Podcasts about yaakov

Where Did He Move?

Text Based

Text Based

The Torah reading this week begins the story of Yosef, or Joseph, favored son of Yaakov. Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Vayeshev,” Genesis chapters 37 through 40, where the story begins, and builds on dreams. The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SSM-12-12-25-Vayeshev-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3 While this parsha contains a number of ‘nuggets’, or memorable elements, images, and component lessons, the midrash suggests that even the structure of the story is all about a ‘long-term’ plan of YHVH. This reading itself is only just the beginning of a series of what might be called “cliff-hangers,” where we see, as do Yosef and his brothers, that structure being put in place for what is to come. In any number of ways… Vayeshev: ‘Two Dreams, Two Witnesses – Who can BUT Prophesy’ https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WT-CooH-12-13-25-Vayeshev-Two-Dreams-Two-witnesses-Who-can-BUT-prophesy-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

Part II of Yaakov's Bitachon processing

In this week's shiur, we explore one of the most electrifying themes in Torah: the power of yearning.From Yaakov Avinu's inability to be comforted over Yosef, to Rebbe Nachman's legendary teaching of “Never give up hope,” we uncover the spiritual DNA inside every Jew — the part of us that's still a na'ar, still searching, still asking, still alive.Yosef HaTzaddik is called a “na'ar” because he tapped into that inner childlike curiosity — the part of us that refuses to settle, that refuses to stop seeking Hashem. Deep down, Yaakov knew Yosef was alive, because deep down we all know: 

This episode discusses what led the Shevatim to do what they did.

Chazal say that Yaakov wanted to sit in tranquility at this point, after dealing with Eisav, Lavan, Shechem. Hashem said Tzadikim have tranquility in the next world, they should ask for it in this world? Is there something wrong with having a tranquil life? Wouldn't Yaakov only want this for Torah and Ruchniyus, what would be wrong with this desire? Some approaches to understanding a difficult Chazal.Have a good Shabbos

התוכן עה"פ בתחילת פ' וישב "וישב יעקב גו' אלה תולדות יעקב יוסף וגו'" מביא רש"י שכאשר "יעקב ראה כל האלופים [של עשו] הכתובים למעלה תמה ואמר מי יכול לכבוש את כולן?! מה כתיב למטה – אלה תולדות יעקב יוסף, וכתיב והי' בית יעקב אש ובית יוסף להבה ובית עשו לקש – ניצוץ יוצא מיוסף שמכלה ושורף הכל". וההוראה: כאשר רואים את חושך הגלות הכפול והמכופל נשאלת השאלה איך אפשר להתמודד עם זה? הנה יש לדעת שבכאו"א יש את הענין של "יוסף" שבכוחו שורף את חומת הגלות וכו'. ועד"ז בעבודתו של כאו"א בעצמו, שאינו מתפעל מ"גויים" ו"גויאישקייט", מפני שהוא יודע את האמת ש"בית יעקב לאש ובית יוסף להבה ובית עשו לקש"! ועי"ז מתמלאה בקשתו של יעקב ש"ביקש .. לישב בשלוה" (כמ"ש רש"י עה"פ וישב יעקב), בגאולה האמיתית והשלימה כאשר "ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשו והיתה לה' המלוכה". משיחת י"ט כסלו ה'תשמ"ג ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=12-12-2025 Synopsis On the verse at the beginning of parashas Vayeishev, “And Yaakov settled…These are the descendants of Yaakov: Yosef…”, Rashi states that when “Yaakov saw all the chieftains [of Esav] written above, he wondered and said, ‘Who can conquer them all?' What is written afterwards? ‘These are the descendants of Yaakov: Yosef…', and it says, ‘The house of Yaakov will be a fire, the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of Esav will be straw' – a spark will come forth from Yosef that will destroy and consume them all.” The lesson is that when one sees the doubled and redoubled darkness of exile, and he wonders, how can we confront it, the answer is: One must know that within every Jew there is “Yosef,” with the power to burn down the wall of exile etc. Similarly in one's personal divine service, he is not intimidated by the goyim or by goyishkeit, because he knows the truth – that “The house of Yaakov is fire, the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of Esav is straw.” In this way, Yaakov's request to “dwell in tranquility” is fulfilled (as Rashi says on the verse), with the true and complete Redemption, when “Deliverers will ascend Mount Tzion to judge the mount of Esav, and the kingship will be Hashem's.”Excerpt from sichah of 19 Kislev 5743 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=12-12-2025 לזכות שטערנא שרה בת מושקא שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלה כ"ב כסלו - לשנת ברכה והצלחה, ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות

