Weekly Parsha

From The Parsha Podcast — Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Weekly Parsha episodes and commentary.

Episodes

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…
Chukas – Bold and Boulder 2025-07-03
When the nation needed water, they found it in a most unexpected place: Moshe struck a rock and it began to spew forth enough water for the entire…
Korach – On Cloudy 2025-06-26
Of Korach’s 253 collaborators, only three are named, and all three are Reubenites: Dathan, Abiram, and On Ben Peles. Dathan and Abiram remain…
Shelach – Rogue Ten 2025-06-19
The consequences of sending 12 spies to scout out the Land for 40 days were catastrophic. 10 of the 12 spies returned with a slanderous report about…
Behaaloscha – Chiseled Hunk 2025-06-12
Our Parsha begins with the commandment for Aaron to kindle the Menorah, the intricately embellished, seven-branched candelabra hewn out of a single…
Nasso – The Elusive Golden Middle 2025-06-05
Our nation has been blessed with many great leaders. What is our definition of great leadership? In this interesting Parsha podcast, we go back to…
Bamidbar – Letter of the Law 2025-05-29
Long strings of numbers don’t typically make for riveting radio or podcasts. Many of us feel our eyes glaze over when we read seemingly…
Behar/Bechukosai – Tilling and Toiling 2025-05-22
The laws of the Torah – all 613 of them – were conveyed by God to Moshe at Mount Sinai. This is explicitly conveyed regarding the first…
Emor – Lopside Down 2025-05-15
Passover marks the Exodus from Egypt. But leaving Egypt was only the beginning of the radical transformation that the Almighty brought about. 50…
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim – Sparring Mates 2025-05-08
If you chanced upon sparring mates going at it, you may come to the mistaken impression that these two are enemies who want each other’s…
Tazria Metzorah – Scalps and Scalpels 2025-05-01
The process of diagnosing and purifying a person afflicted with tzaraas is long and arduous. But there was no avoiding it. It is prohibited to…
Shemini – Eighth Time’s The Charm 2025-04-24
Assembling and disassembling the Tabernacle was a difficult task that Moshe repeated for seven days. Each morning he placed the vertical beams into…
Tzav – Conceal the Deal 2025-04-10
A top of the altar were fires that were never extinguished for hundreds of years. What was the nature of these fires? What were they made up of? How…
Vayikra – Mind of a Thousand Men 2025-04-03
The Book of Leviticus begins with sacrifices. We read about the multiple types of elevation sacrifices, meal offerings, peace offerings, sin…
Pekudei – Zero to Won 2025-03-27
After four Parshas, the Tabernacle is finally finished this week. Before the Tabernacle is erected though, Moshe provides an audit for all the gold,…
Vayakhel – Ambition Impossible 2025-03-20
Please support the Parsha Podcast by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is…
Ki Sisa – Sedimentary, My Dear Watson 2025-03-13
The most shocking, surprising, baffling, and unexpected event in the Torah – and perhaps in all of human history – happens in this…