The Jewish History Podcast &#8211; With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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Ep. 85: Ark of the Covenant: History and Current Whereabouts

3 februari 2025 | 64 min

The Purim Story (Rebroadcast)

21 mars 2024 | 99 min

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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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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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Ep. 84: Two-State Solution Part 2: A Century of Doomed Proposals

13 mars 2024 | 75 min

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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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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Ep. 83: Two-State Solution Part 1: The Peril and Naivete of Promoting a Palestinian State

11 mars 2024 | 51 min

Ep. 82: Valor and Violence: Jews and Arabs in 1920s British Mandate Palestine

18 december 2023 | 67 min

The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans (Rebroadcast)

8 december 2023 | 48 min

Ep. 81: Hostage Rescues and Ransoms in Jewish History and Law

22 november 2023 | 74 min

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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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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Ep. 80: The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Historical Background

13 november 2023 | 70 min

Ep. 79: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 3: Roman Rule and Rabbinic Reconciliation)

13 april 2021 | 54 min

The final century of the Second Temple and the one that followed its destruction were pivotal ones of Jewish history. It was an era replete with absolute Torah giants – Hillel the Elder, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh and his colleagues, Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva and his students, among many other giants – but it was also a time of unprecedented challenges. Several times over these centuries, the Nation was hanging on a thread. The great Rabbis were targeted, the Great Sanhedrin was threatened, the Nation was attacked and dispersed. Over the course of this time, the conditions of the Nation deteriorated to the point that it was clear to our leaders that unless something drastic was done, the Nation as we know it would cease to exist. In this podcast we talk about the conditions that led to the fateful decision to write down the Mishna and to codify the Oral Torah. This podcast was originally recorded for episode 34 of the TORAH 101 podcast and has been re-edited for The Jewish History Podcast.

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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 [email protected] with any questions or comments

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Ep. 78: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 2: Hasmoneans, Herod, and Hillel)

30 mars 2021 | 48 min

Ep. 77: The History and Development of Oral Torah (Part 1: From Moses to Men of the Great Assembly)

23 mars 2021 | 66 min

TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman

4 mars 2021 | 25 min

Start 2021 Right with The Parsha Podcast

3 januari 2021 | 62 min

Ep. 76: JC in Jewish Sources: Exploring the Censored Text

21 december 2020 | 56 min

Ep. 75 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part Two – Restoring the Crown of Sephardic Jewry to its Former Glory

21 oktober 2020 | 76 min

Thanks a Million!

9 september 2020 | 33 min

Ep. 74 – Chacham Ovadia Yosef: Part One – The Prince of Torah

5 augusti 2020 | 44 min

Ep. 73: Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky: The Exemplar of Slabodka

14 juli 2020 | 58 min

Ep. 72: Chazon Ish: Part Three – On Politics and the Conflict of Religion and State

3 mars 2020 | 45 min

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The Chazon Ish’s activism once he arrived in British Mandate Palestine were not limited to building up the religious and Torah infrastructure of the Land. His invested great efforts in establishing the political philosophy of the yeshiva community, and like his work in building the Torah infrastructure, his political efforts endure until today. Indeed, for much of the history of the state, the political parties and ideologies that he led were heralded as the kingmakers of Israeli politics. In his day, The Chazon Ish waged campaigns against government policies that he thought were unjust and harmful to the religious community. He also guided and advised religious politicians who heeded his advice. But he wasn’t just an adviser to the politicians, He was viewed by Prime Minister David Ben Gurion as the leader of the yeshiva community’s camp and in fact the PM visited and negotiated with him on matters of religion and State. The influence that the yeshiva community has on Israeli politics is stronger than ever, and as I mentioned in episode 70, it is impossible to really understand the dynamics of the Israeli political universe – in general a labyrinthine vortex of complexity – without understanding the positions staked out by the Chazon Ish during the very early days of the State

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This Jewish History Podcast is sponsored by Bill Koen in loving memory of Michael Ben Shmuel and Yehudit. 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!

Contact Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.orgTwitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

Podcasts Links:

This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 71: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part Two: Making the Spiritual Desert Bloom)

11 februari 2020 | 58 min

In 1933, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz – the Chazon Ish – moved to British Mandate Palestine. Prior to his departure, the recognized leader of the Torah world, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky of Vilna had sent a letter to the leaders of the Yishuv informing them that a Torah giant was coming. Employing classic Talmudic phraseology, he wrote that “a lion is arising from Babylon”, and a respectable delegation of rabbis and community leaders arrived at the shores to greet him. It is hard to overstate the impact that this lion from Babylon will have over the Yishuv in the Land would have over the next 20 years. From his hometown of Bnei Brak, the Chazon Ish spearheaded the opening of dozens of Torah institutions, rooted in a vision of the Land of Israel, revived and blossoming, with Torah dominating every aspect of the lives and culture of the people.

