This Jewish Life - By Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

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Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe’s Torah Lectures

Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Houston, TX


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h AVG DURATION
    • 506 EPISODES

    4.9 from 170 ratings Listeners of This Jewish Life - By Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe that love the show mention: rabbi wolbe, jewish, wealth, clear, educational, engaging, knowledge, great, thank.


    Ivy Insights

    The This Jewish Life podcast, hosted by Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, is a truly exceptional and enlightening source of knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in Judaism. Each episode combines legal, ethical, mussar (Jewish ethical teachings), and mystical traditions, providing a well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand. This podcast beautifully actualizes the three crowns of Torah within each listener.

    One of the best aspects of The This Jewish Life podcast is Rabbi Wolbe himself. He is not only a great speaker but also a wealth of knowledge. His ability to break down complex concepts and teachings in Judaism and present them in an understandable and relatable manner is commendable. Whether you are well-versed in Judaism or just starting to learn about it, Rabbi Wolbe's podcasts will leave you feeling like you have already learned so much. His educational and inspirational approach makes this podcast accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of familiarity with Judaism.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the variety of subjects covered. From exploring biblical texts to discussing new vocabulary words related to Judaism, each episode offers a wealth of information that keeps listeners intrigued. Whether you are interested in learning more about specific laws or are curious about mystical traditions in Judaism, The This Jewish Life podcast has something for everyone.

    In terms of drawbacks, it can be said that some may find the topics discussed on this podcast too esoteric or niche for their taste. However, Rabbi Wolbe does an excellent job demystifying these concepts and making them applicable to personal growth and connection with God. While some episodes may require a deeper understanding or familiarity with Judaism, the overall presentation is clear and engaging.

    In conclusion, The This Jewish Life - By Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe podcast is an outstanding resource for anyone looking to learn more about Judaism or deepen their existing knowledge. Through his crystal clear, engaging, and often humorous approach, Rabbi Wolbe educates listeners on essential yet often esoteric concepts in Judaism. His emphasis on relevance to personal growth and connection with God makes this podcast a must-listen for anyone interested in living a more fulfilling Jewish life.



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    Latest episodes from This Jewish Life - By Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

    A Rigorous and Comprehensive Torah Study Regimen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 49:40


    What would a comprehensive and rigorous regimen of Torah study look like? Suppose someone wants to really become a Torah maestro. What would be a fitting schedule of course work for them to become a well-rounded Torah scholar? Torah is the antidote to the evil inclination. How much Torah and how many Torah domains and […]

    Modern Day Heresy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 40:00


    Heresies and idolatries come and go. The idolatry that titillated the ancients no longer excites modern men. The heresies that revolutionized the world a century ago no longer resonate. Any heresy is a repudiation of God, and thus is bound to vaporize like a puff of smoke. Falsehood cannot endure for long, and eventually all […]

    Mechanisms of Free Will

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 41:37


    Is free will limited or unlimited? What is the scope of free will? How much of our decisions must filter through that system of choice? How much can we actually accomplish if we set our mind to it? What is the mechanisms of ascending a free will ladder? In part 2 of our study of […]

    Free Will: An Exploration of Fundamental Concepts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 47:10


    Free Will is a fundamental concept in our philosophy. People are endowed by God with the ability to determine the direction that they take in life. People are allowed to choose a path of righteousness or wickedness. There is a certain modicum of self-determination that the Almighty provides us with. In this mini series, we […]

    From Beast to Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 46:06


    Starting from the second day of Passover, we count the Omer. For 7 weeks of 7 days a piece — 49 days — we count. Once the count is completed, the festival of Shavuos is upon us. What exactly is the meaning of this interesting Mitzvah? The subject gets trickier when you examine how the […]

    Guard The Matzos: A Yahrzeit Tribute to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 48:23


    Matzah is a tricky food. It is made with the same ingredients as bread ; the only difference is the speed of how they are processed. The Torah tells us that we must guard the matzos to prevent them from turning into chametz. Our sages tell us that this applies not only to matzos, but […]

    Five Questions for Pesach

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 48:34


    Pesach (Passover) marks the founding event of our nation. We had been enslaved in Egypt for centuries, and in one night the Almighty extracted a nation from amidst a nation with miracles, signs, and wonders. Each Passover we remember and relive that momentous night. We gather together with our family at the Seder, ask the […]

    Ladders to Heaven + TORCH Campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 62:47


    Please support the TORCH Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

    Unmasking the Purim Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025 48:44


