Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Horayot 4–5, the debate turns on a missing vav, and whether mitzvot should be read as singular or plural. It’s a dazzling example of how language itself becomes a gateway to spiritual meaning. And because this week’s Torah portion is filled with mitzvot, we’re also sharing a special conversation from our sister podcast Sivan Says, where Israeli writer and Torah scholar Sivan Rahav-Meir explores the beauty and magic of these commandments. What does this all teach us about the power of mitzvot to shape our lives, one by one and all together? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Horayot 3, we encounter both compassion and responsibility: don’t legislate beyond what people can bear, and never let a leader duck the burden of judgment. It’s a double reminder that law must bend toward mercy and that power must never escape accountability. How do those values challenge us today? Listen and find out.

In this discussion, the focus is on accountability in leadership within Jewish thought. The conversation highlights the importance of humility among rulers and the idea that even the highest authorities can make mistakes. Listeners will discover how Judaism acknowledges and addresses human fallibility, promoting a more compassionate society. It's a deep dive into how the very essence of leadership is intertwined with the willingness to acknowledge errors.

On today’s page, Avodah Zarah 76, we close a chapter on idolatry only to open a deeper one about the human soul. With Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, we explore why the Torah warns against graven images, and how this commandment teaches us that our worth—like divinity itself—is always beyond what meets the eye. Why is invisibility the ultimate form of truth? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Avodah Zarah 74 and 75, the Talmud explores the delicate balance of protecting Jewish practice while still engaging with the larger world. Mark Oppenheimer, the Corduroy Rav, joins us to discuss what ancient keg-cleaning instructions can teach us about pluralism, coexistence, and the ever-present dangers of idolatry in modern forms. How do we seal our traditions without sealing ourselves off? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Avodah Zarah 72 and 73, the rabbis dive into the logic of kosher: when does a forbidden flavor render food off-limits, and when does it not? Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain how this principle grew into the modern system of kosher certification. What does it really mean to trust the food we eat? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Avodah Zarah 71, we encounter a grim teaching: a gentile thief could face death even for a tiny crime. The Talmud wrestles with the balance between law and compassion, and so do we. So today, we revisit a conversation with Sister Helen Prejean, a tireless voice against the death penalty. What can ancient law teach us about one of today’s fiercest moral debates? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Avodah Zarah 70, the rabbis reflect on a strange case: thieves breaking into wine cellars. Instead of harsh judgment, they remind us to presume purity—even for those who stumble. Can transgression and hope coexist in the same breath? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Avodah Zarah 69, the rabbis debate how best to seal a barrel of wine to ensure it hasn’t been tampered with. From corks to screw tops, what can this age-old conversation teach us about trust, preservation, and innovation? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Avodah Zarah 67 and 68, the Talmud digs into beans, vinegar, and the science of taste. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to show how the rabbis’ rules of flavor transfer—through heat, salt, and soaking—mirror the ways we absorb spirituality. Can food metaphors help us understand how to infuse our lives with holiness? Listen and find out.