The Jewish History Podcast - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

The Sanhedrin, the highest halachic authority in the Land comprised of the 71 greatest scholars in the Jewish world, was the Supreme Court of the Jewish Nation. It was founded by Moshe about a year after the Revelation at Sinai and continued almost uninterrupted for 1700 years. This body played an instrumental role in guiding and inspiring the nation, and ensuring the accurate perpetuation of Torah. In Part 1 of the History of the Sanhedrin, we tell the story of this vital institution from its founding until the destruction of the Second Temple in the First Century CE. This podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Don Levit Z”L, a man of kindness and generosity, and patron of the Levit Family Library at the TORCH Center in Houston, TX. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

David is now the undisputed king of Israel, but before him lay several key tasks: Of course the various Philistine and Canaanite tribes continue to be a pest, and David must subdue them to create lasting stability. Most importantly, however, David needs to corral the tribes of Israel who were formerly loyal to Saul and Ish Boshes and unite them as one nation under his leadership. At the onset of his rule, David sets out to accomplish these tasks. His rule will be triumphant, but riddled with sad, tragic, and puzzling episodes. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

King David was anointed as the second king of Israel by the prophet Samuel and is considered the archetype of the Jewish king who earned the mantle of monarchy for his descendants forever. He authored the Psalms, which until this day are the ultimate manifestation of the Jewish soul yearning for its Creator and praying and beseeching Him for mercy. In part one of our treatment of this transcendental figure, we follow David’s rise to monarchy as chronicled in the Book of Samuel and intersperse it with lessons and insights and more details from the Talmud. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

Annual Appeal To my dear listeners, At TORCH we have a simple philosophy: We give stimulating and engaging and relevant Torah teachings every day. But there is one day a year that we ask our friends, students, supporters and partners to give to TORCH. Today is that day. Today we will, please God, raise the bulk of our yearly budget at GiveTORCH.org. To sweeten the deal, a special group of donors agreed to QUADRUPLE every donation made today to GiveTORCH.org. For 24 hours your donation to support Jewish education in Houston and throughout the world, to support a wide variety of Torah podcasts, to support sending dozens of students to Israel, is amplified 4X. Please visit GiveTORCH.org right now to make your contribution. Thank you. Thank you for being loyal listeners to The Jewish History Podcast and for supporting me and TORCH. Warmly, Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe The history of the Jewish calendar may sound boring, complex and cumbersome, but the truth is that it is utterly fascinating for many reasons: For one, learning about how they managed the calendar offers a window into the way our ancestors operated thousands of years ago. Secondly, it demonstrates the Jewish perspectives of role of human arbiters to clarify and decide halacha. Some of the stories surrounding the calendar highlight the genius and cleverness of the sages in the ways that they navigated and overcame significant hurdles that could have wreaked havoc on the nation. Sadly, in this arena we also come face to face with the devastating consequences of internal division and discord and how dangerous it can be when there are treasonous actors trying to sabotage the nation from within. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

The Purim Story 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. In this podcast we tell the story of Purim as told in the Book of Esther, the associated Talmudic sources, and embellished by discoveries in archaeology.  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

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 next episode will feature the actual Purim miracle as told in the Book of Esther and the related sources in classical Jewish Literature. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

Delve into the fascinating history of Jewish prayer, a cornerstone of spiritual life. Discover how figures like Adam and Abraham shaped its evolution, and explore the transformation from temple sacrifices to communal synagogue practices. The podcast highlights biblical stories that underscore prayer's power during times of crisis while emphasizing the deep, personal connections it fosters. Gain insights into the Shemone Esrei and the balance of structure and spontaneity in prayer, enriching the soul through this vibrant tradition.

The ancient and historic city of Jerusalem is the most contested piece of real estate on the planet. For Jews, it is the center of the world; it is the hallowed grounds upon which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob treaded and prayed; it was the site of the two Temples, and of the long-awaited third Temple. In this podcast, we outline the Jewish people’s religious and theological connections to Jerusalem and trace the millenia-long history of the holy city. This lecture was recorded live in Harrisburg, PA as part of a three-lecture visit to the capital of Pennsylvania. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

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. NEW PODCAST – Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! Contact: Website: RabbiWolbe.com; Twitter: @RabbiWolbe; Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.

The burgeoning yeshiva movement today, and indeed the fact that yeshivos did not go extinct a century ago, is due to Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, known the world over as the Alter of Slabodka, more than any one person. He was the first to combine two of the greatest movements of the 19th century into one, formidable, potent, and unstoppable force, when he opened the first Mussar yeshiva, thereby marrying the modern yeshiva framework of Volozhin with the powerful Mussar movement of Reb Yisrael Salanter. This is part two which will focus primarily on his pedagogical methodologies and how he succeeded in molding such illustrious disciples. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This podcast is Is sponsored by Josh Blackman in honor of his parents, Iris Hershenson and Jaimie Blackman Please consider making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you! Contact: Website: RabbiWolbe.com; Twitter: @RabbiWolbe; Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com. Please SUBSCRIBE, RATE and REVIEW all my podcasts on iTunes, Android, and Stitcher: Podcasts Links: This Jewish Life – In-Depth Analysis into Critical Torah Topics: iOS, Android, Stitcher; The Jewish History Podcast – Telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples: iOS, Android, Stitcher; The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly Analysis and Exploration of the Parshas: iOS, Android, Stitcher; TORAH 101 – An Intellectual’s Introduction to Torah: iOS, Android, Stitcher; Eternal Ethics – Drawing Powerful Lessons from Pirkei Avos: iOS, Android, Stitcher.