Weekly Parsha

From The Parsha Podcast — Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Weekly Parsha episodes and commentary.

Episodes

Chayei Sarah – Who Was Ishmael? 2026-11-05
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…
Chayei Sarah – Reverse Repentance (5785) 2026-11-03
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…
Vayeira – Who was Lot? 2026-10-29
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…
Vayeira – Five Languages of Laughter (5785) 2026-10-27
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…
Lech Lecha – Who was Abraham? 2026-10-22
Abraham was the most consequential person of all time. In our classic literature, Abraham is graced with superlatives given to no one else: Abraham…
Lech Lecha – Abraham’s Fellow Travelers (5785) 2026-10-20
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…
Noach – Who was Noah? 2026-10-15
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…
Noach – Cured Ham (5785) 2026-10-13
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…
Bereishis – Who was Adam? 2026-10-08
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…
Bereishis – Genealogies of Genesis (5785) 2026-10-06
The end of our Parsha delineates the many families and generations spanning from Adam to Noah. There are all sorts of fascinating factoids, nuggets…
Vezos Haberacha – Black on White 2026-10-01
The Torah preceded the world. In fact, the Almighty used the Torah as a blueprint for the creation of the world. But the primordial Torah was…
Haazinu – Surprisingly Joyous Song 2026-09-17
The last day of Moshe’s reign, coincided with the first day of Joshua’s reign. For one day, Moshe and Joshua led the nation together as…
The Binding of Isaac (Second Day of Rosh Hashana Torah Reading) 2026-09-08
On the second day of Rosh Hashana, we read the Torah section of Genesis chapter 22 that tells the very famous and quite troubling episode of the…
The Origin of Isaac (First Day of Rosh Hashana Torah Reading) 2026-09-06
The Torah readings for the two days of Rosh Hashana were not arbitrarily chosen. There are very good reasons why on the first day of Rosh Hashana we…
Nitzavim & Vayeilech – Mavericks vs. Heat 2026-09-03
The entire book of Devarim occurs over the span of 36 days, the final 36 days of Moshe’s life. The final four Parshas are an account of the…
Ki Savo – The Joystick 2026-08-27
Sadness and hopelessness are modern societal epidemics. Notwithstanding the fact that our time has seen more material abundance than ever before,…
Ki Seitzei – Moabite the Hand that Fed You 2026-08-20
Our number one goal in life is to achieve perfection. Perfection of character, perfection of behavior, profession of speech, profession of thought,…
Shoftim – Selfless, Fearless, Flawless, Scholars 2026-08-13
Our Parsha features laws relating to all types of leaders: Judges must not corrupt judgment, must not accept bribery, must hearken to the rulings of…
Reeh – Root Force 2026-08-06
Idolatry is anathema. Idolatry in the Holy Land is totally intolerable. Multiple times in the book of Devarim, we are exhorted to thoroughly and…
Eikev – Hidden Mechanisms 2026-07-30
Several themes seem to be repeating themselves again and again throughout the Book of Devarim. For example, the nation is repeatedly encouraged to…
Vaeschanan – Denied Entry 2026-07-22
Prayer always makes an impact. Moshe’s prayer was exceedingly powerful and made a supercharged impact. But all of Moshe’s prayer, and…
Devarim – Og, the Places You’ll Go 2026-07-16
A month before his passing, Moshe gathers the nation for a final message. He begins with a two-verse critique of the nation, not excoriating them…
Mattos & Masei – Talk is Expensive 2026-07-09
Freedom of speech is enshrined in the First Amendment. Our society allows people to say whatever they want so long as they’re not perjuring…
Pinchas – Dual Tracks 2026-07-02
Certain legends are irreplaceable. There was never a man like Moshe who spoke to God face to face. Aaron, the first high priest, set an incredibly…
Parsha: Chukas & Balak – The Flintystones 2026-06-25
This week’s double Parsha is chock-full of fascinating narratives, story lines, and mitzvos. We begin with the great mystery of the red…
Korach – Debate and Switch 2026-06-18
Cousins don’t always agree on everything. Korach and Moshe had a disagreement, a debate. Moshe was instructed by God that the nation is…
Shelach – Founding Grandfathers 2026-06-11
The twelve men who Moshe sent to scout the Land were all righteous leaders of the tribes. There were not lightweights. In fact, Joshua, who would…
Behaaloscha – Shrieking Wilderness 2026-06-04
Parshas Behaaloscha contains a smorgasbord of fascinating narratives and storylines. In this interesting and fun edition of the Parsha podcast, we…
