I went through five years of Hebrew school, receiving the hollowest of education in my culture. We were only ever asked to believe holiday stories and learn the sounds of letters. It turned me away from Judaism completely. It’s information like this that’s helping me see the richness of my history and the education I’ve lacked for so long.

Love this podcast. i have learned so much

I’m so glad i found this podcast. i’ve been a listener to this for a few years. some episodes i’ve listen to many times because there was so much information…..expansive historical knowledge. I haven’t found an inaccuracy yet. Because of my faith I haven’t listened to any episodes pertaining explicitly to messiah. I’ve been looking for the episode that briefly mentions “assumption of Moses”. The book of Jude in my King James actually acknowledges it so that is relevant. Alexander the Great bloodlessly conquering Jerusalem is fascinating. The Six Day War episode (wow!). I could go on and……. this podcast (for me) came from a spiritual source. Please keep up the phenomenal work.

In Episode 32 on False Messiahs, he makes several erroneous statements when addresses Jesus Christ (whom he will only refer to as ‘JC’) and Christianity’s claims and documents, which undermines his presentation. For example, he says that even Jesus’ followers claimed he broke Sabbath laws, which is false. The religious leaders claimed he broke Sabbath laws when, for example, Jesus did acts of mercy on the Sabbath—which demonstrated the leaders’ false notions of Sabbath. Jesus himself said he did not come to do away with one jot or tittle of the law, but to fulfill it. Moreover, Jesus’ statements against the leaders of his day were no different than that of MANY of the prophets against the leaders in their day: just read Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or Ezekiel, who also lived in generations of wickedness and the rejection of G-d’s messengers, leading (again) to the destruction of Temple. Bottom line: if you want to know why Jesus is the Messiah, read any one of the New Testament Gospels for yourself.

The title says it all. Worth your precious and limited time. Thank you Rabbi Yakov.

Can’t get enough! Rabbi Wolbe’s understanding of history, along with his encyclopedic knowledge of Torah, pairs beautifully with his control of the english language for a Symphonic like Torah Lecture.

I listened to every one of these and I can’t get enough, I also think you have a truly blessed voice and way of expressing your self that it is very pleasant to listen to. My only critic is that we need more episodes😀

Great Podcast!

I would give more stars if it were possible. Great content.

Down to a fine art of podcasting.

I would like to start off by saying that although I’m a fan of rabbi Wolbe and his podcasts, as with everything in life I pride myself by the honesty and unbiased stances I take on different subject matters. I wanted to respond to a couple of critics who I thought wrote unfair and simply untrue reviews in regards to rabbi Wolbe’s history podcasts. “Hear-n-Now” called rabbi Wolbe ignorant for heralding Moses as the greatest leader we or any people have ever had. Rabbi Wolbe has vast amounts of history on his fingertips and has formed an opinion about Moses’ leadership. Everyone is welcome to disagree. But categorizing that statement as “ignorant” shows a clear haughtiness and self-centeredness reserved for meaningless YouTube comments, not for a review section created to aid undecided podcast listeners in regards to which podcasts to download and enjoy. “jessicaweirdly” was upset that rabbi Wolbe made sweeping Islamophobic generalizations about Muslims. She respects the Rabbi’s opinion on how to dissect certain texts but was bothered that he didn’t choose “more magnanimous, fair language”. I think it is fairly obvious that this podcasts reflects rabbi Wolbe’s opinion on how to interpret the texts he is discussing. It is not his duty to be fair or magnanimous. It IS his responsibility to be honest and truthful when creating this podcast. If you want magnanimous language in regards to Muslims I recommend listening to a speech by congresswomen IIhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib.

I accidentally stumbled onto this amazing podcast and loved every second of it. Thank you so much for creating such a clear and lucid interesting historical perspective on the muscle movement as well as the other things that I haven’t even listen to at this point I can’t wait.

This is a highly credulous rendition of Jewish history, not suitable for anyone seeking an accurate account of actual events. If one wants a faith-affirming narrative untroubled by critical thought, maybe this will satisfy. If one wants an attempt at objectivity and truth, look elsewhere.

Incredibly high quality history of the subject in question. Engaging, pleasant voice, well researched, personable. This podcast enables me to have access to Jewish history that just seems out of reach for me to learn on my own and transforms that into an engaging hour.

Takes away all the boring angles learned in Yeshiva. This is very interesting and shows how throughout history Jews loved material and mundane lives within the laws of Judaism

Greatly informative, this podcast is one from which I have learned perhaps more than from any other and I listen to quite a few. I look forward to every episode.

In episode 43 at about 9:50 you doubt the "historicity" of the story of Shimon HaTzadik recorded in the Gemara Yoma

Awesome. Informative. Jewish history has a perspective that is fresh and radically informative unlike the regular secular histories that leave out pertinent info.

