored by my dear friend Jeff Yarus in honor of his wife Beth on the occasion of her birthday

On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, we wish her a hearty happy birthday and wish her many happy returns

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TORAH 101: The Objective of Messiah

TORCH — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 23:42:50 -0600

The subject of the Messiah is notoriously confusing. What is Messiah? How will Messiah change our lives? What will be different in the Messianic era? The answers to these questions are not ubiquitously known. In this podcast we proceed in our studies of the Twelfth Principle of Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith by addressing the core essence of Messiah: What is the goal of Messiah? How does Messiah fit into the context of the objective of Creation? We ground our discussion with two citations: A comment from Rambam’s Treatise on Reward and Punishment, and one from Ramchal’s Maamar HaIkarim. We conclude the podcast with an observation that thoroughly transforms the subject.

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Parshas Vaeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 20:31:38 -0600

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Parsha: Shemos – Panache in King

TORCH — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:53:29 -0600

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Mitzvah: Leaven and Honey in Offerings (#117)

TORCH — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 23:23:48 -0600

Meal offerings brought in the Temple must not include – with some exceptions – leaven or honey.

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This Mitzvah Podcast is sponsored by my dear friend and study partner Shaya Gamzon in honor of Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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Parsha: Shemos – Grooming Greatness (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 23:35:52 -0600

Moses is the greatest leader of our history and the archetype of a great, transformative leader. Why was he chosen for the role? What was his training to become the leader he became? What are the Torah’s guidelines for leaders and people of influence. In this podcast we examine the Torah’s retelling of the protracted dialogue between God and Moses. Moses is resisting accepting the mantle of leadership. He objects for a bevy of different reasons before he ultimately accedes to accepting the role. Each objection posed by Moses and each rebuttal offered by the Almighty contain the keys to becoming a great leader.

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Ethics: 48 Ways to Wisdom – #10: Apprenticeship (6:6:10)

TORCH — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 23:22:34 -0600

Our glorious tradition was perpetuated from generation to generation, from teacher to student, from parent to child, for thousands of years. One of the ways to acquire wisdom is by studying under the tutelage of a great Sage.

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Parshas Shemos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 23:33:33 -0600

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Parsha: Vayechi – Anti-Oxidance

TORCH — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:24:59 -0600

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Parsha: Vayechi – The Five Stages of Transformation (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 23:42:07 -0600

The Book of Genesis is replete with interesting stories. We follow the narrative about Adam and Noah and their families, Abraham and his odyssey and trials, Isaac and his family’s challenges and triumphs, and of course Jacob and Joseph and their stories capture our imagination and curiosity. “Torah” means instruction. As part of the Torah, Genesis must be instructive. Where are the instructions of Genesis? Stories are great, but what are the lessons? In this Parsha Podcast we suggest several answers to this important question.

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The Secret of the Month of Teves with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 23:53:10 -0600

The Month of Teves doesn’t have many memorable days. The only days of note are the last couple of days of Chanukah, and the fast of the 10th of Teves, which commemorates The siege of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians, an event which culminated in the destruction of the First Temple and the end of the First Commonwealth. But as we have come to learn, the Jewish months are laden with secrets and mysteries. To help us decrypt and unravel the mysteries of Teves, we once again invited the legendary Rabbi Shmuly Botnick to make sense of this month and to reveal its mysteries. In keeping with his past performance, he did not disappoint.

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Parshas Vayechi (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 20:41:45 -0600

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Parsha: Vayigash – Definition of Life

TORCH — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 23:03:46 -0600

Jacob relocates in our Parsha. Leaving Canaan once again, Jacob gathers his family and the possessions that he had acquired in Canaan and descends to Egypt to reunite with Joseph. In this Parsha Podcast we discover an unusual curiosity about Jacob’s dealings with his brother Esau. Over the course of their lifetimes, they made two transactions. The nature of these transactions and their timing presents a fascinating study.

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Parsha: Vayigash – Fruitful Famine (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 23:05:36 -0600

In Parshas Vayigash, the Joseph trilogy comes to a close. The saga that began when Joseph was 17 ends when Jacob is reunited with his favorite son, now viceroy of Egypt. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we offer three interesting observations: On Yocheved’s border-crossing birth, on Jacob’s second bargain with Esau, and on why the years of famine were worth it.