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This Jewish History Podcast is sponsored in loving memory of Zelda Chaya Nechama Bat Sarah by her loving family who wish to remain anonymous. May her soul merit an elevation 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!

Contact Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

Podcasts Links:

This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 70: Chazon Ish: The Founding Father of the Modern Yeshiva World (Part One: Torah Renaissance Man)

28 januari 2020 | 57 min

The destruction of European Jewry during the Holocaust decimated more than the thousands of Jewish communities of Europe. Europe had been the epicenter of Ashkenazic Jewish life for 1,000 years, and with the destruction of the 6 million Jews, came everything that generations of Jewish communities had built over the millennium. A world of Jewish infrastructure – shuls, Jewish schools, mikvaos, yeshivos, giant Torah sages and their students – ceased to exist.

If we were around to assess the state of the nation after WW2, it would be very hard to construct an optimistic outlook. But look at where we are now: The Jewish communities reestablished themselves in the USA and in the newly founded State of Israel, and in some ways, certain parts of Jewish life – and particularly Torah life – are stronger than they were before the Holocaust. Prior to the Holocaust, there were maybe a couple of thousand Torah scholars in the yeshiva world of Europe; today, in the largest yeshiva in the world – the Mir yeshiva – a yeshiva that I am a proud graduate of, there are nearly 10,000 full-time Torah scholar students, and that’s only one of hundreds – maybe thousands – of such institutions in the world. Prior to the war, the Torah-centric world within Jewry was in decline, and now it is an ascendant juggernaut. Where did all this come from? Who founded this world? Perhaps there are several answers to that question. But certainly in Israel we can point to one man and declare that he spawned this revolution, and that is Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, universally known as the Chazon Ish after the eponymous title of his works – and he is going to be the subject of this Jewish History podcast and the one that follows

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This Jewish History Podcast is sponsored by my dear friend, Yigal Rifkind, in honor of Caileigh Weiss on the occasion of her birthday. Happy Birthday, Caileigh, and thank you Yigal for your support and friendship.

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!

Contact Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

Podcasts Links:

This Jewish Life – A Podcast About Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Jewish History Podcast – The podcast telling the Remarkable story of the Jewish Peoples with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
The Parsha Podcast – A Weekly podcast of analyzing and Exploring the Parsha with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
TORAH 101 – A Podcast about the Divinity of Torah and the relationship between the Written and Oral Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher;
Eternal Ethics – The Pirkei Avos Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 69: The Yom Kippur War (Part Four: Ceasefire and Aftermath)

5 november 2019 | 54 min

Ep. 68: The Yom Kippur War (Part Three: The Tide Turns)

12 augusti 2019 | 59 min

Ep. 67: The Yom Kippur War (Part Two: Israel on the Brink)

5 juni 2019 | 61 min

The first few days of the Yom Kippur War were among the most disastrous and devastating days in Israel’s history. Thanks to unprecedented intelligence failures that we detailed in the previous episode, they were ill-prepared for the simultaneous surprise attacks from the Syrians in the Golan Heights in the North, and the Egyptians in the Sinai in the South. The Israeli losses in terms of manpower and territory and positions were staggering. In the North, the Syrians breached Israeli defenses and captured much of the Golan Heights. In the South, the Egyptians crossed the Suez Canal by the tens of thousands, smothered and bypassed the fortifications along the Bar Lev Line and established very large – and continually expanding – beachheads on Israeli soil. The Israeli response was often confused, uncoordinated, insufficient and lackluster. If there was ever a time in Israel’s history where it was on the brink of destruction, it was the first few days of the Yom Kippur War.

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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!

Contact:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

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: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 66: The Yom Kippur War (Part One: Prelude to War)

17 maj 2019 | 64 min

Ep. 65: The Era of the Judges (Part Three: Samson the Mighty) + ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

3 april 2019 | 66 min

Support TORCH and The Jewish History Podcast TODAY during our only annual fundraiser.