Nasso – Four Paces 2026-05-28
The longest Parsha in the Torah (Nasso) contains a seemingly unconnected string of subjects. It begins by detailing the responsibilities of adult…
*Shavuos Special* Ruth, Sinai, and the Heart of Shavuos 2026-05-19
The Sinai Revelation is the most significant event in all of human history: God revealed Himself to the entire Jewish people, He spoke to them, He…
Bamidbar – Honorary Levites 2026-05-14
Not everyone loves math and numbers. I’ve heard disturbing rumors that there are some people who even claim to hate math and get irritated…
Behar Bechukosai – The Seven Secrets 2026-05-07
I don’t know many farmers. This country used to be an agrarian society, but today fewer than 2% of Americans are farmers. This was not the…
Emor – Matching Man and Mission 2026-04-30
The Priests are the noblest amongst us, direct descendants of Aaron, the legendary first priest. They have a very important role to play amongst…
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Acting the Goat 2026-04-23
Yom Kippur is a different day than every other day of the year. It is the holiest day, the day of atonement, a day of fasting and prayer and…
Tazria Metzora – Better Animals of our Nature 2026-04-16
The subject of purity and impurity is not the most exciting one. The hallmark of these subjects is their intricacies and complexities, but our…
Shemini – A Time For Boldness 2026-04-10
The 2026 annual TORCH fundraiser is happening right now at giveTORCH.org . Every donation is doubled at giveTORCH.org . Every donation is matched at…
Tzav – Protocols of the Offerings of Zion 2026-03-26
This Parsha podcast is dedicated in the merit of a speedy recovery of Yosef Shraga Halevi Ben Esther. May he have a Refuah Sheleima. – – – – – – – –…
Vayikra – Push-Ups and Drawdowns 2026-03-19
The concept of sacrifices is quite foreign to us. It’s been nearly 2,000 years since our nation merited to bring a sacrifice in God’s…
Vayakhel Pekudei – Golden Talents 2026-03-12
The latter half of the Book of Exodus is almost exclusively oriented around the Tabernacle. In this week’s double Parsha, the nation executes…
Ki Sisa – Magic Thermos 2026-03-05
A nuclear bomb detonates in this week’s Parsha. The Nation selected by God to fulfill the most consequential role in the world, the Nation…
Tetzaveh – On His Majesty’s Service 2026-02-26
Performing service in the Tabernacle was the domain of the cherished few only. Only Aaron, his four sons, and their subsequent children were…
Terumah – Out of the Woods 2026-02-19
During the Sinai revelation, the nation achieved the peak human experience. The entire people—men, women, and children—experienced God face-to-face…
Mishpatim – Two Halves of One Soul 2026-02-12
At the risk of being presumptuous, I can safely say that most members of the Parsha podcast community have never owned any slaves. I imagine that…
Mishpatim – Blind Determination (5786) 2026-02-10
Immediately after the Sinai Revelation, the Torah begins telling us many of the laws. In this Parsha podcast we focus on two of the laws: the famous…
Yisro – Beauty and the Priest 2026-02-05
Parshas Yisro is a tale of two narratives. It begins with the dramatic arrival of Jethro, father-in-law of Moshe. He heard about all the miracles…
Beshalach – Horse and Rider 2026-01-29
The nation emerged from Egypt triumphantly. Pharaoh was talking a big game. “Who is God that I should listen to him? I’m not going to…
Bo – Embers Only 2026-01-22
With the final three plagues striking Egypt,, our Nation’s centuries-long nightmare in Egypt mercifully came to an end. At the stroke of…
Vaeira – Swimming in Denileism 2026-01-15
Pharaoh is one tough nut to crack. Notwithstanding all the miracles, signs, and wonders that the Almighty displays in Egypt, Pharaoh persists in his…
Shemos – Mission Implausible 2026-01-08
The mission that Moshe was entrusted with in this week’s Parsha was very clear: Go to Egypt and extract the nation of Israelite slaves. The…
Vayechi – Fish Amidst the Land 2026-01-01
Jacob’s life has been extremely chaotic. Forced to tussle with his twin. Jacob’s life got off to a rocky start. Compelled to usurp the…
Vayigash – Beacon in the Darkness 2025-12-25
Parshas Vayigash is bittersweet. The sweetness is obvious. After 22 years of anguish and melancholy, Jacob is informed that Joseph is alive and is a…
Mikeitz – Pit Master King 2025-12-18
Pharaoh, like Joseph, had clairvoyant dreams foretelling his future. Joseph dreamed of his ascent to kingship and his brother’s subjugation…
Vayeishev – Pit of Despair 2025-12-11
Parashas Vayeishev is a downer for all people involved: Jacob has to witness his sons’ disunion. Jacob was informed of the apparent mauling of…
Vayishlach – E-sawdust 2025-12-04