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TORAH 101: Messiah: A General Introduction

TORCH — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 23:28:44 -0600

Our nation has been anticipating and longing for the Messiah, Moshiach (משיח) in Hebrew, for millennia. We are awaiting his arrival, which can come any day. The Messianic era is a utopian world that we yearn for. But what exactly is the Messiah? What are the qualifications to be Messiah? What is the Messianic era all about? In this podcast episode we embark on a thorough and rigorous study of the subject of Moshiach. Believing in it and anticipating it constitutes the 12th of the 13 principles of Faith as codified by Rambam. We hope, with the help of the Almighty, to cover this subject extensively and comprehensively. In this episode we begin by studying Rambam’s own words, both in his commentary to Mishnah and in his Mishneh Torah.

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Parshas Vayigash (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 23:01:28 -0600

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Parsha: Mikeitz – Growing Pains & Paining Grows

TORCH — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 23:27:05 -0600

Joseph took a very unusual path to primacy: his brothers thought he was a good for nothing, and sold him as a slave. He was sold to Egypt, accused of a crime he did not commit, and thrown into prison for years. In a flash, he was elevated from prison and appointed as viceroy of Egypt. When his brothers came for food, they did not recognize that the viceroy was in fact Joseph. How do we understand the dissonance between what Joseph became and how the brothers viewed him? What is the secret of Joseph’s unusual ascent to greatness? In this very special Parsha Podcast, we present an answer that resolves the mystery of Joseph, and a host of other questions on his story.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of Daniel Aaron (HaCohen) ben Deborah. Young Daniel injured himself a couple of days ago. Thank God, he is doing well, but we are dedicating the Parsha Podcast in his merit. May he have a complete recovery with no lingering effects, and may he experience only blessing and goodness and bestow much joy and pride to his family, community, entire nation, and of course, his Creator.

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Ethics: 48 Ways to Wisdom – #9: Purity (6:6:9)

TORCH — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 23:41:02 -0600

Our sages tell us that one of the ways to acquire wisdom is with purity. What exactly is purity and why would it be a means through which we can acquire wisdom? In this Ethics Podcast we explore the subject of purity with profound depth.

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Parsha: Mikeitz – Talent Evaluation (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:36:14 -0600

Joseph is one of the most impressive figures in Jewish history. His accomplishments are vast: His holiness under spiritually treacherous conditions are legendary, his faith in God remained unwavering, he is the paragon of seeing God’s Handiwork in the bad deeds of others. His accomplishments extend beyond the spiritual: At the age of 30 he undertook perhaps the most ambitious project in history: Organizing and stockpiling enough food to feed the entire world for 7 years. How is that for a Five Year Plan? Its astonishing to think about what goes into that, and Joseph pulls it off flawlessly. Joseph is the epitome of a wunderkind. Yet his brothers are blind to Joseph’s talent. In this podcast we explore the question of how Joseph’s brothers failed to recognize his prodigious abilities.

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Mitzvah: Mincha Offering (#116)

TORCH — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 23:00:58 -0600

The second category of sacrifices featured in Leviticus is actually not one that deals with animal sacrifice. Meal offerings are brought from flour and oil. Not including meal offerings that accompanied animal sacrifices, there are 12 different types of meal offerings.

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Parshas Mikeitz (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 22:33:45 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeishev – If You Hear Something, Do Something

TORCH — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 23:08:51 -0600

One of the most shocking events in the whole Torah occurs in our Parsha: Joseph’s brothers sell him as a slave to a caravan of traveling Ishmaelites. Two of his brothers helped ensure that he wasn’t killed. Reuben argued that he should be cast into a pit and not to slaughtered outright, and Judah urged them to sell him as a slave and not allow him to languish in the waterless pit. Why did Reuben and Judah, out of all the brothers, stand up to save Joseph? When we examine the sources, we make some interesting discoveries.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in the merit of the complete, total, and speedy recovery of David Pinchas ben Reuven, who is experiencing some health troubles. May he merit a Refuah Shleimah

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Parsha: Vayeishev – The Holy Hologram (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 22:27:38 -0600

Joseph is one of the greatest heroes of Jewish history. His greatest deed was when he resisted temptation and rebuffed the seductions of his master, Potiphar’s, wife. Our Sages tell us that thanks to this valorous deed, Joseph became the viceroy of Egypt and merited to sustain the entire world! The Midrash tells us that the Splitting of the Sea was due to Joseph’s gallantry. How did Joseph muster up the courage to resist the Yetzer Hara’s onslaught? The Talmud gives a very interesting answer.