    Please support the TORCH Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

    The Fiercest Obstacle to Greatness + 2025 TORCH Fundraiser

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 53:41


    Please support the TORCH Podcasts by donating to our annual fundraiser at giveTORCH.org This is our only annual fundraiser. Every donation is DOUBLED! Support the TORCH Podcasts by visiting giveTORCH.org right now and making a generous donation! This is the LINK for the Fundraiser. – – – – – – – – – – – […]

    More Secrets of the Month of Shevat with Rabbi Shmuel Botnick

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 58:53


    The month of Shevat is associated with a tribe of Asher and corresponds to the letter Tzadik (צ) and its zodiac sign is a bucket. So much is told to us by the Kabbalists. But what is the secret of this month? What is the energy that permeates this month? What are the particular ways […]

    How to Raise Good Children Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 61:36


    We all want to raise good children. We want our children to be healthy and balanced and good and righteous. The Torah is full of powerful lessons on how to raise good children. In part two of our series on parenting, we explore the unique relationship of Isaac and Esau, how Jacob admonished his children, […]

    How to Raise Good Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 55:29


    It is incumbent upon parents to raise their children well, but how exactly do you do that? Babies are not born clutching parenting manuals. This is especially problematic for us Jews. We must raise our children to be upstanding, productive, stable, and healthy adults like all other parents. However, we have an additional responsibility: we […]

    Chanukah Capstone with Rabbi Shmuel Botnick

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 81:17


    There is no superficiality in Judaism. Everything is multi-layered, multifaceted, multidimensional. That seems to be particularly true with respect to the festival of Chanukah. Chanukah is a rabbinic holiday, and it is the very last mitzvah that we received. There are many oddities that separate this mitzvah from all others. The roots of this festival […]

    The Light of Chanukah

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 53:45


    Everyone loves the festival of Chanukah. There's something so wonderful and enchanting about this festival and its iconic mitzvah, the lighting of the Menorah. But what is the menorah truly about? We all, of course, know the story of the miraculous oil that lasted for 8 days. But what is at the heart of the […]

    The Dina Dilemma

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 54:37


    Not all twins are identical in every way. Jacob and Esau were as different from each other as two humans can possibly get. When Rebecca got wind of Esau's plans to murder Jacob, she sent them away. After being apart from his twin for more than 30 years, Jacob and Esau had a fateful reunion. […]

    Simple Reasons to Believe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 30:03


    What is your elevator pitch for the existence of God? That is a question that was posed to dozens of successful and accomplished people. They were asked to write a short, concise, elevator-trip-length essays on why they believed. These essays were compiled into a wonderful book titled “Elevator pitches for God.” The creators of this […]

    Midrash: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 62:50


    Students of the Almighty's holy Torah are familiar with the term midrash. It refers to a series of books that serve as commentaries on the Torah and on other holy writings. But where does the Midrash come from? What authority does it have? What about the comments in the Midrash that seem outlandish and totally […]

    Thanksgiving in Jewish Philosophy and Ethics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2024 44:27


    Gratitude is one of the most, if not the most, important values in our religion. In fact, our sources tell us that the reason why God created His creation was to enable us to express our gratitude. But what if what we receive is a mixed bag of good and bad? Must we also express […]

    Ask the Rabbi: Modest Prayer; Teenage Girl Advice; Youthful Skills; and Religious Difficulties

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 55:41


    Today's podcast is a wild card. This past Shabbos  I was invited to join a panel of rabbis to answer a series of interesting questions submitted by high school students from the all-girls high school in Houston. In this special episode I share some of the fascinating questions and some of what I said – […]

    How To Actualize Potential (Abraham Shows the Way)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2024 55:16


    Abraham's storyline in the Torah is curiously: There are some parts of his life that are told in detail, while other seemingly important events are omitted entirely. What we discover is that the storyline of Abraham serves as a prototype for how to actualize our potential. In this very special podcast, we dissect Abraham's story […]

    Your Vote Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 43:29


    It's election season in America. Your vote matters. Even if you don't live in the swing state, it is recommended that you vote and exercise your civic right and duty. There is another area where you need to vote. The other area is much more consequential. The effects of how you vote in that area […]

    Glimpsing Into Adam’s Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 45:38


    Serious people face a serious problem: once you understand that the Almighty created you for a purpose, and that purpose is completely unique to you – there is no one else who can fulfill whatever it is that you must fulfill-  you recognize the imperative to discover your personal mission. But how do you find […]

    Tablets and Tabernacle: The Revelation of Sukkos

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 58:56


    The Jewish holidays are not evenly spaced out. They appear in bunches. A mere five days after Yom Kippur comes the seven-day (truthfully nine when you tally everything) Festival of Sukkos (appendaged by Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah). The next Festival (excluding the Rabbinic holidays of Chanukah and Purim) does not occur for six months. […]

