The Parsha Podcast - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Efraim ben Moshe whose yahrzeit falls out this week. May his soul be elevated in Heaven – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Hanoch ben Zlata of blessed memory. May his soul be elevated in Heaven – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of my dear friends and stalwart supporters of TORCH Dov and Rikki Eisner on the occasion of the birth of a granddaughter, Eliana. On behalf of the entire Parsha Podcast family, we wish them a hearty Mazal Tov as well as to the parents Matthew and Naomi Sulzberger. May Eliana grow up to be someone who makes her parents and grandparents and the entire Jewish people – and of course the Almighty – proud! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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

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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONATE Crypto to TORCH Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover Please visit our website torchweb.org to get your FREE TORCH Shabbat Light Switch Cover. or CLICK this LINK to access the form directly https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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