Jacob just can’t seem to get away from his brother. Even before they were born, they were bound together in utero. Once they are born, they…
Vayeitzei – Red and White Blew it 2025-11-27
Jacob was one of the greatest people who have ever lived. He triumphed over angels. He had angels do his bidding. His visage is etched into…
Toldos – Infertile Crescent 2025-11-20
Why were the patriarchs and matriarchs infertile? Why did Isaac favor Esau? Why did Isaac require delicacies to bless Esau? Why does the Torah offer…
Chayei Sarah – Age of the Matriarchs 2025-11-13
Sarah lived a relatively long life. She passed away at the age of 127 after learning about the Binding of Isaac. Our Parsha begins with her passing,…
Vayeira – Sodium and Gomorrah 2025-11-06
Abraham was the paragon of faith. He was also the paragon of kindness and hospitality. When he was 99 years old and only three days removed from a…
Lech Lecha – Three and a Half Men 2025-10-30
Our nation has three forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and four foremothers, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The Book of Genesis principally…
Noach – Hell on High Water 2025-10-23
Noah’s experience during the flood it was not exactly akin to a year-long cruise. There wasn’t a lot of relaxing poolside with a pina…
Bereishis – Duality of Man 2025-10-16
Parshas Bereishis is the first Parsha and also the most difficult one to understand. From beginning to end, our Parsha is a riddle and a mystery. In…
Vezos Haberacha 5785 – The Heavenly Verses 2025-10-09
There was no joy that matches the joy of Torah study, and that Joy is amplified yet further when we have the great privilege of finishing the entire…
Parshas Vezos Haberacha (The Rebroadcast) 2025-10-05
The final parsha of the Torah details the blessings that Moshe conveyed to the tribes of Israel immediately prior to his passing, and the Torah ends…
Haazinu – Injustice In Justice 2025-10-01
The high holidays are days of judgment. On Rosh Hashanah, every single person stands before God in judgment and their verdict is written, but left…
Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on an Allegorical Level 2025-09-29
On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the 48-verse Book of Jonah, which tells of a renegade prophet, Jonah, who defies the directive of God and refuses…
Parshas Haazinu (The Rebroadcast) 2025-09-28
Still in the final day of Moshe’s life, he conveys to the nation a 43-verse Song predicting the contours of Jewish history, both past, present, and…
Vayeilech – Mission Improbable 2025-09-25
Moshe’s tenure as leader of the Jews was chock full of magnificent accomplishments. He spearheaded the Exodus, he brought the Torah down from…
Nitzavim – Repent Up Demand 2025-09-18
How difficult is it to repent? How hard is it to examine your behavior, your choices, your values, your decisions to determine which are in need of…
Ki Savo – A Cursory Reading 2025-09-11
Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy is arguably the most difficult portion in the Torah to read. Known as the Admonition, the chapter details the blessings…
Ki Seitzei – Yibbum Or Bust 2025-09-04
The death of one’s spouse is always a tragedy, but there’s something particularly sad about someone who dies without children. Leaving…
Shoftim – Crown Jewels 2025-08-28
Many of us secretly harbor the belief the we would make a fine president. Leading a nation sounds like a cushy job: armies of aides at your beck and…
Reeh – Path Independence 2025-08-21
We like to maintain optionality and delay decisions if possible. The idea of being pigeonholed into one path irks us. But Moshe tells the nation…
Eikev – Tefillin’ Good 2025-08-14
This is a very special episode of the Parsha podcast. Exactly 5 years ago, the Parsha podcast began a streak of producing a brand new episode each…
Vaeschanan – Two of Hearts 2025-08-07
Even believers are incapable of understanding God. It’s supremely logical to observe that our wonderful world – our wonderful universe…
Devarim – Wellsprings of Beer 2025-07-31
There are many levels of Torah. There are many ways to acquire Torah, 48 by the calculation of our Sages. The human with the greatest understanding…
Mattos Masei – Greatness and Anti-Greatness 2025-07-24
Accidents are unfortunate. Accidents that lead to death are a catastrophe. Among the myriad of subjects discussed in this week’s double Parsha…
Pinchas – Sunday and Moonday 2025-07-17
Great leaders are often irreplaceable. The greatest leader of them all is certainly irreplaceable. But even Moshe must have a successor. In our…
Balak – Ruthless and Ruthful Determination 2025-07-10
Balak, King of Moab, and Bilaam, sorcerer extraordinaire, hatched a plot to annihilate the Jewish people. Had their plan been successful, there…