Way 2: The Transformative Power of Listening

In this second installment of his 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the second pathway to acquiring Torah: Bishmiyata Ozen — “with listening, with the listening of the ear.” Building on the first lesson about study, he emphasizes that true learning requires review — specifically reviewing material four times for clarity, just as the Talmud structures its pages with four levels of commentary.

Rabbi Wolbe teaches that Hashem constantly sends us personal messages through events, the order of Torah portions, and everyday situations, and we must train ourselves to listen attentively. He draws powerful examples: the juxtaposition of the adulterous woman and the Nazir (warning against excess wine), and the placement of the Giving of the Torah in Parshat Yitro — because “Vayishma Yisro” (Yisro heard), showing that listening is the prerequisite for receiving Torah. Everyone lives in their own world of experiences and talents; a wise person pays attention to current events, life experiences, and the wisdom of elders (especially those over 70 or with white hair, whom we stand for out of respect).

He shares memorable stories, including Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s conversation with a backpacker who “didn’t see holiness” in Israel (illustrating how we only see what we’re attuned to), his grandfather understanding a 50-year-old lecture decades later, and the importance of internalizing lessons rather than relying on technology to remember for us. Additional themes include accepting criticism with love (and knowing when not to give it), seeing other perspectives (with examples from marriage, law, the OJ Simpson case, and even the Iranian regime), asking questions as an active listener, and balancing speaking with silence. The episode concludes that effective listening is the key to a happy, successful, and spiritually rich life, while a fool disturbs others’ words because he doesn’t truly listen.

Recorded in TORCH Centre - Studio A on April 26, 2022, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on April 27, 2022

The 49 days we count between Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot are an exciting time for powerful and impactful change. The Mishna (Avot 6:6) teaches us 48 masterful tools and ways to maximize life and get the most out of each day.
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Share your questions at [email protected] or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  
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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, please email: [email protected]

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Listen More
Other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: 

• NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodes
• Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodes
• Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes
• Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes
• Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes
• Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes
• Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes
• Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes

For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org
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Keywords:
#JewishInspiration, #Omer, #Count, #48Ways, #SpiritualGrowth, #TorahWisdom, #PirkeiAvot, #Learning, #WisdomDaily

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