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The final Judge to lead the people in the Book of Judges was the most unique one of them all – a mighty warrior who single-handedly faced a formidable enemy, a controversial man with a miraculous beginning and a tragic end – Samson the Mighty. During this nearly 400 year history, the nation did not have the centralized authority of a king, and was in effect self-governed, ruled by God and punished by Him. When they adhered to Torah, their enemies vanished as if by divine edict, when they strayed, their enemies arose to persecute them as a function of divine chastisement. The role of the Judges was to nudge the people back to their fidelity to God, but not to compel or enforce as a monarch. This system worked nearly flawlessly for the duration of the Era of the Judges. The Book of Judges ends with two glaring exceptions; two tragic instances where the nation would have greatly benefited from a strong centralized authority of a king.

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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!

Contact:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

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: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 64: The Era of the Judges (Part Two: Gideon and Yiftach)

6 mars 2019 | 52 min

Ep. 63: The Era of the Judges (Part One: Osniel to Deborah)

13 februari 2019 | 58 min

After the passing of Joshua, the Jewish nation – newly settled in the land of Canaan, the land of Israel – confronted new realities that spawned new challenges. The leadership of the nation was greatly diminished – their future leaders were not of the caliber of Joshua and certainly not of Moses. They were surrounded by various mighty Canaanite enemies who posed existential military and religious threats. They became exposed to new temptations that their antecedents had never encountered. Sadly, at certain junctures, the nation yielded to these temptations, and sinned, and were swiftly punished by God for their behavior. But our nation has always been very resilient, and God always sent us leaders who helped us navigate the challenges of each generation. A remarkable group of fifteen different leaders, called Judges, skillfully lead the nation during the 3 and a half century era of the Judges, spanning from Joshua until Samuel and the anointing of the first king of Israel, Saul. The nation’s ups and downs, the stories of their oppressions and salvations, the accounts of the villains who sought our downfall and of the heroes who brought us back on track is told in the Book of Judges, and is the subject of this podcast – The Era of the Judges (Part One: Osniel to Deborah)
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The Jewish History Podcast is sponsored in honor of a beacon of the Houston Jewish community, and a personal friend and friend of TORCH, David Harris.

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!

Contact:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

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: Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher.
The Mitzvah Podcast – Surveying the 613 Mitzvos of the Torah: Apple Podcasts

Ep. 62: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan

9 januari 2019 | 44 min

Ep. 61: Joshua: Disciple Par Excellence of Moses

12 december 2018 | 53 min

Joshua was the undisputed leader of the Jews after the passing of Moses. Even during Moses’ lifetime, Joshua played an important role as Moses’ aide and confidante and protegé. Among his many accomplishments: He led the war effort and vanquished the Amaleks immediately after the Exodus; He was Moses’ right hand man in his lifetime, and never departed from his side, in fact he remained at the foot of Mount Sinai for the duration of the 40 days that Moses had ascended to Heaven, and joined Moses as they returned to the camp to find the Jews celebrating the Golden Calf; Joshua was one of the twelve leaders of the nation tasked with the responsibility of scouting out the Land, and together with Caleb, was one of the two righteous spies who did not slander the Land; When Moses asked the Almighty to choose a successor, the Almighty instructed him to select Joshua, a man of spirit to designate and strengthen as his successor; After Moses passed, Joshua immediately leads the conquest of the Land of Canaan/Israel and the 7 mighty nations and 31 different kings which are united against them. Part One of our study of Joshua will orient around his role in the Torah as Moses’ trusted disciple.

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This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated in loving memory of Danny Savitsky, Daniel Barnett Ben Yehuda and Amy. May his soul have an ascendancy 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!

Contact:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

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.

Ep. 60: Moses: The Quintessential Jewish Leader

27 november 2018 | 57 min

Moses was the greatest human of all time. His resume is replete with superlatives: He was the greatest prophet of all time, both qualitatively and quantitatively; He was the humblest man to grace the earth; He ascended to Heaven, negotiated successfully with angels and brought down the Torah and taught it to the Jewish people; He orchestrated the Exodus from Egypt with its concomitant miracles and signs; and according to the Talmud experienced time travel. There is plenty to talk about when analyzing this titanic persona of Jewish history. In this podcast we will zone in on one specific element of Moses’ greatness, his quality as a leader, and construct of model of the archetypal Jewish leader.

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This Jewish History Podcast is dedicated in honor of Carlos Weil and family. Thank you for your friendship!

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!

Contact:
Websites: Personal: RabbiWolbe.com; TORCH: Torchweb.org
Twitter: Personal: @RabbiWolbe; TORCH: @TORCHWEB
Facebook: Personal: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe; TORCH: TORCH Centre
Email: [email protected].

