This Jewish Life - By Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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We are instructed to sit in a Sukkah for the seven days of the holiday of Sukkos. What is the meaning behind this strange mitzvah? Why must we leave our climate-controlled homes and move into a sukkah that resembles huts in third world countries? Why is this mitzvah so powerful that it is used as a […]

Yom Kippur is a challenging day. It is associated with prayer and liturgy that we may not understand, very long services and, of course, fasting. As a result, most people are unaware of the power, meaning and opportunity of the day. In this podcast we go back to the very first Yom Kippur. What happened on […]

Rosh Hashana means the beginning of the year. This day was selected because it is the anniversary of the creation of Adam. The day is also called the day of judgement because all people are judged on this day as well. What is the connection between these two and how can we make the most […]

The question of “why bad things happen to good people” is an exceedingly difficult philosophical dilemma to grapple with. We believe that God is in absolute control of everything that happens in the world. We also believe that He is Just. Yet we see so much injustice all around us. In this podcast we explore […]

Humility is the trait associated with the greatest prophet and leader of all time, Moses. What exactly is humility and why is it such a critical characteristic?

We believe that God is in total control of everything. Can we rely upon Him to feed our family? Would that be considered negligence? What are the parameters of faith and reliance on God vs. personal responsibility? ——- This podcast was recorded live at the Kollel of Houston Torah Center. Please visit torcweb.org for program details […]

Parenting is the most rewarding – and difficult – job we will ever have. Thankfully the Torah teaches us how to be effective parents. Listen and learn the top ten critical elements of successful pedagogy. ——- This podcast was recorded live at the Temple Beth Torah in Humble, TX. Please visit torcweb.org for program details and […]

Death is a future that we all share. What happens after someone dies depends on the life they lived. If they were righteous they merit entry to Olam Haba. When is Olam Haba and how is it related to the resurrection of the dead? What is the link between this world and the next one? Listen […]

Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai tasked his five students with an interesting mission. He instructed them to go and find which path should a person cling to. They went and researched and returned, each with a different formula. What exactly is the goal of such an experiment? What does an evil eye mean and how does […]

Who are you? That unusual question is an example of what we ought to be asking ourselves if we seek character perfection and ethical refinement, says Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal) in his short book “derech eitz chaim”. The truth is that it is a bit more difficult to answer than we would imagine. But […]

Jewish sources are unanimous: by observing the mitzvahs a Jew merit entry to Olam Haba. Less clear is how exactly that works. In this podcast we explore the three different approaches outlined in various sources in Jewish writings. ——– Website: RabbiWolbe.com Twitter: @RabbiWolbe Facebook: Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe Email: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com

The Mishna (Chapters of the Fathers 3:5) declares: רבי נחוניה בן הקנה אומר, כל המקבל עליו עול תורה, מעבירין ממנו עול מלכות ועול דרך ארץ; וכל הפורק ממנו עול תורה, נותנין עליו עול מלכות ועול דרך ארץ. “Rabbi Nechunya ben Hakana says: whoever accepts upon themselves the yoke of Torah, the yoke of the kingdom and […]

The Talmud and related rabbinic writings are replete with disagreements that impact  the practical application of Torah, known as Halacha. What are the safety ordinances to prevent the perversion of Halachic practice? Is it possible that over the course of history something went awry and there is some element of Halacha that was forgotten or corrupted along the way […]

A universally accepted principle of Judaism is that the Almighty gives reward for observance of Torah and mitzvos and punishment for their nonobservance. What exactly that reward and punishment consist of is a great unknown to most. In this first of three podcasts on the subject we investigate some puzzling sources regarding Olam Haba – […]

Previously (see HERE) we have elaborated on the 1500 years of uninterrupted conveyance of the Oral Torah in its entirety from one generation to the next. Towards the end of the second century of the common era a fateful decision was made to commit the Jewish Law, known as Mishna, to writing. This began a […]

The great sage of the Mishnaic era, Rabbi Akiva, taught that the mitzvah of loving your fellow as yourself is a great principle of Torah. Can this mitzvah be understood that we are obligated to love everyone with the same degree of love that we have for ourselves or perhaps does loving your fellow as yourself […]

In this podcast we explore several contemporary halachic dilemmas relation to business competition and disclosures. What are the parameters of opening a business establishment in an area or industry that will cripple or eliminate competitors? How much of the defects in a product or service must a seller disclose? Can someone deceive potential employers by dyeing their […]

Man’s lifelong struggle with their Yetzer Ra is the premier challenge that a person faces in their life. What are the best strategies and tactics to assure victory? In this podcast we examine several telling Talmudic passages that create a roadmap to success in our ultimate test.

“Against your will you are formed; against your will you are born; against your will you live; against your will you die; and against your will you are destined to give an accounting and a reckoning before the King of kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He” (Pirkei Avot 4:22). This Mishnah outlines the five […]