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Chanukah Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

TORCH — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:05:15 -0600

In preparation for the upcoming festival of Chanukah, the TORCH Podcasters gathered together in the TORCH Centre to discuss the upcoming days of light. Each of us shared an idea about Chanukah and how to make the most of these days. If you want to experience a convivial, collegial, conversation about Chanukah with the Podcasters of TORCH, now is your chance.

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Parshas Vayeishev (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 22:01:27 -0600

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Parsha: Vayishlach – Forefathers and Fouruncles

TORCH — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 23:19:50 -0600

The story of the Forefathers is well known. The Fouruncles, less so. Intertwined in the story of our nation’s progenitors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis, is the story of our nation’s uncles, namely Lot, Ishmael, Laban, and Esau. These Fouruncles capture a large share of the narrative of Genesis. Why does the Torah expend so much attention to the Fouruncles? What is the avuncular message that we can draw from the repeated run-ins that the Forefathers have with the Fouruncles? In this interesting episode, we both invent a new word (Fouruncles) and discover a pattern that accompanied our Forefathers’ ascent to greatness, one that can be hugely beneficial for us too in our pursuit of greatness.

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TORCH Podcast testimonials

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Parsha: Vayishlach – Unrequited Love (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 23:38:27 -0600

This a unique edition of The Parsha Podcast that you dont want to miss. Instead of the usual one big idea that we typically cover in a Parsha podcast, in this version there are FIVE groundbreaking insights that can change your life. We learn about a remarkable staff and its powers, about the pliability of sunshine hours, about the kabbalistic result of Dina’s encounter with Shechem, about the Torah’s view on prayer, and about the mysterious origin of Amaleik. This episode is a dandy.

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TORAH 101: Admission to the Afterlife

TORCH — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:36:51 -0600

The term “Olam Haba” refers the world after the Resurrection, the world where there’s life with no death, where there is the dispensing of reward for those who adhere to the word of God. If we were to distill our life mission to one sentence it would be this sentence: our mission in this world is to earn admittance to Olam Haba. What does it take? What must we do to earn eligibility to the ultimate reward in Olam Haba? In this comprehensive podcast we offer the answer to that most critical question. Along the way we cover other related subjects, such as the relationship that we have with our spouses in Olam Haba, and the standing of Gentiles in Olam Haba, and the gradients of levels that we can achieve in Olam Haba, but the primary takeaway of this episode is to know exactly what you need to do to become a bearer of a Golden Ticket to Olam Haba.

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This TORAH 101 Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Aharon Ben Yosef, whose yahrzeit is today, the 11th of Kislev, the day that this podcast is released. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parshas Vayishlach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 23:34:18 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeitzei – Holy Sheeple

TORCH — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:43:48 -0600

A large section of our Parsha contains intricate descriptions of Jacob as a shepherd. Initially, he worked for Laban as a shepherd for 7 years for the rights to marry Laban’s younger daughter Rachel. When the 7 years concluded, Laban swindled him, giving Leah instead, only ceding Rachel after Jacob agreed to work as a shepherd for an additional 7 years. After 14 years, Jacob’s tenure as a shepherd continued: for six more years, Jacob served as Laban shepherd in exchange for pay, with all spotted and speckled sheep born to the flock being acquired by Jacob, and all monochromatic sheep remaining Laban’s.

What is the salience of the Torah’s protracted descriptions of Jacob as a shepherd? Why did Jacob seek the speckled and spotted sheep specifically and not the monochromatic sheep? Why does the Torah spend so much time discussing Jacob the shepherd? In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast we dive deep into the meaning and mystery of the sheep of Laban.

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The Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu, the head of the Bet Din in London and one of the most impactful and influential Rabbis in Europe over the last half century, who passed away last week. His passing is a huge loss for the Jewish communities of Europe and all the people who were fortunate enough to know him and have a relationship with him. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Vayeitzei – Laban’s Potion (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 23:17:39 -0600

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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Parshas Vayeitzei (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 23:15:12 -0600

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The Secret of the Month of Kislev with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 19:54:35 -0600

The most noteworthy days of Month of Kislev are the days of Chanukah that begin on the 25th of Kislev and stretch into the following month of Teves. Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Jewish people over the Greeks and the restoration and the reinauguration of the Temple. But what is the secret of this month? On a deep, spiritual level, what exactly were the Greeks seeking and how did the Jews thwart them? In this exquisite podcast, we invited Rabbi Shmuly Botnick back to weave a masterful tapestry of Torah and Kabballah on the secret of this month. He takes us on a riveting journey through some of the most consequential events of our history and shows how they all intersect and interconnect with the themes and energy of the month. If you want to plumb the depths of Kislev, join us for this thrilling, dizzying ride.