This evening we consider how silence contributed to the wish for violence from the brothers toward Yosef. We explore how PTSD neutralizes the process of memory, demonstrated by Yaakov. And we utilize Yosef's steps in defying the temptation of Potifar's wife as a set of guidelines each of us can use to resist whatever temptation we face. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (rabbi@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

Yosef was one his way to talk to his brothers in an altogether different tone, but they never gave him a chance. Yaakov was going to by colored coats for the other brothers too, but the bloody coat killed THAT plan!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

Seemingly contradictory implications can potentially be resolved with an understanding of the issue of wanting to live in "tranquility".

Yaakov wrote down the timing of the dream

התוכן עה"פ [בחמישי דפ' וישב] "ויהי יוסף יפת תואר" פרש"י: "כיון שראה עצמו מושל התחיל אוכל ושותה ומסלסל בשערו, אמר הקב"ה אביך מתאבל ואתה מסלסל בשערך, אני מגרה בך את הדוב, מיד ותשא אשת אדוניו וגו'". ההכרח לפרש את הפי' ב"יפה תואר" כך הוא דלפי' הפשוט אינו מובן מ"ש כאן "ויהי יוסף יפה תואר" - מה זה נוגע לכאן, הרי יוסף הי' "יפת תואר" גם לפני ירידתו למצרים?!, ולכן פרש"י שבא בהמשך למסופר בפרשה לפנ"ז, שיוסף עשה פעולות כאלה להיות "יפה תואר" וכו'. וההוראה: אף שיעקב הי' במדינה אחרת ובכלל לא ראה את הנהגת יוסף, בכל זאת הי' יוסף צריך להצטער בצערו של יעקב. כי אהבת ישראל אמיתית היא שצערו של השני, לא משנה איפה הוא נמצא, הוא צער שלו!משיחת מוצש"פ וישב ה'תש"מ ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=11-12-2025 Synopsis On the verse (in chamishi of parashas Vayeishev), “Yosef had handsome features and a beautiful complexion,” Rashi states: “Once he saw himself in control, he began to eat and drink and groom his hair. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘Your father is mourning, and you are grooming hair – I will incite the bear against you.' Immediately: ‘His master's wife cast her eyes upon him….'” The reason Rashi has to explain it this way is because seemingly, it is unclear how it is relevant here that “Yosef had handsome features”; after all, Yosef “had handsome features” even before he went to Egypt? Therefore, Rashi explains that this comes as a continuation of what it says earlier in the parashah, that Yosef put effort into doing things that made him have a handsome appearance etc. The lesson is that although Yaakov was in another country and didn't see how Yosef was conducting himself at all, nevertheless, Yosef should have felt Yaakov's suffering and refrained from such things. Because true Ahavas Yisroel means that the pain of another Jew, no matter where he is, is your pain.Excerpt from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos Parashas Vayeshev 5740 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=11-12-2025 לזכות יהודית ברכה בת שטערנא שרה שתחי' ליום ההולדת שלה כ"א כסלולשנת ברכה והצלחה רבה ומופלגה בכל בגו"ר מתוך בריאות נכונה ומנוחת הנפש והגוףנדבת הורי' ר' חיים ברוך ושטערנא שרה שיחיו אלבסקי

Rabbi Feiner shiurim

Yaakov Married Two Sisters (Vayishlach 5786)

Yaakov Married Two Sisters (Vayishlach 5786)

Yaakov Didn't Sever His Connection With Hashem (Vayishlach 5786)

