Eternal Ethics - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

In his fourth and final teaching, Rabbi Akiva shares a powerful and serious parable that is designed to shake us up and take life seriously but also contains the undertones of a very inspirational and comforting message. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

In this pithy teaching, Rabbi Akiva addresses some of the knottiest questions of Jewish philosophy: If God knows what we do ahead of time, do we have free will? If God is control of everything, is the world judged fairly? Why are the righteous and the wicked treated inequitably? – – – – – – […]

In an astonishingly profound teaching, Rabbi Akiva informs us of the special role that humans have in completing the objective of the Almighty’s creation; and the amplified role that our nation has in effectuating that; and the tools that we were given to achieve that goal. – – – – – – – – – […]

Rabbi Akiva is one of the titanic figures of the Mishnaic Era. He served as the vital link transmitting the Torah that he studied from his predecessors to his students amid ceaseless oppression under the Romans. In the first of three consecutive Mishnas authored by Rabbi Akiva, we learn the keys to avoiding catastrophic promiscuity, […]

Rabbi Yishmael was the scion of one of the most prestigious families of our nation and a titanic Sage of the Mishnaic Era. In this podcast we share several of the fascinating stories about his fruitful and sometimes tragic life and explore the connection between those episodes and his teaching in Pirkei Avos. – – […]

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What are we living for? How ought we allocate our time? In this striking teaching we learn the difference between the faciliatatory and things which are end goals. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This Eternal Ethics podcast is […]

Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa was a legendary Sage who lived towards the end of the Second Temple, and the Talmud relates many miraculous and inspirational stories about him. In this podcast we share some of those amazing stories, and connect them to his crucial life-instructional teaching. – – – – – – – – – […]

We put much focus on Torah study and Torah acquisition, and in this mishnah we learn about the other half of Torah greatness: Torah retention, which can only be accomplished by rigorous disciplined review. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

In an unusually sharp statement, our Sages inform us of the severity of neglecting Torah study. The flip side is also true: Torah study is unfathomably valuable. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by […]

Why do we give charity? Is there a cap of 20% to how much we can give? In this mishna we learn about a striking rationale for charity, answer these questions, and contrast the two types of givers. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

In Jewish literature, Torah is called the Word of God. In this mishna we learn about its ability to bridge the gap between man and his Creator. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by […]

What rules govern what happens in our lives? In this mishna we find that there are really three different realms, and that it is possible to upgrade the plane on which we operate. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

Rabbi Chananya ben Chakhinai says: One who stays awake at night, and one who wanders on a road alone, and turns his heart to idleness, behold he is liable with his life. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please […]

In successive teachings, our Sages share with us a way to usher ourselves into the Presence of the Almighty. It really is that simple. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation […]

What would happen without a police force to maintain law and order? Is there any other way to prevent society from crumbling without police power? These are the questions we explore in the somewhat unsettling second mishna of chapter 3. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

It is not often that our Sages offer us any kind of fail-safe formula. In the first mishna of the third chapter, Akaviah Ben Mehalalel provides for us a guaranteed method to avoid sinning. It is a good idea to listen carefully to his words. – – – – – – – – – – […]

There are many excuses to shirk our spiritual responsibilities. In the final two mishnayos of Chapter 2, Rabbi Tarfon rebuts them one by one. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation […]

Rabbi Elazar Ben Arach was the prized student of Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, but he chose to chart his own path in life and not to join the rest of his colleagues in Yavneh. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

What is the optimal relationship between man and God? How is man supposed to view himself?  These questions and several others are addressed in Chapter 2, Mishna 18 of Pirkei Avos. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider […]