Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Podcast Collection

Parsha: Toldos - Jacob's Heist (5785)

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

TORAH 101: The Second Pathway to Faith: Jewish History

The history of the Jewish people is unmatched by any other nation. The highs of our nation exceed those of other nations, and our nadirs are likewise unparalleled. It's a

Parshas Toldos (Rebroadcast)

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 pr

Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Who Was Ishmael?

Ishmael's story is told at great length in the Torah. We read about his unusual parentage, the dramatic circumstances of his birth, and how Abraham was 86 when he was bor

Parsha: Chayei Sarah - Reverse Repentance (5785)

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 d

TORAH 101: Pathways to Faith

The Jewish soul is very special. It innately seeks to ascend, to connect with the Creator, to cleave to God Almighty. Once this soul is awakened, it must choose a pathway

Parshas Chayei Sarah (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 bur

Parsha: Vayeira - Who was Lot?

Lot, Abraham's brother-in-law and nephew, has one of the most interesting and unique story arcs in the Torah. He is the son of Abraham's brother Haran, who joins Abraham

Parsha: Vayeira - Five Languages of Laughter (5785)

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 le

The Abraham Doctrine

Abraham changed the world. Prior to Abraham, idolatry and paganism were the only game in town. Abraham dedicated his life to publicizing knowledge and awareness of God in

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 kind

Parsha: Lech Lecha - Who was Abraham?

Abraham was the most consequential person of all time. In our classic literature, Abraham is graced with superlatives given to no one else: Abraham was the "beloved one o

Parsha: Lech Lecha - Abraham's Fellow Travelers (5785)

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

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 t

Parsha: Noach - Who was Noah?

Noah was perfectly righteous. He was pristine. He was flawless. In fact, Noach is the only person labeled as a tzaddik in the Torah, and he receives that honorific twice.

Parsha: Noach - Cured Ham (5785)

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 wer

Celebrating a Wolbe Bar Mitzvah

This past weekend, we celebrated my son Shlomo's bar mitzvah, together with much of our family. It was a delightful and memorable affair! In this special podcast, I share

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. – – – – – – – – – – – –

Parsha: Bereishis - Who was Adam?

Most people don't know the first man from Adam. Who was this mysterious being created on day 6 of Genesis? What is the meaning of the hybrid nature of Adam's formation? W

Parsha: Bereishis - Genealogies of Genesis (5785)

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  include