Take One Daf Yomi

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 64, tells us a very bawdy and hilarious story of a man who tried to demean an idol and ended up praised by the pagans for his efforts. Our very own Presidentischer Rav, Tevi Troy, joins us to unpack the story and the lessons it can teach us about American politics. Which politico messed things up for trying to fight dirty? And which great president was celebrated for refusing to do just that? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 63, continues to address the subject of idolatry, and how it impacts our relationships with non-Jews. Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg joins us to discuss his observations about God, faith, and the Holocaust. How might our people's greatest tragedy impact our capacity to continue and believe? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 61 and 62, deal with the sensitive subject of idolatry. What precisely is idolatry? And can we figure out if we're guilty of it merely by looking at our smart phones? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 59 and 60, ask a thorny question: Can non-Jews learn Torah? It's a question that has much to teach us about interfaith relations, respect, and other weighty issues. What surprisingly modern lesson might we learn from Rabbi Meir's ancient wisdom? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 58, argues that even merely contemplating violence is a sin. What did the rabbis understand about human nature that psychologists took millennia to confirm? And are people who threaten violence more likely to actually commit violent acts? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 57, dives into the intricacies of self-defense. What, exactly are we allowed to do when a pursuer wishes to harm us? And how has the rabbis' logic influenced and inspired the Israel Defense Forces? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 56, is all about blaspheming. But what precisely is blasphemy? And why should its very complicated Talmudic definition drive us to watch our tongue lest we use our words to destroy rather than create? And what does Taylor Swift have to do with any of it? Listen and find out

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 54 and 55, raise a complicated question: Is punishment logical? Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to tackle this thorny subject. How did the rabbis, then, think about punishment? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 51, asks a question many of us have been pondering: Why spend all this time learning about laws and events that are simply no longer relevant to our lives today? And what's the reward of being diligent students of Torah? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 52 and 53, ponder what life was like in a world in which God's presence was truly and viscerally felt. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to discuss this inspired, and inspiring, passage. Why did the sages of the Talmud choose to illustrate this principle by describing a horrific execution? Listen and find out.