

The Parsha Podcast - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
TORCH
The Parsha Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe was started in 2016 with the goal of making the weekly Parsha accessible and useful. Every Sunday, the Parsha Podcast will feature an hour-long podcast outlining the story, narratives and major themes of that week’s Parsha and offer a selection of valuable and interesting insights from it. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, two more episodes that focuses on one idea, theme, or comment on the Parsha will be released. Please send comments or questions to rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 5, 2023 • 56min
Parshas Chayei Sara (Rebroadcast)
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: 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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
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SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
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SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Nov 2, 2023 • 1h 10min
Vayeira – Abraham Abraham
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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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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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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
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SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 31, 2023 • 53min
Vayeira – Exodus From Sodom (5782)
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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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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
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SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
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SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 29, 2023 • 1h 7min
Parshas Vayeira (Rebroadcast)
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: 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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 26, 2023 • 58min
Lech Lecha – The Generational Secret
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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 24, 2023 • 42min
Lech Lecha – Applying for a Name Change (5782)
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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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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 21, 2023 • 1h 2min
Parshas Lech Lecha (Rebroadcast)
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: 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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 19, 2023 • 50min
Noach – Secret Of Invincibility
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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 17, 2023 • 41min
Noach – Company Loves Misery (5782)
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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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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Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Oct 15, 2023 • 57min
Parshas Noach (Rebroadcast)
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: 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!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101