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Parsha: Toldos – Twin Powers

TORCH — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:44:07 -0600

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Mitzvah: Olah Sacrifice (#115)

TORCH — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:40:58 -0600

Sacrifices constitute and important part of Jewish life and practice. Absent the Temple, we cannot offer sacrifices, but we can study them. In this episode we look at the Olah (Elevation) sacrifice.

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Parsha: Toldos – Esav’s Fatal Flaw (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 00:32:02 -0600

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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Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:52:21 -0600

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Mitzvah: Idolatrous Wine (#111)

TORCH — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:01:56 -0600

Of the many laws related to idolatry is a law governing wine and other items used for idolatrous practices. Said items to not be consumed. The Sages extend this prohibition in manifold ways.

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This Mitzvah Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Dina bat Esther, as we commemorate her 5th yartzeit. May her soul be more elevated in Shamayim and may she always experience lots of Nachas from her children and grandchildren.

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah – Eulogizing A Giant

TORCH — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 11:55:05 -0600

This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas my dear friend and study partner David Gedaliah ben Efraim, Dr. David Genecov obm.

Dr. Genecov was a dear personal friend, a weekly study partner of mine, a stalwart supporter of TORCH, and a dedicated listener of the Parsha Podcast and all the other podcasts that we do, who sadly passed away – tragically and shockingly – in a car accident a few days ago.

Our Parsha begins with the death, eulogy, and burial of Sarah – Our parsha contains the first eulogy in the Torah – and I want to dedicate this Parsha Podcast episode to a Eulogy for David Genecov. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

David and I in Dallas a few weeks before his untimely passing

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Parsha: Chayei Sarah – Portal to Paradise (5781)

TORCH — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:59:39 -0600

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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Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 23:58:02 -0600

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Parsha: Vayeira – The Struggle Is Real

TORCH — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 23:52:55 -0600

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Emmanuel Osei. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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Parsha: Vayeira – Abraham’s Three Protégés (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:06:30 -0600

Abraham was the most influential person in human history. He changed the tides of history, he popularized Monotheism in the world, he is the father of many nations, and fittingly his story is told at considerable length in the Torah. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast we study his relationship and interactions with his three closest students: Lot, Eliezer, and Isaac. When we study Abraham’s impact on these three, we discover three different type of disciples and three different type of tutelage.

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Mitzvah: Anointment Oil (#107-9)

TORCH — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:23:17 -0600

Before the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Moshe was told to concoct a special anointment oil to be used for the anointment of Aaron and his priest sons and for all the Temple components, vessels, and accoutrements.

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Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 20:59:04 -0500

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Parsha: Lech Lecha – A Lot of Testing

TORCH — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:54:38 -0500

Abraham was the most consequential human in all of history. He began the process of fixing the world and humanity. Amid a cesspool of idolatry, Abraham emerged as a beacon of faith. When the entire world had forgotten about its Creator, Abraham restored faith in God to the world. Our Parsha follows Abraham in his journey. How did the son of a idol wholesaler from the city of Ur become the father of many nations? What was the process by which Abraham became the greatest giant among people? Why didn’t any of Abraham’s relatives join him for this journey? In this very special podcast we accompany Abraham along his fateful Odyssey, noting the various stages of his journey, learning what it entailed and why others weren’t quite up to the task.

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This Parsha Podcast for Parshas Lech Lecha is dedicated in honor of my dear friend and dedicated listener of the Parsha Podcast, Dr. David Genecov, whose Torah portion for his bar Mitzvah was Parshas Lech Lecha. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, we wish him many happy, joyous, healthful and harmonious returns to Parshas Lech Lecha and may the Almighty bestow upon him endless blessings.

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Parsha: Lech Lecha – Go West, Young Man (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:07:06 -0500

Abraham is the Torah’s first protagonist. The entirety of this parsha and the subsequent one are following the forefather of our nation. Why does the Torah spend so much time telling the story of this ancient figure? In this life-changing episode, we study Abraham’s odyssey to find the precise guidelines to fulfill our latent potential. This podcast episode is designed to change your life. I hope it succeeds.