A quiet epidemic is spreading, and it doesn't look like a fever. It looks like old dreams shelved, alarms snoozed, and a heart that once burned now running on dim. We name that sickness—Ye'ush, the giving up of hope—and we take it head on, not with slogans, but with a return to the core of Jewish identity: the will to keep fighting when it's still dark.We start by tracing the subtle signs of surrender that creep into adult life. The goal posts move, the expectations shrink, and “realistic” becomes code for “I stopped trying.” Then we turn to the story of Yaakov wrestling the angel. The blessing is not a trophy; it's a new name, Yisrael, “for you have fought.” That shift is everything. Outcomes belong to God; effort belongs to us. This lens reframes prayer, punctuality for minyan, learning with patience, building a career, and shaping character. The question is no longer “Did I win?” but “Did I fight today in a way that honors my soul?”We also revisit the early warning to Cain: why let your face fall when the path to repair runs through the next right act? The remedy for despair is structured action: small, protected habits that guard big values. Set a modest arrival buffer for tefillah and keep it. Fix a daily learning slot and let consistency outweigh intensity. Choose one trait to refine this month, track it with a cue, and reset quickly after slips. Measure progress by process, not perfection, and let streaks of honest effort build momentum. That is how we grind with hope in 2025—one deliberate rep at a time, anchored in the knowledge that we are Bnei Yisrael, the people who do not quit.If this message hit home, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so more people find it. Tell us: what fight are you choosing to re-enter today?Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

We continue to learn at TheFamilyMinyan.com aka Shtiebel on Yud Tet Kislev from pillar Chassidus & Pinimiyus HaTorah in Likutei Moharan 41 Rebbe Nachman ben Faiga Simcha brings down Kabbalah on Joy... After such a Fabrengen last night at Tzama (see link below) we come on such a Yom Tov with huge Chizzuk from Chassidus, Hashem is the Messenger guiding us towards A Chanukah which will give us the renewed Emuna to elevate our Journeys & Connections. We began discussing from Kisvei Ari the sweetening of judgements, by the knees, the pillars of Netsach and Hod, Chabad & Breslov Chassidus is leading the way for Yaakov aka Yisrael to chup back the cold dark winter days of the coming blessed month of Tevet etc...Rav Shlomo Katz “Podeh Shalom” Tzama Fabrengen @Jerusalem x Rav Moshe Weinberger & Rav DovBer Pinson - https://youtube.com/shorts/XlyDhIF9Qog?si=ko0QVcHUzP6bPcmlUpdated United Souls 58 - Unity Inspires Projects "the Good Points, Charlie Kirk Legacy, Hashem is True Presence & Unifying Business, Friendship & Family!" https://open.substack.com/pub/eligoldsmith/p/unity-inspires-projects-united-souls-f0f?r=oyu71&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #unitedsouls #goodpoints #charliekirklegacy #presence #unifying #truth #business #friends #family...Dear Eli Goldsmith x Unity Bookings and family,Thank you for becoming a Kehilat Shirat David ambassador!Here is your custom fundraising page: https://causematch.com/shiratdavid/unityflowNow this is live, help us reach the goal by sending the campaign to your friends and family.Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or for support. Thank you for your dedication,Kehilat ShiratDavid.com

Yaakov's example teaches us how to elevate the sparks of the physical world. The story of Potifar's wife reveals the deeper reality behind spiritual challenges. The Chanukah story reminds us of the power of educating children with zero compromises right from the very beginning. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Vayeishev in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

In this episode, we sit down with Rabbanit Yael Leibowitz to explore the bold ideas at the heart of her work on Ezra–Nehemiah. She explains why she frames the book through the striking theme of a 'Retrograde Revolution,' and how this lens reveals a story of renewal that moves forward specifically by returning to the foundations of Jewish identity. Rabbanit Leibowitz then walks us through her distinctive approach to studying Ezra–Nehemiah—not primarily as political history, but as a deeply literary and theological text—and how this perspective reflects her broader understanding of what Tanakh is and how it relates to history. We also address a surprising reality: despite being part of the biblical canon, Ezra–Nehemiah remains one of the least-studied books among regular Torah learners. Rabbanit Leibowitz explains why these chapters are essential for today's Jewish reader and what timeless lessons they offer for community, belonging, and spiritual restoration. Finally, we discuss her powerful chapter, “What Is a Jew,” which examines the complexities of Jewish identity as they emerge in the book of Ezra and how those ancient questions continue to resonate in the modern world.---*This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of Sarah Miriam bat Tamar, Binyamin ben Zilpa, and our dear friend Yaakov ben Haya Sarah Malakh---• Bio: Yael Lei­bowitz is an Israeli edu­ca­tor. She holds a Master's degree in Juda­ic Stud­ies from Colum­bia Uni­ver­si­ty, taught at the Upper School of Ramaz, and is a for­mer fac­ul­ty mem­ber of Yeshi­va University's Stern Col­lege for Women where she taught advanced Bible cours­es. She cur­rent­ly teach­es at Matan Women's Insti­tute for Torah Learn­ing and Midreshet Lin­den­baum Col­lege for Women.---• Get her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Ezra-Nehemiah-Retrograde-Revolution-Yael-Leibowitz/dp/1592647073---• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel M., Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

Yaakov Avinu Was Worried About His Aveiros (Vayishlach 5786)

How does unresolved grief shape the choices we make—and the people we become? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Vayeishev through the lens of grief and the ways unresolved pain shapes Yaakov's choices. They examine how the Torah's seemingly hopeful opening—vayeishev, “he settled”—quickly gives way to family tension, favoritism, and disaster. Reading Yaakov as a father still mourning Rachel, struggling after Dina's trauma, and missing the women who once guided him, they show how grief clouds judgment and fractures a fragile family system.

Kli Yakar explains the importance of this name change and it's reference to the previous redemption and the future one.

If someone walked up to you and asked, “So… what actually makes you Jewish?” — how would you answer?In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most fundamental — and most misunderstood — questions of Jewish identity. Through the story of Yaakov and Esav, the mysterious struggle in Rivka's womb, the meaning of the blessings, and the battle that happens inside every one of us, we uncover what it truly means to be part of the Jewish people.This is an episode about essence, destiny, and the quiet voice inside that knows who you really are.

Full TorahAnytime Lecture Video or Audio More classes from R' Yaakov Mizrahi ⭐ 2,503

Full TorahAnytime Lecture Video or Audio More classes from R' Yaakov Mizrahi ⭐ 2,503

Text Based

In Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov returns home after 20 years with the wicked Laban and immediately sends real angels as messengers to his murderous brother Esav, prefacing their message with the cryptic line “Im Lavan garti” – “With Laban I sojourned.” Rashi reveals the hidden code: the word “garti” (גרתי) has the numerical value of 613 (תרי״ג), meaning “Even while living with the evil Laban, I kept all 613 mitzvos and never learned from his wicked ways.” Yaakov is teaching every Jew for all time: no matter how far away you are, no matter how hostile the environment, the Torah is the ultimate protective shield that preserves and elevates your soul. As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declared: “When you stay firm in Torah study every single day, there is nothing in the world that can take you down.”The parsha's eternal message is crystallized in the Friday-night blessing we give our children: “Yisimcha Elokim k'Ephraim v'chi'Menashe” – may God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, the only two tribal ancestors raised in decadent, idolatrous Egypt yet who grew into pure tzaddikim. Why them? Because wherever our children end up – Houston, Memphis, Vegas, or the middle of nowhere – they may not have a yeshiva, a kosher restaurant, or even a minyan, but they will always have the Torah. As Rabbi Wolbe summed up: “The Torah is the blueprint of the world… and when you live with that blueprint, no darkness can touch you.” Yaakov, Ephraim, and Menashe all proved that one Jew + one Torah = unstoppable light._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on December 2, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 5, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #JewishWisdom, #SpiritualGrowth, #Angels, #jacob ★ Support this podcast ★