    The Six Impetuses for Repentance

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024 62:42


    Repentance draws a person out of darkness into eternal light. It transforms the penitent into a completely new person. But how exactly does repentance work? How do you repent? What are the various elements and facets of repentance? The authoritative book on these questions, Shaarei Teshuva, the Gates of Repentance, was written in the 13th […]

    The Gates of Repentance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 50:27


    The Ten Days of Repentance are upon us. In just a few days is the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah. These powerful high holidays culminate with the climax of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What exactly is repentance though? How are we supposed to think about repentance? In this very special podcast, we study […]

    The Root Cause of Anti-Semitism and How to Solve it: The Torah’s Surprising View

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 43:15


    Jew hatred is not a new phenomenon. Ever since our people were founded — and truthfully even beforehand — we have been the recipients of unprecedented, enmity and hostility. Why are God's chosen people uniquely targeted? What is the underlying reason for anti-Semitism? Why are we not more accepted into and tolerated by the general […]

    The Name of Messiah

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 49:53


    Seven things were created before the world was created. That much we are told in the Talmud. What is the significance of this collection of things that preceded the world? When we analyze the list, moreover, we read how the name of Messiah is included amongst it. What exactly is the name of Messiah? Is […]

    Mysteries of the Torah Scroll

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 55:31


    The festival of Shavuos marks the anniversary of the most momentous and consequential event in all of human history: the Sinai Revelation. A mere 50 days after the Exodus, the nation coalesced around the mountain and witnessed when no other people has had witnessed prior or since: They heard the Ten Commandments directly from the […]

    Five Fascinating Questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 55:22


    Questions can be unsettling. Questions can cause dissonance. Questions can be painful. But questions can also be illuminating. They can open up new portals of insight and perspective. Questions are a central part of Torah study. Much of the Talmud is written in a question and answer format. The Passover seder is marked by the […]

    The Infinity of Torah

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 70:40


    The Torah is effectively infinite. It is longer than the land and broader than the seas. God is infinite and unfathomable; He gave us His Torah in order for us to connect with Him. Torah is, in fact, accessible to us, but we never arrive at the end point of Torah. It's infinite. Moreover, the […]

    On Elevator Pitches for God with Bruce Licht and Ron Kardos

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 54:22


    Many (most?) people believe in God. Believers accept the reality that the world, the universe, finite existence is the handiwork of an infinite God. Why do people believe? What evidence do believers have? These are some of the questions that my dear friends, Ron Kardos and Bruce Licht, sought to have answered. They conceived of […]

    The Profound Purim Secret with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 62:34


    TORCH Fundraiser — support the This Jewish Life Podcast Our organization, TORCH, does only one fundraiser a year, and that is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. This is a matching campaign and every donation will be DOUBLED. Please support the This Jewish Life Podcast right now at giveTORCH.org The website for the Fundraiser is giveTORCH.org Click and donate to […]

    The Peerless Brilliance of Biblical Hebrew + TORCH Fundraiser

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 62:13


    TORCH Fundraiser — support the This Jewish Life Podcast Our organization, TORCH, does only one fundraiser a year, and that is happening right now at giveTORCH.org. This is a matching campaign and every donation will be DOUBLED. Please support the This Jewish Life Podcast right now at giveTORCH.org The website for the Fundraiser is giveTORCH.org Click and donate to […]

    On Visiting Wartime Israel with Dr. Alan Kritz

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 79:09


    Our nation is at war. Our brothers and sisters are in combat in Gaza, displaced from their homes in the north and the south of Israel, traumatized from the atrocities of October 7th, and of course there are 100 plus hostages still in Gaza. Our nation is experiencing pain and challenge the likes of which […]

    Celebrating A New Wolbe Baby Boy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2024 55:01


    Our family was blessed with a new baby boy this past Sunday evening. With the help of the almighty, he will be joining the covenant of Abraham and receive his Bris tomorrow morning, Monday the 15th of January, in the Young Israel of Houston. In this special, celebratory podcast, I share what I said on […]

    On the Spiritual Awakening in Israel with Rabbi Eliezer and Malky Wolbe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 53:31


    When our nation experiences tragedy, we gravitate back to God. That is how we process pain and suffering. The Jewish people – especially our brothers and sisters in Israel – are exhibiting this response with resplendent nobility and strength of character. During the ongoing war, the Jewish spirit is being awakened. Jewish faith is being ignited […]