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Make Your Case: The Imperative for Divine Entreatment

TORCH — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:01:07 -0500

In this podcast you will learn something that is simultaneously exhilaratingly exciting and angst-inducingly terrifying. You will learn how someone can have a winning lottery ticket and fail to cash it. You will learn about the small trigger that is needed to actualize our blessings and potential. This is a very important lesson that we need to learn, absorb, and integrate into our behavior.

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Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 23:19:13 -0500

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Parsha: Noach – The Flood and The Fish

TORCH — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:09:18 -0500

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The Flood was a disaster for all the Earth’s inhabitants, humans and animals alike. With the exception of Noah and his family and the animals safely housed in the Ark, all the land-based animals died in the Flood. But not the fish. The fish were completely unaffected by the Flood. The sources maintain that the animals had become corrupted in the run-up to the flood and thus deserved to be destroyed, but the fish did not corrupt their ways and thus were not destroyed. In this very special edition of the Parsha Podcast we probe the interesting state of sea life during the antediluvian period, the Flood, and it’s aftermath, and draw an exquisite idea that helps explain Noah, his greatness, his shortfalls, and what we are supposed to derive from this Parsha.

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The Secret of the Month of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

TORCH — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:07:02 -0500

Each of the twelve months in the Jewish calendar contain a unique spiritual energy and power. The power of each month, encapsulated in a zodiac sign, is often represented in the holidays, festivals, and noteworthy days of said month. The month that just concluded, Tishrei, is jam packed with days of note: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeres, Simchas Torah. The month that we are just beginning, Cheshvan, contains no obvious days of import. But every month has its secrets and mysteries. In this special edition of the podcast, we invited Rabbi Shmuly Botnick to take us on a journey to the depths of the month of Cheshvan. Boy, did he deliver!

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Parsha: Noach – Spiritual Adaptation (5781)

TORCH — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:02:47 -0500

Noah is arguably the most enigmatic figure in the Torah. The Torah is lavish in his praise: He was a prophet who found favor in Hashem’s eyes and selected to survive the Flood and repopulate the world afterwards. Noach is also the only person that the Torah characterized as a Tzadik. Yet Rashi and the the sources are constantly questioning his righteousness: He is compared negatively to Abraham and to Moses, according to one opinion, his greatness was only relative to his generation; had he been in Abraham’s generation he would not have amounted to anything. Who is Noah? What are the lessons that we can learn from him? In this podcast we share a new approach to understand this interesting figure.

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Mitzvah: Washing Extremities (#106)

TORCH — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:21:46 -0500

Before the priests walked into the Temple Sanctuary and before they performed any holy service, they were required to wash their hands and feet, typically from the copper Laver that was situated between the outer Altar and the entrance to the Sanctuary.

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Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:04:26 -0500

In this week’s parsha: Noah and his family build an Ark as a refuge from an extinction-level Flood brought by God to destroy the world’s sinners.

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Parsha: Bereishis – Cain’s Discovery

TORCH — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 16:38:47 -0500

Welcome to Year Seven (!) of The Parsha Podcast. Each week will feature, with the help of the Almighty, three episodes, two ones from previous years and a new one: On Sunday, the Parsha Rebroadcast that covers the whole Parsha in about an hour will be released. On Tuesday, we will release the episode from 2 years ago, from the Fifth cycle of the Parsha podcast, in the Jewish year 5781. On Thursday, we will release a brand new episode that will raise your Parsha IQ…and your general intelligence.

In this first episode of the new year, we study the sad, tragic, and shocking episode of fratricide, and specifically hone in on God’s comfort of Cain. What we learn can completely transform our lives.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Bereishis – You are Adam (5781)

TORCH — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:04:45 -0500

As we begin year 7 of the Parsha Podcast, we are excited and overjoyed to share the plan for this year, with the help of the Almighty: each Sunday, we will release the rebroadcast episode that covers the entire Parsha in about an hour. On Tuesday, we will re-release the corresponding episode from the 5th cycle of the Parsha Podcast, from two years ago, 5781, that included the famed A&Q segment. On Thursday, with the help of the Almighty, we will release a brand new episode to raise your Parsha IQ. We hope you enjoyed this year’s offerings and thank you for your listenership and friendship.

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Parshas Bereishis (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 01:11:44 -0500

With praise and appreciation to the Almighty, we begin year 7 of the Parsha Podcast. This year, we will reupload the Parsha Rebroadcast episode which covers the entire Parsha each Sunday, re-release the 5th cycles episode from 5781 each Tuesday, and we will, please God, record and release a new weekly episode each Thursday. Thank you for downloading and please share with a friend.