What if holiness isn't a place we visit, but a home we build? In Parshat Vayishlach, Chazal offer a powerful progression: Avraham called the sacred site a mountain, Yitzchak a field, and Yaakov a house. This isn't just poetry; it's a blueprint for spiritual growth. A mountain can be a chance ascent, a field requires cultivation, but a house is where you live. Yaakov's journey invites us to turn fleeting moments of inspiration into a durable, lived-in relationship with God—a spiritual home that can withstand the distractions of modern life.We explore how Yaakov's secret lies in the idea of keva: fixed times, fixed places, and fixed commitments. By setting boundaries for Shabbat before it was commanded, he demonstrated how structure protects sanctity. This principle appears in the halachic concept of chazaka (an established pattern) and the practical wisdom of having a makom kavua (a set place) for tefillah. Repetition, when infused with love, solidifies identity. The modern "minyan factory" mindset, with its endless menu of options, erodes this resolve. When there's always another minyan in fifteen minutes, prayer risks becoming a spiritual drive-through. We offer a counter-vision: elevate one primary minyan to be non-negotiable. Arrive a few minutes early. Let silence settle your heart before the words begin.This is a call to trade quantity for depth. Choose five to ten minutes of slow, focused learning over scattered moments. Find a chavrusa that can weather your calendar. Commit to a cycle of study that repeats until it sings from within, like those who restart the same masechta until it becomes their native tongue. Small, steady choices anchor a life of meaning: Torah as daily bread, not a passing snack; tefillah as a table you return to, not a slot you chase. The Torah says, Titain emes l'Yaakov—"Give truth to Jacob." If truth is what endures, then keva is how we make it endure.If this resonates, take one small step today. Choose a set minyan and a set learning time, and guard them. Subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, share this with a friend seeking a steadier path, and leave a review to tell us the first boundary you'll draw.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov returns home after 20 years with the wicked Laban and immediately sends real angels as messengers to his murderous brother Esav, prefacing their message with the cryptic line “Im Lavan garti” – “With Laban I sojourned.” Rashi reveals the hidden code: the word “garti” (גרתי) has the numerical value of 613 (תרי״ג), meaning “Even while living with the evil Laban, I kept all 613 mitzvos and never learned from his wicked ways.” Yaakov is teaching every Jew for all time: no matter how far away you are, no matter how hostile the environment, the Torah is the ultimate protective shield that preserves and elevates your soul. As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declared: “When you stay firm in Torah study every single day, there is nothing in the world that can take you down.”The parsha's eternal message is crystallized in the Friday-night blessing we give our children: “Yisimcha Elokim k'Ephraim v'chi'Menashe” – may God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, the only two tribal ancestors raised in decadent, idolatrous Egypt yet who grew into pure tzaddikim. Why them? Because wherever our children end up – Houston, Memphis, Vegas, or the middle of nowhere – they may not have a yeshiva, a kosher restaurant, or even a minyan, but they will always have the Torah. As Rabbi Wolbe summed up: “The Torah is the blueprint of the world… and when you live with that blueprint, no darkness can touch you.” Yaakov, Ephraim, and Menashe all proved that one Jew + one Torah = unstoppable light._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on December 2, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 5, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #JewishWisdom, #SpiritualGrowth, #Angels, #jacob ★ Support this podcast ★

Yaakov dreams that he wrestles and angel and somehow comes out with a limp. Is this possible? And what does it mean? In fact, it contains the kernel of a great and life changing idea. Sources: Guide 2:42, 6, Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam to Gen. 32:26. Pictured: Gustave Doré, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (1855)

In Parshat Vayishlach, Yaakov embraces diplomacy eith Esav while Shimon and Levi choose confrontation with Shechem. What determines the difference? Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah's two models for responding to danger, and how these ancient principles illuminate Israel's dilemmas today — from the Abraham Accords to October 7th. When do we make peace, and when must we wage war?

Shiur given by Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky on Parshas Vayishlach. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.

This episode discusses the conversation between Yaakov and Shimon and Levi regarding Dinah.

We find Yaakov humbling himself before Eisav, and bowing seven times. Yet we also know that one is forbidden to flatter a wicked person. Exploring the balance Yaakov strikes in his appeasement of Eisav.Have a good Shabbos

Text Based

Vayishlach | Hegemonism or Conquest? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom ולזרעך נתתי את הארץ - What was at the core of Yaakov's dispute with his sons after the massacre of Sh'khem?  Continuously throughout Sefer Bereishit, our Patriarchs are promised by Hashem that their descendants will be "given" the Land - but there is no indication of how that gift will be given, of how that "inheritance" will be achieved. We explore what may have been the perspective of our Avot in that regard - and how and why it changed by the time we arrived in Mitzrayim. Source sheet >>

PM Benjamin Netanyahu is keeping up the pressure, sending a letter a few days ago to President Herzog, requesting a pardon for the crimes he's been charged with and facing a trial. At this critical time, he wrote to Herzog, it is essential that he be free to focus all his time on managing the country in a state of never-ending crisis. Surprisingly (to me), STLV regular guest sees merit in granting Netanyahu a pardon and he explains why. This issue is so complex, and we will be speaking with people in the coming weeks about how this should be handled.But first, we dig into the announcement this morning from the Prime Minister's Office of his new pick for the head of Mossad, Israel's storied spy agency. Current chief, David Barnea, ends his term in June, 2026 and Netanyahu has decided to replace him with a career army man who had has very little exposure to the business of Mossad. Since the announcement this morning, the pundit class has been less than enthusiastic about Bibi's pick, if only because he lacks experience in spycraft and so much is at stake. Mossad is a much larger and more complex organization than it was even five years ago. Following a string of successes under Barnea's leadership, the decision to snub internal promotions (favored by Barnea) will likely not be well-received in the ranks. Ya'akov is of the view that there is a less than noble reason for Netanyahu to bring someone in from outside the agency. The machinations never stop…Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:“Crisply written... draws on excellent sources within Israel's military and intelligence services.” —The Wall Street JournalA powerful indictment of the political and military decisions that led to October 7While Israel Slept tells the gripping inside story of how Hamas, Israel's weakest enemy, succeeded in launching a surprise attack on one of the world's most powerful militaries. Through a detailed examination of the events leading up to October 7, 2023, the book exposes the intelligence and strategic failures that enabled this devastating invasion. It takes readers back in time, showing how years of complacency, mistaken intelligence analysis, and a misguided policy of containment enabled Hamas to prepare for an assault that Israel did not believe was possible and that would change the Middle East.The book unveils the dramatic events of the night before the attack, highlighting the cracks in Israel's military and political leadership. It provides unprecedented details on how key warnings were missed, and how Israel ignored the growing threat from Hamas, believing that the group was weak and deterred. By exposing these failures, While Israel Slept offers a stark, sobering account of how overconfidence and complacency paved the way for disaster, while underscoring the critical lessons Israel must embrace to safeguard its future.Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column.He is the author of three books: “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel's Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards—How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War.”Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel's Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs.In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Chaya and their four children.Find Yaakov Katz on X. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

This is part 4 of a new solo series where R' Shlomo Buxbaum explores the deeper structure of the Book of Bereishis (Genesis) and how it directly relates to our own personal journey to self-mastery.It is based on R' Shlomo's first book The 4 Elements of an Empowered Life (Mosaica Press, 2021), which uncovers a hidden thread woven throughout the book of Bereishis, showing how four themes that are deeply connected to our own life missions, are alluded to over and over again, giving us the tools to lead lives of magnificence!You can purchase the book on Amazon and wherever Jewish books are sold:⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/cb9JkPW

Although the reason for Eisav's hatred towards Yaakov seems to have been resolved, the enmity nonetheless continues...

What is unique about the month of Kislev, and what lessons does it offer us?  Yud Kislev What do we learn from this day? What distinguishes the liberations of the Mitteler Rebbe's on Yud Kislev and the Alter Rebbe on Yud Tes Kislev? How are these differences connected to chochmah and binah? Do we know why this day is not celebrated with the same level of festivities as the 19th of Kislev?  Can you summarize the Maamar Padah B'sholom Nafshi, delivered by the Rebbe on the 10th of Kislev 5722? What was the name of the Mitteler Rebbe's maamar discussing the reasons for the decree of drafting the Cantonists? And what lessons can we learn from it that we can apply to other tragedies and evil decrees against us? Why is this the day that connected the Rebbe to us? How do we practically apply the Rebbe and the Rebbe's anniversary to our personal lives? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week's Torah parsha? What is the deeper meaning in the story of Jacob and Esau – their battle and reconciliation? What are the cosmic and historic implications of their confrontations, and how is it connected to Yud Tes Kislev?  Why were the “small vessels” so important that Jacob put himself at risk by returning to retrieve them?  Why did Esau's angel wrestle with Jacob and displace his hip?  Can we contrast that with Jacob protecting his head with stones earlier? What is the significance of the angel changing his name to Yisroel, and why does he retain the name Yaakov? Why is Isaac the only one of the patriarchs that did not have his name changed? Are the names of Yaakov and Yisroel connected to tiferes? What lesson do we learn from the detailed descriptions and names of Esau's progeny? Now that the hostages have been released, what can I do to apologize to G-d for my earlier complaints to Him?Yud Dalet Kislev Vayishlach Do people with mental health issues or addictions have free will?  Hostages Freed 

