Take One Daf Yomi

Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is celebrated as a monumental figure, merging political wisdom with profound Torah knowledge. His legacy resonates strongly, echoing lessons from his poignant life and tragic death. Delve into the touching narratives that reveal the interplay of divine will and human efforts, illustrating the lasting impact of his contributions to both spiritual and secular realms.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 35, discusses the Golden calf and the courts that enacted punishment afterwards. Why should even the perpetrators want a speedy trial? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 33 and 34, have the Rabbis interrogating what to do when the results of a trial have been found to be flawed. How do we choose when a retrial is warranted? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 31 and 32, see the Rabbis debating how to choose a trial location when the two litigants can not agree on a venue. What kind of insight can this give us into upholding the Constitution while conducting trials today? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 30, shows the rabbis discussing whether judges should discuss their personal opinions after a case is decided. Should we know what each individual judge things, or should their opinions remain anonymous? What is the line between transparency and oversharing? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 29, finds the rabbis advancing a defense of none other than the Snake. Was he truly guilty of any sin way back when in the Garden of Eden? Or was he merely giving Eve bad advice, and shouldn't be punished for her transgressions? And what does this question have to teach us about personal responsibility? Listen and find out.

Jesse Eisenberg, an acclaimed actor and director, shares insights about his film, A Real Pain, which follows two cousins uncovering their grandmother’s Holocaust-era past in Poland. The conversation touches on the weight of family responsibilities and the importance of understanding one’s heritage. Eisenberg explores the delicate balance of humor and tragedy in storytelling, especially in the context of Jewish identity and multi-generational trauma. Their journey becomes a poignant reflection on grief, connection, and the complexities of family bonds.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 26 and 27, ponder the nature of studying Torah. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to shed light on this gorgeous discussion. How is studying Torah, quite literally, magical, and how does it transform the entire world? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 24 and 25, are all about... the Talmud. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why this bit of self-reference is crucial to understanding the entire nature of the Talmud's logic, and what it can teach us moderns. So what does the Talmud think the Talmud is all about? Listen and find out.

On today’s episode of Take One, we take a break from the daf to speak with Gila Fine, the author of The Mad Woman in the Rabbi’s Attic, a reexamination of women’s role in the Talmud. What can we learn about the world of women in the Talmud? Listen and find out.