

This Jewish Life - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
TORCH
This Jewish Life is Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s flagship podcast. Since its founding in January of 2013, This Jewish Life has featured a delightful potpourri of podcast episodes on a myriad of Jewish subjects. In its current incarnation, the podcast focuses on exploring the deeper elements of Jewish life and philosophy. In each episode our objective is to go a bit deeper into subjects that we may be familiar with, to plumb the depths and uncover the essence of the beauty and sublimity of Jewish life and customs, and Torah wisdom. Please email any questions, comments, or feedback to rabbiwolbe@gmail.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2021 • 50min
Man In The Arena: Three Ways To Understand The Judgment of Rosh Hashana
In addition to the many other themes and motifs of the day, Rosh Hashana is called the Day of Judgment. The Mishnah tells us that on Rosh Hashana every human has an individual audience with the Almighty in the same way that a shepherd counts each sheep individually. The judgment is comprehensive: all of a person’s income for the year is determined on this day. But the most important decree of Rosh Hashana is who will live and who will die.
In this podcast, we study a difficult statement in the Talmud regarding the judgment on Rosh Hashana. On the surface, this statement is quite inexplicable. Upon further analysis, however, we discover the central goal of Rosh Hashana, and, frankly, what we are trying to accomplish in our lives.
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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 rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments
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DONATE Crypto to TORCH
Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site
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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
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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

Aug 29, 2021 • 1h 6min
Rosh Hashana: Customs, Rituals, Ceremonies, and Practices
The two days of Rosh Hashana are two of the most important days in the year. These festival days are celebratory and joyous, but are also dedicated to prayer, to introspection, and repentance. Rosh Hashana is a time when we try to strike a delicate balance of festivities and trepidation due to the Day of Judgement. In this unique podcast we examine the myriad customs, ceremonies, rituals, and practices of Rosh Hashana – we learn about their significance, we learn about the lessons contained within them, we learn about about the various activities that we do to get in the right frame of mind for the Day of Judgement.
Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com 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
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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
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101

Aug 9, 2021 • 30min
The Essence of Elul
These 40 days from the beginning of the month of Elul, the final month in the Jewish calendar, and Yom Kippur are the most powerful days of the year. These 40 days coincide with the 40 days that Moshe was in Heaven for the third 40 day stint when he received the second set of Tablets inscribed by the “finger of God.” Our Sages tell us that this month is “Days of Ratzon“, days of goodwill, days of desire. In this special podcast, we identify the central element of these days and discover the ways to unlock the unlimited power of Elul.
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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 rabbiwolbe@gmail.com with any questions or comments
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DONATE Crypto to TORCH
Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site
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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

Jun 27, 2021 • 52min
The Three Weeks: A Primer
For the three weeks spanning from the fast of the 17th of Tammuz until the fast of Tisha B’av (9th of Av), the Jewish nation practices collective mourning. This mourning is the result of a collection of calamitous things that has happened to our ancestors during these inauspicious times. What is the background of these days and what can we learn today from commemorating events that happened thousands of years ago?
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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 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

May 12, 2021 • 1h 2min
Ruth: The Enduring Lesson of Shavuos
The Book of Ruth – and its eponymous heroine – are true enigmas. The Book contains no new laws and its story, while inspirational and poignant, bears no easily discernible connection to the Festival of Shavuos, when it is read. The Book’s protagonist, Ruth, has a decidedly checkered pedigree, yet becomes the matriarch of the Davidic and Messianic dynasty. What is the secret to Ruth’s greatness, what is the Book’s connection to the day that marks the Revelation at Sinai, and what lasting lesson can we take from this story?
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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 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

May 10, 2021 • 39min
Shavuos: The Time to Become Extraordinary
Shavuos is the day that marks the most significant event in the history of humankind: A nation coalesced around Mount Sinai to temporarily catapult into a state of prophecy, to hear God say the Ten Commandments, and to live to tell the tale. Shavuos is thus aptly named, “the Day of the Giving of the Torah”. In the Talmud we discover that the power of the day is to transform people from being ordinary and generic into being special, great – extraordinary. In this special podcast we examine the connection between Shavuos and becoming extraordinary and learn the secret to elevate ourselves from being ordinary Joes into being truly special.
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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 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

Apr 21, 2021 • 31min
Who was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and why does Lag Ba’Omer matter?
Lag BaOmer is the day that marks the Yahrtzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, one of the great Sages of the Mishnaic Era. In celebration and recognition of Rabbi Shimon’s accomplishments and stature, the custom is to make it a mini-holiday. But of course, Rabbi Shimon was not the only transcendental Sage of that time. His teacher was the great Rabbi Akiva, his contemporaries included the great Rabbi Meir, that era was also graced with luminaries such as Hillel, and Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai, and Rabbi Judah the Prince. Why is Rabbi Shimon singled out above and beyond all the other scholars? In this podcast, we suggest an approach to that question that will hopefully make Lag BaOmer even more meaningful.
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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 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

Apr 6, 2021 • 1h 7min
The Rest of the Story with Esther Kaplan (Part 2: March 2021)
Esther Kaplan (née Wolbe), along with her husband AJ, experienced the worst nightmare parents can undergo when their adorable and perfect son Shlomo passed away only 16 weeks into his life. This intimate and stirring conversation follows up on the one we had in 2018 in which Esther shares the story of Shlomo’s life and opens up about how parents absorb and process such an unthinkable tragedy.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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

Apr 5, 2021 • 1h 8min
Reflections on Loss, Tragedy, and Bereavement: An Interview with Esther Kaplan (Part 1: March 2018)
Esther Kaplan (née Wolbe), along with her husband AJ, experienced the worst nightmare parents can undergo when their adorable and perfect son Shlomo passed away only 16 weeks into his life. In this intimate and stirring conversation Esther shares the story of Shlomo’s life and opens up about how parents absorb and process such an unthinkable tragedy.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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

Mar 4, 2021 • 25min
TORCH Fundraiser: A Conversation with our Board President, Dan Kullman
Please support The TORCH Podcasts and the annual TORCH fundraiser at giveTORCH.org
Every donation will be TRIPLED
Show your support for TORCH and the TORCH Podcasts and donate to the annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org
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In honor of the TORCH Fundraiser today at giveTORCH.org, I was interviewed by the TORCH Board President, Dan Kullman, of The Shema Podcast fame. In this special discussion, we talk about the history and development of the TORCH podcasts and make an appeal for your support of the fundraiser. Every donation is TRIPLED.
DONATE Crypto to TORCH
Click on this link to access the TORCH Coinbase donation site
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Please email me at rabbiwolbe@gmail.com 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
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6A90DO9YIzUXxlHH3EEy5dz_H5mlch-N3GZdqtG9saMlYsA/viewform
SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter
rabbiwolbe.com/newsletter
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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
The Parsha Podcast
The Jewish History Podcast
The Mitzvah Podcast
This Jewish Life
The Ethics Podcast
TORAH 101