Parshas Toldos is the ultimate masterclass in parenting, love, perseverance, and the eternal tug-of-war between heaven and earth. When Rivka feels her twins fighting in the womb, she is terrified that she is carrying one confused child who is pulled toward both holiness and idolatry. The prophet calms her with the shocking news: “Shnei goyim b'vitnech – two nations are in your womb.” Instead of despairing, she is relieved. Why? Because, as Rabbi Wolbe explains, “the benefit and greatness of Yaakov is so immense that it will supersede all the negative that she will ever experience from Esav.” One pure Yaakov is worth more than all the damage a thousand Esavs can do.The Torah then paints a seemingly troubling picture: “Isaac loved Esav because he put game in his mouth, but Rivka loved Yaakov.” How can holy parents play favorites? The answer redefines love itself: “Love is not finding similarities — love is seeing the potential in the other person and connecting to that.” Isaac gazed at wild, powerful Esav and thought, “If this explosive energy is ever channeled for good, he could move mountains.” Rivka looked at quiet, tent-dwelling Yaakov and saw pure, undiluted holiness already shining. Both parents loved both sons — they simply poured their energy into the child whose hidden potential moved them the most. This becomes the model for all healthy parenting and marriage: every child is your favorite — favorite scholar, favorite artist, favorite comedian, favorite mensch — because “each one is uniquely different… you're not comparing apples to apples, you're comparing apples to oranges to bananas.”For 63 long years Yaakov lives in his wicked brother's shadow. Esav hunts, flatters, and cleverly asks questions like “How do you tithe salt?” just to appear pious and win Isaac's heart. Yaakov, meanwhile, clings only to the “heel” of spirituality — always second place, always doubting, always wondering, “Maybe my father is right and I'm wrong.” Yet he never once compromises. At 63 he finally cooks the lentil stew that wins the blessings, proving that “spiritual growth is always at the heel — slow, painful, and full of doubt — but the tzaddik never quits.” As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declares: “Quitters always finish first. If you want to win, you can't quit — ever.” And again: “The natural state of a tzaddik is to fall seven times… but the falling is not what we emphasize — it's the getting back up.”The parsha ends with two beautiful side lessons. First, Eliezer (from the cursed lineage of Canaan) is rejected as a match for Isaac, yet when he remains loyally devoted to Avraham despite the insult, Hashem rewards him with kfitzas haderech — miraculous instant travel reserved only for the righteous. Loyalty and perseverance turn even a “cursed” person into a tzaddik. Second, the same dynamic of “investing in the child who needs it most” repeats with Yaakov and Yosef: Yaakov favors Yosef not out of nepotism, but because he sees the unimaginable trials awaiting him in Egypt and knows, “This one is going to need extra love to survive and triumph.”_____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on November 25, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 3, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #ParentalLove, #Resilience, #Family, #Rebecca, #Isaac, #Esau, #Jacob, #Potential, #Growth, #Yetzirah, #EvilInclination, #Choices, #Challenges, #Yosef, #Destiny, #Potential, #JewishHistory, #Mitzrayim, #Trials, #Yitzchak, #Complexity, #Struggle ★ Support this podcast ★