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.

Ep. 59: The Blueprint of Jewish History

15 november 2018 | 54 min

Ep. 58: Abraham: The Birth of Monotheism and the Origins of the Jewish Nation

24 oktober 2018 | 47 min

Ep. 57: A History of Kabbalah (Part Two: The Arizal and His Era)

10 oktober 2018 | 56 min

Ep. 56: A History of Kabbalah (Part One: Fom Sinai to Safed)

6 september 2018 | 48 min

Ep. 55: Techeiles: The History of the Mysterious Blue Dye and its Fringe Benefits

24 juli 2018 | 52 min

Ep. 54: The Entebbe Raid

4 juli 2018 | 44 min

Ep. 53: The Ten Lost Tribes: History, Legends, and Folklore

5 juni 2018 | 50 min

Ep. 52: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part Two: From Yavneh Onward)

15 maj 2018 | 59 min

Ep. 51: The History of the Sanhedrin (Part One: From Moshe until the Destruction of the Second Temple)

8 maj 2018 | 53 min

Ep. 50: The Story of King David (Part Two: David, King of Israel)

25 april 2018 | 66 min

Ep. 49: The Story of King David (Part One: Rise to Monarchy)

18 april 2018 | 48 min

Ep. 48: The History of the Jewish Calendar (Plus Annual Fundraising Appeal at GiveTORCH.org)

21 mars 2018 | 59 min

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.

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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: [email protected].

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.

Ep. 47: The Purim Story

28 februari 2018 | 59 min

Ep. 46: The Purim Backstory

22 februari 2018 | 38 min

Ep. 45: A History of Tefillah (Jewish Prayer), Liturgy, and the Siddur

15 februari 2018 | 73 min

Ep. 44: Jerusalem: A History of the Holy City from the Bible to Bibi

2 januari 2018 | 75 min

Ep. 43: The History of Chanukah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans

12 december 2017 | 49 min

Ep. 42: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part Two: The Mussar Ideology)

15 november 2017 | 49 min

Ep. 41: Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Part One: The Slabodka Revolution)

9 november 2017 | 52 min

Ep. 40: Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and the Brisker Method of Talmudic Analysis

19 oktober 2017 | 58 min

Ep. 39: Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement

13 september 2017 | 76 min

Ep. 38: Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and the Mother of all Yeshivos

1 september 2017 | 53 min

Ep. 37: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Torah Im Derech Eretz

16 augusti 2017 | 48 min

Ep. 36: Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chasam Sofer) and his Hardline Response to Haskalah

2 augusti 2017 | 41 min

Ep. 35: Emancipation, Haskalah, and Reform: The Zeitgeist of 1800s European Jewry

19 juli 2017 | 49 min

Ep. 34: Great Jewish Personalities: The Gaon of Vilna

5 juli 2017 | 51 min

Ep. 33: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)

21 juni 2017 | 56 min

Ep. 32: A History of False Messiahs

7 juni 2017 | 52 min

Ep. 31: The Six Day War Part 2

24 maj 2017 | 84 min

Ep. 30: The Six Day War Part 1

17 maj 2017 | 49 min

Ep. 29: A History of Halacha

10 maj 2017 | 45 min

Ep. 28: A History of Zionism

3 maj 2017 | 49 min

Ep. 27: Great Jewish Personalities: Ramban (Nachmanides)

26 april 2017 | 44 min

Ep. 26: A History of Christian Anti-Semitism Part 2

5 april 2017 | 47 min

Ep. 25: A History of Christian Anti-Semitism Part 1

22 mars 2017 | 50 min

Ep. 24: Great Jewish Personalities: Rambam (Maimonides)

15 mars 2017 | 56 min

Ep. 23: Great Jewish Personalities: Rashi

8 mars 2017 | 46 min

Ep. 22: The Middle and Late Geonic Era

1 mars 2017 | 45 min

Ep. 21: The Early Geonic Era

22 februari 2017 | 47 min

Ep. 20: The Rise of the Muslims

15 februari 2017 | 45 min

Ep. 19: The Late Amoraic Era: The Giants of Babylon and the Writing, Codification and Sealing of the Talmud