    On the Front Lines in Gaza with Yoshi Rosenbluth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 98:24


    My dear friend and long time podcast listener Yoshi Rosenbluth spent a month in Gaza as a fighter in the IDF. In this very special podcast, he tells us what things are like on the ground from a soldier's perspective. If you want an insider's look into the battlefront in Gaza, this podcast is for […]

    On the Pulse of Wartime Israel with Blake Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 148:54


    In the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the terror organization that has governed Gaza since 2007, there is a very big divide between Jews living in the land of Israel and those of us in the Diaspora. While Jews worldwide may empathize with their Israeli brethren and rally and pray for their cause, the […]

    On Altruistic Kidney Donations with Rabbi Moshe Gewirtz

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 85:25


    Kidneys serve many vital functions. Their primary function is to filter the blood from any toxins or contaminants. Thankfully, the Almighty sends (most of) us to this world with two working kidneys. We have a bit of nephrological redundancy. People who suffer from kidney failure, God forbid, are greatly imperiled. In this podcast, I welcome […]

    On Parenting in Difficult Times with the PodParents

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 46:58


    Few sequels live up to the high standards set by the original. Podfather Part 2 is an exception to the rule. In this special episode covering a variety of parenting subjects, we hear from both PodParents. My father and my mother – Avi and Faige Wolbe – both joined me in the TORCH Centre to […]

    Discussing Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe on the Chinuch Today Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 63:01


    The Hebrew word for education is “Chinuch”. Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield is the Head of School of Yeshiva Torat Emet, the school in Houston, Texas that we send our children to, and is the host of the Chinuch Today podcast. In his podcasts, he interviews teachers and educators about Jewish education. He asked my brother and […]

    The Profound Mystery of Cheshvan with Rabbi Shmuly Botnick

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 103:00


    Rabbi Shmuly Botnick returns to the podcast with his most mind-bending and dynamic contribution hitherto. In this exhilarating roller-coaster of a podcast, Rabbi Botnick weaves the generation of Enosh, the Flood, the placement of Moshe into the water, his retrieval by Pharaoh's daughter, his complaint to God about the initial efforts to save the nation, […]

    The Transcendent Power of a Unified Front

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 63:23


    It is not exactly clear what the participants in the Tower of Babel wanted. We know they wanted to ascend to heaven and to make a name for themselves, but what precisely they wanted is more of a mystery. The Midrash talks about it, the Talmud does as well – and in this podcast we […]

    On Parenting with the Podfather, Avi Wolbe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 51:09


    Parents are sent home with newborn babies without an instruction manual. They are expected to raise their child(ren) to become productive, responsible, and successful adults. As Jews, we have an added responsibility to raise our children as good Jews. Parents face a monumental task. This was always nightmarishly difficult, but with the rapidly-changing world that […]

    The Joy of Sukkos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 65:19


    The festival of Sukkos is called “the time of our joy.” The entire festival is associated with joy. Sitting in the Sukkah is joyous, shaking the Lulav is joyous, the traditional celebratory festivities are known as the “Joy of the Drawing.” Why are these days so intimately associated with joy? In this special podcast, we […]

    Jonah: The Yom Kippur Reading on a Deeper Level (Rebroadcast)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 125:32


    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 to castigate the people of Nineveh and instead escapes from God to Tarshish – with mixed results. A simple reading of the story reveals a tale of repentance, both of […]

    Repentance Conundrums

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 54:36


    The days spanning from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. Over the course of these days, we have extra prayers and supplications, and make an extra effort to improve and correct our ways, culminating of course, with the greatest day of them all, Yom Kippur. But repentance is […]

    Rosh Hashana Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 67:10


    Rosh Hashana is a day of repentance. But unlike Yom Kippur, there is nary a mention of sin in all the ceremonies, prayers, and liturgies of Rosh Hashanah. What is the nature of repentance decoupled from acknowledgment of sin? When we study the sources related to Rosh Hashanah, we discover several fascinating opportunities that differentiate […]

    Rosh Hashana Roundtable with the TORCH Podcasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 75:57


    Rosh Hashanah is the beginning. It is the beginning of the High Holidays. It is the beginning of the 10 days of repentance. It marks the beginning of humanity. On this day, Adam was created. Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of God's Dominion and Kingship over the world, because a king absent a nation is […]

    Elul for the Unprepared and the Undeserving

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 53:51


    The month of Elul is upon us. Over the course of the next few weeks, Jewish communities worldwide will prepare for the high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with special prayers and with a daily blast of the shofar. We are preparing. We are getting ready for the awesome days upcoming. But what […]

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