A contradiction between the Mishna in Mikvaot 10:6, which seems to be Rabbi Yehuda's position anrules according to majority, and Rabbi Yehuda in the braita, who follows appearance, is resolved in two ways. Abaye suggests that in the braita, where the position is stricter, Rabbi Yehuda is quoting Rabban Gamliel, who was known for his stringency in cases of nullification, as he did not allow nullification at all in mixtures of the same type (min b'mino). Rava, however, explains that the more lenient opinion in Mikvaot refers to a case where only the outside of the cup was impure. By Torah law, the mikveh waters need only pass over the rim, not fill the cup. Since the requirement to fill the cup is rabbinic, there is room for leniency. Rabbi Elazar disagrees with Reish Lakish regarding pigul and notar that became mixed together. He holds that just as mitzvot do not nullify one another, prohibitions likewise do not nullify each other. This principle is based on Hillel, who would eat matza and maror together on Pesach to fulfill the commandment that they be eaten simultaneously. If mitzvot could nullify one another, the strong taste of the maror would cancel the taste of the matza, preventing fulfillment of the mitzva of eating matza in that manner. Regarding min b'mino, a mixture of the same type, there is a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda and the rabbis as to whether it can be nullified. A similar debate appears in the Tosefta Taharot 5:3 between Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the rabbis in a case of a shard that absorbed urine: can it be purified by soaking or rinsing in urine? In the Mishna, there is also a debate between Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis concerning blood mixed with problematic blood. The question arises: does Rabbi Eliezer disagree in both cases - disqualified blood and dam hatamtzit (the blood that flows from inside the animal) - or only in the latter case? The Mishna explores various scenarios of blood mixtures and clarifies where Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis differ.

Sometimes there is strife in the home due to a difficult relationship between a father-in-law and a son-in-law. When a son-in-law feels he is being treated unfairly, controlled, or that no matter what he does it is never enough, it can cause great damage to the home and deeply disturb a person's inner peace. We must internalize a fundamental truth: Hashem places every person into our lives. It is not by chance and it is not by mistake. Every relationship is carefully planned by the Master Orchestrator to help each person fulfill his mission in this world. The Torah tells us about one of the most difficult fathers-in-law in all of history. People sometimes complain, "It's not fair, my father-in-law doesn't give me money." Yaakov Avinu's father-in-law not only didn't give him money — he stole from him on a daily basis. The Midrash tells us that Lavan justified his thievery by claiming that Yaakov still owed him fourteen more years of work for Bilhah and Zilpah. He was manipulative and dishonest, changing Yaakov's wages again and again. Chazal tell us it was done a hundred times. He took advantage of Yaakov's devotion and honesty. Yaakov worked seven long years to marry Rachel, and Lavan had no problem switching her for Leah. He felt no guilt whatsoever. Even worse, afterward he justified himself, making it seem as though Yaakov was the one who acted improperly by marrying the younger sister before the older one. Yaakov was forced to endure deception, manipulation, and emotional torture from his father-in-law for twenty years. Yet the Torah testifies about him that his integrity remained perfect. Yaakov understood that this suffering was not random. He knew this was part of his avodat Hashem and an essential piece of his mission in life. For twenty years he lived in Lavan's home, yet remained attached to Hashem with unwavering emunah. Every test, every humiliation, every disappointment, he accepted with one thought in mind: this is me'et Hashem. Of course, Yaakov did his hishtadlut. He took reasonable steps to protect himself. He confronted Lavan respectfully. He negotiated. He acted wisely. But once something happened, he always returned it to Hashem and reminded himself that nothing occurs outside of His will. It is not forbidden to question a person who harms you, but it must be done with dignity, not with rage and not with cruelty. A Jew is not judged only by what he endures, but by how he endures it. The Torah is teaching us something fundamental. When Hashem places difficult people into our lives, it is not to break us, but to build us. Not to humiliate us, but to refine us. Not to weaken us, but to strengthen us. A difficult father-in-law can feel suffocating. He may be critical, controlling, dismissive, or impossible to satisfy. Nothing seems good enough. You may feel constantly judged, unheard, and trapped in a role you never volunteered for. And it hurts precisely because it comes from a place that was meant to be safe. This is where emunah must rise to the surface. Hashem sees every tear. He hears every painful word. He counts every insult that was swallowed in silence. And when a person restrains himself for the sake of shalom in his home, that sacrifice shines brightly in shamayim. Yaakov did not leave Lavan's house defeated. He emerged spiritually powerful. Though Lavan tried to harm him emotionally and physically, Yaakov walked away with a beautiful family, great wealth, and an inner greatness that shaped the future of Klal Yisrael. It is not that Lavan became a better person. It is that Yaakov became a greater one. So many people beg Hashem to change others. But sometimes Hashem is working on changing us instead. And that is far more powerful. The more a person works on his middot and his emunah, the more blessing Hashem pours into his life in ways he could never imagine.