8 februari 2017 | 45 min

Ep. 18: The Middle Amoraic Era: Setting the Stage for the Babylonian Talmud

1 februari 2017 | 43 min

Ep. 17: The Early Amoraic Era

25 januari 2017 | 57 min

Ep. 16: The Dead Sea Scrolls: Their Story and Significance

18 januari 2017 | 46 min

Ep. 15: Heresy, Hedonism and Hatred: The Rise of The Sadducees

11 januari 2017 | 47 min

Ep. 14: Dialogue, Discourse and Disputation: When Rabbis and Romans Debate

4 januari 2017 | 52 min

Ep. 13: A History of Hanukkah: Hellenism, Heroism and Hasmoneans

21 december 2016 | 42 min

Ep. 12: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Eliezer

14 december 2016 | 46 min

Ep. 11: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai

7 december 2016 | 43 min

Ep. 10: Great Jewish Personalities: Hillel

30 november 2016 | 44 min

Ep. 9: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Judah the Prince

23 november 2016 | 45 min

Ep. 8: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Meir

16 november 2016 | 45 min

Ep. 7: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

9 november 2016 | 45 min

Ep. 6: Great Jewish Personalities: Rabbi Akiva

2 november 2016 | 51 min

Ep. 5: Chaos, Cataclysm and Consolidation: Jewish History in The Modern Era

2 oktober 2016 | 83 min

Ep. 4: Violence, Vicissitudes and Valiancy: Jewish History in Medieval Times

22 september 2016 | 57 min

Ep. 3: Rabbis, Renaissance and Reclamation: Jewish History of the Mishnaic and Talmudic Eras

15 september 2016 | 62 min

Ep. 2: Homeland, Hegemony and Hostility: Jewish History from Joshua to the (Second) Downfall of Jerusalem

9 september 2016 | 74 min

The Torah end with the death of Moshe. The greatest human and leader of all time is no longer there to lead them. How will the Jews fare in his absence? In this expansive episode of The Jewish History Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe we tell the story and lessons of Jewish history from the conquest of Israel (Canaan) under Joshua beginning in 1272 B.C.E until the Roman decimation of Judea in 70 C.E. Over these 1400 years we meet great visionary Jewish leaders as the prophet Samuel, King David and Ezra the Scribe who made pivotal decisions to ensure the survival and thriving of the nation; we recall the life and feats of great heroes as Samson the Mighty, Queen Esther and Judah Maccabeus; and celebrate great national accomplishments and pinnacles as the building of the Temples in Jerusalem, the miraculous redemption from Haman’s evil plots in the events that led to the Purim holiday and the defeat of the Assyrian Greeks during the Hasmonean rebellion. While this period had many tremendous national highs, it also had its share of tragedies, disappointments and friction with the other nations, which we discuss in detail. Throughout it all we continually draw the timeless lessons of history to make certain that we do not repeat those mistakes in our time and with our challenges.

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Please email me at [email protected] with any questions or comments

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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!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts

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Ep. 1: Foundations, Fathers and Faith: Jewish History From Adam to Moses

2 september 2016 | 55 min

In this maiden episode of The Jewish History Podcast with Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, we begin a five part overview of Jewish History. This format is not an exhaustive accounting of all the copious details of Jewish history; rather we seek to highlight the general themes, trends and personalities of Jewish history.

We begin with Adam. What role does he play in the grand picture of human and Jewish history? What was the nature of the test of the Garden of Eden and what transformation did Adam undergo after his consumption from the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge Good and Evil?

Then we examine the story lines of the Forefathers of the Jewish People: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What were their eternal accomplishments and contributions to the nation? How did Abraham discover and proliferate the idea of monotheism? What are we to learn from the “other sons” of Abraham and Isaac – Ishmael and Esau – who are not the spiritual heirs of the Abrahamic destiny yet succeeded in contributing towards it? What can we learn from the rivalry of Jacob and Esau and the episode of the grasping of the heel?

In our story we see the formulation of the Jewish People – from a man to a movement to a family to a tribe to a nation, and finally to a religion. The Jewish nation’s moniker is the “Chosen People”. Where does this name originate from and what does it refer to? Who chose the Jews? Why were the Jews chosen? What were the Jews chosen for?

Another common catchphrase that is explained in this podcast is “Tikkun Olam” – fixing the world. Why is the world broken and how can we fix it?

We explore the persistent theme of exile and expulsion throughout Jewish history; analyze the personality and leadership profile of Moshe; and examine the most significant and remarkable event in human history – the Revelation at Sinai -and its far reaching implications.

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Please email me at [email protected] with any questions or comments

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

SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter

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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!

SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Podcasts