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The Sukkos/Shemini Atzeres Revelation

TORCH — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 22:18:43 -0500

The Sukkah that we dwell in for 7 days is a reenactment of the Clouds of Glory that enshrouded the nation for 40 years. Starting right after the Exodus, the nation was cocooned in miraculous clouds. These clouds flattened mountains, filled in valleys, and eliminated any threats. The clouds signal journeys, cleaned and ironed clothes, and blanketed the nation with defensive invisibility against their enemies. How exactly our sukkah resembles the clouds of Glory is a great mystery. In this very special podcast, we propose a novel approach to understanding the festival of Sukkot, the sukkah, and what exactly we are supposed to achieve over the course of this 7-Day festival and the Shemini Atzeres endcap.

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Parsha: Vezos Haberacha – An Offer You Can Refuse

TORCH — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:24:54 -0500

The final Parsha of the Torah contains the blessing of Moshe to the nation, his death, burial, and eulogy. Rashi tells us that his blessing began with a recounting of the offer of the Torah to the Nations and to Israel. Before the Sinai Revelation, God offered the Torah to every other Nation, and they all refused. Only our people accepted. What is the salience of this anecdote? Why must we be told about God’s offer of the Torah to the other nations? Why, in fact, was the offer rejected? In this final episode of year six of the partial podcast, we learn about this offer and what it teaches us about the essential difference between our nation and the other nations, and what Torah is designed to do to us.

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Sukkos Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

TORCH — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 11:16:36 -0500

In honor of the festival of Sukkot, I gathered together with some of my TORCH podcaster colleagues to chat about the festival, it’s meaning, and lessons. Each one of us got an opportunity to share an idea on the festival, and to promote our respective podcast(s). In a decision that compromised the audio quality, we recorded inside a Sukkah, exposed to the elements and to all manner of ambient noise. If you are interested in being a fly on the wall of our Sukkah and can tolerate a suboptimal audio experience, this podcast is for you.

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Parsha: Parshas Vezos Haberacha (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:51:55 -0500

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Parsha: Haazinu – Torrential Torah

TORCH — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:59:48 -0500

The Song of Haazinu, the third of three Songs on the Torah, tells the story of the Jewish people, past, present, and future. It speaks of high points and nadirs, this world and the next, devastation and reclamation. In this podcast we examined the Song’s beginning. Moshe compares his words and his speech to rain, dew, stormy, windy, showers, and soft droplets. Our Sages explained that Torah is comparable to the many varieties of rain and precipitation. What is Torah all about? How do we benefit from it? Why can’t we always see it’s impact? What is at stake as we approach Torah study? This sweeping episode we survey the many ways in which Torah is related to the many varieties of precipitation.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Mindel bas Reb Tzvi Hersh, the mother of our dear friend, Dr. Paul Block. Mindel, known as Mili, was a remarkable woman who overcame a tremendously hard youth to build an incredible legacy, meriting to hold her great-great-grandchildren. Beloved by all who knew her, Mili will be sorely missed. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Haazinu (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 22:22:58 -0500

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Miriam bat Avraham whose first yahrzeit will be this Shabbat. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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The Alchemy of Yom Kippur

TORCH — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 11:35:13 -0500

Yom Kippur is the greatest day of the year. The name of book of Talmud that orients around Yom Kippur is Yoma, meaning “Day.” This is The Day when everything changes. On this day, the Almighty is close to us. On this day, He extends purification and forgiveness to us. On this day, God purifies us from all of our sins. This is the day when we can transform ourselves in an outsized, asymmetric manner. On this day, a small effort goes a very, very, long way. This day is like an elevator: with one push of the button we can ascend to heavenly heights! But it demands some work on our part. Yom Kippur is a magical, alchemical day, but it is conditional on us doing our part. In this special pre-Yom Kippur podcast, we lay out what are the costs that we need to pay to earn the alchemy of Yom Kippur. The price may be steep, but compared to what we get for it, it is the opportunity of a lifetime. This is not the day to squander. In this podcast, we learn what we need to do.