To much history and and not a lot of stories . (Sample Hanukkah story is history.

This is a wonderful podcast with an unbelievable amount of information laid out very clearly and thoroughly. I highly recommend.

Informative and interesting. This is an easy listen that also keeps you entertained.

Was curious until quite literally within the first minute you said, “Moses was the best leader we or frankly any people ever had.” Statements like that get you categorized into “ignorant” in my book. Good luck.

This is a well done podcast. Rabbi Wolbe’s Parsha Poscast is even better.

Thanks for all the work you do to help us understand Jewish history.

This podcast is honestly the best. Rabbi Wolbe is very knowledgeable, and translates the Jewish history in a way that you won’t fall asleep.

The podcast flows smoothly. The topics are well researched. Tremendous details are conveyed effortlessly. It is a joy to listen.

Rabbi Wolbe’s history lectures are clear and easy to follow. He also brings interesting insights and connections that bring Jewish history into color. I love listening!!

I have learned so much about the God’s chosen people. This has transformed my commute and I like how he is easy to follow and all he details g he provides

Each podcast has taught me something new, despite my strong knowledge of Jewish history. Please keep it up. One request: please post sources.

Fascinating, informative, great topics, I live it.

Live listening and learn each time I listen again plus increased my exposure to new vocabulary Words, which was a Suprise.

This podcast completely transformed my commute. So clear, so objective, so beautifully done. There is no Hebrew jargon so it truly is easy for anybody to understand. Love it!!!! Keep it coming Rabbi Wolbe!!!!

I literally can’t get enough. A must listen!

Rabbi Wolbe conveys his incredible wealth of information in such a clear and easy to understand fashion. He is extremely enjoyable to listen to. This podcast and all the others I’ve heard from Rabbi Wolbe are truly fantastic.

I have listened to about one third of these podcasts and they are informative, clear, and most importantly LOUD. That helps me hear it on my motorcycle unlike other podcasts. Thank you!

Thoughtful and detailed Jewish history and Torah! Love it!

Thank you, your podcast has elevated my commute

Rabbi Wolbe’s podcasts... Absolutely mind blowing. Fact after fact, I can’t even imagine the preparation the Rav takes to make these podcasts. I would be listening to Rabbi Wolbe every time I drive/have my headphones in but I have run out of content a while ago. Then I discovered “This Jewish Life,” where you’ll find even more interesting and wide ranging podcasts. Hundreds! It’s funny- at this point I quote Rabbi Wolbe more than my Rabbis at home and I haven’t even met him! What we’re listening to now is the future of Torah+Technology, and if it stays this way- using this new technological revolution to spread Torah EVERYWHERE- then BH we will see Mashiach soon! I have a whole list of personalities I’d like to hear a shiur on but I fear that they’re out of Rabbi Wolbe’s chronological order. But I’ll post anyway. Rav Kook Rabbi Akiva Eger Chazon Ish Maharal of Prague Maharsha Maharshal Kotzker Rebbe Rogatchover Gaon Chacham Ovadia Yosef The Soltoveitchik Dynasty Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Maggid of Mazritch Alter Rebbe The Rebbe (Chabad) How the Chassidic groups diverged, how each branch came to be (Satmer, Belz, Gerrer) Baba Sali Ben Ish Hai Rabb Aryeh Kaplan Rebbe Nachman of Breslov Hollywood Jewry? Another concept is Jewish Migration. How/Why/When jews moved in/out of popular Jewish locations. Rabbi, thank you for everything you do. You enlighten all of us and that’s why you’re the number one Jewish podcast in the world!

Your intense Jewish history sessions are spectacular— I enjoy your in- depth knowledge and analysis.

Intriguing. Will truly enhance your understanding of Jewish History!!

These lectures are amazingly informative and voluminous in their content. Thank you

Informative and easy on the ear.

Fantastic podcast for all Jews. In my opinion, both Non-orthodox and Orthodox Jews will enjoy this. Rabbi Wolbe is incredibly clear, concise and the material is fascinating. It is an educative, informative podcast coming from a hashkafically sound position. Shkoyach !

Really enjoy it and am learning a lot. Mahalo from Hawaii.

A great history podcast! The information moves along, is in depth, and is always interesting.

Very informative

Very well presented podcast on overview of Jewish history.

Excellent podcast! Highly recommended to everyone!

Just started listening to this podcast to learn some history. I love the topics presented and can't wait to listen more. The first one I listened to was about Zionism and was very clearly explained. Thank you for doing this !

Rabbi Wolbe does an excellent job at painting a picture of each person and event he covers. I like how he clearly is focused on how each topic is important in the broader scheme of Jewish History. Very clear and sophisticated, yet completely relatable. As usual. Thanks very much!