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The Secret of the Scapegoat

TORCH — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 12:21:00 -0500

One of the most mysterious elements of the Yom Kippur ceremony is the scapegoat ceremony. The High priest took two identical male goats and made a lottery, one was offered as a sacrifice to God in the Temple, and the other one was a scapegoat, upon which the sins of the nation were conferred and whose destiny was to be chucked off a cliff in barren desert. this was a central part of the Yom Kippur services when the Temple was extant, and even today it is incorporated into the Mussaf prayer on this holiest of days. What is the meaning of the scapegoat? What is the secret of the scapegoat? What lessons can we glean from this process that will enhance our understanding of Yom Kippur and what we are supposed to be trying to do? In preparation for Yom Kippur, we explore and examine this strange – frankly baffling – ritual, and uncover insights that get to the heart of what Yom Kippur is and how we can make the most of it.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Jonah: Studying the Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 22:12:57 -0500

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Parsha: Vayeilech – Career Capstone

TORCH — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:14:41 -0500

On the last day of Moshe’s life, he accomplished a lot. He wrote 13 copies of the Torah, one per tribe and one to be permanently stationed in or near the Ark, he spoke words of comfort to the people, and he formally passed the baton of leadership of the nation to his disciple and successor, Joshua. When we study the Torah’s description of Moshe’s final die, we discover an interesting pattern that appears one other place in the Torah, a discovery that reveals a new insight into the lives and purpose of the great exemplars of our past.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated by Michael and Lana Kutsaya in loving memory of Michael’s mother, Tamila bat Moshe, who passed away a few weeks ago. She was a remarkable woman, with an indomitable spirit, and she will be sorely missed. May her Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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The Eight Wonders of Repentance

TORCH — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:02:33 -0500

Our Sages enumerates a list of seven things that preceded the world. Included in this list is repentance. Why was it necessary to create repentance before the creation of the world? In this podcast we speculate an answer: repentance is a supernatural miracle that thoroughly violates the rules of this world, and therefore once the world would have been created, repentance can no longer be created. It is such an outlier, it is such a miracle, it is so wondrous and unprecedented, that there is no way to have created it post creation of the world. In this podcast – as we experience the Ten Days of Repentance spanning Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur – we explore the eight wonders of repentance. When you finish listening you will emerge with a renewed understanding and appreciation for the value and the miraculous nature of repentance.

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TORAH 101: The Experience of the Afterlife

TORCH — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:58:18 -0500

What is Olam Haba like? Our sages describe this future world as the world of ultimate reward. Paradise in the Afterlife is a very wonderful and pleasurable experience, but even Paradise is not the ultimate reward. That is reserved for Olam Haba. But what is it like? What does it feel like? In this podcast we explore the nature of spiritual pleasure, how we can get a taste of it, and we learn why the full experience of Olam Haba is impenetrable to all earthlings.

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Parsha: Parshas Vayeilech (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:25:08 -0500

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

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day Two (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 09:57:37 -0500

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The Rosh Hashana Torah Reading – Day One (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 21:56:17 -0500

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The Meaning and Mystery of the Rosh Hashana Foods and Fruits

TORCH — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:17:23 -0500

On the night of Rosh Hashana in Jewish homes the world over, a strange set of customs are observed. We take an apple, dip it into honey, and declare that we should have a sweet new year. We take a pomegranate, disgorge it’s seeds, consume them and pray that we be filled with merits like a pomegranate is replete with seeds. This ceremony continues with cabbage, squash, carrots, a head of fish for those who are brave enough, and many more ceremonial foods. What is the secret behind this very unusual custom? What is the meaning behind this strange ritual? What are some of the lessons that we can learn from the auspicious omens associated with foods? In this special pre-Rosh Hashana podcast we explored the meaning and the mystery of the ceremonial foods and fruits that we eat on the nights of Rosh Hashana., emerging armed with a keener understanding of the day and with tools to make the most of it.

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Parsha: Nitzavim – The Penitent Manifesto

TORCH — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:56:22 -0500

Repentance is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. When we blunder; when we err; when we create distance and barriers between us and God, we are afforded the ability to rectify and restore our previous pristine state. But repentance, at first glance, seems nightmarishly hard. To change demands an admission that we are flawed; to change demands action which we are always biased against; to change demands that we overcome our instincts and ingrained habits. In this very special pre-Rosh Hashanah podcast, we explore the 40 verses of our Parsha and present them as a manifesto for the penitent. In the podcast we learn of a new way to view the entire subject of repentance, and by extension, a new approach to change.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Andy Stern, Gershon Yaakov Ben Moshe, on the occasion of his 4th yahrzeit. May his Soul be elevated in Heaven.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Judgment of Rosh Hashana

TORCH — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:29:22 -0500

In addition to the many other themes and motifs of the day, Rosh Hashana is called the Day of Judgment. The Mishnah tells us that on Rosh Hashana every human has an individual audience with the Almighty in the same way that a shepherd counts each sheep individually. The judgment is comprehensive: all of a person’s income for the year is determined on this day. But the most important decree of Rosh Hashana is who will live and who will die.

In this podcast, we study a difficult statement in the Talmud regarding the judgment on Rosh Hashana. On the surface, this statement is quite inexplicable. Upon further analysis, however, we discover the central goal of Rosh Hashana, and, frankly, what we are trying to accomplish in our lives.

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Reincarnation

TORCH — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:41:04 -0500

After a person dies, the Heavenly tribunal determines the fate of their Soul. If the Soul is pristinely pure, the person having accomplished everything that was expected of them and they are also lacking any blemishes borne about by sin, the Soul is ushered to Paradise. If the Soul needs some cleansing, it can be sent to Gehenom, or it can be sent back to this world to repair the damage. In this sweeping episode, we rigorously explore the subject of reincarnation. We learn about the 3 different reasons why a Soul would come back, we examine the many interesting consequences of this intriguing and esoteric idea, and we outline everything we know about the vast and arcane subject of reincarnation.

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

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Parsha: Parshas Nitzavim (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 21:23:25 -0500

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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Rabbi Nosson Dubin on the Recent Kosher Restaurant Scandal

TORCH — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 21:43:51 -0500

Tastewise, kosher chicken and non-kosher chicken are indistinguishable. When it comes to the price tag, these two fowls are drastically different. The discrepancy in price creates an incentive for unscrupulous restaurateurs. If you can buy chicken at the non-kosher price, and sell it at the kosher price, you can juice your profits by a large amount. This potential for illicit arbitrage is one of the reasons why kosher restaurants must be certified by a kosher agency.

But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when an ostensibly kosher establishment is shown to have deceived its patrons and passed off non-kosher food as kosher?

In light of a recent kosher restaurant scandal in New Jersey, we talked to an expert to find out. Rabbi Nosson Dubin is the rabbinic administrator of HKA, the Houston Kashrus Association, and a renowned expert in all matters kosher. In this wide-ranging discussion, he takes us behind the scenes of a kosher restaurant and reveals to us how the sausage is made (and overseen). We learn about the various safety measures in place to prevent such debacles from happening, about the vulnerabilities and weak points in the system, and we offer some proposals for how to improve measures to lower the risk of another such scandal.

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

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Ki Savo – Clinging to Gold

TORCH — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:34:19 -0500

On the surface, Bikkurim appears to be an ordinary, tithe-like Mitzvah. When the first fruits of a season’s crop begin to sprout, you designate them as Bikkurim, and eventually bring them to Jerusalem with much pomp and ceremony. Upon closer examination, this mitzvah is associated with all kinds of surprising people: When we bring the Bikkurim we invoke Pharaoh and the Egyptian experience and Jacob’s father-in-law Laban, of all people. In addition, the Midrash makes a stunning statement that Bikkurim is emblematic of the reason why God created the world. In this special edition of the Parsha Podcast, we propose a novel explanation of the Mitzvah of Bikkurim that reveals it’s association with Pharaoh and Laban, and offer a new rationale for why it represents the goal of creation.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory and leilui nishmas Yidit Esther bas Yonah, the mother of our dear friend and longtime TORCH Board member, Josh Blackman. Yidit Esther passed away this morning in NY. 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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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: The Mechanics of the Afterlife

TORCH — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:55:27 -0500

What happens after we die is an endlessly fascinating – or terrifying – topic. In our exploration of the Afterlife we have covered vast grounds: We’ve spoken about death and the various types of death; we’ve spoken about the reckoning and accounting that a person must submit before the Heavenly tribunal; we have been made aware of some of the travails that the body undergoes in the grave; we’ve learned about two different venues that a person can end up in – paradise and purgatory; we’ve spent a great deal of effort trying to understand the nature of the soul.

In this podcast we take the next step: We explore the mechanics of the purging of the soul from its contaminants and what actually happens in purgatory. We also introduce another potential destiny for the soul, one that is decidedly unfortunate. In our elaboration and explication of these ideas we also discover the fundamental link between a person’s behavior and that person’s status in the afterlife. If you are interested in demystifying the great and fascinating subjects of the Afterlife, this podcast will offer a lot of clarification.

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

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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 Ki Savo (Rebroadcast)

TORCH — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 22:17:07 -0500

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

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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: Ki Seitzei – The Payoff Pitch

TORCH — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 10:26:01 -0500

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

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts 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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